After spending the night in Bilbor and stopping for a short while in Tusnad to look for bears we make our way towards Bran Castle, the most famous of Romania’s castles. We make it in time before closing but even finding parking is difficult, it is very popular with both foreigners and locals due to good marketing. With some difficulty we find the entrance and then we stand in queue for some time before finally being able to enter.
We start with the bottom of the castle exploring the restaurant that is already closing and the small pond while looking up towards the castle, we still have a way to go.
Bran Castle is impressive but it is famous abroad due to very successful marketing. It has been marketed as Dracula’s Castle and it is known as such even though Vlad Tepes or his father, most commonly associated with the Dracula myth, never lived here.
The actual history of Bran Castle however is impressive enough as it stood guard against Ottoman invasion and then served as customs post for hundreds of years. However after the reunification of Romania it become the home of Maria, the Queen of Romania who did extensive changes and renovations. This is the version that we visit today, the queen’s home and less the border fortress.
The exhibits inside are also related to Queen Maria, at least many of them. They are interesting enough, we like seeing period furniture even though some might not be the correct period.
We especially like the room with the secret door, you can take it and go through the secret tunnel to another section of the castle, fun.
We climb to the top for some nice views of the courtyard and of the pass that was protected by the castle. The views are quite beautiful even though we have to stay in line to catch a free spot on the balcony with the overview.
Even getting back in from the balcony is difficult with people blocking the door and then we get lost from each other for a while given the crowd of people. However we meet again at the vampire hunting toolbox, we are all attracted by it. Not sure if it is real or not but quite interesting.
And then we continue to explore the castle, at least some of the rooms are emptier and therefore more fun to visit. We even find a crown on display, it might be the crown of the Queen of Romania, or a copy of course.
Of course there is an armor room and a weapon room but more interesting is the clothing room with typical medieval clothing that would look quite funny today. Wonder how our clothing will be considered hundreds of years from now?
And on we go exploring until it is time for the castle to close, we are the between the last people out. Even the parking lot is emptier, but not empty, wonder if it ever is empty?
Now it is time to drive to Bucharest with a few more stops on the way at a healing spring, supposedly, and to buy some apples. And then we are in Bucharest for a few days before continuing our exploration of Romania.
