Bran Castle and the Romanian Tourism Myth

This episode of The History of Romania peels back the layers of Bran Castle, the iconic Transylvanian fortress often marketed as 'Dracula's Castle.' Lucas and Luna explore the real history: the Teutonic Knights who built it in the 13th century, its role as a customs stronghold controlling the trade route between Wallachia and Transylvania, and its transformation into a royal residence for Queen Marie of Romania. They dig into how the Dracula connection—based on a tenuous link to Vlad Țepeș—was manufactured in the 20th century to fuel tourism, and what that says about the commercialisation of history. Along the way, they touch on the castle's architecture, its strategic position in the Carpathians, and its survival through wars and regime changes. A candid look at how a medieval fortress became a global brand.

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