A few recent History channel shows turned my interest toward the historic Dracula and his castles (Vlad Tepes). I was a bit surprised to not find any info on them at this website yet. But one thing I did discover was the beauty of Romania's castles. A mountainous terrain, castles here seem to be almost picturebook perfect.

http://www.romaniatourism.com/castles.html

Back to Vlad's castles:

Poenari Castle was Vlad's residential home, which he rebuilt in 1457. It was built atop a rather steep hill along the Arges River. Its interesting in that the lower sections were built with river stone, while the upper ramparts were built of brick, giving it a two tone appearance. Its a ruin today, but one can get a sense of its power as it overlooked the valley below.

http://www.spirit.ro/cpg/displayimage.php?...at=1&pos=89
http://www.draculascastle.com/html/poenari.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poienari_Castle

Bran Castle, formerly Dietrickstein, is also known as "Dracula's Castle" today. But this is more marketting than fact, as it has never been confirmed to actually be one of Vlad's residences, and was only linked to the prince slightly. The original fortress was built back in 1212, but its still an impressive structure thats very well kept.

http://www.aboutromania.com/brancastle.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bran_Castle
http://www.draculascastle.com/



Since I'm from the US, we don't get to see much in the way of castles except what appears on TV. Thus I imagine I'm not the only one to fall in love with the structures based on fictional stories... and then have fun learning the historic backgrounds behind the myths.

Cheers.

Hey Danny...thanks for adding to the forums! Nice to have you aboard.

Yup, love this site. Figured as I do my own research I'd post some findings here. I love the Romanian gothic style of architecture.

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Hunedoara Castle is another cool Romanian fortress. (also known as the Corvinesti castle or the Hunyadi
castle). It also incidentally has links to Vlad as he was imprisoned there for 7 years.



http://www.pbase.com/bauer/castle_hunedoara
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunedoara
http://www.transylvaniacastles.ro/hunedoara/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hunyadi..._front_view.jpg

I love gothic as well. I haven't explored the romanian castles yet so thanks for posting the links. I especially love gothic cathedrals. I have a great book with gothic revival architecture. If I ever get a scanner I'll post some amazing interior images.

Another Romanian castle has a different look from the previous ones. Fagaras doesn't try to look beautiful in my opinion... it says plain and simply I'm a fortress.

While originally built in 1310 on the sight of an even earlier earthen defense, it seems clear that the rebuilding in the 15th-17th centuries, when cannon were the weapons of choice, impacted this castle's development. It looks very much like a US Revolutionary era fort than a castle in many respects. Unlike many other castles, Fagaras is significantly built of brick rather than stone.

http://www.castlesontheweb.com/photoarchiv...&sessionid=
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0125318/htm...ges/Fagaras.htm

Oh, in case anyone is interested, Bran Castle (see my 1st post above), is for sale. A bargain too at £40 million!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.j.../06/pdrac06.xml

Glad to see someone else is making use of the Gallery. It's good to have the variety. Thanks.

Yup I agree, when variety is brought about by a passion for the subject it can be a really great thing.
Thanks and your doing good!

Never researched much into the old Russian country's and their castles.
Theres an old topic here (?) or in CQ (if its still there) about Vlad.
His leadership as a general was unsurpassed for his time and place but that gained him enemy's and it wasn't till I think 2 or 3 hundred years after his death that the history as we know it was written.
Did he impale?
Doubtfully not as many as hes credited for.

I really should get out more and take some pics.

I'm sure there'll be one or two interested in taking advantage of the Dracula links on that one. It could be quite an income generator.


The principal interest/knowledge base of the castle contributors here are in the castles of the UK, though we are always interested in having a wider scope displayed. People tend to post about what they know best, so we are always delighted to have someone widen the scope a little.

Calnic Castle is a fortress that has had documentary certification from the 13th century. It was owned by the nobles from the Kelling family, on whose time the initial nucleus - an oval precinct, two defence towers, a chapel, and the paralellipipedic dungeon (Siegfried tower), mentioned already in 1270 – 1272 – was built. During the 15th-16th centuries, it was turned into a peasant fortress. To it was added an exterior belt of walls, a barbacana and a round tower.

http://www.ici.ro/romania/en/cultura/a_calnic.html
http://photoraid.dordeduca.ro/localitati/?id=66
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A2lnic,_Alba





I especially love gothic cathedrals. I have a great book with gothic revival architecture. If I ever get a scanner I'll post some amazing interior images.

I came across this link this morning during my readings.

