2. • Bran Castle situated nearBran Castle situated near
Bran and in the immediateBran and in the immediate
vicinity of Braşov, is avicinity of Braşov, is a
national monument andnational monument and
landmark in Romania. Thelandmark in Romania. The
fortress is situated on thefortress is situated on the
border betweenborder between
Transylvania.Transylvania.
• As discovered by theAs discovered by the
Dutch author HansDutch author Hans
Corneel de Roos, theCorneel de Roos, the
location Bram Stokerlocation Bram Stoker
actually had in mind foractually had in mind for
Castle Dracula whileCastle Dracula while
writingwriting anan novel was annovel was an
empty mountain top,empty mountain top,
Mount Izvorul Călimanului,Mount Izvorul Călimanului,
located in thelocated in the
Transylvanian CălimaniTransylvanian Călimani
Alps near the formerAlps near the former
border with Moldavia.border with Moldavia.
3. In 1920, the castle became a royal
residence within the Kingdom of
Romania. It became the favorite home
and retreat of Queen Marie. The castle
was inherited by her daughter Princess
Ileana who ran a hospital there in World
War II: it was later seized by the
communist regime with the expulsion of
the royal family in 1948.
4. • On 18 May 2009, the Bran Castle administration was transferredOn 18 May 2009, the Bran Castle administration was transferred
from the government to the administration of Archduke Dominic andfrom the government to the administration of Archduke Dominic and
his sisters Maria-Magdalena Holzhausen and Elisabet Sandhofehis sisters Maria-Magdalena Holzhausen and Elisabet Sandhoferr..
On 1 June 2009, the Habsburg's opened the refurbished castle toOn 1 June 2009, the Habsburg's opened the refurbished castle to
the public as the first private museum of the country and disclosedthe public as the first private museum of the country and disclosed
with Bran Village a joint strategic concept to maintain theirwith Bran Village a joint strategic concept to maintain their
domination in the Romanian tourist circuit and to safeguard thedomination in the Romanian tourist circuit and to safeguard the
economic base in the regioneconomic base in the region
