Apart from an eerie experience in the architectural marvel that inspired the character of Dracula, visitors to the Dracula Castle in Romania are also getting a free Covid vaccine.

Legend has it that high above the valley of Romania, in the principality of Transylvania, lies a castle that was once occupied by Count Dracula himself. Visitors will find this gothic fortress near the medieval town of Brasov. The Bran Castle, also called the Dracula Castle has long been linked to this medieval vampire.

Although more than a hundred years have passed since Bram Stoker wrote his famous vampire novel Dracula (1897) set in the region of Transylvania, it continues to attract tourists’ attention. Known for its mountains, forests, and castles, it’s not hard to understand why Transylvania was the perfect setting for the horror theme of Stoker’s book.

Visit the Bran Castle

For 30-year-old Slyvia Necula, thinking of Transylvania sparks beautiful childhood memories of Bram Stoker and his unforgettable character, Dracula.

“A mystical place, full of history and traditions, Transylvania is one of my favourite spots to visit. Hiking in Romania is a beautiful experience, which fills your heart with joy. You have a variety of wonders around, from glacial lakes to brown bear reservations, from medieval towns to the world’s best driving road. I spent most of my life in Romania and I am yet to discover all its hidden gems,” says Sylvia, a resident of London who visited Romania in 2019.

While there are a few castles in the region, it is believed that Bran Castle matches the description of the Dracula castle in the novel. Even if one keeps the legend aside, the Dracula Castle makes for an interesting visit for tourists.

Bran Castle is located in the village of Bran in the Transylvania region. It is around 30 km from Brasov and 190 km from the capital Bucharest.

Necula says that as she travelled along the Transylvanian terrain and saw the castle standing atop a rock a couple of hundred feet high, it looked quite mysterious. The snow-covered land and the darkness of the grey sky certainly made it a more eerie sight.

Interior of the castle

With a history dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries, this citadel was initially built by the Teutonic Knights. It was also a place of military importance. Much later, around 1920, the castle passed on to Queen Maria of Romania and became a royal residence. Queen Maria married King Ferdinand I of Romania. “Bran Castle or Dracula Castle, as it is commonly known, still belongs to the royal family who has restored it and now operates it as a museum. Along with panoramic views from the tower, there are over 50 rooms in the castle and most of them have furniture and other items that belonged to the Queen,” informs Necula.

As visitors climb dozens of tunnelled stairs and explore the interior, it makes them realise that the sparsely decorated rooms inside the castle are pale in comparison to the glamour of the other nearby places. However, there is a certain level of charm to the dark wood-panelled rooms and stark white walls. Interesting Dracula facts are strategically placed throughout, along with relics from the royal family who previously resided there.

The castle is open every day around the year. The official website of the Bran Castle says that there are huge crowds during the high season especially in July and August and it may inconvenience elderly visitors as waiting times to gain entry can be very long in such cases.

There are souvenir stalls in case tourists want to pick a memento or two. They can also visit the Tea House on the grounds of the castle.

Covid jabs at Dracula’s palace

However, visitors to Dracula’s castle are more likely to find puncture marks in their arms than their necks this month, after medics set up a Covid-19 vaccination center at the Transylvanian attraction.

Doctors and nurses with fang stickers on their scrubs are offering free Pfizer shots to all visitors to the 14th century castle. Castle staff hope the service will bring more people to the site in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, where tourist numbers have plummeted since the start of the pandemic. Anyone can turn up without an appointment every weekend in May. They also get free entry to the castle’s exhibit of 52 medieval torture instruments.