HISTORY & MORE
HOW DID IT START?
HISTORY 1211-2009
Any historical episode is determined by two essential elements: time and space, constant factors that determine its place in the evolution of a human community.
The land between Bucegi and Piatra Craiului has determined a series of significant episodes, from prehistory to the present, hosted by a major geographical and historical point: the Bran Pass.
AFTER 1918
Bran castle
History and legend
After 1918, Transylvania became part of Greater Romania. On December 1, 1920, the inhabitants of Braşov, by unanimous decision of the City Council, led by Mayor Karl Schnell, offered Bran Castle to Queen Marie of Romania, described as "a great queen, spreading her blessing wherever she went and thus conquering, with an irresistible impetus, the hearts of all the inhabitants of the country".
The castle became the favorite residence of Queen Marie, who restored and redeveloped it for use by members of the royal family.
1920 - 19471
ROYAL RESIDENCE
The Teutonic Knights
The Teutonic Knights, "Ordo domus Sanctae Mariae Theutonicorum Hierosolimitanorum", a Catholic religious order founded by German crusaders in Palestine, at the end of the 12th century, receive from King Andrew II of Hungary the Land of Bârsa (Terra Borza or Burzenland – a district named after the Cuman tribe of the Burci)
The settlement of the Teutons in the region
A district named after the Cuman tribe of the Burci.) The gift aims to establish the Teutons in the region and defend the southeastern border of Transylvania from the Cumans and Pechenegs.
The Teutons build a fortress at Bran
The Teutons built a fortress at Bran (the Slavonic name for the word "gate"); in 1226 they were expelled from the region.
THE YEAR 1377
Louis the Great Louis I of Anjou
On November 19, the chancellery of the Hungarian King Louis the Great – Louis I of Anjou – issued an act granting the inhabitants of Brașov (Kronstadt – Crown City) the privilege of building a castle.
This document urges the Saxons (Sachsen - a population of German origin who came to Transylvania in the 12th century) from the entire Brașov region to participate in the construction of Bran Castle, initially called Dietrichstein or Törzburg in German, Törcsvár in Hungarian and Turciu in Romanian.
Louis the Great – Louis I of Anjou Reign: November 17, 1370 – September 10, 1382
The construction of the castle is completed
It is the year in which the construction of the castle is completed. It is built on the steep cliff between Măgura and Dealul Cetăţii and has an exceptional view of the neighboring hills, the Moeciu Valley and Țara Bârsei.
The castle has both the role of customs – it retains 3% of the value of goods entering and leaving Transylvania, and that of a fortress on the eastern border of Transylvania intended to try to stop the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. It is inhabited by soldiers, mercenaries by profession. The chronicler Ioan de Tîrnava also mentions the “English brigands and ballistae” from the XNUMXth century. The castle lord of Bran is chosen by the king, usually from among the Saxons.
In the history of Transylvania, its role will be increasingly important, so that at the end of the 15th century the commander of the castle will also hold the title of vice-voivode of Transylvania.
Sigismund of
Luxembourg
Sigismund of Luxembourg gave the castle as a fief (property offered in exchange for loyalty) to his ally, the ruler of Wallachia, Mircea the Elder, so that he could retreat there in case of a Turkish attack. In 1419, after the death of the voivode, the political instability in Wallachia led Sigismund to take over the castle and entrust it to the princes of Transylvania.
Iancu of Hunedoara
The Turks undertake an incursion into Transylvania, but Iancu of Hunedoara defeats them at Bran.
The Turks undertake an incursion into Transylvania, but John of Hunyadi defeats them at Bran. John, prince of Transylvania, needs the support of the Saxons on the border and reinforces the privileges granted to the inhabitants of Brașov by Mircea the Elder and Sigismund.
THE YEAR 1459
Vlad the Impaler
Vlad the Impaler, charged by the Transylvanian princes with anti-Ottoman resistance on the border, was allied with Bran and Brașov during his first reign (1448) and in the period up to his second reign.
However, at the beginning of 1459, during his second reign (1456 – 1462), his army passed through Bran and attacked Braşov to resolve a conflict between the ruler of Wallachia and the Saxons who were demanding increasingly higher customs duties and supporting his opponent to the throne.
Vlad the Impaler burns the suburbs of the city and kills hundreds of Saxons, provoking the Saxon community to take revenge and portraying him in later chronicles as an extremely bloody tyrant.
THE YEAR 1498
Vladislav II Jagiello, King of Hungary
On January 1, the Saxons of Brașov paid 1000 florins and bought the right to use the castle for 10 years from Vladislav II Jagello, the king of Hungary, whose treasury was emptied by wars.
The people of Brașov also take over the castle's lucrative customs.
April 25 1651
Prince George Rackoczi
On April 25, 1651, after having already extended the contracts for the use of Bran Castle several times with the princes of Transylvania (even after the Ottoman conquest of the Hungarian kingdom in 1541), the people of Brașov managed to conclude a sale-purchase deed for the castle with Prince Gheorghe Rackoczi II.
Year 1691 – Although Transylvania became part of the Habsburg Empire as early as 1687, the Leopoldine Diploma reconfirms the privileges offered by the princes to Transylvania, including the sale of the castle in 1651.
THE YEAR 1723
The renovation of the castle's northern tower is completed.
The renovation of the castle's northern tower is completed, as mentioned in an inscription.
The construction had suffered several damages over time, often caused by sieges, but also by negligence or natural phenomena. Thus, history records an explosion of the powder magazine in 1593, and in 1617 a strong storm, which destroyed the roofs.
Reconstruction works were also carried out during the reign of Gabriel Bethlen (1613 – 1629), when the gate tower, the round tower and the keep were rebuilt.
