The Origins of Dracula's Castle - Behind The Myth

The fictional character of Count Dracula is known to everyone and is probably the most popular vampire out there. His castle is perched on superlative of a cliff and is as spooky as you lot'd imagine it. A less known-detail is that there's actually a real castle located in Romania which is thought to have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker's novel. It'due south called the Bran Castle and you lot can actually visit information technology any time yous want.

The Bran castle is perched on top of a hill, this being a strategic location for a fortress View in gallery
The Bran castle is perched on tiptop of a hill, this existence a strategic location for a fortress
The panorama is dreamy, both when climbing towards the castle and when admiring it from the top View in gallery
The panorama is dreamy, both when climbing towards the castle and when admiring it from the pinnacle

The beginning – a castle used as a fortress

And then how much well-nigh the castle and the grapheme is inspired past reality and how much is fiction and myth? In society to be able to answer to this question we need to know about Dracula's castle, the one from Transylvania.

The current design of the castle is not the original one. Some of the towers were added during the numerous restorations View in gallery
The current blueprint of the castle is non the original one. Some of the towers were added during the numerous restorations
Initially, the Bran castle was built to serve as a fortress but its location also made it serve as a custom house View in gallery
Initially, the Bran castle was built to serve as a fortress but its location likewise made it serve as a custom firm

Its story starts in 1388. That's when the construction of the castle was completed. At that point the edifice served a double purpose. It was a fortress meant to stop the expansion of the Ottoman Empire towards that item region but it also served as a custom business firm for the unabridged Transylvanian expanse. At first, the castle was inhabited by mercenary soldiers.

The interior courtyards are well protected by the fortress walls View in gallery
The interior courtyards are well protected by the fortress walls
Certain parts of the castle are in ruin, showing its history View in gallery
Certain parts of the castle are in ruin, showing its history
The later additions to the original castle were made in the same architectural style View in gallery
The later additions to the original castle were fabricated in the aforementioned architectural manner

In 1723 the starting time renovation was completed. That'south when the Northern belfry was added. Starting with the year 1836 the castle no longer served as a custom house and its function was purely administrative. In 1886 an ample restoration process focused on repairing the damage suffered during the revolution of 1848 besides every bit that done past floods and the passing the time.

The views from the towers and the terraces at the top are extraordinary and worth the climb View in gallery
The views from the towers and the terraces at the top are extraordinary and worth the climb
The roof tiles are an addition done during one of the major restorations and remodels of the castle View in gallery
The roof tiles are an addition done during one of the major restorations and remodels of the castle

Adjacent pace – a royal residence

Then followed a 30 year period (1888-1918) during which the prestige of the castle weakened. Inhabited by wood rangers and inspectors, information technology didn't stand up out too much. Things inverse in 1920 when the Bran Castle became the favorite residence of Queen Mary of Romania. She requested a complete restoration and remodel which was washed past architect Karel Liman. The unabridged procedure was completed in 1932 when the castle became a royal residence.

Visitors are welcomed inside the castle through a massive pair of wooden doors at the stop of a concrete staircase View in gallery
Visitors are welcomed inside the castle through a massive pair of wooden doors at the terminate of a concrete staircase
The inner courtyards have their own massive doors that offer access inside the castle View in gallery
The inner courtyards accept their own massive doors that offering access within the castle
A small wishing well can be found in the courtyard. It's decorated with ornaments typical for the architectural style of the castle View in gallery
A minor wishing well can exist constitute in the courtyard. It's decorated with ornaments typical for the architectural style of the castle

The museum

When the queen died in 1938, she left the castle to her daughter who lost information technology in 1956 when the communist regime transformed it into a museum. The castle was once more restored betwixt 1987 and 1993. In 2006 it was given back to the princess'due south family and in 2009 its rightful owners gained full rights over the property. They chose to keep it open and to make it the first private museum in the country.

Numerous windows and balconies of different dimensions cover the facades that face the courtyard View in gallery
Numerous windows and balconies of different dimensions cover the facades that face the courtyard
Out here the imperfections and the damage done by time are showcased in a charming manner View in gallery
Out here the imperfections and the harm done by time are showcased in a charming manner
Despite it being a castle, the building looks very home-like. That's because of its role as a royal residence View in gallery
Despite it being a castle, the edifice looks very home-like. That'south because of its role as a royal residence

Why Dracula'due south Castle? What's the connection?

