What is Bran Castle famous for?
Bran Castle in Transylvania is famous for spawning the original vampire legend of Count Dracula. Long before sparkly vampires à la Twilight, the original bloodsucking creature of the night was said to roam the shadowy halls of this Transylvania ‘Dracula’ castle.
How did Bran Castle get its name?
The Teutons erected a fortress in Bran (a Slavonic name meaning “gate”), before they were driven away from the area in 1226.
Who actually lived in Bran Castle?
Seventy-nine-year-old Dominic Habsburg, spent his childhood at Bran Castle in Brașov, Romania, where his grandparents Queen Marie and King Ferdinand I lived. He inherited the 14th-century castle in 2006.
Who built Dracula’s castle?
In 1377 King Louis I of Hungary authorized the Transylvanian Saxons of the Brașov region to build a castle as a bulwark against northward expansion of the Ottoman Empire. The castle was completed by 1388; it also served as a customs house for Transylvania, then a voivodate (province) of Hungary.
What is a fun fact about Bran?
Bran Castle was completed by 1382, in record time, and was built for the purpose of defending Transylvania’s border and included a customs station. In 1438–1442, the castle was used in defense against the Ottoman Empire, and later became a customs post on the mountain pass between Transylvania and Wallachia.
Why was the Bran castle built?
The Bran castle was built in the 14th century, a stronghold to protect the villagers and landowners of the plains beyond the Bucegi Mountains, although it is most famous for being the location of the famous vampire, Dracula. It is the perfect setting for a vampire-lord.
What is Bran castle made out of?
The architecture of Bran Castle has been shaped over 600 years of its existence. It is based on massive gothic elements. The citadel of Bran has an irregular design determined by the configuration of the rock on which the fortress was built. River cobble stones, bricks and wood were used as building materials.
How many bedrooms does Bran Castle have?
57 rooms
The castle has 57 rooms and a secret passageway leading up to the watch towers. But up in the tower that once served as the dungeon there are several Gothic chests that look suspiciously like coffins!