Romania - Day 2

On Saturday October 29th, we headed out early again for the city of Brasov.  Thankfully it wasn't too far to the town. 

Brasov was first mentioned as "Corona" (which means, crown, hence the coat of arms of the city which is a crown with oak roots) in 1235, when the Saxon population settled here.  For centuries, the city was (and still is) Transylvania's gateway towards the South and East.  Due to geographical position, at the crossroads of Moldavia and Wallachia, Brasov has had a fast economic growth, becoming one of the most important markets in Transylvania.  The Brasov defense fortifications were built between the 15th and the 17th centuries.

AJ standing in front of the walls and where is Michael?!?  Yep climbing in the background.

This is the main square.  It is called Council Square and obtained its right to hold markets in 1520, but it has been the place for annual markets since 1364, being visited by merchants from the country and abroad.  A pillory, in the middle of the square, was used as a means for public humiliation, punishment and scorn.  Witches were also punished here.  A local tradition holds that the children that the Pied Piper of Hamelin sent underground appeared near this Brasov square.

This is the Black Church.  It was built between 1383 - 1477 on the site of an earlier church.  On April 21, 1689, a big fire destroyed most of the town and killed 3,000 people.  Most of the houses were destroyed and Saint Maria Church, smoked by the fire, would become "The Black Church."  It is the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul.  It was originally dedicated to Virgin Mary, the church was Roman-Catholic for more than a century and a half and later with the reformation sweeping across Europe it became a Lutheran one.

This statue has an interesting beginning.  This boy was an apprentice working with a master, Ulrich.  He was so good that the master became envious.  On day he pushed the little boy off the roof.  Then he heard the boy only said good things and in his remorse he built this statue and recognized the crime and was punished.

The Black Church exhibits the heaviest mobile bell in Romania.  Of the two towers that were planned only this one was finished which is 65.6 meters high.

This is a statue of Johannes Honterus.  he was an important reformer and humanist who became Stadtpfarrer (priest) a few years after bringing Lutheranism to Brasov in 1542.

This is the narrowest street in Romania.  It is a short cut for firefighters to Rope Street.

This is the local synagogue built in oriental style.  There are 400 Jewish people in Brasov.

AJ in front of Schei gate.

Catherine's Gate in its current form, it was built in 1559 and for a long time, it was the only connection between the fortified city and the District of Schei.  The constructions is provided with 4 corner turrets that, in the Middle Ages, represented the city's right to administer the capital punishment.  This was the only access towards the suburb of Schei until the Schei gate was opened.  After Schei Gate was opened (1828), Catherine's Gate was bricked up.  In 1955 it was reopened partially.

This is the coat of arms of Brasov - city of crown.

This is one of the four towers that surround Brasov.  It is called the Black Tower.  It is an independent fortification located outside the curtain wall.  Eleven-meter high, the tower was built during the 15th century, with a square shape of the donjon type.  The walls are 2 meters thick.  On July 23, 1559, the tower burnt down in a fire caused by thunder.  The smoky color gave its name after this unfortunate event.  The tower was restored in 1995.

This is the oldest building on the main square and is now their city hall.

AJ, David, and Michael on the "Alley Behind the Walls."  These walls were restored and returned to the tourist circuit from the initiative of President Aristotel Cancescu.

It was a very beautiful walk!!  A little chilly, but not bad.

The boys on top of the Black Tower with both David and I and a view of the Black Church and downtown Brasov.

Michael always taking the high road!!  It was a beautiful walk through the woods!

Michael and I on the next tower.  AJ decided he didn't want to climb the stairs to this one.

Here you can see the tower with Michael ready to go!

The birds were calling Michael's name.  He couldn't resist with all those birds there.  LOL

While we were waiting for the bus, the boys decided that it was time to wrestle with Daddy!!!

I LOVE these silly faces!!!!

Thankfully Daddy was good with wrestling and playing around as well!

I think Daddy was still winning, even against both of them.  :-)

After that we took a little time to enjoy some rest before our big evening at Dracula's castle!!  We had a costume dinner before we headed out to the castle.

We decided as a family to go as Batman characters!  My boys in front of Dracula's castle.  It was a little crazy getting into the castle, there were so many people, the crowds outside the gate were insane.  We had to keep track of our group by the tall hats some of the other guests were wearing.

