BRAN CASTLE – ROYAL RESIDENCE (1920-1947)

The uncertain years of the World War I mark the history of the Bran castle by a circumstantial gesture of Braşov town authorities, which – on the occasion of the crowning, on the 30th of December 1916, of emperor Carol I of Austro-Hungary as king of Hungary (under the name of Carol the IVth),– intend to mark the event by a … donation.

Two days before the big event, on the 28th of December 1916, the mayor of Braşov, dr. Karl Schnell, justifies his gesture before the assembly of town representatives as follows: “We, citizens of this free royal town, gathered for the first time since the beginning of the unfaithful neighbors’ invasion, want  today to salute His Royal and Apostolic Majesty, from deep inside the heart   (…) We decided today to kindly ask His Majesty, as it was in the old days, to take possession of the castle on the ancient rock Dietrich. And we offer this present with faith, as abiding subjects”.

Adding “the proud felling of the invincibility of the monarchy, after the bright successes in the East”, the mayor Karl Schnell presented this proposal to the town judge, for approval and further fulfillment.
“Enthusiastically”, he established “in the name of all citizens,” that “from the part of our town, we ask him [Carol the IVth – n.n.] to receive as humble present, the Bran Castle and the park, property of Braşov town”.

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