Bran Castle
Fourteenth-century hilltop castle above the Bran pass, later a royal residence and museum.
Bran Castle stands on a rocky outcrop guarding the pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. In 1377 King Louis I of Hungary granted the Saxons of Brasov the right to build a stone fortress on the site, and work was finished by 1388. For centuries it served as a customs post and border stronghold, passing between the Hungarian crown, the princes of Transylvania and the town of Brasov. Its narrow stairways, inner courtyard and irregular plan follow the shape of the rock beneath.
In 1920 the castle was given to Queen Marie of Romania, who had it adapted as a country residence with the help of the architect Karel Liman. Her furniture, textiles and personal collections form the core of the present display, arranged over four floors around the courtyard. Confiscated in 1948 and returned to her descendants in 2009, the castle now operates as a museum. Its association with Bram Stoker's Dracula, though not historical, draws large numbers of visitors.
Highlights
- Fortress built by the Saxons of Brasov and finished in 1388
- Interiors furnished as Queen Marie's royal residence
- Inner courtyard with well and secret stairway
- Royal park and village museum in the grounds
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