About Bran Castle

Bran Castle is an important national monument and landmark of the Romanian tourism, due not only to the beauty of the Castle and the landscape but also to the legend of Count Dracula.

It was an important feudal fortress through out the Middle Ages; its role was the defense against invasion. The castle has four towers, the Powder House Tower is the oldest, and it is part of the original castle built in 1212. It houses the Cannon’s Gallery, the Gunner’s Room, and was also where the castles gunpowder was stored. In the 15th century during restoration of the castle the Observation Tower and the Eastern Tower were added. The Eastern Tower was built with murder holes that were used by the soldiers to drop hot water and pitch on the castles attackers. In 1622 the Gate Tower was added and the castle’s south wall was strengthened to 11 ft. thickness to withstand cannon fire. In 1921, Queen Maria of Romania, brought the royal court architect to Bran Castle for extensive renovations which transformed this "fortress" into a Royal Residence, beautiful summer residence, surrounded with a park, fountains, a lake, walking alleys and halt terraces and built the "Tea House" Of Queen Marie.

The ancient Gunner’s Room became the Royal Chapel; the defense gallery of the tower was remodeled into apartments for the Queen’s ladies in waiting. A fourth floor was added to the tower for the Queen’s Secretary. Queen Maria had an elevator installed in the fountain, which is in the interior court. The elevator descended 197 ft. to a tunnel, which opened onto the lovely park grounds in the valley below.

PROGRAM

2 days/1 night

Route: Bucuresti-Ploiesti-Sinaia-Brasov-Prejmer- Brasov- Zarnesti- Bran - Brasov-Cimpulung Muscel-Tirgoviste-Bucuresti (560 km)

 DAY 1

Hightlights: Royal Peles Castle,  Black Church, Peasants Fortress Prejmer, Bran Castle & CONCERT

Route: Bucharest-Ploiesti-Sinaia-Brasov-Prejmer-Brasov-Zarnesti-Bran (280 km)

8.00  Departure Bucharest to Sinaia.

10.00 Arrival to Sinaia. Visit Peles Castle - famous summer Residence of the Romanian royalty in the last century, monument of architecture built in a German Renaissance style.

11.30 Departure from Sinaia with royal train to Brasov crossing the beautiful Prahova Valley

12.30 Arrival to Brasov, sightseeing tour, visit Black Church and walk on the down town

14.00 Lunch to "Cetatuie", a first class restaurant offering exquisite hunting food

16.00 Departure to Prejmer and visit the medieval peasants fortresses

18.00 Return at Brasov and go to the way

19.00 Arrival at Zarnesti and departure by bus, 3 km, to Bran castle

19.20 Visit of the Bran castle

20.00 Great musical works performed by "Bucharest

Symphony" in the courtyard of the castle, conducted by Florin Totan. In the program: Mozart, Bach, and Bartok.

21.30 Accommodation in Brasov, at  4* hotel or in Moeciu-Bran peasants villas

DAY 2

Hightlights: Old Royal Court Targoviste

Route: Brasov-Cimpulung Muscel-Tirgoviste-Bucuresti (270 km)

9.00 Breakfast at the hotel

10.00 Departure to Cimpulung Muscel

11.30-12.30 Arrival and sightseeing tour of the town

13,40 Arrival to Targoviste and sightseeing of the town

14.00-16.00 Lunch, Romanian food

16.00-17.30 Tour of the remains of the thirteen-century Royal Court, Church and the Sunset Tower

"Turnul Chindiei" ("The Sunset Tower") was built in the second reign of Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler) and it soon became the emblem of the town. The town had several functions: fortifications, observation point, storing place for the thesaurus, fire tower, access gate. The Chindia Tower hosts the exhibit that displays Vlad Tepes (Count Dracula) reigns.

Departure to Bucharest

Arrival at Bucharest.