Castle Bran commonly known as the Dracula castle, is a small castle perched atop a hill overlooking the small village of Bran Romania. Being a huge Dracula fan this castle was high on my bucket list for this European trip. Having already been to Whitby in England for this fact I was pleasantly surprised that even though there is a lot of information about Vlad Tepes in the castle it is actually largely full of artefacts from the royal family and the history of Transylvania.
I went to Bran on a tour which showcased Peles Castle, Braşov and Bran. It was a great tour with a lot of information and also guided tours through the castles. Walking through the quaint village of Bran the castle is hidden until you get through the marketplace. When it looms into view it is a wonderful scene, going in winter the hill and castle are covered in snow glittering in the afternoon sun.
We arrived just before 4pm when the castle admissions close, this was due to the tour guide switching the order of the tour. Myself and a couple of others on the tour were slightly stressed that we were not going to be able to walk through the castle and appreciate it. However this was absolutely not the case, even though admissions close at 4pm you can walk through the castle at your own pace. I highly recommend arriving at this time for two reasons.
One: the castle is almost empty. Other than our tour there was only 1 other couple there. Bran Castle is quite small so having it almost to yourself is definitely a good idea. For both taking photos and also reading all the information that is in the castle. There is a lot of information in the castle of the royals, how they lived when staying in the castle as well as the people living in the area of the years.
Two: in winter you can watch the sunset over the castle or over the village depending on where you are in the castle. This was my favourite part of the tour, as it was unexpected and a great addition from the tour guide. As the castle is on a hill, surrounded by pine trees the sunset was particularly magical. Then being able to walk down the hill and through the marketplace after the sun has set and the lights are starting to shine and the locals are starting to bustle around for dinner is a lovely experience.
Thanks for reading
Rhi