One Night in Transylvania
Of all the places in the world why would anyone choose to stay overnight in Transylvania?
I know, I get it. It’s weird AF, yet for some curious reason this distant region is like top five on my to do list.
Located in Central Romania, and best known for its illusory of vampires, besides being the driving force behind the creation of Dracula, Transylvania is quite an interesting place to visit.
This historic region has a bizarre allure of medieval villages, breathtaking landscapes, dense forests, and a myriad of the most exotic castles found in the world.
Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel introduced the Western World to the blood sucking terror of Transylvania. Though Dracula is essentially fictional, the character was modeled after a real-life person whose spill of blood may surpass the count himself.
Known as Vlad the Impaler, Vlad Tepes III (Dracul) of Wallachia was born around 1431 in Transylvania. His father, Vlad II, earned the surname Dracul after induction into the Order of the Dragon, a Christian military assembly of the Roman empire.
Around 1453 Vlad III was appointed the responsibility of defending Wallachia from an invasion. In an effort to consolidate his power, legends say Vlad III invited hundreds of diplomats to a banquet where his guests were stabbed and dying bodies were then impaled.
Impaling, is a term used to describe a gruesome form of torture where a metal or wooden pole is inserted through the rectum, and exits near the victim’s neck, shoulders, or mouth.
Vlad is estimated to have killed upwards of 80,000 people, of which some were impaled and put on display outside the city of Targoviste. On occasion, he purportedly consumed meals amongst the defeated opponents who were impaled on poles. How’s that for terror?
Now back to the castles!
Aside from the horrific anecdotes of Dracul and his fictional protégé Dracula, the fairytale-like castles and scenic landscapes of Transylvania could possibly overshadow the region’s dark history.
My top five tourist sites of Transylvania:
The Bran Castle is said to be the inspiration behind the creation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
The Peles Castle is believed to be the world’s first castle fueled by local energy from its own power plant source.
Poenari Citadel, a castle ruin that is closely associated with Dracula, has been featured in many television and movie scenes as the home of Count Dracula.
The Fagaras Fortress survived constant attacks during medieval times due to its deep brick walls and airtight citadel. Visitors can tour inside to see its collection of aged weapons and crafts.
Last, but not least, The Castelul Corvinilor, is the quintessence of the glamorous life.
Inside the mysterious Hoia Baciu Forest, Transylvania located to the west of the city of Cluj-napoca, is a popular tourist destination and is considered one of the creepiest places to visit.
Transylvania is the new hotspot. Stay tuned for the upcoming surge of tourism and celebrity visits to this remote region of Romania.
Transylvania — Romania Tourism & Vacation Information
The Real Dracula: Vlad the Impaler | Live Science
History of Dracula: Bram Stoker’s Real Inspiration — Historic Mysteries
