08 June 2012
01 October 2010
Bran Castle
Posted by
Radu
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10:10
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Labels: Bran Castle, Dracula Castle
15 February 2009
Bran Castle - the myth of Dracula's Castle
I just found this short presentation of Bran Castle, together with it's history as well as (lack of) connections with Dracula or the Bram Stoker's novel. I don't agree at all with the introduction saying "this is one of the very few tourists attractions in Transylvania". No shit ! Transylvania has an unbelievably rich medieval history, with fortified citadels in almost each village (some of them being really well preserved, a gorgeous natural landscape (and I'm not thinking only about Făgăraş Mountains - also called "The Transylvanian Alps" but also to sub-Carpathian hills, to Apuseni (the western mountains and), to medieval towns like Sighişoara or Sibiu. Is true that Bran Castle is maybe the most famous of the attractions, but all are interesting attractions and tourists do go there every year.
I'll still present the movie 'cause some the information about the castle is useful:
Other posts about Dracula Castle
Later edit: two mistakes in only two seconds, that's a good candidate for a record: The sequence at 1:36 - 1:42 is shot in Bucegi Mountains.
If you look closely, the movie says "Transylvania, 1746", but they are riding the horses on the Bucegi Plateau, (at about 2000 m.a.s.l) towards south or south-east, probably somewhere above Valea Coştilei (Coştila Valley). So that's in Wallachia. (OK, close to Transylvania, but still Wallachia).
More than that, even more funny is that you can see the Caraiman Cross at 1:34 - 1:35. However the Cross was erected in 1926-1928 to honor and celebrate the memory of soldiers that died in WW 1. So ..."only" 180 years later than "1746". And no Transylvania :)
Posted by
Radu
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01:03
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Labels: Bran Castle, Dracula Castle, Transylvania
29 November 2008
Bran Castle how it looks today
Here is amateur production , a clip with images from Bran Castle, presented as Dracula Castle. But we do know that Vlad III had few connections with the border castle of Bran:
Posted by
Radu
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02:25
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Labels: Bran Castle, Dracula Castle
01 December 2007
History of Dracula
From the History Channel, the second episode of "The Lost World of Dracula":
It starts with the presentation of Bran Castle, where Vlad Dracula stopped by in 1415. The castle has been modernized by the Romanian Royal Family (remember, Bran Castle belonged to the royal family in the first half of the XX-th century), so its interior is very different from what it was in middle-ages. But, by using floor plans of the castle the experts pieced together how it looked 500 years ago.
Here is a simulated image of Bran Castle, obtained by high class computer simulation. Compare it with a picture of the nowadays Bean Castle and you'll be amazed of how different it is. It was not the gothic castle that we see today, but a strong, secured border castle. Placed of the Transylvanian border with Wallachia, the castle occupies a strategic place. However, building the castle was a huge undertaking. The territory was not allowing easy construction and the first difficulty was getting the stuff on the place.
What few people know is that Dracula, in order to build-up his dream (a strong, independent country of Wallachia) , he had started one of the most ambitious building programs in his small country.
A team of experts explore Vlad's construction projects. After seizing the throne of the princedom of Wallachia, in 1456 , he began an extensive building project, trying to impose order in an unruly land.
Vlad III set his capital city in Târgovişte. Is the place where most of Dracula's atrocities took place. in the XV-th century the rule was pretty very simple in politics: kill or be killed . Vlad's first thought was getting rid of the boyars, that were representing the power in the country, changing the ruling prince upon them wish. The princely court in Târgovişte is strengthened, he build something more imposing than every building erected before. The whole complex was surrounded by walls of 5 feet thick. The construction was made up of cellars. The arches, typical for the byzantine architectural style of building, were constructed using a timber framework and helped creating huge volumes. Once Târgovişte was transformed in a highly secured head-quarter, Dracula had begun exterminating his enemy boyars.
The documentary is to be watched more that once:
See also:
Posted by
Radu
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13:09
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Labels: Bran Castle, Dracula Castle, medieval age, Târgovişte, Vlad Dracula, Vlad the Impaler
10 November 2007
Dracula's Castle
Dracula's Castle as Bran Castle is known is for sale! With an estimated price of 140 m. Euro, the medieval castle is the second most expensive property worldwide, according to a recent top made by "Forbes".
The castle lies 30 km away from Brasov City, South-Eastern Transylvania, in the heart of Romania.
The first place in the list is occupied by a property in Beverly Hills that belonged to William Randolph Hearst. Forbes notes that the castle is being sold by Baytree Capital, in the name of Dominic de Habsburg, son of princess Ileana of Romania, that received the castle back from the Romanian government.
However, in September, the Chamber of Deputies accepted the report of a commission that established the given-back of the Bran Castle has not been done to the right persons (there is an argue about who has the rights to receive the castle), therefore all papers being declared non-valid. Lower of the House of Habsburg, Corin Trandafir considers the decision of the deputies a political one and intends to ask for compensation of 150 m. euro.
Posted by
Radu
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00:03
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Labels: Bran Castle, Braşov, Dracula Castle
27 September 2007
Dispute over Bran Castle
Visited by over half a milion tourists each year, the Romanian Castle that is presented as Dracula Castle, Bran Castle, near Brasov is subject of intense dispute between Dominique of Habsburg and Romanian Government.
After giving the castle to his previous owner, Dominique of Habsburg, the romanian government rejected his expensive offer for buying the castle. Now the decision to give the castle back is put under doubt and there are voices asking for that decision to be canceled, as the castle belongs to the Romanian people.
Whatch this BBC documentary over Bran Castle for details:
also have a look on this short slide show about Bran Castle
Posted by
Radu
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21:55
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Labels: Bran Castle, Brasov, Dracula Castle
28 July 2007
Vlad the Impaler - Discovery documentary
Vlad the Impaler - Dracula.
The second part of the documentary about Vlad Dracula presents the reign of Vlad Dracula from his second ascent to the Wallachian throne. Professor Raymond Mc Nally , author, together with Prof. Radu R. Florescu of the book "Dracula - prince of many faces", is a real Dracula expert, as well as Matei Cazacu.
Is presented his revenge over the boyars (that allegedly killed his father and elder brother Mircea); boyars are send to build the castle of Poienari, still considered the real Dracula Castle.
The impaling technique is also presented, however so far I haven't heard of any serious proof that Vlad was putting his bread in the blood of the people he was impaling.
The war of 1462, against the Sultan Mehmed II presents impressive war strategy for that time.
Anyway, let's better watch the documentary:
The first part of the documentary is here
The last part of the presentation of Vlad Dracula in the Discovery's series of Most Evil Men in History.
Posted by
Radu
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10:52
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Labels: Dracula, Dracula Castle, McNally, Poienari, Vlad Dracula, Vlad the Impaler
24 February 2007
Dracula Castle
Here we have a nice documentary movie (in fact images slide-show) about Bran Castle, better known as Dracula Castle, maybe the most famous castle in Carpathians. One can admire the middle-age architecture, as well as the nice landscape around the Castle.
DRACULA - The most amazing home videos are here
Bran Castle - short history and myth bursting.
See this BBC piece of news on the dispute over Bran Castle.
A presentation of pictures from Bran Castle
Posted by
Radu
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13:47
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Labels: Bran, Bran Castle, Dracula Castle