Bran Castle: Difference between revisions
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'''Bran Castle''' ({{lang-ro|Castelul Bran}}; {{lang-de|Törzburg}}; {{lang-hu|Törcsvár}}), situated near [[Bran, Brașov|Bran]] and in the immediate vicinity of [[Braşov]], is a national monument and landmark in [[Romania]]. The [[Fortification|fortress]] is situated on the border between [[Transylvania]] and [[Wallachia]], on [[Roads in Romania#Secondary roads|DN73]]. Commonly known as "Dracula's Castle" (although it is one among several locations linked to the [[Count Dracula|Dracula]] legend, including [[Poenari Castle]] and [[Hunyad Castle]]), it is often erroneously referred to as the home of the title character in [[Bram Stoker]]'s ''[[Dracula]]''. There is, however, no evidence that Stoker knew anything about this castle, which has only tangential associations with [[Vlad the Impaler]], [[voivode]] of [[Wallachia]], the putative inspiration for Dracula. As discovered by the Dutch author Hans Corneel de Roos,<ref>“The Ultimate Dracula”, 2012</ref> the location Bram Stoker actually had in mind for Castle Dracula while writing his novel was an empty mountain top, Mount Izvorul Călimanului, {{convert|2033|m|ft}} high, located in the [[Călimani Mountains|Călimani Alps]] near the former border with [[Moldavia]]. Stoker's description of Dracula's crumbling fictional castle also bears no resemblance to Bran Castle. |
'''Bran Castle''' ({{lang-ro|Castelul Bran}}; {{lang-de|Törzburg}}; {{lang-hu|Törcsvár}}), situated near [[Bran, Brașov|Bran]] and in the immediate vicinity of [[Braşov]], is a national monument and landmark in [[Romania]]. The [[Fortification|fortress]] is situated on the border between [[Transylvania]] and [[Wallachia]], on [[Roads in Romania#Secondary roads|DN73]]. Commonly known as "Dracula's Castle" (although it is one among several locations linked to the [[Count Dracula|Dracula]] legend, including [[Poenari Castle]] and [[Hunyad Castle]]), it is often erroneously referred to as the home of the title character in [[Bram Stoker]]'s ''[[Dracula]]''. There is, however, no evidence that Stoker knew anything about this castle, which has only tangential associations with [[Vlad the Impaler]], [[voivode]] of [[Wallachia]], the putative inspiration for Dracula. As discovered by the Dutch author Hans Corneel de Roos,<ref>“The Ultimate Dracula”, 2012</ref> the location Bram Stoker actually had in mind for Castle Dracula while writing his novel was an empty mountain top, Mount Izvorul Călimanului, {{convert|2033|m|ft}} high, located in the [[Călimani Mountains|Călimani Alps]] near the former border with [[Moldavia]]. Stoker's description of Dracula's crumbling fictional castle also bears no resemblance to Bran Castle. |
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The castle is now a museum dedicated to displaying art and furniture collected by [[Marie of Edinburgh|Queen Maria]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bran Castle official website|url=http://www.bran-castle.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Middleton>{{cite news|last=Middleton|first=Christopher|title=Buy a stake in Dracula’s castle|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/luxuryhomes/10817139/Buy-a-stake-in-Draculas-castle.html|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|date=11 May 2014}}</ref> |
The castle is now a museum dedicated to displaying art and furniture collected by [[Marie of Edinburgh|Queen Maria]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bran Castle official website|url=http://www.bran-castle.com|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312032657/http://www.bran-castle.com/|archivedate=2010-03-12|df=}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Middleton>{{cite news|last=Middleton|first=Christopher|title=Buy a stake in Dracula’s castle|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/luxuryhomes/10817139/Buy-a-stake-in-Draculas-castle.html|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|date=11 May 2014}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{commons category|Bran Castle}} |
{{commons category|Bran Castle}} |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100312032657/http://www.bran-castle.com |
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100312032657/http://www.bran-castle.com/ Official Site of Castle Bran] |
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{{Palaces and Castles in Romania}} |
{{Palaces and Castles in Romania}} |
Revision as of 16:18, 24 July 2017
Bran Castle | |
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![]() Bran Castle | |
Alternative names | Mister Valentin's house |
General information | |
Type | Fortress |
Architectural style | Medieval |
Location | Bran, near Braşov, Romania |
Address | Str. G-ral Traian Mosoiu, nr.24, Bran |
Country | Romania |
Coordinates | 45°30′54″N 25°22′02″E / 45.51500°N 25.36722°E |
Elevation | 2,500 feet (760 m) |
Owner | Archduke Dominic of Austria-Tuscany |
Bran Castle (Romanian: Castelul Bran; German: Törzburg; Hungarian: Törcsvár), situated near Bran and in the immediate vicinity of Braşov, is a national monument and landmark in Romania. The fortress is situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia, on DN73. Commonly known as "Dracula's Castle" (although it is one among several locations linked to the Dracula legend, including Poenari Castle and Hunyad Castle), it is often erroneously referred to as the home of the title character in Bram Stoker's Dracula. There is, however, no evidence that Stoker knew anything about this castle, which has only tangential associations with Vlad the Impaler, voivode of Wallachia, the putative inspiration for Dracula. As discovered by the Dutch author Hans Corneel de Roos,[1] the location Bram Stoker actually had in mind for Castle Dracula while writing his novel was an empty mountain top, Mount Izvorul Călimanului, 2,033 metres (6,670 ft) high, located in the Călimani Alps near the former border with Moldavia. Stoker's description of Dracula's crumbling fictional castle also bears no resemblance to Bran Castle.
