Bran Castle

View from inside.

View of courtyard.

View of courtyard.

The secret passage inside the castle. It connects the first to the third floor

Bran Castle (German: Törzburg; Hungarian: Törcsvár), situated near Bran and in the immediate vicinity of Braşov, Romania, is a national monument and landmark. The fortress is situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia, on Highway 73. Commonly known as "Dracula's Castle" it is famous as the home of Bram Stoker's Dracula, which has led to persistent myths that it was once the home of Vlad Ţepeş, ruler of Wallachia. While Vlad Ţepeş did not actually live in the Bran Castle, it is believed he spent two days locked in the dungeon while the Ottomans controlled Transylvania. The castle is now a museum open to tourists, displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Marie. Tourists can see the interior individually or by a guided tour. At the bottom of the hill is a small open air museum park exhibiting traditional Romanian peasant structures (cottages, barns, etc.) from across the country. Castle Dracula was elaborate Universal Studios Tour show created in 1980 by Verne Langdon with Jay Stein and Terry Winnick. ... Image File history File links Bran_Castle. ... Image File history File links Bran_Castle. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 830 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bran Castle Wikipedia... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 830 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bran Castle Wikipedia... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 534 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 683 pixel, file size: 373 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo User:Angelbo taken July 2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 534 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 683 pixel, file size: 373 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo User:Angelbo taken July 2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 400 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (683 × 1024 pixel, file size: 272 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo User:Angelbo taken July 2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 400 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (683 × 1024 pixel, file size: 272 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo User:Angelbo taken July 2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1944x2592, 2510 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bran Castle Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1944x2592, 2510 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bran Castle Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... Secret passages are sometimes concealed using large items of furniture, such as this reconstruction of the bookcase that covered the entrance to Anne Franks secret room. ... County BraÅŸov County Status Commune Mayor Gheorghe Hermeneanu, Social Democratic Party, since 2004 Area 67. ... County BraÅŸov County Status County capital Mayor George Scripcaru, Democratic Party, since 2004 Area 267. ... For the fortification of food, see Food fortification. ... Portrait of Vlad III Vlad III Dracula (also known as Vlad Å¢epeÅŸ IPA: in Romanian or Vlad the Impaler) (November/December, 1431 – December 1476) reigned as Prince of Wallachia 1448, 1456–1462 and 1476. ... In a detail of Brueghels Land of Cockaigne (1567) a soft-boiled egg has little feet to rush to the luxuriating peasant who catches drops of honey on his tongue, while roast pigs roam wild: in fact, hunger and harsh winters were realities for the average European in the...

--71.200.246.25 (talk) 00:13, 20 November 2007 (UTC)--71.200.246.25 (talk) 00:13, 20 November 2007 (UTC)DRACULA--71.200.246.25 (talk) 00:13, 20 November 2007 (UTC)==History== Bran Castle was originally built as a stronghold by the Teutonic Knights in 1212. The first documentary attestation of Bran Castle is the act issued by Louis I of Hungary on November 19, 1377, giving the Saxons of Kronstadt (Braşov) the privilege to build the Citadel. The castle was first used in 1378 in defense against the Turks, and later became a customs post on the mountain pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. The castle briefly belonged to Mircea the Elder of Wallachia. From 1920, the castle became a royal residence. It was the principal home of Queen Marie, and is decorated largely with artifacts from her time, including traditional furniture and tapestries that she collected to highlight Romanian crafts and skills. It was inherited by her daughter, Princess Ileana, and was later seized by the communist regime after the expulsion of the royal family in 1948. For the state, see Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights. ... Louis the Great. ... is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... // Events January 17 – Pope Gregory XI enters Rome. ... The Transylvanian Saxons (German: ; Hungarian: ; Romanian: ) are a people of German origin who settled in Transylvania (German: ) from the 12th century onwards. ... In a range of hills, or especially of mountains, a pass (also gap, notch, col, saddle, bwlch or bealach) is a lower point that allows easier access through the range. ... This article is about the region in Romania. ... Map of Romania with Wallachia in yellow. ... The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... Princess Marie of Edinburgh (Marie Alexandra Victoria; later Queen of Romania; 29 October 1875 – 18 July 1938) was a member of the British Royal Family who became the queen consort of Ferdinand I of Romania. ... Princess Ileana of Romania (1909-1991) was officially the youngest daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie of Romania. ... Anthem Zdrobite cătuÅŸe (1947 - 1953) Te slăvim Românie (1953 - 1968) Trei Culori (1968-1989) Capital Bucharest Language(s) Romanian Government Socialist republic Head of State  - 1947–1965 Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej  - 1965-1989 Nicolae CeauÅŸescu Legislature Marea Adunare NaÅ£ionalÇŽ Historical era Cold War  - Monarchy abolished... King of the Romanians (Romanian: Regele Românilor)[1] rather than King of Romania (Romanian: Regele României) was the official title of the ruler of the Kingdom of Romania from 1881 until 1947 when Romania was proclaimed a republic. ...