The imperial authorities accept at the insistence of the people of Brașov
Year 1836 – After the border between Transylvania and Wallachia moves to the mountains, at Pajura, Bran Castle loses its military and commercial importance. Bran ceases to be a border and customs point of Austria-Hungary, the fortress continues to fulfill an administrative function.
Year 1886 – The imperial authorities, at the insistence of the people of Brașov, agreed to repair between 1883 and 1886 the damage done to the castle during the 1848 revolution and the Russo-Turkish war of 1877, and carried out extensive restoration work.
The Brașov administration cedes the castle to the regional forestry district
Year 1888 – The Brașov administration cedes the castle to the regional forestry district. For 30 years the castle's prestige decreases. Until 1918 it is inhabited by forest foremen, foresters and forest inspectors from Brașov.
1920 – In 1918 Transylvania had become part of Greater Romania. On December 1, 1920, the citizens of Brașov offered the castle, following a unanimous decision of the city council led by mayor Karl Schnell, to Queen Maria of Romania, described in the document as a “great queen, who (…) spreads blessing wherever she steps, thus conquering with irresistible force the hearts of the population of the entire country.”
The castle becomes Queen Mary's favorite residence; she will restore and furnish it so that it can be used as the residence of the royal family.
From 1920 until this year, the castle was transformed into a royal summer residence.
From 1920 until this year, the castle was transformed into a royal summer residence. The works were coordinated by the Czech architect Karel Liman, the same one who had designed the Peleș and Pelișor castles.
The castle's 57-meter-deep well does not provide enough water, so it is obtained by pumping from natural springs located along the valley. In 1932, a hydroelectric power plant was built on the Turcu stream, which allows the castle to be illuminated. The towns of Bran, Şimon and Moeciu are also connected to it.
The grateful residents thank Queen Maria, to whom she refers: "Poor communes, purely Romanian and which in the near future could not have had this advantage."
The grounds around the castle are transformed into an English park with two ponds and a Tea House. To make it easier for the arthritic queen to walk between the castle and the park, a lift is installed. Other buildings are also built, such as a guest house, a wooden church, staff quarters, stables and garages.
Queen Mary dies on July 18
Queen Maria died on July 18. According to the will drawn up on June 29, 1933 in Balchik, Bran Castle was bequeathed to the queen's favorite daughter, Princess Ileana, who had been married to Archduke Anton of Austria since 1931. Archduchess Ileana continued the plans for the castle's development.
YEAR 1940 - 1944
The heart of Queen Mary is brought from the Stella Maris chapel
Year 1940 – After the Vienna Dictate and Romania's loss of the southern Danubian territories, the heart of Queen Maria is brought from the Stella Maris chapel of Balchik Castle, located on the Black Sea coast, in Bran. The sarcophagus containing the queen's heart is deposited in the crypt of a chapel carved into the rock beyond the castle valley. Since the queen's death, her heart has been kept in a silver casket, which in turn is in a casket decorated with precious stones, wrapped in the flags of Romania and her native England and placed in a marble sarcophagus.
Year 1944 – Princess Ileana builds a hospital in Bran, which she calls “The Queen’s Heart”. It is intended to care for wounded soldiers from Brașov. The Red Cross hospital here had been bombed by American aircraft. After 1945, the hospital continues to treat people wounded and maimed during the war and the population of the region. Princess Ileana herself, as a nurse, cares for patients. She continues this activity, with great effort, until January 1948.
The newly installed communist government forces Princess Ileana to leave the country with her family.
Year 1948 – The newly installed communist government forces Princess Ileana to leave the country with her family. After passing through Switzerland and Argentina, she and her six children – Ștefan (born 1932), Maria-Ileana (born 1933), Alexandra (born 1935), Dominic (born 1937), Maria-Magdalena (born 1939) and Elisabeta (born 1942) – will move in 1950 to the United States.
At the same time, her husband, Archduke Anton, returns to occupied Austria to recover what he can of his war-damaged properties. In America, Princess Ileana provides for the family and educates her children thanks to the lectures she gives on topics related to her life, Romania, and communism.
Communist authorities transform Bran Castle into a museum with three departments
Year 1956 – The communist authorities transformed Bran Castle into a museum with three departments: the castle itself along with pieces from the royal family's heritage, the medieval customs and the ethnography section, comprising the traditional houses in the park next to the castle.
Princess Ileana, who in 1961 dedicated herself to monastic life and became Mother Alexandra
In September, Princess Ileana, who in 1961 dedicated herself to monastic life and became Mother Alexandra, visited Bran Castle. Here she noticed the deterioration of the buildings and the disappearance of some of the interwar constructions.
She died shortly afterwards, on January 21, 1991, and is buried in the Orthodox Monastery of Transfiguration, which she had founded and of which she had been abbess, in the American town of Ellwood. Her grave also contains a small box of soil taken during her exile from the foot of Bran Castle.
The castle restoration work that has begun is completed.
Year 1993 – The restoration work on the castle, which began in 1987, is completed. The castle reopens as a museum and re-enters the tourist circuit.
Year 2006 – On May 18, after a period of legal proceedings, the castle was legally returned to the heirs of Princess Ileana of Romania and Archduke Anton of Austria. However, the Romanian state, through the Ministry of Culture, will administer it on a transitional basis for the next three years.
Legal heirs
On June 1, the castle fully returned to the possession of the legal heirs, Archduke Dominic, Archduchess Maria Magdalena and Archduchess Elisabeth.
We invite you to experience the history, myth, intrigue and magic of this wonderful place. We hope you will always carry with you the spirit that makes us love Bran castle.