Bran Castle – The Truth About Dracula’s Castle

There are two sides to every story, and in the case of Bran Castle, both are equally fascinating. In this small part of Transylvania, Romania’s most mysterious province, myth, fantasy and history collide.

Though the typical vampire has changed a lot in the past ten years (not looking at any franchise in particular), everyone knows Dracula was the original horror king. Since the conception of the character in Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, the myth surrounding the Transylvanian Count has only grown. But what many people don’t realise is there was a historical Dracula as well. And despite what the Romanian Tourism Board will have you believe, he has almost nothing to do with Bran Castle. Sorry to burst your bubble!

Visiting Bran Castle makes for a really great day trip from the nearby city of Brasov, which is a destination worth visiting in its own right.

The original Dracula

The real-life Dracula is known by many names: Vlad Tepes, Vlad the Impaler, Vlad Dracula amongst them. It’s the last of these that inspired Stoker’s infamous Count. With the combination of the old Romanian folktales of the steregoi – normal people by day, evil spirits by night that haunted and tormented local villages – and the ruthless, violent reputation of Vlad the Impaler (he didn’t get that moniker for nothing), is it any wonder Bram Stoker found inspiration here? But, unfortunately, to see the real castle of Vlad Dracula, you’ll have to skip Bran entirely and head to Poienari Castle instead, more than 50km away. Or, if you’re looking for the area pinpointed by the novel, you’ll be driving even further to Bistrita and the Borgo Pass, several hours north of both.

But back to Bran Castle itself. Completed in 1388 on the eastern border of Transylvania and Wallachia, the castle stands guard over the gorge of the Turcul river that passes below its walls. In use for centuries for various reasons, by the early 20th century it had been passed to Queen Maria of Romania and quickly became her favourite residence. The interior you see nowadays was decorated and furnished by her. During World War II Bran Castle was even used as a hospital for wounded soldiers, with Maria’s daughter Princess Ileana in charge. Restored to its former glory in 1993, it was opened for tourists, becoming a National Monument and Romania’s most-visited attraction.

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Bran Castle and Bram Stoker’s Dracula

But how did it become so ingrained with the legend of Dracula, if the historical figure upon which he is based never lived there? That’s debatable. Historians know Vlad Tepes passed through the area in 1459 on his way to attack the nearby city of Brașov, so it’s possible he stopped at the castle briefly. It’s also possible he was imprisoned there for several months three years later in 1462, although only one account I found ever mentioned this, so it’s not likely. But mainly it’s because of Bram Stoker.

Stoker never visited Transylvania, or Romania at all. He may have read a description or seen a drawing of Bran Castle, but no one knows for sure. But what we do know is of all the castles in Transylvania, Bran fits the description of the Count’s crumbling castle in the novel the best (although not everyone agrees with that). And over the years that description became more well-known and more embedded in the combined story of Bran Castle and Dracula. And boy, do they milk the hell out of it here. No offence to Bran Castle or Romania, but jeez, at least be honest about Vlad’s role in Bran. Within the castle there are several displays about the history of Bran, and an entire room dedicated to Vlad III and the Dracula legend. Which is all fine. But what bothers me is that at no point do they clarify the truth – that Bran Castle is not, and never has been, Dracula’s castle.

But does that mean you shouldn’t visit Bran Castle at all? Hell no.

Visiting Bran Castle

Bran is a beautiful castle, that’s for sure. It has a rich history, only a fraction of which I’ve mentioned above, and does a great job of telling you about it. It’s a stunning example of medieval architecture with a Romanian feel. Being the most popular castle in Romania, it can feel a little crowded, especially when tour groups pass through the low-ceiling, narrow rooms, but it’s absolutely worth your time visiting. Some travellers may find the surrounding maze of souvenir and market stalls kitschy, and the House of Horrors (yes, there’s one of those) entirely unnecessary, and they’d probably be right. But how is that any different from other popular tourist spots these days?

The real Vlad Dracula, the man who evokes a sense of horror in many outsiders for his impaling of tens of thousands of his enemies, is actually a national hero among Romanians. I highly recommend visiting the town of his birth – Sighisoara – one of the prettiest towns I’ve ever seen. His methods may have been brutal, but his reign over the province of Wallachia is seen as a golden era. He was admired for standing up to the Ottoman Empire, for avenging the murder of his brother, and for creating a period of safety for his citizens who were too afraid to break the law (Vlad III believed in the same punishment for all levels of crime. I’ll let you guess which one he chose…). Like I said, there are two sides to every story.

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Practical Information:

• Entry prices starting January 2023 are now dependent on high or low season. High season is between July 1st and August 31st, with tickets costing 60Lei (€12) for adults and 35Lei (€7)for students. Low season is the rest of the year, with tickets at 55Lei (€11) for adults and 30Lei (€6) for students. International student ID is accepted. There are also discounted tickets for children, families and seniors.
• Hours of admission are 9am-6pm from April to September, and 9am-4pm from October to March. The castle is open each day of the week, but doesn’t open until 12pm on Mondays throughout the year.
• Getting to Bran Castle is pretty easy. From Brasov it’s a simple 20 minute drive. Or you can head to Bus Terminal 2 (a little out of the way), where public transport leaves every 30 minutes to an hour. At 7 Lei each way (€1.50) it’s a bargain. The closest train station is in Brasov. It’s possible to do Bran Castle as a day trip from Bucharest, but it would be a really long day trip.
• The village of Bran has plenty of restaurants and souvenir shops to cater for the large number of tourists visiting everyday. If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-track site in Romania, this is not the place for you!
• If you want to stay overnight in Bran village, there are multiple accommodation options, though they are a little less budget-friendly than staying in a hostel in Brasov, which I recommend.

Have you ever been to Bran Castle? Who sounds more interesting to you: Count Dracula the fictional vampire, or real-life Vlad the Impaler?

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