Bran

 castle, museum, village

The fortified castle was built in the 14th century. The Hungarian King Ludovic I D'Anjou ordered the villages in the region to build a castle in Bran near Braşov. In 1412 King Sigismund donated it to the voivode of Wallachia. Some years later after getting it back the king sold the castle to the neighbouring Risnov. Following many changes in ownership the city of Braşov became the owner that has offered the castle as a coronation gift to the Austro-Hungarian Queen Zita in 1916. In 2 years, when Transylvania became part of Romania it was offered to the Romanian Queen Maria. Queen Maria had the castle restored and it became her favourite place of residence.

This castle is also mentioned as Dracula castle according to the folklore. Count Dracula (Vlad Tepes) lived only for a short time in the castle and only as a guest.

Today the castle gives home to a museum.

Bran is located relatively in the center of the country, the southern limit of the county of Brasov, in the geographical units called "Bran platform" that connects the Barsa Depression and Depression-Campulung Muscel Rucar by DN 73, about 27 km from the city Brasov. Village center is located directly at the end of passers-Bran Rucar to Transylvania.
The first record in a document dating from 1367 in the act by which a masterly James "Noble of Drag" one of the largest landowners in Barsa, belongs as a legacy as the TERCH Bran. Six years later, in 1373, fourth in the village of Bran, this time as the Turcz, is donated by Hungary's King Nicholas, bishop of Cenad and grandson Matthew. Since can be shared, the result was a settlement Bran village lying on the platform Bran.
All historical events are related to construction at the end of passers-Bran Rucar to Transylvania, the common current territory of Bran Castle.

Raising a strong castle in this part of the region was driven by military and economic reasons.

Bran pass was once one of the main ways to break the enemy armies in Transylvania and later by migrating peoples and especially after establishment of feudal states, has become the most important trade route linking western trade at Romanian Country.

Hungarians in Transylvania with entering and coming Teutonic Knights in Barsa (1211-1225), King Andrew II to grant the privilege to build a fortress of wood to build houses for them and the settlers to defend the border against the Cumans , a city was built near the present or in the same place.

Its construction is assigned Grof Dietrich, collector of the Teutonic Order, which left the name as "Dietrich's stone" that the castle was built later today.

After a conflict between King Andrew II Knights century and Teutons, they are forced to leave the area. A particularly important role in history Bran pass plays in the age of Louis the Great, because danger is approaching Turkish increasingly more Hungarian state borders. Bran castle fortress or existing building with some modifications until today was entrusted in 1377 Brasov. Louis the Great moved the customs official Rucar Bran.

On April 25, 1651, George II Rakoczi century, prince of Transylvania, Brasov assign a letter "donation and exchange" and the Bran fortress and approved on February 27, 1653 Diet and Brasov, as villages become the property belonging to Bran Brasov .

Entry Transylvania under Habsburg rule in sfarstitul-seventeenth century meant for villages Bran, primarily an increase in tax burden to the court of Vienna, while those concerning property rights. Following improvement of the tax, seek Austrian state and regulates the relations between masters and feudal subject, by introducing regulations land records.

The first and most complete land record of city and village of Bran was in 1761, the inventory of property and domain of Bran, jelerii serfs living on territory Bran and Brasov royal free city all income (as the owner of land) from: inns and pub pive and Darste, arable land and meadows alodiale; fees: hut tax, tax exile, income mountains, lambs tithe, tithe hives, income calves, etc. scrapping income.

The document recorded and split into two villages Bran nets: the following custom-Sohodol, Predeal, Gate, current villages of Bran and customs of the above-villages villages belonging Moieciu current and background.

Revolution of 1848 which took place under a program Bran the visa abolition of feudal services and rehabilitation of people led to the removal of the castle and the seizure of power by representatives of Bran. By law the cancellation of serfdom in 1848 desfinteaza and feudal dependence in its entirety, said the serf or free land.

Free Bran villages covered by the state administration reglemetarilor and know different Assignation. In 1850 part of Brasov district, which is attached to the district of Sibiu, in 1854 the prefecture infiintandu Brasov, Bran is one of the ten prices. In 1863 Bran is ascribed to the district Fagaras. In 1872 Bran Lower formed three villages (Sohodol, Predeal and Gate). In 1885 there were political as common gate, Predeal, Simon, Sohodol.

Portivit administrative reorganization in 1968, comprises current Bran commune villages: Gate, Predelut, Simon, Sohodol.

A moment in the history of Bran in the first half of the twentieth century is the period 1920-1948, when Bran Castle and "dependencies" belonged to Queen Mary her (in 1938, Princess Ileana) following donations made by the city of Brasov December 1, 1920, beneficial act that attracted the interest of State and prominent personalities of Romanian culture.