Bran Castle – (RO): Castelul Bran, (HU): Törcsvár, (D): Törzburg near Brasov, Transylvania Romania.

Tour guide series with Marin Nicu from Danira Travel. Video, photography and editing by Ati Gereb from East WOWs West Travel Adventures (Brasov-Transylvania / Vancouver-Canada)
Introduction:
Bran Castle – Ro: Castelul Bran, Hu: Törcsvár, D: Törzburg – is a medieval fortress near Brasov in Transylvania, Romania. It sits atop a rocky hill at a mountain pass, historically guarding the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. Owing to Transylvania’s multi-ethnic history (Romanians, Hungarians, Saxon Germans), the castle is known by several names, all referring to this iconic stronghold. Today, Bran Castle is famous worldwide as “Dracula’s Castle,” drawing tourists for its dramatic architecture, rich history, and legends. Historical Origins:
The castle’s origins date to 1212, when the Teutonic Knights built a wooden fort at this strategic pass. Though that fort was destroyed by the Mongol invasion of 1242, it paved the way for the stone castle. In 1377, King Louis I of Hungary granted the Transylvanian Saxons of Kronstadt (Brașov) permission to build a new castle. The Saxon townspeople constructed Bran Castle with their own funds – a rarity for a castle to be built by a community rather than a king or noble. Completed by the 1380s, it served as a fortress to protect trade routes and a customs post between Transylvania and Wallachia. Over time, Bran was intermittently controlled by various rulers: briefly by Mircea the Elder of Wallachia in the late 14th century, often by the kings of Hungary, and at times by the city of Brașov itself (which reclaimed the castle in 1533 due to an unpaid royal debt.
Architecture and Features:
Bran Castle is a classic medieval fortress: built into a cliff, with imposing stone walls, watch towers, and a narrow courtyard. Originally it had a drawbridge entrance high above ground for protection. The design includes multiple towers with red-tiled roofs, thick defensive walls with arrow slits, and a labyrinth of rooms and staircases. One famous feature is a secret passage connecting the 1st and 3rd floors, hidden behind a fireplace, discovered during 20th-century renovations. The castle’s deep well not only provided water, but was later outfitted with an elevator (installed under Queen Marie) that leads through a tunnel to the castle’s park. Though austere in medieval times, Bran’s architecture was refurbished in the 1920s to include larger windows, modern utilities, and a touch of fairy-tale charm when it became a royal residence. Interior and Artwork
Dracula Legend:
Bran Castle’s fame skyrocketed due to the Dracula legend, though the connection is mostly mythical. Vlad the Impaler, the real 15th-century prince often linked to Dracula, likely never lived in Bran Castle and had no significant role in its history. He may have passed nearby or briefly assaulted the area, but there’s no evidence he owned or resided in Bran. Bram Stoker, author of “Dracula,” did not mention Bran Castle in his novel and never visited Romania. However, Bran Castle’s eerie beauty fits the popular image of Dracula’s lair – a mountain castle in Transylvania – so in the 20th century it became branded as “Dracula’s Castle.” Today, Bran embraces this identity for tourism. Exhibits clarify that Stoker’s Dracula is fiction and Vlad Țepeș’s link is tenuous, but visitors can still enjoy the spooky allure. The castle hosts Halloween events, and the nearby market sells Dracula-themed souvenirs. This “Dracula tourism” has benefits and downsides. We make sure to explain that Transylvanian vampire folklore (strigoi) did influence Stoker, but Bran Castle’s Dracula connection is a modern creative association rather than a historical fact.
Fun Facts and Legends
• Ghosts: Bran Castle is said to be haunted by a “White Lady” (the ghost of a sorrowful noblewoman) and a Monk spirit (legend says a monk was bricked up in the castle walls). Some staff and guests report unexplained cold drafts and flickers of light – adding to the castle’s spooky reputation.
• Secret Escape: The castle’s secret stairway allowed occupants to flee from danger. Additionally, Queen Marie’s elevator in the well was a discrete way to escape to the valley.
• Queen Marie’s Heart: A silver casket containing Queen Marie’s heart was kept in a shrine on the castle grounds per her will. Though it’s no longer on site, this fact surprises many – it’s a romantic and macabre detail befitting the ambiance of Bran.
• Dracula by Proxy: While Bran Castle was never Dracula’s, another ruined fortress (Poenari) in Wallachia was Vlad’s real castle. But Poenari is remote and hard to reach, so tourists and films often choose Bran as the stand-in. Bran’s tourism thus benefits from being more accessible, and arguably more picturesque, than the “real” Dracula haunts.
• Pop Culture: Bran Castle has appeared in documentaries, inspired movie set designs, and even been available to rent for special events. Its mystique permeates pop culture well beyond Romania.