BRAN CASTLE

Bran Castle is a historical and architectural monument, located in Bran-Rucăr Gorge, at 30 km from Brasov . Initially, Bran Castle was a “gorge” citadel used for military purpose, in the shape of an irregular quadrilateral. Bran Castle is built on a rock in a key strategic point of view. A document issued by King Louis I of Hungary (1342-1382) on 19 November 1377 in Zvolen confirms the right of the Saxons of Brasov Seat to raise, as promised, on their own expense and with their craftsmen, a new citadel made of stone at BranThe reference in the document in 1377 on a "new citadel made of stone", allows the inference that the stone citadel, which was to be built on the site, was preceded by an earlier border reinforcement. This citadel, probably made of wood, might have been raised by the Teutonic Knights between 1211-1225. It is attributed to the magistrate Theodorikus. In the thirteenth century the territory of Bran Citadel was subject to the jurisdiction of the Royal County of Alba Iulia.

In 1395 Sigismund of Luxembourg, German Emperor and King of Hungary, used Bran Castle as a strategic base for a foray into Wallachia, and as a consequence he placed the ruler Vlad the Usurper, a rival of Mircea the Elder, his vassal.

In 1407 Sigismund granted Mircea the Elder with Bran Castle and Bologna . Bran remains under the authority of Wallachia until 1419 .

In 1427 the ownership of Bran Castle passed from the Brasov Seat to the Hungarian crown, which financed its fortification and expansion. In 1498 Bran Castle was leased by the Hungarian royalty to the Brasov Seat.

In 1920, Brasov City Council donated the Bran Castle to Queen Marie of Romania , in recognition of her contribution to the achievement of the Great Union of December 1, 1918. The queen arranged it left it as an inheritance to her daughter, Princess Ileana, sister of King Charles II. After the expulsion from the country of the royal family in 1948, Bran Castle became the property of the Romanian State, being abandoned and devastated. The castle was then reopened for the public visits in 1956 and it was arranged as part of history and feudal art museum.

In 1987 its restoration began, and the work was completed in 1993.

Although it is part of the touristic circuit and folklore as Dracula’s castle.

The Castle currently shelters Bran Museum, a museum that covers all four floors of the castle. The museum displays collections of pottery, furniture, weapons and armors, and in the castle's courtyard there is a small village museum, with traditional houses from the Rucar-Bran-Pass.