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Romania to Buy Dracula's Castle

by Iva Skoch on Jan 11th 2007 at 9:55AM

The state of Romania has made one of its first announcements as a new EU member loud and clear: they want to buy the medieval fortress in Transylvania, Bran Castle (known also as "Dracula's Castle") back from the former royal family of Habsburgs, Reuters reports. The price tag? 60 million Euros.

The castle was confiscated from the Habsburgs by the communists after WWII and just last year the former royal family got it back through restitution.

The fortress was never actually part of Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula". However, Romania's 15th century ruler Vlad Tepes who visited there, served as an inspiration for the author. The castle has been a tourist attraction ever since.

Filed under: History, Learning, Europe, Romania

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Darin Jensen Jan 15th 2007 10:23PM

I have been to this castle and found it very fascinating . Thankfully, there's no mention whatsoever of Dracula within the walls of the castle. Instead, it's all pure history. Unfortunately, the parking lot at the bottom of the hill (it's a bit of a hike to the castle) is filled with vendors selling every imaginable Dracula doodad.

robert seaton Jan 18th 2007 7:28PM

Someone already bought dracs
castle ?? well, that just sucks.

mary Jan 18th 2007 8:12PM

i enjoy it

Klicc Jan 18th 2007 8:24PM

Sure looks pretty cool, man I'd love to see inside of there~

Bob smith Jan 18th 2007 8:29PM

if they have like haff a brain then theyd no not to move into a place with the name "dracula" in it. i would be creepd out just seein the freaky place. looks like its got a ton of ghosts

mary ellen orr Jan 18th 2007 8:40PM

I have the perfect man who should live there he has sucked the life right out of me truly! Not good

Shannon Jan 18th 2007 8:42PM

The guy that owns the castle lives only a few towns over from me, in North Salem, NY. I read a newspaper article about it a while back. He's just a normal average guy...he's a US citizen, don't remember if he's foreign born or naturalized. But he was the next descendant in line for it when the castle was restituted.

Cooter Jan 18th 2007 8:52PM

I think its great that the Romainians are obtaining the castle. I hope they continue to keep it open, maintain it, and fund it properly. If they do it right, it will continue to generate tourist dollars. Have not been there, but seems like a good place.

stephen safka Jan 18th 2007 8:57PM

Wondering of any ghost stories there???? Steve

Denise Jan 18th 2007 9:03PM

I was born in Romania. I have been to the castle many times. It is so great to be there. It really means a lot to my country if we got it back, it is a historic site for the wars against the Ottoman Empire and Russia taking over. My grandmother was there during the times of the wars.

Dracula Jan 18th 2007 9:11PM

I want my castle back! Blahhhh Blahhhhh Blahhhhhhh

Elaine Jan 18th 2007 9:11PM

I've been a Dracula fan since I was a young child back in the 1960's. Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle) has been featured on a number of t.v. programs. And I'm sure if you checked on ebay or the library you could find books and booklets that have many photos of the inside of the castle and lots of information.

Emilee Jan 18th 2007 9:14PM

my friend was wanting to buy the castle....she loves it.
its actually very nice.

DRACULA'S BRO Jan 18th 2007 9:19PM

MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAAAAAA
DRACULA IS A NITWIT! I SHALL DOMINATE HIM...... MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHHAAAAAAAAA

Kathi Jan 18th 2007 9:27PM

Interesting info on Bran Castle. I was there four years ago, and the inside is fascinating (it even has secret staircases). Most of the furniture is from the time that Vlad the Impaler lived there. It has a beautiful view of Moldavia, and yes, the vendors down the hill are thick -- but the deals are fabulous. Quite the hike up the hill, not for the out-of-shape! Definitely a must-see, and the rest of Romania is absolutely gorgeous and unspoiled.

Janelle Jan 18th 2007 9:31PM

I read a book called "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova. It is fiction, but it has some of the history of Vlad the "Impaler" aka Drakula. I just finished reading it when the castle went up for sale. It's pretty interesting actually.

Nancy Pegarella Jan 18th 2007 9:40PM

Back in the 60's we visited the castle and found it beautiful. Very well appointed with fantastic architecture and furnishings. A taxi cab driver acted as our tour guide (common back then). I think we paid him the equivalent of $5 (20 Marks back then). That was for a group of 5!! He may not have known the entire history and may have made up the whole story, but he was amazing!! Made us laugh sometimes. Also, was able to point out things that only the "locals" knew. Another poster pointed out souvenir sellers. Weren't any in the 60's. LOL But the climb to the castle was daunting. Even for my then young legs.

Michael Jan 18th 2007 9:42PM

There are conflicting stories in the press about how much time Vlad "The Impaler" Tepes actually spent there. One report has him spending only one night...
If that is true, one would surmise that there is another locale that would qualify more as his
actual home.