The castle is now a museum dedicated to displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Maria.[2] 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.[3]
History
Bran Castle is known outside Romania with the name of Dracula’s Castle due to the legend. This castle became known abroad owing to the Irish writer Dracula novel Bram Stoker. The name Dracula comes from the surnames of Vlad the Impaler’s father, the Dracul, he was the member of the Dragon Order. This is the one of the most beautiful medieval castles in Romania.[4] In 1212, Teutonic Knights built the wooden castle of Dietrichstein as a fortified position in the Burzenland at the entrance to a mountain pass through which traders had travelled for more than a millennium, but in 1242 it was destroyed by the Mongols. The first documented mentioning of Bran Castle is the act issued by Louis I of Hungary on 19 November 1377, giving the Saxons of Kronstadt (Brașov) the privilege to build the stone castle on their own expense and labor force; the settlement of Bran began to develop nearby. 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. It is believed the castle was briefly held by Mircea the Elder of Wallachia (r. 1386–1395, 1397–1418) during whose period the customs point was established. The Wallachian ruler Vlad Țepeș (Vlad the Impaler; 1448–1476) does not seem to have had a significant role in the history of the fortress, although he passed several times through the Bran Gorge. Bran Castle belonged to the Hungarian Kings but due to the failure of King Vladislas II (r. 1471–1516) to repay loans, the city of Brasov regained possession of the fortress in 1533. Bran played a militarily strategic role up to the mid-18th century.[5]
In 1920 the Treaty of Trianon deprived Hungary of Transylvania, and the castle became a royal residence within the Kingdom of Romania. It became the favorite home and retreat of Queen Marie, who ordered its extensive renovation conducted by the Czech architect Karel Zdeněk Líman. The castle was inherited by her daughter Princess Ileana who ran a hospital there in World War II: it was later seized by the communist regime with the expulsion of the royal family in 1948.[3]
In 2005, the Romanian government passed a special law allowing restitution claims on properties illegally expropriated, such as Bran, and thus a year later the castle was awarded ownership to American Dominic von Habsburg, the son and heir of Princess Ileana.[6][7]
In September 2007, an investigation committee of the Romanian Parliament stated that the retrocession of the castle to Archduke Dominic was illegal, as it broke the Romanian law on property and succession.[8] However, in October 2007 the Constitutional Court of Romania rejected the parliament's petition on the matter. In addition, an investigation commission of the Romanian government issued a decision in December 2007 reaffirming the validity and legality of the restitution procedures used and confirming that the restitution was made in full compliance with the law.[9][10]
On 18 May 2009, the Bran Castle administration was transferred from the government to the administration of Archduke Dominic and his sisters Maria-Magdalena Holzhausen and Elisabeth Sandhofer. On 1 June 2009, the Habsburgs opened the refurbished castle to the public as the first private museum of the country and disclosed with Bran Village a joint strategic concept to maintain their domination in the Romanian tourist circuit and to safeguard the economic base in the region.
Image gallery
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The castle in 2012.
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Off the beaten path.
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View from the main walkway.
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View from the upstairs balcony.
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View of the courtyard.
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View from inside.
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Secret passage inside the castle, connecting the first and third floors.
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Cross in the castle gardens.
See also
- Poenari Castle, an authentic Vlad the Impaler castle ruin
- Corvin Castle a.k.a. Hunedoara Castle or Hunyadi Castle
- Castles in Romania
- Tourism in Romania
References
- ^ “The Ultimate Dracula”, 2012
- ^ "Bran Castle official website". Archived from the original on 2010-03-12.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b Middleton, Christopher (11 May 2014). "Buy a stake in Dracula's castle". Daily Telegraph.
- ^ Concierge services
- ^ Medieval history of the fortress from the official website Archived October 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Son stakes Dracula castle claim". BBC News. 26 May 2006. Retrieved 9 January 2007.
- ^ "N.Y. heir to get Dracula's digs". New York Daily News. 24 May 2006. Archived from the original on January 27, 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2007.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Camera Deputaților: Castelul Bran a fost retrocedat ilegal - Realitatea TV - Politică Archived October 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Mediafax in Rumanian
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Official press release in Rumanian
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)