THE LEGEND OF COUNT DRACULA
Vlad the Impaler
(‘Dracul’) was the ruler of Wallachia
in the 15th century. He was born in 1431 in Sighisoara,
Transylavnia, where his father was going to be
crowned king of Wallachia. The family
escutcheon was the dragon, called Draco-Onis in
Latin. In English, the word ‘’drac’’
means ‘’devil’’. After the publication in 1897 of the novel ‘’Dracula’’
written by the Irish Bram Stocker, the name of the price and the places related
to his name became even more famous.
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The region
surrounding the Bran
Castle was his favourite hunting place. At the foot of the castle, in
the locality of Bran, famous due to its cheese specialities,
tourists can find accommodation in local households.
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"Many people are
very interested in knowing about Dracula."
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Vlad, a 15th century prince, earned his nickname
because of his penchant for impaling captured Turks and other enemies on
stakes. His birthplace in the city is now a restaurant.
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Sighisoara, also known as Schaessburg,
is strongly influenced by German traditions dating back to the 12th century
when ethnic Germans settled there.
The city of Bistrita,
some 400 kilometers (250 miles) northwest of Bucharest and which features in Bram Stoker's
1897 Dracula novel, was one of the contenders.
see transilvania pictures
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