Hello,everybody!I think that anyone has heard about Dracula from Bram Stoker's book.Today I want to tell you about Vlad the Impaler as we,the romanian people see him.
Vlad the Impaler was voivode of Wallachia three times between 1448 and his death.The entire world thinks that the stories about vampires started in Transilvanya at his castle,The Bran Castle.Well this stories are just myths,because Dracula started from Vlad's father who was a member of The Order of Dragons,an order that can be compared with Knights of Malta or Teutonic Knights.Their order symbol was a dragon and every member had a tattoo with a dragon on their back.Their purpose was to stop the extension of The Ottoman Empire.He was named Vlad Dracul because of the Order and from there appeared the name Dracula.
There are a lot of legends and stories about Vlad the Impaler,but I like the most this one:''A merchant from Hungary came in Transilvanya and Vlad ordered him to let his carriage unattended in the middle of the city.Vlad was sure that his people won't steal from that carriage.Although,the second morning 160 coins were missing from that carriage.Vlad sent his troops to search for the thief and he promised the merchant that if he couldn't find him he would burn the city.Vlad himself went to put the merchant's money back from his own treasury.But he didn't put only 160 coins,he put 161.The merchant observed and went in front of Vlad to tell him.Vlad said that if he wouldn't told him about the coin that he put,he would be killed like the thief.''
Vlad was a cruel voivode,but he was loved by his people and in the time he has ruled Wallachia,there were very few thiefs and the people were very honest.He was living in the Bran Castle,a fortress which is opened nowadays too.The Bran Castle is sited at the entrance to the Rucăr - Bran passage, on the road connecting Braşov to Câmpulung, overtowered by the peaks of the Bucegi and the Piatra Craiului Mountains. Bran is less than 30 km far from Braşov, when following the national route 73, which leaves Braşov by its West end, through the Bartolomeu district. The distance to Bucharest is of less than 200 km.The prices are very low:
-for adults:7.8euros
-for student:4.5euros
-for pupils:1.5euros
The inside is majestic and you feel like you are time traveling back in th 15th century.You can see a lot of daggers and swords and you can even sleep there.I hope you enjoyed my post and you will come to visit Dracula's home in Transilvanya.
