Castles in Transylvania

Bran Castle.  This is billed as having a connection to Dracula, the fictional vampire, but a real person in Romanian history. His actual castle is probably a ruin nearby, but although Romanians don't love the vampire story, they do know that it brings in visitors, so they are happy to drop some hints about it.  The historic Count Dracula was revered by his countrymen for standing up to the Turks, who had successfully invaded the area.  His method of dealing with captives was a little harsh.  Not for nothing was he known as Vlad the Impaler.

Once you are inside the castle, the story switches to its more modern history.  Romania became a monarchy in the 1800's when Carlos I, a member of the Hohenzollern royal family, agreed to become King of Romania.  In the early 1900's,  Queen Marie, a granddaughter of England's Queen Victoria, redecorated and restored this medieval castle, and came here often with her family.  It must have been fun for the children to grow up here.

Meanwhile, back when they first came to Romania, the new royal family had Peles Castle built to then modern European standards.  More livable in many ways, certainly more stately, Peles is also very much worth visiting.  The family gave up the crown after WWII in order to spare Romanian lives after the Soviet Union was awarded most of the country following the war.  Today the exiled king is one of the last living WWII heads of state and is fondly regarded by the Romanians we met.