Exploring Romanian Castles

I’m not that great at pre-trip research. Even though we had two Romanian castles on our itinerary, I was only vaguely aware of them, knowing that one is considered ‘Dracula’s Castle.’ And true, these Romanian castles might not be as famous as Versailles or Buckingham, but their history and design is no less impressive.

Those Romanian royals had style.

Bran Castle

When I was a kid, I had a terrible, strange vampire phobia. And this was before Twilight. Of course, as a mature, fearless adult, one of the places I was most excited about visiting in Transylvania was Dracula’s Castle.

To be honest, Bran Castle has virtually nothing to do with Dracula. While the castle described in Bram Stoker’s novel is very similar to Bran, the historical castle has more ties to Queen Marie, who adored Bran so much that her heart is buried there. However, when you visit Bran, your vampire fantasies will be delightfully indulged, both outside the castle and within.

Our tour started with our guide warning us not to stay too long, that after dark her ‘great-grandfather’ would come out to greet lingering visitors. Our guide led us through the medieval castle, explaining the real history of Bran as a trading post and royal residence, while still weaving in tales of hidden staircases and medieval torture.

While logically I knew there was nothing other-worldly about the castle, its labyrinth nature gave it an air of mystery. My favorite part was coming out into the courtyard and seeing all the layers of balconies and alcoves. It seemed to be the perfect setting for intrigue, a place where nobles and servants could easily slip in and out of shadows, disappear and reappear in a completely different part of the castle, where trysts were arranged, secrets were swapped, and fabulous parties were held. It’s no wonder Bran has captured the imagination of millions!

Peleș Castle

Peleș Castle, on the other hand, is a relatively modern castle. King Carol I had become enchanted by the area and in 1873 started construction for a royal hunting lodge. We visited Peleș on a cold, foggy day, but the ambiance was perfect. Nestled in the mountains, surrounded by a lush green garden and stone patios, it felt like a place suspended in time.

What helped even more was that the day we visited there was an antique car show going on! We walked up to the castle, surrounded by classic cars in pristine condition. It was easy to imagine the road lined with these very cars as the royals held parties and hunting retreats for their friends and family.

What is especially lovely about Peleș is the mix of styles and influences all held together seamlessly within this royal residence. The interior is stunning, from the armory and its collection of thousands of  arms from all over the world to the Italian renaissance fireplace to the Turkish parlors for smoking and gossiping, all effortlessly contained in the alpine style facade. My absolute favorite part of the castle was the Grand Hall, a three story room with remarkably detailed woodwork and flooded with natural light from its glass ceiling.

In every nook and corner, Romania captivated me. From the electricity of Bucharest to the charm of the medieval villages, from the pastoral countryside of Transylvania to the intrigue of the castles, Romania continues to spin my imagination, even a year after visiting. I cannot recommend Romania warmly enough – your adventures there will be ones to treasure!

For more information about Romania and how to plan your own visit, I’d like to recommend reading up on some of my fellow bloggers’ adventures.
Dangerous Business
Nomadic Matt
Wandering Earl

Have you been to Romania? What was your favorite place? Which castle would you rather live in?