Perfect Romanian Unions: 3 Grand Must-Visit Castles

Every December 1^st, Romania hosts one of its most
important holidays, Union Day. Throughout parades, speeches and celebrations,
largely in the capital of Bucharest, the country celebrates the unification of
the Romanian provinces in style. Even if you can’t make it to the Union Day
celebrations in Bucharest, you can celebrate all things Romanian, largely by
planning a castle hopping itinerary throughout the country. To see some of
Romania’s most prized structures, don’t miss these three castles in the
country.

Bran Castle:
Located in Bran, Romania, roughly 30 kilometers from Braşov in Transylvania,
Bran Castle is quite easily one of the most well known castles in the country.
The medieval fortress can thank Bram Stocker’s Dracula for lending it
popularity and acclaim. It is the only castle in Transylvania that actually
fits Stoker’s description of Dracula’s Castle. Built upon the site of a 1212
stronghold, the castle you see today was first mentioned in 1377. Today you can
tour Bran Castle, mostly to see how it functioned as a royal residence from
1920 to 1957. An adult ticket costs €6 to enter.

Corvin Castle:
Also referred to as Corvinilor Castle, Corvin Castle in Hunedoara, Romania, is
certainly one of the country’s most ornate Gothic castles. Built on the site of
a former Roman camp, it is believed to date back to the 14^th or 15^th
centuries. Standing as a monument to Hungarian rule, Corvin Castle features a
very intact structure, 50 rooms littered with medieval art and even an
impressive drawbridge to boot. Today it is a museum loaded with archaeological
finds from throughout the castle’s rich history. An adult ticket to enter runs
at 25 RON.

Peleş Castle:
Located in Sinaia in Southern Romania, Peleş Castle differs in appearance to
many of the Gothic Transylvanian castles. The castle sits close to Bran Castle
but bears a very different German-Renaissance style of architecture.
Commissioned to be a summer residence for the Romanian monarch in 1874, the
castle upheld its duties as a grand summer retreat for the royal family until
1947. Peleş Castle boasts 160 rooms, filled with European art, a towering clock
tower of 66 meters and plenty of fairytale turrets. One of the castle’s
greatest achievements was that it was the first European castle to have both
electricity and central heating. Both modernizations were made by 1883. After a
20-minute climb up from the town center, visitors will cough up a 20 RON
general entrance fee to marvel at one of Romanian’s most ornate castles.