Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
AROUND BRAŞOV
This region of castles, Saxon churches and ski lifts provides a colourful alternative to
Braşov's own attractions - making it easy to stay in the area for a week or more. The most
popular trip - usually done as a day trip from Braşov - is to see the 'Dracula castle' at
Bran.
Bran
POP 5177
On a rocky bluff rising from wolf-prowled forests perches a gaunt castle, its mass of turrets
a sinister refrain...right? Sort of, but Bran Castle, despite its tenuous link to Vlad Ţepeş, is
anything but gloomy. Inside it's positively sunny, with a geranium-festooned courtyard,
bright white rooms, hidden stairways and a palpable effort on the part of its blue-blooded
owner to distance the place from any mention of garlic.
Guarded from the east by the Bucegi Mountains and from the west by the Piatra Craiului
massif, its setting is indisputably stunning. If you've a determined taste for the Gothic
you'll find the castle is best seen from a distance, its grey facade often shrouded in mist.
Creep a little closer and Bran town itself is a carnivalesque gauntlet of stalls hawking vam-
piric T-shirts, and myriad day trippers who take away from the atmosphere. There's even a
'haunted castle' funhouse next to the entrance, complete with staff dressed as werewolves
and vamps who chase you around. Embrace the tack!
The entrance to Bran Castle, signposted 'Muzeul Bran', is on the left as you enter the
town. By far the bulk of visitors see Bran as a half-day trip, along with a stop at Râşnov
Castle. Daring hiking trails down from the Bucegi wind up here too.
Sights
Bran Castle
( 0268-237 700;
www.bran-castle.com
;
adult/student 25/5 lei, camera & video 20 lei;
9am-7pm Tue-Sun, noon-7pm Mon May-Sep, 9am-5pm Tue-Sun Oct-Apr)
Facing the
flatlands and backed by mountains, the 60m-tall Bran Castle is spectacular. If you can man-
age to avoid bottlenecks from tour groups that appear in waves, you may enjoy the largely
renovated interiors and claustrophobic nooks and crannies.
CASTLE