The history of the Bran castle doesn't actually suggest much in terms of vampires and all the other fantastic elements described in the novel…so what's the connectedness and why is it known as Dracula'south castle? Well…that has a chip to practice with Vlad the Impaler who ruled Transylvania for a flow and was known equally a very cruel person. His bad reputation was influenced by the horrible way in which he handled a conflict in 1459 when he killed hundreds and burned downward entire villages.

The views of the surroundings can be admired from various strategic point throughout the castle View in gallery
The views of the surround tin can be admired from various strategic point throughout the castle
In essence, the castle in its current state is a huge residence with lots of previous decorations View in gallery
In essence, the castle in its electric current state is a huge residence with lots of previous decorations
The interior of the castle is decorated with numerous sculptures, statues and military ornaments View in gallery
The interior of the castle is decorated with numerous sculptures, statues and military machine ornaments

Vlad the Impaler didn't have a pregnant part in the history of the castle which back then served as a fortress. It was really his father who's surname was Dracul that actually inspired the proper name of the fictional character we're all familiar with. The author avoids making a clear correlation between his fictional graphic symbol and the Romanaian ruler, a number of details point towards them being one and the same.

The castle is divided into several sections. This is a part of the military quarters View in gallery
The castle is divided into several sections. This is a part of the military quarters
Staircases with walls and ceilings that curve around them link the various floors View in gallery
Staircases with walls and ceilings that curve around them link the various floors
The living quarters are decorated in a more welcoming manner. using a lot of wood View in gallery
The living quarters are decorated in a more welcoming mode. using a lot of wood

Dracula became the main grapheme in Bram Stoker's novel which was published in England in 1897. He was described as a beingness a count in a region chosen Transylvania who lived in a castle perched on top of a alpine cliff in the Carpathian Mountains. Fifty-fifty though the author never visited Romania prior to releasing the novel and the castle described in the book looks nothing like the Bran Castle, this building is the only one that vaguely matches the description so it became the existent life Dracula'due south Castle.

The furniture pieces are the ones collected by Queen Mary during the time when the castle was her home View in gallery
The furniture pieces are the ones collected by Queen Mary during the time when the castle was her home
Ornamental motifs are carved out in the furniture or painted on the massive ceiling beams View in gallery
Ornamental motifs are carved out in the furniture or painted on the massive ceiling beams
The original furniture and artwork along with some of the accessories were preserved and are now showed in the museum View in gallery
The original furniture and artwork along with some of the accessories were preserved and are now showed in the museum
Visitors can travel back in time and picture how the royal family lived here a long time ago View in gallery
Visitors can travel dorsum in fourth dimension and picture how the majestic family unit lived here a long time ago

The architecture and pattern of the existent life Dracula's Castle

In its initial form, the castle served every bit a fortress and had the shape of an irregular tetragon. Numerous modifications were made to both the construction and the blueprint of the castle. In 1622 the Southern tower was added following plans by prince Gabriel Bethlen and later on a rectangular tower was also added to the East. After that, in the period betwixt 1883 and 1886 the roof of the castle was covered with tiles. The most of import restoration was done during 1920 and 1929 when the castle was transformed into the royal residence of Queen Mary and her family unit. The art and furniture collected by the queen were preserved and later displayed in the museum.

There's really nothing spooky inside the castle. The rooms are surprisingly cozy and inviting View in gallery
There's really nothing spooky within the castle. The rooms are surprisingly cozy and inviting
Everything is arranged and displayed in a manner meant to look as authentic as possible View in gallery
Everything is bundled and displayed in a manner meant to look as accurate as possible
This bed is one of the most impressive furniture pieces in the entire castle View in gallery
This bed is one of the nigh impressive furniture pieces in the entire castle

The castle of today

Today, the Bran Castle aka Dracula'south castle is a popular touristic destination and a beautiful example of medieval history. Every year visitors from all over the world come up to encounter the castle that supposedly inspired the myth of Dracula and the cracking novel information technology's based on. The flow around Halloween is specially popular because of the theme of this entire legend.

This is one of the corners in King Ferdinand's bedroom, featuring the original furniture View in gallery
This is one of the corners in Male monarch Ferdinand's sleeping room, featuring the original furniture
The library room is impressive and the atmosphere inside is calming and mysterious View in gallery
The library room has an impressive bookcase and the temper inside is calming and mysterious

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Source: https://www.homedit.com/dracula-castle/

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