Get your guide to Castle Bran!
Embark on an unforgettable journey to Bran Castle, where history meets legend!
Embark on an unforgettable journey to Bran Castle, where history meets legend! Discover the castle’s fascinating transformation from a 14th-century fortress to a royal residence under Queen Marie. Our guided tours offer insight into its strategic importance and architectural evolution. Explore the myths of Dracula and learn about Vlad the Impaler, whose story is intricately tied to the castle.
Whether you’re intrigued by the gothic architecture or captivated by the supernatural legends, Bran Castle offers a unique experience. Complete your visit with nearby exhibitions, secret tunnels, and a taste of local culture. Join us for an enriching and memorable adventure!
Guided Tour In Bran Castle
For an unforgettable journey, you have the option to book a guided tour to Bran Castle.
Bran Castle appears for the first time mentioned in historical documents on November 19, 1377 in an act issued by the King of Hungary, Ludovic I of Anjou, by which the Brasovians were given the privilege to build a stone fortress in the Rucăr-Bran pass.
Until the end of the 15th century the fortress was the property of the Hungarian kings, but with the end of the 15th century, this fortified fortress came under the jurisdiction of the Szekler committee and under the leadership of the Transylvanian voivode during the reign of Iancu de Hunedoara. Also in this period, Vlad Țepeș’s connection with Bran Castle appears in the context in which Iancu de Hunedoara entrusts his ally after losing the throne of the Romanian Country to defend the passage to Transylvania, which is also the purpose of this fortification, a military fortress.
On December 1, 1920, after the achievement of the Great Union, the City Council of Brasov donates Bran Castle to Queen Mary as a symbol of gratitude for his contribution to the constitution of Greater Romania. Following this is a period of restoration that takes place under the leadership of the architect of the Royal Court, Carol Liman. It transforms the castle into a royal residence, one of the queen’s favorite places, a place that competed in his heart with the castle from Balchik.
In 1938, Bran Castle was donated by will to Princess Ileana, the daughter of Queen Maria, in 1948 her castle was seized by the communist regime and made state property. That was also the year the royal family was expelled from the country. Under the communist regime, the castle became a museum of history and feudal art, but in 1987 it was closed due to the state of degradation and reopened after the fall of communism and after some restoration work in 1993.
Currently Bran Castle hides several lovely attractions.
The Tea House is one of them. The building preserves the old architecture and the original line from the time of Queen Mary. It had tints about afternoon tea and was fond of English twinings precisely because of its provenance, it was half English. The restaurant terrace near The Tea House was the place where the queen and her guests served tea and relaxed. Today, all kinds of goodies can be served here for all pockets. The Tea House is located in the Royal Park which has two beautiful lakes, and the restaurant terrace is one of them.
Another attraction, a brilliant idea that was implemented in July 2018, is the Time Tunnel. The Time Tunnel is a lift that goes down 32 to the 36 meter tunnel. The idea is much older dating back to 1930 when Regina Maria and architect Carol Liman decided that the well of the well dug here centuries ago is suitable for installing a lift powered by an electric motor. The horizontal gallery was dug in stone to connect with the Royal Park at the foot of the castle. This project has been forgotten for a long time, but the Time Tunnel made in these galleries bears the old perspective. The tunnel unites the times, ascends in the past and then descends into the future, living pictures and HD images, the soundtrack linking the medieval times and the times of Queen Mary to the present. All these multimedia devices create the necessary atmosphere to interact effectively with the personalities that have marked the history of the castle: Mircea cel Bătrân, Vlad Țepeș, Mihai Viteazu, Regina Maria or the fictional image of Count Dracula.
In the eastern tower of the castle, it was accidentally discovered during the Queen Mary, a secret stone staircase, a passage that nowadays arouses much interest from tourists. The passage is narrow by several tens of centimeters.
Another attraction of the domain is the queen’s bedroom. The bedroom was restored after old photos. The doors of the room are those from 1693 and constitute the oldest objects in the castle, but most of the pieces inside the room except the Tuscan stoves from the 17th-18th centuries are faithful copies of the originals.
The Torture Room is a place in the castle very attractive for tourists. In this room there are exhibited 50 objects of medieval torture, copies of the originals. There is also a sharp spike, although not very representative, because the original spikes preferred by Vlad Țepeș were those rounded at the end and anointed with lard to produce a deep pain.
What makes Bran Castle a famous attraction is the myth of Count Dracula built by Bram Stoker in his novel Dracula, which appeared in the UK in 1897. The characters in this novel are the result of the author’s fantasy, but the facts of Count Dracula and his ending are based on Romanian popular beliefs in evil forces such as vampires or poltergeist.
Although the historical data does not support the long-standing presence of Vlad Țepeș at Bran Castle, however there is the image in the area of a voivode who, like a vampire, was feeding on the blood of his enemies. The administrators of Bran Castle and the tourism officials in Romania are linked to this legend and highlight Vlad Țepeș’s connection with Bran Castle as a source of inspiration for the novel, and the scary charm of the place greatly helps the story penciled around the castle.
The real Dracula - Vlad the Impalare
By most accounts, Vlad III was born in 1431 in what is now Transylvania, the central region of modern-day Romania. However, the link between Vlad the Impaler and Transylvania is tenuous…
“[Stoker’s] Dracula is linked to Transylvania, but the real, historic Dracula — Vlad III — never owned anything in Transylvania”. Bran Castle, a modern-day tourist attraction in Transylvania that is often referred to as Dracula’s castle, was never the residence of the Wallachian prince.
“Because the castle is in the mountains in this foggy area and it looks spooky, it’s what one would expect of Dracula’s castle, but he [Vlad III] never lived there. He never even stepped foot there.”
Vlad III’s father, Vlad II, did own a residence in Sighişoara, Transylvania, but it is not certain that Vlad III was born there. It’s also possible, that Vlad the Impaler was born in Târgovişte, which was at that time the royal seat of the principality of Wallachia, where his father was a “voivode,” or ruler.
In the eastern tower of the castle, it was accidentally discovered during the Queen Mary, a secret stone staircase, a passage that nowadays arouses much interest from tourists. The passage is narrow by several tens of centimeters.
Another attraction of the domain is the queen’s bedroom. The bedroom was restored after old photos. The doors of the room are those from 1693 and constitute the oldest objects in the castle, but most of the pieces inside the room except the Tuscan stoves from the 17th-18th centuries are faithful copies of the originals.
The Torture Room is a place in the castle very attractive for tourists. In this room there are exhibited 50 objects of medieval torture, copies of the originals. There is also a sharp spike, although not very representative, because the original spikes preferred by Vlad Țepeș were those rounded at the end and anointed with lard to produce a deep pain.
What makes Bran Castle a famous attraction is the myth of Count Dracula built by Bram Stoker in his novel Dracula, which appeared in the UK in 1897. The characters in this novel are the result of the author’s fantasy, but the facts of Count Dracula and his ending are based on Romanian popular beliefs in evil forces such as vampires or poltergeist.
Although the historical data does not support the long-standing presence of Vlad Țepeș at Bran Castle, however there is the image in the area of a voivode who, like a vampire, was feeding on the blood of his enemies. The administrators of Bran Castle and the tourism officials in Romania are linked to this legend and highlight Vlad Țepeș’s connection with Bran Castle as a source of inspiration for the novel, and the scary charm of the place greatly helps the story penciled around the castle.
Transportation: Bus or Private car We prioritize your comfort and convenience. Our service will pick you up from your hotel or preferred location at a time that suits you, up until 11:00 AM. Enjoy your vacation without the stress of early mornings—relax, and let us take care of the rest. What is included:
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