Is Bran Castle really Dracula’s Castle? That All Depends on You

Bran Castle (shot from Club Vila Bran-with a long lens)

I’m currently staying literally across the street from Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle.

Dracula’s Castle!

Now, here’s the point where some internet troll usually shows up and says, “You know that isn’t really Dracula’s castle, right? Right?”

So let me offer a bit of a response to that attitude—and maybe, just maybe, a small life lesson. Or at least something to deter a troll or two.

If by “not Dracula’s castle,” you mean Bran Castle wasn’t affiliated with Vlad the Impaler, the real-life figure often cited as inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, then yes—you’re completely correct. Vlad may never have set foot here.

But let’s be honest: the historical Vlad was an atrocious, brutal man. I have zero interest in celebrating him. I don’t want to visit his “real” castle. Given what Vlad was known for, I have no desire to become his fanboy.

Do I want to understand Vlad? Yes. Am I a fan? Nope.

Night falls on Bran Castle (shot from Club Vila Bran)

But maybe what you mean is that Bran Castle isn’t the “real” castle from Stoker’s Dracula. And if that’s the case, then I have some shocking news for you: Dracula is fictional! He was never real. He has no real castle. Dracula’s Castle exists only in one’s imagination.

And in my imagination, the castle on the hill that I’m looking up at as I type this is Dracula’s Castle. It takes me back to the first time I read Dracula (which, by the way, is a phenomenal piece of writing). Sitting beneath a stone fortress tucked into the Carpathian Mountains is thrilling not because history dictates it should be, but because my imagination makes it so.

You’re welcome to hold tight to what’s “real” and let that shape how much wonder you allow into your travels. And into your life.

But I’m happier letting my imagination claim Bran Castle as Dracula’s Castle.

Letting it spark excitement.

Letting it matter.

Because travel isn’t always about what’s real—it’s about what you let yourself feel. And you might be surprised what you feel if you gave it a try.

The town of Bran and its castle

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Epilogue: Where to Photograph Bran Castle From

Getting a good angle to shoot Bran Castle is trickier than you might expect. The castle looms above the park in the center of Bran, but shooting from directly below tends to diminish its eerie charm. Drones are forbidden in the immediate area, so aerial shots are out. There’s a forested slope to the west that offers potential—but (1) the only direct path up is brutally steep, and (2) before dawn or after sunset, you’re in prime brown bear territory. So not the best plan.

So what’s a photographer to do?

Allow me to introduce Club Vila Bran.

Just a few minutes outside the center of town by car, Club Vila Bran is part lodge, part restaurant, part family fun park—and most importantly, it’s perched on a rise above the city with a commanding view of the castle. Bring a long lens (something around 300mm works well), a tripod (especially if you're shooting after dark), and seek out the wooden deck near the restaurant.

Set up your tripod in a spot where there are no branches blocking your view, and get ready to trip the shutter.

Now, summon your patience. If you're shooting the castle lit up at night—highly recommended—your shutter will be open for several seconds, sometimes more. And every time someone clomps across the wooden deck, your camera shakes. Be ready to take many shots. Be ready for many to be ruined. Just keep shooting.

It also doesn’t hurt to bring a trekking pole or something similar to gently nudge intrusive branches out of your frame.

It’s not the easiest setup. But the shots? So worth it.