I'm sure you all remember the movie "Dracula". The famous Irish writer Bram Stoker, who never even visited Romania, created the character of the vampire Count Dracula in his novel, and Vlad III Cepes from Wallachia served as his character. His film has been screened several times, but the most watched is "Dracula" from 1992 with Keanu Reeves, Vanon Ryder, Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins in the lead roles.When I went to Braun Castle a few years ago, I also learned why it is called Dracula's Castle.Vlad the Impaler, a Romanian national hero who ruled Wallachia, a medieval principality in present-day Romania, in the 15th century. Brave but cruel, he impaled captured Turks, his opponents and compatriots, on sharpened wooden stakes for the slightest moral transgression, leaving them to die in the most agonizing agony. He received the nickname Dracula after the Order of the Dragon, of which his father was a member.The Hungarian king Matija Hunjadi caught him and imprisoned him in this castle, where he spent two months. He was supposed to eliminate Vlad Cepesh in exchange for the Turks no longer attacking Hungary. However, because of his father's friendship with Dracula, i.e. Vlad Cepeš, he could not kill him, but imprisoned him in Bran Castle.That's how the legend of Count Dracula - vampire Dracula and Castle Braun - was born.
The approach to the castle leads up the hill, along a stone path that has been used by merchants, soldiers and travelers for centuries.The entrance to the interior of the castle leads through narrow corridors and stairs. The rooms are connected by passages that sometimes narrow sharply, and the stairs are steep and winding.In some rooms, there are exposed pieces of furniture, weapons and objects from different periods.As I listened to the explanations and read the inscriptions, I realized how far the myth has strayed from actual history over time. Still, the castle's atmosphere makes it easy to believe in stories of vampires and dark secrets.I continued my tour through the rooms that once served as chambers, dining rooms and guest rooms.
One of the more interesting parts of the tour was passing through secret passages. One such passage connects two rooms and is hidden behind a wall. When I slipped through it, I realized how adapted the castle was to defense and surprise situations. These passages were used for escape or quick movement through the castle, but today they are one of the details that further stimulate the imagination of visitors.
On the upper floors there are rooms dedicated to Queen Mary, who at the beginning of the 20th century gave the castle a different role. Her personal items, photographs and furniture speak of the period when Bran was a royal residence
As I left the castle, I carried with me the impression of having traveled through time, between real events and the stories that made it famous throughout the world.
Thanks for reading my post
Dragan
