BRAN, Romania – Bran Castle in Transylvania isn’t a high-end European retreat where health seekers can go to get a dose of vitamins and fiber in their diet. No, the legend of this nightmare palace, which has been listed for sale, is much more sinister in fiction than in reality. Bran Castle was home to one of the most notorious monsters in literary history: Count Dracula. No other name elicits more fear and respect in the world of horror than Dracula. His dark powers and blood lust are legendary. On par with the count himself is the castle Bram Stoker reportedly based the Lord of the Night’s home after.
Bran Castle is nestled in the heart of the mountains in Romania, formerly Transylvania. Carved from the rock of the mountains, Bran raises like a dark monolith above the sweeping verdant valleys below. Home to queens, kings and knights, the castle’s history is rich and storied. The most infamous character, and what draws over half a million visitors a year to see this horror home, is Vlad Tepes or “Vlad the Impaler” as he is more commonly known.
Vlad was known to be a vicious and vindictive ruler. To the enemies that he defeated in defense of the Wallachia border and those who broke laws under his rule, he was the impaler. Known to put his enemies on sharpened spikes as a “message” to others, his name struck fear in the hearts of all around him because nothing says, “doesn’t play well with others” than putting them on sharpened spikes.
The truth be told, Vlad’s actual residence is a couple of miles from Bran and in ruins. His connection to the castle is that he reportedly was a guest there in the dungeons. Though there were many bloody battles surrounding it, the castle was actually a customs post, home and museum for much of its history. It’s traded hands many times even being stolen from the royal family when communism took hold in Romania and they were given only 24hours to flee the country. Fortunately, the castle is now back in the hands of the heirs and they’ve painstakingly and lovingly restored the property. Now they are looking to sell to a private buyer with intentions of investing in this major tourist attraction and “taking it to the next level.”
This one of a kind estate is on the market now for forty-seven million pounds ($78 million US dollars). It may bleed your bank account dry but, “Looook into my eyes…you VANT to buy this castle!”
Read more about it at http://www.toptenrealestatedeals.com/homes/featured/2014/haunted-homes-you-can-buy/1/
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