Europe · Romania · Transylvania
Bran Castle
The story
History of Bran Castle
A customs fortress on the Transylvanian border, marketed as Dracula's castle thanks to its dramatic towers and mountain setting.
Romania · Transylvania · Gothic
- Built
- from 1377
- Era
- Medieval
- Style
- Gothic
- Country
- Romania
- Region
- Transylvania
- UNESCO
- —
- Coordinates
- 45.515, 25.367
In depth
The fuller history
Based on the controversial information in the "Székely Chronicle of Csik" (Hungarian: Csíki székely krónika), whose veracity is questionable, it can be concluded that the original fortification was built in the 11th century by the Székelys, who were settled here by King Ladislaus I of Hungary, under the leadership of Stephen Sándor (Hungarian: Sándor István), to protect this strategically important territory from attacks by the Cumans and Pechenegs.
Key dates
- 1212In 1212, the Teutonic Order built the wooden castle of Dietrichstein as a fortified position in the Burzenland at the entrance to a mountain pass through which traders had travelled for more than a millennium.
- 1225This castle was destroyed by royal troops during the expulsion of the Teutonic Order from the territory of the Kingdom of Hungary, around 1225.
- 1377The castle was built by Saxons in 1377 who were given the privilege by Louis I of Hungary.
- 1530In 1530, Moise of Wallachia, Voivode of Wallachia, sent an army to capture the castle, but the Székely soldiers led by the castle lord Dénes defended the building, thereby forcing the Wallachian army to retreat.
- 1920With the 1920 Treaty of Trianon, Hungary lost Transylvania, and the castle became a royal residence within the Kingdom of Romania after being given to the royal house by the Saxons of Kronstadt-Braşov, who had no more use for it…
- 2009On 1 June 2009, the Habsburgs opened the refurbished castle to the public as the first private museum in the country and presented a joint strategic concept in collaboration with Bran village to maintain their prominent role in…
Historical summary drawn from Wikipedia. Read the full article.
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