Bran Castle, RomaniaBran Castle is one of the most impressive architectural tourist attractions in Romania, marked by both history and legend. It's captivating from the first sight, because of its position on a high rock, dominating the surrounding area. It is near Brasov, surrounded by marvelous landscapes, as the castle lies between the Bucegi and Piatra Craiului Mountains, at the entrance of Rucar - Bran Pass.
It was built between 1377 - 1378 in the Turcului Gorges (the Turks' Gorges) by Ludovic I, in Renaissance style and first attested in 1377, in a letter written by Ludovic I D'Anjou. Its tumultuous history had just started, as the castle passed at the end of the 14th century from the rule of Sigismund under the rule of Mircea cel Batran, and few years later was got back by the Hungarians and subordinated to the authority of Szeklers Committee. In the 15th century the castle was ruled by Iancu de Hunedoara who fortified its towers in order to protect against the Turks' invasions and then passed under the control of people of Brasov, actually under the rule of the merchants, being used mainly for treading. In 1920 the people of Brasov offered it as a gift to Queen Marie, becoming her favourite residence.
The castle seems to turn you back in time, making you feel the frisson of the past and it is carrying you then back into the present, enriching your soul and knowledge.
Those that built the castle managed to combine wood with rock, resulting an interesting and unique architecture. Having in turn a protective and then a commercial purpose, the castle presents architectural features that emphasize its roles. The passing towards South was closed by two rows of stone and brick walls, while on the North side, there was a donjon with an observation point at the top. The walls around had rectangular fire holes as all the other Transylvanian fortresses used to have, in order to defend against the invasions of the time. The gate's tower was at the beginning round, but it was rebuilt in 1625 in rectangular form, the only accessible way to reach this entrance being climbing a ladder. The castle passed through a lot of changes along the time, and in the 16th century, the the wax - paper from the windows were replaced with glass and the shingle used for the roof was replaced with tiles. The process of modernization didn't stop here, and the prince Gabriel Bethlen also brought changes in the castle's architecture, building one more rectangular tower, a square tower and the present gate. Major changes occurred during 1920 - 1930, when the castle was occupied by Queen Maria. So, the fire holes were turned into windows and the stoves into fireplaces. Towers were also added to the stairs. She actually turned the castle, from a defensive one into a pleasant and nice residence, enriching it with great embellishments.
The rooms and the towers of the castle surround the inner courtyard, where is a sculpted stone fountain in the middle of it, which is said to conceal a labyrinth of secret underground passages, that connect some of the rooms with the inner court. There are also secret chambers, a prison and watchtowers that prove again the roles of the castle along the time. Inside the castle, the furniture is original comprising a rich collection of Romanian and foreign furniture, as well as art objects, dating from 14th - 19th centuries. Remarkable are the collections of Baroque furniture, the great carved beds, as well as the weapons and the armors that decorate the rooms.
But it's not only the history that makes the castle one of the most attractive one, but also the legend related with Dracula, as Bran is a castle fit for a vampire. Therefore, Bran Castle became well known in time as Dracula's castle thanks to Bram Stocker. It was not built by Vlad Tepes, the Wallachian Prince, as some might still believe. Bran castle is associated with Vlad Tepes, upon whom Bram Stoker based his vampire Count Dracula, because of what history says, that Vlad Tepes might have sought refuge for a few days in Bran in 1462 after the Turks’ attack on Poienari. Even the researchers are still trying to find out the secret and the truth about Dracula, thing that might be useless, because, how can someone not to believe in this legend when the narrow corridors, the secret chambers, the towers and the mysterious labyrinth are so fit for hiding a vampire!
Therefore Bran Castle is really worth seeing, either as an architectural masterpiece or a bleak legend.
If you decide to visit Bran Castle it's always a good thing to ask the guides since they are real walking encyclopedias and whether you are interested in history or want to find out more about the real identity of Vlad Tepes, they will certainly give you valuable information regarding the issues.
Location: the village of Bran, 498 Traian Mosoiu Street; 16 miles southwest of Brasov;
Accessibility: road; Buses leave from Brasov’s bus station, Autogara 2 and are marked ‘Moieciu-Bran; The journey takes 40 minutes;
Open: Tuesday through Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and until 4 p.m. from October to April;
Entrance Fee: Lei 60,000 for adults (approximately$2 US );
Tours: readily organized on spot;
Nearby attractions: the city of Brasov (16 miles), Peles Castle in Sinaia (35 miles), Rasnov Fortress (7 miles), ski resorts in Predeal (15 miles) and Poiana Brasov (10 miles), Bucharest (110 miles), Sighisoara (88 miles), Sibiu (96 miles);
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Rasnov Fortress CrucifixSomewhere between Brasov (15 Km South-West) and roughly the same distance from Bran Castle lies the Rasnov Fortress, watching the gorge from about 200 meters above the small Rasnov Village. The Citadel was built around 1215 by the Teutonic Knights as a strategic military point, meant to control the pass linking Transylvania with Wallachia. Along its history, it was conquered only once in 1600 by Gabriel Bathory.
On the outside, the surrounding bastions, towers and ramparts make you believe that once inside you can only find a bunch of military barracks and artifacts. Once inside, there's another world opening its doors, a blend of military items and peaceful village. The houses were built on different height levels,
creating an intricate maize, able to convey the mood of a small village base on trade within Bran Gorges but prepared to efficiently withstand enemy attacks.
There were at least 30 houses, chapel, and a school. The former glory of Rasnov Fortress is brought to light once more by an ongoing restauration process.
The inner museum displays a wide range of artifacts from genuine weaponry, traditional costumes and tools.
The legend goes that the inner well of the fortress (134 meters deep) was dug by 2 turk prisoners for 34 years, on the promise they would be released once upon its completion. It seems they weren't able to accomplish their job, therefore they've never been released.
The entrance fee is 10 Ron (about 3 Euro). Inside the fortress you can also buy various souvenirs and things
to remind you of the place.
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The Romanian Sphinx, Bucegi Mountains, RomaniaThe Romanian Sphinx is a rock formation which seen from a certain angle has a strong human resemblance, with distinct lips, prominent forehead, leaving a general impression of dignity.
Situated on the plateau of Bucegi Mountains (2,216m), The Romanian Sphinx measures 8 meters in height and 12 meters in width, having thus a similar size with the world famous Sphinx of Gizeh.
Its spectacular appearance gave birth to various hypothesis regarding its genesis, starting with the geological factors (wind, rain, processes of freezing an thawing, etc) and going to more unusual explanations such as an old civilization (The Pelasgi) who carved it as a representation
of their supreme deity.
There are voices that claim that the Sphinx of Gizeh might actually be a copy of the Sphinx in the Romanian Carpathians.
Close to the Sphinx you can also find another mushroom shaped rock formation called Babele (The old women), 3.5 meters in height.
Both formations are shaped in limestone and grit stone, in a harsh environment snowy all year round, with annual temperatures of -2.6 degrees, strong winds and storms during winters.
Whatever their genesis and purpose, one fact is beyond doubt: once there, you can't stop admiring them and feel indeed the urge to find a reason for their existence.
The access is very easy by cable car from Busteni. Very close to the Sphinx there's a mountain chalet (Cabana Babele) where you can extend your stay or seek shelter from the moody weather.
The people working at the Babele chalet say that they are used to having four seasons in one day, therefore be prepared with warm clothes even during summertime.
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