Our first view of the castle on our way up to visit it.  They were shooting all sorts of different photos on the castle.  The line to get in was a little crazy as well, but thankfully we were able to stay together and made it in.  Bram Stoker’s character, Dracula, is a Transylvanian Count with a castle located high above a valley perched on a rock with a flowing river below in the Principality of Transylvania.

This character is often confused with Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler), sometimes known as Vlad Dracul, who was a Walachian Prince with a castle, now in ruins, located in the Principality of Wallachia. Because Bran Castle is the only castle in all of Transylvania that actually fits Bram Stoker’s description of Dracula’s Castle, it is known throughout the world as Dracula’s Castle. Chapter 2, May 5 of “Dracula” describes the Count’s castle as “. . . on the very edge of a terrific precipice . . . with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm [with] silver threads where the rivers wind in deep gorges through the forests.”  ram Stoker never visited Romania. He depicted the imaginary Dracula’s castle based upon a description of Bran Castle that was available to him in turn-of-the-century Britain. Indeed, the imaginary depiction of Dracula’s Castle from the etching in the first edition of “Dracula” is strikingly similar to Bran Castle and no other in all of Romania.

Bran Fortress was built both for strategic and economic reasons, started in 1364. Its purpose was to intercept the road that leads to Transylvania, including the gorge, and to ensure the protection of the Magyar customs center.  The Fortress was described as a privilege granted to the town of Braşov by Louis I of Anjou from the kingdom of Zvolen (Slovakia).

This is the bedroom of Queen Mary of Romania.  From 1938-1947, the room belonged to princess Ileana of Romania, daughter of Queen Mary.

The outstanding figure of the Walachian ruler Vlad Ţepeş (Vlad the Impaler), son of Vlad Dracul, does not seem, however, to have had a significant role in the history of Bran Fortress. The connection between Vlad the Impaler and the Fortress was not made until much later, and it has very little to do with the historical deeds of the Walachian ruler. It relies, rather, on his lifestyle, which history has consistently wrapped in mystery and legend.  The only verifiable facts about this connection are the indirect result of Vlad the Impaler's foreign policy endeavours, to which the relationships with Transylvania and Hungary are especially important.

It was really cool - they had actors set up all around the castle - and who should the first picture be with?!?  Dracula of course!

I love the decorations they had around as well!  This was room of the Castellans.  The portrait behind the table is of Lucas Hirscher - judge of Brasov and castellan of Bran fortress in the sixteenth century. The castellans had military and administrative jurisdiction, as well as fiscal powers, and charged a customs duty which could be subject to abuse.

The kids on the stairs heading up to the top of the castle - well at least as far as we could go.  This is the secret staircase.  Stone steps connect the first and the third floors.  The throwing openings from the fourth floor were reached in the Middle Ages by mobile ladders.

One of my favorite rooms - music hall and library, two of my favorite pastimes!  It is decorated in eclectic style, reminiscent of the atmosphere during Queen Mary.

During the interwar period, the fourth floor was arranged as an apartment for Prince Nicholas, the fourth child of King Ferdinand I of Romania and of Queen Maria of Romania.

More people dressed up, located in the game room.

This was the bedroom of King Ferdinand I of Romania.

The boys liked this area - they loves their swords, weapons, and armor!!!

This is a picture from the top of the castle of people already starting the party.

What does every castle have?  The picture on the left is called the Prayer Cross.  This brutal instrument was used to immobilize the culprit in the customary 'cross-like' position.  it is believed to have been probably invented in Austria in the 16th-17th century.  On the right is the Interrogation Seat, which was used in central Europe, particularly in Nuremberg and in Regensburg, until 1846 during regular judicial preliminary investigations.  The accused was placed nude in such a position that any movement would cause his skin to be pierced by the spines.  This torture usually lasted several hours and the tormentor often heightened the victim's agony by striking his limbs, or by using pliers or other such instruments on him.

I love all the different scenes put on the castle!  We enjoyed our time going through the castle!!

The four of us out in front of "Dracula's castle."

Next it was time to go into the tent and see what was happening in there.

There were tons of people and it was pretty loud - but we stayed in a corner and had some fun.  The boys weren't completely thrilled with the party because it was loud and crowded.  It was really cool to be there and an experience that I don't think any of us will ever forget.

It was really late when we left and I think that the boys were worn out!  LOL  ;-)  Another experience of a lifetime - having a Halloween party at "Dracula's castle!"