An Apollonaut travel guide

Moments in a longer story.

Selected milestones in the history of Bran Castle, from a Saxon fortress to a royal home and a museum.

On this page

Fortress, royal home and museum

These dates describe the place you can learn about here. They are not a company timeline for Apollonaut.

1377
A stone castle is permitted
King Louis I of Hungary allows the Saxons of Brașov to build a stone castle at Bran.
1388
The fortress is complete
The castle guards the road through the Bran pass and serves as a customs post.
1897
Dracula is published
Bram Stoker’s novel creates the image of a Transylvanian castle that many visitors later look for at Bran.
1920
A gift to Queen Marie
The city of Brașov gives the castle to Queen Marie of Romania, who makes it a royal home.
1938
Princess Ileana inherits
After Queen Marie’s death, the castle passes to her daughter, Princess Ileana.
1948
The state takes the castle
Romania’s communist regime takes the castle from the royal family; it later opens as a museum.
2006
Returned to the family
The castle is returned to Princess Ileana’s heirs and remains open to visitors.