In 2006, the Romanian government returned the castle to Archduke Dominic of Austria, Prince of Tuscany (known as Dominic von Habsburg, an architect in New York State), son and heir of Princess Ileana.^[1] In 2007, Habsburg put the castle up for sale for a price of £40 million ($78 million).^[2] On July 2, 2007, Michael Gardner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Baytree Capital, the New York investment firm which has been retained to create a plan for the castle and to sell it, predicted it would sell for more than $135 million, but added that Habsburgs will only sell it to a buyer "who will treat the property and its history with appropriate respect."^[3] For other uses, see Architect (disambiguation). ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki Official languages None Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... Princess Ileana of Romania (1909-1991) was officially the youngest daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie of Romania. ... GBP redirects here. ... USD redirects here. ... is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

In September 2007, an investigation committee of the Romanian parliament stated that the retrocession of the castle to Dominic of Habsburg was illegal, as it broke the Romanian law on property and succession.^[4]

"Dracula's Castle"

Bram Stoker, who fashioned portions of his character Count Dracula from Vlad the Impaler, allegedly used Bran Castle as his model for Dracula's Castle. Bran Castle was subsequently featured in multiple film adaptations of "Dracula," and has informally become known as "Dracula's Castle." The local economy has made use of the connection to boost tourism; a small market exists at the castle gates selling souvenirs related to Dracula and vampires. Abraham Bram Stoker (November 8, 1847 – April 20, 1912) was an Irish writer, best remembered as the author of the influential horror novel Dracula. ... Count Dracula is a fictional character, the titular antagonist of Bram Stokers 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula. ... Portrait of Vlad III Vlad III Dracula (Also known as Vlad Ţepeş /tsepesh/ in Romanian or Vlad the Impaler) born November/December, 1431 - died December 1476, and reigned as Prince of Wallachia 1448, 1456-1462 and 1476. ... Draculas Castle may refer to either: The Draculas CastleWeb site since 1997 The Bran Castle which is a tourist attraction in Transylvania The Castle Dracula which is a Universal Studios show Category: ... Philip Burne-Jones, The Vampire, 1897 Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings that subsist on human and/or animal lifeforce. ...

See also

• Poienari Castle
• Castles in Romania

(pronounced poy-en-ar-ee). ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

References

BBC News is the department within the BBC responsible for the corporations news-gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article concerns the British newspaper. ... is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

External links

• Bran Castle Museum official website
• Dracula's Castle - fan website
• Pictures inside the castle
• Pictures of Bran Castle and the Bran Castle Museum
• Detailed instructions about how to get to Bran Castle — with estimated local travel costs
• Legend and the facts surrounding Romania's most famous castle
• Castelul Bran — picture gallery, related books, and articles
• Michael Gardner's biography on Baytree Capital's website
• Bran Castle - 360 Virtual Tour Travel destinations

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Bran castle

Coordinates: 45°30′39.91″N, 25°22′11.75″E Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...