@Maier09 15 November 2022

5. Bran Castle. It is one of the most famous and beautiful castles in Romania - if not in the world, initially built in 1212 and destroyed only a few decades later in 1242 by the Mongols. It was destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries, taking the dramatic form we see today in the 14th century. Commonly known outside of Romania as "Dracula's Castle", Bran Castle is often claimed as the inspiration for the famous Count Dracula from Bram Stoker's famous book. However, there are only tenuous associations with Vlad Tepes, the supposed inspiration for Dracula. In fact, there is no evidence at all that Bram Stoker was even aware of the existence of this castle. However, this association was one that the Romanian Communist Party used in the 1970s to encourage tourism, while trying to develop a closer relationship with the West. Today, the private owners of Bran Castle are happy to continue this to bring in tourists. Regardless of this, the dramatic medieval architecture, the interesting history and a well-stocked museum that presents the art and furniture collected by Queen Maria, make Bran Castle one of the most beautiful places to visit in Romania. There is also a cute little open-air museum that features classic Romanian peasant structures such as cottages and barns.