Dracula's Castle For Sale

Posted by: Chris Steins

18 January 2007 - 1:00pm

The family in Bucharest, Romania that owns Bran Castle -- famous for its connection to the 15th century medieval ruler who inspired "Dracula" -- plans to sell the fortress to local authorities for $78 million.

"The castle was returned to Habsburg, a New York architect, in May. It was confiscated by the Communists from Habsburg's mother, Princess Ileana, in 1948, the year the royals were forced to leave the country."

"...Concerns were raised that the family could sell the castle to a hotel chain and that the site could end up being the centerpiece of a Dracula theme park that would blight the surrounding, pristine countryside some 105 miles north of Bucharest.

More than 400,000 visitors a year visit the castle -- mainly because of its loose association with "Vlad the Impaler," the legendary prince whose cruelty inspired novelist Bram Stoker's creation, the vampire Count Dracula."

Full Story: Owners of Dracula Castle Offer to Sell

Source: Associated Press, January 10, 2007