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I went to visit a friend in Moldova in the summer of 2003 and she arraigned a side trip for us to Transylvania (northern Romania) and Dracula's (Vlad the impairer) castle. During his career Vlad lived in a number of castles; but, Braun castle is considered "THE" castle so that's the one we visited.
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The people in charge of the castle don't know what to do with it. They would like to present it in all it's accurate history; but, they would also like to present it in all of it's mythological glory. Unfortunately they can't do both and so (as yet) they haven't done either.
The outside of the castle is impressive and was most everything I was hoping for.
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The inside held both appointments and disappointment. For example you can see the inside; but, only as part of an official tour. The castle had been "modernized" in the mid 1930's and used as an actual royal residence. The walls are all white plaster, and it's been wired for electricity; although, there are a few places where the plaster has been cut away to show the original ruff cut stone walls. It's almost empty. The few furnishings are relatively modern. Though there are a few pieces that a proper gothic vampire would be proud of.
There were also lot's of interesting stare
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And even a not so secret passage
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There was very large market place for souvenirs out side the castle grounds (where I got this post card); but, I had decided on my souvenir before I ever left on the trip. I wanted a bit of the "native soil in which the vampire must lay during the daylight hours". I even remembered to bring a baggie. There wasn't any grave yard so I scooped up some earth from the base of the castle. And I packed it back 9,000 miles to the USA. Where they took it away from me at customs. But I'm not disappointed because I know that US customs is protecting me from being attracted from foreign terrorist dirt.
| Elena and I
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Last modified on 03/16/2004
