Offbeat Homes

Dracula’s Castle Given Back

by Kevin Humphrey on June 21st, 2006

Under new legislation in the eastern European country of Romania, the government has been returning property seized by the former communist regime to its rightful owners. Last month, Dominic van Hapsburg - a New York architect - had the ownership of the fabled Dracula’s Castle given back to his family.

Officially named Bran Castle, the property was taken by the commies in 1948. Mr van Hapsburg inherited it as a descendent of the Hapsburg family line, once rulers of the country, and owners of the castle when it was seized.

Contrary to popular belief, Bran Castle was never actually owned by Prince Vlad the Impaler - inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula character - though he is thought to have visited the 14th century fortress. This of course didn’t prevent the government from marketing the castle as Dracula’s and turning it into one of Romania’s most popular tourist attractions.

There’s more info to be had via this article at CNN.com.

[via Luxist]

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