Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle)
One of the best tips I can give you if you are planning to go to Bran Castle is not to go on a Monday!
On a Monday the castle doesn’t open until midday. On other days it opens at 9am. It also rained on the day we went and we ended up queueing in the rain for over an hour! We deliberately arrived around 11am but there was already big queues!
Bran Castle, often referred to as “Dracula’s Castle,” is a medieval fortress located near Bran. It is in fact one of the most famous landmarks of Transylvania.
Although it’s commonly associated with Bram Stoker’s fictional character Dracula, there’s little evidence to suggest Stoker knew about the castle when writing his novel.
The castle dates back to the 14th century, it was built to defend against Ottoman invasions. Over the centuries, it served various purposes, including as a royal residence and a customs post.
It’s connection to Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Dracula, is tenuous. Vlad briefly stayed in the area during his campaigns, but there’s no conclusive evidence that he ever he ever resided in the castle.
It’s eerie atmosphere and picturesque location in the Carpathian Mountains attracts many visitors each year along with ‘the hype’ that surrounds it!
Today, Bran Castle is a museum showcasing art and furniture collected by Queen Marie of Romania. Although it remains popular mainly due to it’s mythological ties to the world of vampires and Dracula!
It was very crowded when we did finally make it inside. I honestly don’t know if this is the case every day or if it’s worse on Mondays as it opens later.
Did it live up to the hype? And was it worth queueing in the rain?
In our humble opinion, no! It was quite disappointing but that it is just our opinion so don’t let it put you off if you decide to go and have a look. In hindsight I think looking at the outside only would have been enough.
Peles Castle
Peles Castle, is also located in the Carpathian Mountains near Sinaia, about an hour from Bran Castle, approx 49km.
The first thing we noticed is the calmness. The grounds surrounding the castle and the castle itself are stunning and the atmosphere is very serene.
It is not as touristy as Bran castle which immediately makes the whole place seem calmer.
It was built between 1873 and 1914 and it served as the summer residence of the Romanian royal family.
It was the first building in Romania to have central heating and electricity as well as the first castle or palace in Europe.
The Castle was commissioned by King Carol I, and has a diverse architectural style, blending German and Italian neo-Renaissance styles.
The exterior features intricate carvings, colourful frescoes, and ornate towers. The castle inside has 160 rooms! The interior is filled with luxurious furnishings, priceless artwork, intricate woodcarvings,beautiful tapestries and exquisite stained glass windows
The castle was a summer residence for the royal family until 1947.
After King Michael’s forced abdication in 1947, Peles castle was confiscated by the communist regime and transformed into a museum
It opened as a museum in 1953. Peles Castle houses one of the greatest art collections in Romania.
Following the collapse of communism in 1989, the castle was returned to the royal family’s heirs and re opened to the public.
Many Romanians say that Peles castle is “The Castle” to see out of the many castles in Romania
Peles Castle offers visitors a glimpse into Romania’s royal history, with its opulent rooms, lavish décor, and stunning mountain views. It is one of Romania’s most popular tourist attractions, captivating visitors with its fairy-tale charm and rich cultural heritage.
We loved everything about this castle it was stunning both inside and out. It was so hard to choose photos, believe it or not this is only a small selection from the inside of the castle .
King Carol I also built another castle , Pellisor Castle on the grounds of Peles Castle. This was to going to be a wedding gift to his heir Ferdinand I.
We did see Pelisor Castle from the outside but it wasn’t actually open to go inside when we were there.
Sinaia Monastry
The Sinaia Monastry is situated on the road leading to Peles Castle so it is a must see whilst you are there. As you can see the inside was being renovated when we visited.
The Monastry dates back to the 17th Century and was founded by Prince Mihail Cantacuzino. The Monastry is dedicated to The Assumption of The Virgin Mary.
The monastery complex includes a main church, several chapels, monk cells and a museum displaying religious artifacts and historical items. The architecture of the monastery reflects a blend of Byzantine and Romanian architectural styles.
Throughout its history, the Sinaia Monastery has served as a spiritual centre for Orthodox Christians and a place of pilgrimage for believers. It has also played a significant role in the cultural and religious life of the region. It is the oldest monument in Sinaia and one of the most important religious monuments in Southern Romania
Today, the monastery continues to attract visitors. It stands as a testament to Romania’s Orthodox tradition and remains an important landmark in the town of Sinaia.
Where to Next?
When we left Peles we went to look for some ‘breathing rocks’ at a place called Costati. It was quite a long way so we stayed overnight at a park up that was about 45 minute from there.
It turned out we went to the wrong Costati!
We left and headed for Racoș which is where our next post will start.
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Our Life on the Road 
Peels Castle definitely was the pick of the bunch, how stunning! Pellisor Castle reminded me a bit of a house we visited somewhere in the Cotswolds where two ladies lived, no one at the time would come out and say they were lesbians, not done in those days. Now, who cares.
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Haha yes that’s true. Maybe I should have said 3 Castles and a Monastry ?!
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