Dracula Who Is He? Bram Stoker’s character, Dracula, a Transylvanian Count who resided in a castle located high above a basin perched high on a rock with a flowing river below in the territory of Transylvania.

Dracula’s character often confused with Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler), sometimes known as Vlad Dracul, who was a Walachian Prince (with a castle, now in ruins), located in the Principality of Wallachia. Because Bran Castle is the only castle in all of Transylvania that actually fits Bram Stoker’s description of Dracula’s Castle, it is known throughout the world as Dracula’s Castle.

The castle is described as “. . . on the very edge of a terrific precipice . . . with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm [with] silver threads where the rivers wind in deep gorges through the forests.”

Dracula Who Is He – Bram Stoker

It’s understood Bram Stoker never visited Romania and he portrayed the imaginary Dracula castle based on Bran Castle. The imaginary description of Dracula’s Castle from the etching in the first edition of “Dracula” is blindingly similar to Bran Castle (and not like any other in Romania).

Dracula (a fictitious character) whose name derives from the title given to Vlad Tepes, the ruler of Wallachia (1456-62/76), who for political reasons, was described by some as a blood-thirsty ruthless despot.

Stoker’s character, Count Dracula, first appeared in the novel “Dracula”, England 1897, by Irish born Bram Stoker. But the name “Dracula”, far from being a frightening term, derives from the Crusader Order of the Dragon with which Order both Vlad Tepes and his father had been associated. The rest, is just myths in ghosts and vampires whispered throughout Transylvania.

In the villages near Bran, there is a conviction in the existence of evil spirits called “steregoi” (a variant of “strigoi”). Until half a century ago, it was believed that living people – “strigoi” – who lead a normal life I the day however at night their souls left their bodies and haunted the local village tormenting people as they slept. These harrowing spirits haunt prey from midnight until dawn (just like the films). A curse (as some see it, others don’t) was that they suffered from the curse of immortality, writes Stoker, “they pass from one period to another, multiplying their victims, augmenting the evil in the world…”.

Visitors to Bran Castle should make the distinction between the historic reality of Bran and the character of the Count in Bram Stoker’s novel.

Dracula only exists in the imagination, but is one of the most iconic evils of all time.

On the Bran Castle website you are by Dominic Habsburg ‘We invite you to experience the history, the myth, the intrigue and the magic of this wonderful place and its Queen. We hope that you will carry the spirit that makes us love Bran Castle with you, always.’

On June 1, 2009, Bran Castle fully re-entered the possession of its legal heirs, Archduke Dominic, Archduchess Maria Magdalena and Archduchess Elisabeth.

Bram Stoker didn’t just write Dracula – find out more about his stories.

Dracula Who Is He – Dracula World Première

If you’d like to discover more about the Count then don’t miss the World Première of a brand-new stage adaptation of the classic thriller Dracula at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre.

Completely re-imagined by a world-class creative team from London’s West End and Broadway. Discover Dracula, the iconic Vampire thriller that started them all. This brand-new multi-sensory stage adaptation is brought to irresistible life in a contemporary, visceral interpretation of Bram Stoker’s book that includes all the familiar characters.

With breath-taking illusions and spine chilling effects, this classic tale of obsession and horror will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Dracula Who Is He – Come find out?

© Main Image By Florin Şarpe [CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons