Bran Castle in Bran, #Romania 🇷🇴 The infamous Bran Castle often finds itself surrounded by lore and mystery because of its connection to Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, Dracula . The medieval fortress was built between 1377 and 1388 atop the mountain pass between #Transylvania and #Wallachia . During the 15th century, Vlad the Impaler ruled over the area and earned a reputation for his brutal torture methods. It’s believed the #castle 's mysterious setting and Vlad’s bloodlust inspired Stoker’s notorious tale.