In those days, when the construction of castles in the Loire Valley had just begun, and the construction of the Alcaz Castle of Tolero was almost completed, namely in 1377, the inhabitants of Brasov were ordered to build the Bran Castle (known as "Dracula's Castle"). This construction was led by King Louis I de Anjou. The castle was supposed to become an additional protection of the king's possessions from the aggressive actions taken by the Ottoman port. It is impossible to imagine a tourist trip to Romania without visiting Bran Castle, which has long been the main attraction of this country. The castle is inextricably linked with the famous Count Dracula. Indeed, the architecture of the castle seems to have been specially created in order to make films about this chilling story. The castle, located in the village of Bran, consists of narrow, dizzying corridors,mysterious rooms, creaky wooden stairs. Silence and twilight reign in it.
The real name of Count Dracula is Vlad Tepes or the Ear-beater. This was the prince of Wallachia. Under his leadership, military defensive measures were organized against the aggressive actions of the Turks (in the 15th century). Tepes did not take part in the construction of the castle, but there is information that has come down to us from the Middle Ages that Dracula is still associated with the Bran castle.
The construction of the castle was caused by military necessity, its task was to protect the integrity of the empire, but Bran Castle also served commercial purposes. It also served as a customs point linking Transylvania and Wallachia. The importance of this customs was very great. When crossing this border, merchants were levied a tax equal to three percent of the value of the entire product.
The Bran fortress was protected by a military garrison of twenty-four people. They regularly reported on what was happening on the border section near Brasov, which was equal to thirty kilometers.
Since the 19th century, the castle has been losing its strategic importance. This was due to the emergence of new methods of warfare and the improvement of weapons. At the same time, the customs office is transferred to another place, and Bran Castle ceases to be of economic importance.
In the castle, it will be interesting to visit the Old Capella, the music salon of Queen Mary, the apartments that belonged to King Ferdinand and the secret room.
Today Bran Castle holds the "title" of the most valuable Romanian historical monument dating back to the Middle Ages, regardless of whether it is associated with the name of Dracula. The castle bears witness to the great historical heritage of the past. However, a halo of mystery and mysticism gives it additional charm.