2. Bran
Bran (German: Törzburg; Hungarian: Törcsvár) is
a commune in Brașov County, Romania. It lies at
30 km from the city ofBrașov and is composed of five
villages: Bran, Poarta (Porta), Predeluț (Kispredeál),
Șimon (Simon) and Sohodol (Szohodol).
The medieval Bran Castle, which was
once besieged by Vlad the Impaler, is a popular tourist
destination, partly because it resembles the home
of Dracula in Bram Stoker's famous novel.[1]
3. History
The Teutonic Order began construction of a wooden
fort known as Dietrichstein in the early 13th century.
After the fort's destruction in 1242 by Mongols,
King Sigismund of Hungary ordered the construction
of a stone castle in 1377, while the settlement of Bran
began to develop nearby. Positioned high atop a steep
cliff, the castle guarded a strategic trade route
between Transylvania and Wallachia. In 1498, Bran fell
under the jurisdiction of Braşov.[2]
5. Bran Castle is one of Romania's most popular visitor
sites, made famous in modern times when Queen
Marie restored it after receiving it from the residents of
Brașov County in the 1920s. The castle is open to
tourists, who can view the inside alone or as part of a
guided tour. Outside the castle are examples of
traditional Romanian farm houses and peasant homes.
6. Architecture
Initially, the Bran Castle was a city of "transient" military
purpose, irregular quadrilateral. In time, the city has
undergone many changes such as adding the south tower
(in 1622 Prince Gabriel Bethlen plans), construction of a
rectangular tower to the east, and between 1883 and 1886
the roof was covered with tiles. [Citation needed]
The city was transformed into a castle in 1920 when it was
owned by Queen Mary, during which they performed the
most important restoration