BRAN CASTLE Bran / Törzburg
First built by Teutonic Knights in 1377 to protect Kronstadt (Brasov) from Ottoman attacks, it became a key guard post at the Carpathian Mountain pass for the Austro-Hungarian Empire's hold on Transylvania.
Old Photos Gallery
Gifted to Queen Marie of Romania by local citizens after Transylvania became a Romanian province in the early 1920s, she restored it into its present state. The Castle was confiscated by the Communist government in 1948 and in 1950 the castle became a national monument to which was added a museum of restored village buildings. In May 2006, the castle was restituted to Archduke Dominic von Habsburg, the heir of Princess Ileana last royal owner of the castle.
For Queen Marie's and other stories on the Castle see:
Backgound
The Castle is one of the most popular visitor sites in Romania both for Romanians and foreigners. See the Ministry of Culure's website at:
brancastlemuseum.ro/indexfrm_en.htm
Mid Rt: Queen Marie at the castle in the 1930s. Grand-daughter of Queen Victoria (England) and niece of Tzar Alexander, she brought Romanian culture to world attention.
Bttm Lft: Private concert for Dimancescu in 2003 for family guests (authorized by Ministry of Culture) with medieval-music Brasov choir in courtyard; and Rt: guests