Romania > Dracula's Castle

Apart from the bed creaking and squeaking a lot, I slept very well. After everyone has taken a shower, we walk into the center of Brasov. It’s quite chilly outside, much cooler than the past few days. In the basement of a breakfast restaurant, we order eggs with coffee. Afterward, we return to the apartment. We don’t leave until after eleven o’clock, heading towards Bran Castle. At the parking lot, we have to pay almost twice as much as we expected. This has made it a rather expensive night after all. We probably misunderstood the rate board. It doesn’t get any better. We drive out of the city towards Bran, a trip of about half an hour. Around noon, we arrive at the historic castle. A parking spot has just become free, so we quickly park the car. There are more people wanting to visit the castle. We join the queue already before the entrance. Slowly, we get closer to the entrance.

Romania - Bran Castle is described in the stories of Dracula

Inside the castle, there is a fixed route that everyone must follow. We follow the people from room to room. The castle was built in the 14th century and later expanded. Originally, the fortress served as a customs post between Transylvania and Wallachia. In the 15th century, the castle was used for defense against the Ottomans. Later, in 1920, it became the summer residence of Queen Marie of Romania. In 1897, the castle was the inspiration for the writer Abraham Stoker for his Dracula stories. Because of this, the castle is also called the “Castle of Dracula.” However, Vlad the Impaler, the historical figure on whom the Dracula story is based, never actually lived in the castle. Because of the large number of visitors and the narrow passages and stairs, we sometimes have to wait before we can continue.

Romania - Originally the fortress served as a customs post

On the top floor, some objects related to Dracula are displayed. Afterwards, we walk along the balustrade back to the courtyard. It was a nice visit to the castle. At a restaurant near the castle, we order lunch. We expect extreme tourist prices here, but it’s actually quite reasonable. At three o’clock, we head back toward Brasov. For tonight, we park the car in a different spot than the expensive location from yesterday. Here, the maximum parking fee is “only” 24 Lei for 24 hours (about five euros). The rest of the afternoon, everyone does what they feel like. I walk past the Black Church of Brasov toward the edge of the center. In the park, I climb Mount Tampa, which borders Brasov. Using a zigzag path, I climb about four hundred meters.

Romania - From the mountains there is a beautiful view over the city of Braov

Due to recent rain, the stones on the path are slippery. I slip occasionally. Carefully, I keep climbing. After about an hour, I reach the top of the mountain. Here stand the large letters “Brasov,” visible from everywhere in the city. Standing beneath the letters, I realize just how big they are. I estimate about eight meters high. The view of the city of Brasov is beautiful. I can see the church, the square, and our apartment. It is already past half past five. I don’t stay too long on top and walk back down the same route. While descending, I have to be even more careful on the slippery parts. I slip dangerously a few times but luckily manage to stay upright. Still, it crosses my mind what I should do if I fell painfully here. Fortunately, this does not happen, and I arrive safely at the bottom. In the evening, we eat on a terrace in the center. The streets are busy. Large groups of people stroll through the streets. The square is also crowded this Friday evening. This makes Brasov a nice, lively, and bustling city.

Romania - One of the many terraces the city of Braov has to offer