Bran, Brașov
Bran | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 45°30′41″N 25°21′51″E / 45.51139°N 25.36417°E | |
Country | Romania |
County | Brașov |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020–2024) | Cosmin Feroiu[1] (PNL) |
Area | 67.85 km2 (26.20 sq mi) |
Elevation | 720 m (2,360 ft) |
Population (2021-12-01)[2] | 4,866 |
• Density | 72/km2 (190/sq mi) |
Time zone | EET/EEST (UTC+2/+3) |
Postal code | 507025 |
Area code | (+40) 02 68 |
Vehicle reg. | BV |
Website | www |
Bran (
The medieval Bran Castle is a popular tourist destination, partly because it is associated with the home of Dracula in Bram Stoker's novel of the same name;[3] the castle has been listed as one of the Seven Wonders of Romania.
Geography
Bran is located in the southern part of Brașov County, on or near the border with
, 111 km (69 mi) to the southwest.The commune is situated between two mountain ranges of the Southern Carpathians: to the southeast are the Bucegi Mountains, with the Omu Peak dominating the area, at 2,505 m (8,219 ft); and to the west are the Piatra Craiului Mountains, which top out at 2,238 m (7,343 ft).
History
The Teutonic Order began building a wooden fort called Dietrichstein here early in the 13th century. After the fort's destruction in 1242 by Mongols ("Tatars"), King Sigismund of Hungary ordered a stone castle to be built in 1377, while the settlement of Bran began to develop nearby. Positioned high atop a steep cliff, the castle guarded a strategic trade route between Transylvania and Wallachia. In 1498, Bran came under the jurisdiction of Brașov.[4]
After the
After Transylvania became part of Romania, Bran Castle (that was owned by the city of Brașov) was gifted to Queen Marie by the Brașov magistrate. The queen transformed it into a royal residence in the 1920s, and today it is one of Romania's most popular visitor sites. It is open to tourists, who can view the inside alone or as part of a guided tour. Outside the castle is an open-air museum with traditional Romanian farm houses and manufacturing facilities.
Natives
- Marian Blaj (born 1978), biathlete
- Ioan Pușcariu (1824–1911), historian and genealogist, member of the Romanian Academy
- Livia Reit (born 1978), cross-country skier
- Alexandra Stoian (born 1983), biathlete
References
- ^ "Results of the 2020 local elections". Central Electoral Bureau. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ "Populaţia rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (XLS). National Institute of Statistics.
- ISBN 9781409456285.
- ISBN 9781564148896.
- ISBN 9781136831539.
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Panoramic view of Bran
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The Bucegi Mountains viewed from Bran
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Parc in Bran, with statue of General Traian Moșoiu
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Saint Paraskeva Church in Șimon