Visit Romania's Dracula sites, and you may be a little confused. After all, Bram Stoker's Dracula was not the Vlad Dracula of 15th century Romania. Bran Castle and Transylvania may have played a part in Bram Stoker's tale of blood-sucking vampires, but the real Dracula, Vlad Tepes or Vlad the Impaler, led a life far different from the fictional count. Vlad Tepes may have been born in Sighisoara, the center of which has been designated a World Heritage site. During his lifetime, the famous Impaler ruled from his Wallachian capital, Targoviste. And legend has it that Vlad is buried in a church on an island in the middle of a lake in Snagov. But whether or not you're in search of history or fantasy, locations associated with Dracula are sure to spark your imagination and increase your appreciation for either legend.
Bust of Vlad Tepes photo credit: CC BY-NC-SA Curious Expeditions