Dracula's Attractions: Bran Castle in Transylvania, Romania

Problem
Which Dracula attraction do you visit? Romanians in London suggested Corvin XCastle, Peles Castle and Dracula Castle. Our group went to Dracula's castle, Bran Castle. Is it scary?

Answers
You have lots of choice but Bran Castle in Bran is easy to find, and makes a good afternoon outing from the historic tourist city of Brasov.

Cafes and souvenir stalls are crowded in the village around the base. Busy, bustling place.

I was afraid of not being allowed in as I arrived near the closing time. Often at these places you are not admitted after an hour before closing time because it will take you an hour to walk up and down around the circuit.

We did not obtain a reduction for those of us of retirement age although I later found literature which listed reductions and seemed to suggest a reduction for pensioners. Reductions are given for children of specific ages.

The Busy Base Area
I had seen pictures of scenery from a window which gave me the impression the castle might be remote but the opposite was the case. In June the narrow streets around the base were like a funfair on a National holiday. The streets were crammed with pedestrians, cars. Depending on your view, some would say tacky or not interesting but I liked the souvenir stalls selling Dracula souvenirs , loads of toys for children, outfits suitable for a fancy dress party, hats, masks, t-shirts of the castle and Dracula, postcards.  Busy cafes were hung with banners offering drinks and food. Pay parking was inevitable and the usual Romanian parking attendants rushing to direct you into a parking spot, ask you to pay and take your money and give you a ticket or point to the pay point.

Why Go?
Firstly, I have only seen one of the 'Dracula' castles but I felt I must see at least one and this is a good one if you are in the area. It is not only about Dracula.

Crowded. We paid in a pay car park and phoned friends to tell them to park in the same parking area with the big blue and white P for Parking sign. Family in another car had already seen the castle by the time my group arrived, so we arranged a meeting point at a nearby cafe. I walk up the slope alone.

Is it Grim?
The dreadful banner showing impalement on the slope up to the entrance was for me the worst thing. But families with children were trudging happily up to the entrance. I suppose it's no worse that Madame Tussaud's and The London Dungeon.

Toilets were at the start. If I come to a shop first, I nip in, so that the place doesn't close and stop me buying my souvenir. I also have time to think about possible purchases and go back.

Once inside, you don't have to concentrate on the gory stuff.

Before you get to the Dracula displays at the top of the buildings the lower floors bring Romanian history alive.

What To See
Lovely furniture, old wood carvings, a giant bed. Something interesting at every turn.

Managing Steps

Very steep stairs with few handrails but I managed them. With two of you, you can help each other. (If you are solo and nobody is looking, you can go before or after others to conquer any fears of falling down a flight. You can have somebody to break your fall, or catch hold of you. Or even go on all fours, holding onto the step above and the walls.) I did not see access for wheelchairs. 

History

Photography is allowed but when we were there in June the place was crowded.  I had to wait to take photos of exhibits.

Lots of old wooden carved furniture, colourful tiles. Whether you like history, or fun fictions, something to interest all ages and tastes.

Quite compact, but several staircases up and down and around the small central void on different levels. 

Dracula At The Top
There's one room of half a dozen torture machines with spikes at the top of the building, all in one place. You can stand in the doorway, read the announcement at the door, glance in and move on.

But even if you are nervous it's hard not to look. It's like passing a car accident. You don't want to look and upset yourself, yet you want to prepare for the worst and are curious.

Dracula
When you get to the Dracula area they make excuses and put Vlad the Impaler into perspective. They say he was no worse than other rulers of his era. Henry V? Bodies displayed on London Bridge? Yes, most countries had nasty things happening both in private and in public - and the same, unfortunately, applies today.

 Lots of displays on the history of Vlad who was in the area. It would be handy to read the history of the area in advance.

Tips
I suggest you buy a new or second hand guide book to Romania, such as Lonely Planet, Rough Guide or another. I saw people reading guide books to Romania they had brought with in English and German.

That saves you having to pay to buy a guidebook at each stop, plus the extra weight of books and leaflets and maps. Use a bookmark with a ribbon. Or punch a hole in a bookmark and add a ribbon. Glue the end of the ribbon to the inside cover or inside of the spine.  Or use a paperclip which you can  paperclip to mark your place for speed.

If you are fast you can use the video button on a mobile phone to get bits of information from a guide speaking in English. That's very helpful if you don't catch what they say the first time, because of your hearing, the crowd or the speaker's accent.

By the way, it's B R A N castle, but B R A M Stoker wrote the Dracula story, based on his travels around the area. How intrepid of the author to travel around Roumania, long before modern means of transport and tourist guides. I thought I was adventurous going to Roumania from London, in the 21st century.

Photos will be added shortly.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.