Visit Draculas Castle in Transylvania

Yea. This just doesn’t seem like it would be that fun anymore… Thats why i’m giving up on the goal.

I need to see this place. I love castles, I love Dracula and I think I love Transylvania. It just needs to happen.

I visited Dracula’s Castle in Transilvania in 1974 when I visited
Romania with a college cultural exchange group. We learned about the Dracula legend and how it grew out of the history of a brutal ruler of the area named Vlad The Impaler.

The castle is interesting, the location is beautiful, and the local people are warm and friendly.

. . .yeah. .the idea of me traveling anytime soon. . .isn’t even a glimmer of the baby of possible hope. Taking this off the list.

Yes, I got to visit but we arrived 15 minutes too late. I guess it is a good idea to shut it down before sunset ;) I plan on returning in a year or two and get some better photos – maybe a bite, too.

Bran Castle was built around 1212 by the Teutonic knights (German people). There is no evidence that Vlad III (dracula) actually lived in Bran Castle. The only accounts state he spend two nights in the dungeon during the Ottoman occupation. The castle was first owned by Vlad II father, Mircea the Great. It was Stoker’s novel that brought about the myth – Stoker modeled his character, Dracula, home after Bran castle.

Royal Court of Tirgoviste was Vlad III “home” and was a complex of structures, the most notable being Chindia Tower, now the symbol of the city, build by Vlad III and Poenari castle (now in ruins) which was also rebuilt by Vlad III.

It must be remembered that the family of Vlad II and Vlad III had broken into two warring clans which were under heavy influence from other outside powers. The political structure inside Wallachia was a “elective monarchy” where the nobles of the court could elect their ruler from the royal family. Vlad III was the middle child of Vlad II and had an older and younger brother both fighting for the throne. Assassination, take-overs and exile were not rare.

Vlad III or Draucla ruled as Prince of Wallachia on three occasions. In 1448 for about two months before he was outted and lived in exile. He Returned to kill his rival and ruled from 1456 to 1462 when Wallachia was taken over by the Turks and he fled to Transylvania where Matthias Corvinus of Hungary put him in jail.

By 1476, Vlad III earned the favor of the king and invaded Willachia reclaiming the thrown with the aid of Stephen Bathory (Prince Stephen the Great of Moldavia, Vlad III cousin). A few months later, once Stephen Bathory and his army left, the Turks invaded and Vlad III was killed.

With all this shifting, as anyone can tell, it is hard to name one place that Vlad III lived at or called home. Even during his reins, he shifted between the complex, was building future residences and being the terror that he was. Rather than just visiting one site, it would be far more interesting to historically trace and see the various areas Vlad III and the royal family lived and worked.

They also have a bulletin board you can use to post messages, get answers, etc. Great links to related materials.

Can you believe the name? Also, go to google, click images, and search for “poenari castle”.

Perhaps the full moon would be the best time to be there to get the feelings we crave. Maybe stay a couple of days and nights very close to the Castle. I don’t think I would want to spend a night inside but I’ll at least sleep outside in a tent. But not alone. If we do it together MAYBE we will feel safe. This should be very much fun so have plenty of cameras.