The Black Church in Brasov, originally started in 1383 and completed in 1477. Houses a 4000 pipe organ which is supposed to sound incredible.

http://www.agrotour.ro/biserica_neagra.htm
http://www.ici.ro/romania/en/orase/bv_bisericaneagra.html

About 10km away from Hunedoara Castle in the same county is the city of Deva. The Deva Fortress (or Citadel) had the advantage of being built atop a rather imposing 1217 ft (371m) hill overlooking the Mures valley and the city below. Unfortunately the castle was destroyed in 1849 due to the explosion of its armory. But its presence allowed the city of Deva to grow throughout the centuries.

http://museum.worldwidesam.net/en/deva-fort/deva-fort.htm
http://www.radur.homechoice.co.uk/deva.html

Wow Danny, I'm pretty impressed with the amount of info you're posting...thanks!

Ohh, you moved this to its own section. Guess I'm going to have to keep posting a lot more info to fill it out.

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Suceava is an impressive ruin who's foundations are still well preserved. The works were started at the end of the 14th century, during Voivode Petru Musat reign’s (1374-1391). In the 15th century, the most famous Moldavian voivode, Steven the Great, strengthened it adding more specific buildings, but turning the central nucleus of the fortress into a Princely residence. In the 17th century, the Ottomans ordered its demolition.

Nice winter pics here:
http://www.ici.ro/romania/en/orase/sv_cetate.html

Bit of history about the city where the Fortess is located:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suceava
http://www.consiliu.suceava.ro/suceava/Istorie/ist_en.htm

Neamt fortress or citadel (Cetatea Neamţului) is another Moldavian ruin. Neamt Fortress, built at the end of the 14th century as well as Suceava Fortress, by the same Voivode Petru Musat, was first an important customs point. It was first mentioned in 1395. Being an important defence point for Moldavia, it was strengthened by Steven the Great (the 15th century). Because it was never conquered, the Ottomans ordered its demolition in the 18th century (as it happened with Suceava).

http://www.neamt.ro/cmj/Cetatea_Neamt/Cetate_Eng.html
http://www.ici.ro/romania/en/orase/tn_cetate.html
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/det...0fe9d30ab4e8a39

Thanks for the great posts, Danny. I've enjoyed everyone. The causeway of Neamt Castle is especially impressive. I haven't seen any other castles quite like it in that regard. Its really an amazing fortress.

Absolutely spectacular.

very impressive !
i definitely have to go to romania one day !

The Slimnic commune was attested in documents dating from 1282. Many romanian castles today are a mix of fortress and church, and this is a good example of such. Slimnic (Stolzemburg) fortress was built by the Germans in the 14th century around the church. The church of the fortress was built on a hill in the commune, where the ruins of the feudal fortress can still be seen.



Hope this link continues to work... nice photo album of the place:
http://raldox.spaces.live.com/PersonalSpac...p;_c=PhotoAlbum

Controversy over Dracula's castle


Fri Jun 15, 9:28 AM ET
AP NEWS


Romania's government on Thursday defended its decision to return "Dracula's Castle" to members of the former royal family, denying allegations that the decision was illegal.

The castle, famous for its links to a 15th-century medieval ruler who inspired Bram Stoker's "Dracula," was confiscated in 1948 by the former communist regime.

"When it comes to property confiscated by the communists, I as a prime minister don't have any problems with returning it," said Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu.

Culture Minister Adrian Iorgulescu said the castle was legally returned last year to heirs of Princess Ileana, its last owner. He noted that it was approved by the Justice Ministry and a national agency for returning confiscated assets.

"We are convinced that the property restitution was done correctly," he said.

An opposition-dominated legislative panel had argued the restitution was unlawful because of procedural errors.

"How is it possible that the restitution of a national treasure be done by a museum administering the castle," said Dumitru Puchianu, a lawmaker with the Democratic Party, which was recently expelled from the Cabinet.

The 14th-century fortress is associated with Prince "Vlad the Impaler," whose cruelty inspired Stoker's vampire Count Dracula. Legend has it that Vlad, who earned his nickname because of the way he tortured his enemies, spent one night there.

The new owner, New York-based architect Dominic Habsburg, signed a deal pledging to keep the castle open to visitors for three years. He later offered to sell it to local authorities for $80 million. His lawyer also rejected the lawmakers' criticism.

"The (lawmakers panel's) decision is wrong. It's a political one and it proves that private property is not respected in Romania," Corin Trandafir said.

The fortress, perched high on a rock and surrounded by snowcapped mountains in southern Transylvania, is one of Romania's top tourist attractions, visited by 400,000 people each year.

In recent years, the castle — complete with occasional glimpses of bats flying around its ramparts in the twilight — has attracted movie makers as a backdrop for films about Dracula and other horror themes.