3. Bran Castle
Roughly two hours from Bucharest sits Bran Castle, also known as Draculaâs Castle. Perched on a jagged crag near the town of Bran, this castle dates from the late 1300s.
It was built on a site of a former fortification that was destroyed by Mongol invaders in 1242. When Bram Stoker penned Dracula s story, he likely didn t have this castle in mind when he created the spooky residence of his titular vampire. It is only since the story s publishing that the castle has come to be associated with the tale.
Dracula is loosely based on Vlad Dracula, the 15th-century ruler of the region, better known as Vlad the Impaler. Vlad is considered a national hero in Romanian culture, as he defended the region from invaders on several occasions. He was known for his brutal tactics, which garnered him the Impalerâ title.