Dracula's castle up for sale!

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : May 15 2014 | 4:30 PM IST
Fresh blood needed! Count Dracula's Transylvanian castle in Romania is up for sale but those seeking a tryst with folklore may have to shell out a hefty sum.
The Bran Castle or the Dracula's castle as it is popularly known is on the market, not in the conventional fashion, but in a discreet manner with offers invited from the "right people", The Telegraph reported.
"If someone comes in with a reasonable offer, we will look at who they are, what they are proposing, and will seriously entertain the idea," Mark Meyer, of Herzfeld and Rubin, the New York law firm that is handling the sale, was quoted as saying.
It's been reported that current owner of the castle Archduke Dominic offered it to the Romanian government for USD 80 million, but Meyer did not quote a figure, the paper said.
Bran Castle is currently used as a tourist museum displaying a collection of art and antique furniture from its previous owner Queen Marie of Romania, however the current owners, Archduke Dominic von Habsburg and his sisters Archduchess Maria Magdalena and Archduchess Elisabeth, would consider an offer if the right person comes along.
Indeed, the bloodsucking vampire Count Dracula was a purely fictional character, invented by the Irish writer Bram Stoker and made famous in films starring sharp-fanged Christopher Lee. But the fearsome real-life Vlad "The Impaler" Tepes famously operated in this area in the 15th century.
He is said to have been imprisoned in Bran Castle for a couple of months.
Also, Transylvanian legend and folklore are full of characters called 'strigoi' which are ghostly beings that leave their corporeal bodies when darkness falls and roam the surrounding valleys searching for sleeping villagers to terrify.
The property comes with a long list of previous owners such as the Saxons to Hungarians to Teutonic knights.
Each year 560,000 people pay 4 pounds to visit the fortress.
The biggest problem with the property is the lack of lavatories and bathrooms.
"We'd like whoever buys the castle to continue running it as a tourist destination. This isn't just a national monument, it's the largest and most significant attraction in Romania," Meyer said.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: May 15 2014 | 4:30 PM IST

Next Story