Transylvania was on the top of my travel bucket list for decades. With a strong love of folklore and mythology and a weird obsession with Christopher Lee’s Dracula, how could it not be? It’s something I’ve thought about for years, so you can only imagine how excited I was to not only get to go on a road trip through Transylvania but to conduct an interview and stay the night at Bran Castle (IE Dracula’s Castle). It was an experience like no other, and I’m here to tell you all about it.
As I approached the infamous, looming structure, the first thing I noticed was that despite the stereotype that Transylvania is dark and dreary, the land is actually quite green and gorgeous. Even in the hot summer weather, it was exceptionally beautiful, and the surrounding area looked like something out of a Disney painting.
As I met with Matthew Petrisor to conduct our interview, I will say, the first thing that stood out to me (and the thing I loved most about my visit) was that the team at Bran Castle loves leaning into the history of Vlad Tepes III and the legends and lore of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Matthew was genuinely excited to tell me all about Dracula, specifically noting the exact spot where Quincy Morris killed the character of Dracula in Bram Stoker’s novel- out near the exit through the tunnel of the castle. His immediate understanding of the history and why people love to talk about Dracula was such a gift that made our interview and visit exceptionally special.
Now, one of my first questions was, “Did Vlad Tepes III actually ever stay here, as most historians will tell you that there is no proof he stepped foot in this castle?” To that question, Matthew scoffed. Vlad Tepes III was the ruler of Wallachia, and he was born in Sighisoara (which is located in Romania). With Bran Castle being in route between the two places, he assured me that Vlad Tepes III had stayed at this castle on many occasions, regularly before big battles.
As we walked through the maze-like castle, I couldn’t help but notice how everything twisted and turned, causing natural confusion. The structure, itself, can be very confusing if you don’t know your way around, which just immediately adds to the elements of the horror that was the tale of Dracula. There’s a hidden staircase up through one of the rooms that, in itself, is quite dark and fun. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the natural elements of the castle add into the eerie tale and legends associated with the structure.
And as the night got later, we stepped out into the courtyard, and we could hear the birds screeching around us (in a way that most definitely sounded like bats). The screeches mixed with the flickering of the outdoor lights allowed it all to sink in, we were alone at Bran Castle, Dracula’s Castle, at night. And it was such an honor, a true weird and eerie adventure.
If you’re going to Romania or want to plan a trip there, I strongly encourage you to check out Bran Castle (which is over near Brasov), Sighisoara, and the Salina Turda Salt Mine out near Cluj-Napoca. Romania is a breathtakingly beautiful place filled with some of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen, and I hope you get to experience it soon. For me, it was the adventure of a lifetime.
