Transylvania

Bran Castle

The fortified medieval Bran Castle is often referred to as Dracula’s Castle, looking as a vampire count’s abode should look with a forbidding façade, towers and ramparts rising out of the forest, and perched high on a steep cliff face against a dramatic mountain background; however there is little evidence to suggest Vlad Tepes ever stayed there. Bran Castle was built in 1377 to protect nearby Brasov from invaders, and it later became the favourite summer residence of Queen Marie, offered to her by the people of Brasov who owned it. The rooms and towers surround an inner courtyard with a sculpted stone fountain. A warren of narrow, winding stairs, secret chambers and underground passageways lead between vaulted halls, a prison, watchtowers with sweeping views, and the living area. The rooms are decorated with a collection of Baroque furniture, elaborately carved four-poster beds, weapons and armour dating from the 14th to 19th centuries. On the grounds below is an open-air ethnographic Village Museum consisting of old local-style architecture with household objects, costumes and furniture on display. At the entrance to the castle grounds is a large handicraft market that aims to distract the bus loads of tourists.

Address: 498 Traian Mosoiu Street, Bran; Telephone: (0)268 238 333; Website: www.brancastlemuseum.ro; Transport: Buses leave from Brasov’s bus station, Autogara 2 and are marked ‘Moieciu-Bran’. The journey takes 40 minutes; Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 4pm; Admission: 80 L (adults). Concessions are available

Brasov

Nestled at the foot of Mount Tâmpa, Brasov is a charming medieval town, and along with Sighisoara is one of the seven fortified towns settled by the Saxons, with a distinct Germanic flavour to its architecture. The Saxons built massive stone walls and seven bastions around the city that are still visible today, as well as ornate churches, elaborately trimmed buildings and a fine central square that is said to be the spot from where the legendary Pied Piper was to have led the children of Hamlin. Lining the square are the red-roofed merchant's houses, now occupied by cafes and shops, and in the centre is the 15th-century Old Town Hall that is home to the History Museum. The town's landmark is the impressive Gothic structure known as the Black Church, so named because a fire blackened its outer walls in 1689. The interior is beautiful, with balconies, stained glass windows, an enormous organ, stone columns and walls adorned with fabulous Turkish carpets. Many people use Brasov as a base for visiting the nearby attractions of Dracula's Castle at Bran, as well as Râsnov Castle and the ski resorts of Sinaia and Poiana Brasov.

Website: www.brasov.ro

Peles Castle

Considered to be one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, Peles Castle was the summer residence for Romania’s kings. Built by King Carol I in 1883 the castle is a masterpiece of German-Renaissance architecture with an exquisite exterior, and is surrounded by fir forests and the towering peaks of the Carpathian range. Its 160 rooms are magnificent; lavishly decorated in ebony, mother of pearl, walnut and leather with crystal chandeliers, fine collections of sculptures, paintings and tapestries, stained glass windows and furniture. It is set within a large park with a statue garden in front. Further up the hill from the main palace is the smaller Pelisor Palace, built for Carol I’s son and decorated in the Art Nouveau style.

Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm (June to September). From October to May the castle is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and for the whole month of November

Sighisoara

Sighisoara is one of the seven fortified towns founded by the Saxons in the hills of Transylvania, and is a beautifully preserved medieval town that is renowned as the birthplace of 'Dracula', or Vlad The Impaler. The hilltop citadel dominates the town with the original medieval settlement enclosed within the fortress walls, surrounded by nine surviving towers. Within the old town, the narrow cobbled streets and steep alleyways, brightly-painted tiny lopsided houses, ancient churches, stone archways and covered stairways are overlooked by the striking Clock Tower, the control tower of the main gate with magnificent views over the whole town and countryside. At the foot of the Clock Tower is the simple yellow building where Vlad was born and lived with his father, Vlad Dracul, and is marked by a hanging wrought-iron dragon. It now houses a restaurant with medieval furnishings. The ancient cobblestone street that passes beneath the Clock Tower leads to the lower town, and although shabbier than the citadel, it has some interesting little shops where 'Vampire Wine' and locally made products can be bought. There are also lively markets here and pretty stone squares where townsfolk gather to chat animatedly about daily affairs.