8Bran Castle, Romania
Source: Link
Bran Castle is well know for its beauty and how well it’s been preserved. If you’re ready for a fairy tale adventure, this castle has it all. The origins of Bran Castle date back to 1211, when the Knights of the Teutonic Order built a first fortress. Although the region belonged at the time to the Kingdom of Hungary, German crusaders had been invited to occupy the lands to protect the borders of the Cumans and other eastern tribes. But it is in 1377 when, by order of King Louis I of Hungary, Bran becomes a true castle, fulfilling a commercial and defensive function. In the following centuries the Bran Castle changed hands on numerous occasions (Ottomans, Wallachians, Habsburgs, etc.), until in 1918 it was definitively integrated into what is now Romania. Between 1920 and 1947 the castle was a Royal Residence, but after World War II it was left to the Communist government. Currently, and after numerous legal disputes, the castle is once again the property of the heirs of the disappeared royalty, who keep it open to the public as a museum. Bran Castle is located 30 km southwest of Brașov, one of the most important and beautiful cities in Transylvania. We will explain how to get there and other practical questions at the end, so we go with the details of the visit. The first thing to note is that the castle is integrated into the small town of Bran, but surrounded by forests and gardens that make it difficult to see from the outside. It is almost essential to access the site (for a fee) to see it. Click the next ARROW to see the next photo!
