Images: 2006

Poienari Castle

The castle was built in the 13th century, however for the next decades the castle changed few rulers and was left in ruins until the 15th century, when Vlad Tepes (Vlad The Impaler) starts to rebuild and fortified the castle. Poienari Castle is situated on top of a hill, making it a difficult to reach fortresses. The castle was abandoned in the 16th century and now it is mainly a ruin.

To reach the castle you have to climb 1480 stairs, from the road that pass the highest mountains in Romania (Transfagarasan) . The stories say that Vlad forced the nobles of Tirgoviste, whom he held responsible for the deaths of his father and brother, to trudge fifty miles through mountains and snow to the spot where Poienari Castle lies in ruins. If they survived the brutal journey, they spent the next few months repairing the castle until it was fit for Vlad to live in. And if the nobles survived this feat, which many did not, Vlad did what he was famous for: he impaled them on the spot..

Bran Castle

The Sun Herald placed Bran Castle as the number 1 Monster Hangout destination in the world.

"This region of western Romania has Bram Stoker to thank for its reputation as the home of creatures of the night. Ever since Stoker decided that chief vampire Count Dracula lived in the region, the area has become synonymous with horror and the living dead. The locals insist that garlic and wooden stakes are not necessary, however, pointing out that it is one of the most beautiful regions in Europe."