The Bran Castle

Bran Castle (Dracula s Castle)
 
Built on a cliff lying across the valley, Bran Castle (Dracula s Castle) overlooks the surrounding area. The construction of the citadel was dated November 19, 1377. Conceived as a border citadel that also lodged the customs, this citadel belonged with Brasov City for long periods of time, bringing significant contributions to its treasury. The citadel had four towers, and it could be entered on a draw-bridge. The Gothic portals, the narrow staircases (some of which secret) carved right in the stone, vaulted halls, archways and other architectural elements make it a most exquisite and impressive ensemble.
 
The fame of this place has grown with the time thanks to the feudal art items (including mural paintings dating from 1512) and the exhibits presented here: weapons (a canon from 1601), carpets and furniture items representative of the Renaissance and Baroque styles, and a music hall with Gothic elements. The Castle enjoyed much attention especially while it belonged to the Romanian royal family. The legend that increased the fame of the castle was Dracula s legend, associated to the Romanian Prince Vlad Tepes. An ethnology museum was arranged in the park of the castle to evoke the life of the inhabitants of the close-by area.