Casa Vlad Dracul

What makes the Transylvanian fortified citadel of Sighisoara, Romania so unique, besides the fact that it has been around since the 12th century and is one of the few medieval citadels still inhabited in Europe? 

Well, this is the actual birthplace of  Vlad III Dracul, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s gothic horror novel Dracula. He was born in 1431 to Vlad II Dracul, ruler of Wallachia, and Cneajna of Moldavia. They lived in this yellow dwelling until 1435, at which time they left to set up their court in Targoviste.

Vlad III’s reign began in 1456 with the death of his father, and he is known to have impaled his enemies on a stick, hence the moniker Vlad the Impaler. In late 1476, he was killed in battle and supposedly buried in Snagov Monastery. The real Vlad the Impaler was not a vampire, nor did he worship the devil. The Romanian word for vampires, strigoi, have been talked about for centuries, as troubled spirits that rise from the grave.

We have all seen a vampire movie, whether it be George Hamilton as Count Dracula or Bill Skarsgard as Nosferatu. One thing we can be sure of is that the mystery and appeal will never die, just like Dracula himself.