Reports that Bran Castle, the spookily medieval structure long linked to the Dracula legend, is up for sale have been greatly exaggerated.
The managers of the 800-year-old castle nestled in the hills of the Romanian region or Transylvania, say in fact the castle is not on the market and that several reports saying that the castle needs a new buyer are erroneous.
The castle’s management says in fact they are in the middle of renovations and hope to soon open a tea house and cafeteria on the grounds. As well, the castle continues to host several events each year around Romanian holidays, Halloween, and also hosts a Medieval Tournament, and several corporate and private receptions and dinners.
Many have long believed the vast and isolated castle was the Bram Stoker’s inspiration as he wrote “Dracula,” the 1897 Gothic horror tale of a count who lives in a castle, high above a Transylvanian valley.
In fact, no such count ever lived in the castle -- though it’s not a mistake that Romanian tourism marketers have ever minded.
But the castle was once where Vlad the Impaler -- sometimes known as Vlad Dracul -- was imprisoned in 1462. Vlad was a legendary knight known for the bloody and ruthless cruelty he showed for his Ottoman enemies.
The castle was long the royal residence of the kingdom of Romania, but was seized from Princess Ileana by the communist government in 1948, who reportedly ripped out all the plumbing and sold off parts of the castle's furnishings and royal objects.
A few years ago, the castle was officially handed back to Ileana’s heirs, who have since managed it as a museum.
