A Tour of Castelul Bran

The Castle Bran was made famous by the author Bram Stoker in his book "Dracula."  It is a fortress in the Transylvania region of Romania and was built about 1438. It is unclear how much connection Vlad the Impaler, better known as Dracula, actually had with this castle. We do know that at the very least he traveled through the area.  But that doesn't stop the owners of the castle from making this one fine tourist trap!   So let's take a little tour.  Keep up now. We're walking, we're walking....

No stopping for shopping.  You can see Bran in the background and these shops, and many more, will be here when we come back down. This place gives new meaning to the term "tourist trap."

Be careful on the path up to the castle, it's raining just a little.

To your right we see a little moss covered cottage that a peasant may have lived in.

Here is our first view of the castle.  Are you frightened yet?

Be careful going into the castle, Elder Wahlquist.  They were a short people.

Stay with the group, Sora Wahlquist. No need for pictures, you can buy a postcard later.

Anyone in the group want to try going up this little, dark, winding stairway?

I didn't think so.

How about in here?  No.

And here we have the inner courtyard.

We have a wonderful Halloween party here every October.

Tickets are available at the gate.

Time to leave, so hustle out this back door and get to those shops.

Take one last look back and then off you go to spend more money.

Didn't I tell you there would be plenty of time to shop?