Vlad III the Impaler - Articles - Zimbio

THE HOME OF DRACULA LINKS UP WITH PSYCHIC REPORTER

Thu, 20 Jun 2008 12:14:00 GMT

posted by westpenninewoman

Psychic Reporter has received several subscription requests from fans of our blog living in the deepest, darkest reaches of Romania - the home of blood thirsty vampires.

One young man has told me that he lives in a small town in Transylvania where locals still take steps to protect themselves from these most predatory of "undead" beings!

So here's a little about the Dracula legend:

Some say that Transylvania a region of Romania sits on one of earth's strongest magnetic fields and its people have extra-sensory perceptions.

Myths suggest that vampires frequent crossroads on St. George's Day, April 23rd, and the eve of St. Andrew, November 29th waiting for victims.

The area is also home to Bram Stoker's Dracula, and it's would be easy to get caught up in the tale if you should drive along the roads that wind through dense, dark, ancient forests and mountain passes.

Count Dracula, a fictional character in the Dracula novel, was inspired by one of the best-known figures of the Romanian history — Vlad Dracula, nicknamed Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler) — who was a ruler of Wallachia (1456-1462).Vlad was a sadistic killer who killed for pleasure and slaughtered thousands in his reign. Compared to Vlad the fictional Dracula was quite a nice guy.

The legend is big business in the country and many "Dracula Tours" are being offered throughout Romania. They include the most important historical places related to Vlad Tepes, such as 14th Century town of Sighisoara — Vlad's birthplace.

The house in which Vlad Dracula was born has a small plaque on the door and now is a restaurant and small museum of medieval weapons.

Other Dracula sights are: the Snagov Monastery — where, according to legend, Vlad is said to have been buried after his assassination; Castle Bran (Castle Dracula); the Poenari fortress; the village of Arefu — where many Dracula legends are still told; the city of Brasov — where Vlad led raids against the Saxons merchants; and, of course, Curtea Domneasca — Dracula's palace in Bucharest.

Some tours also cover the folkloric aspects of the fictional Dracula. For instance, eating the meal that the main character,Jonathan Harker ate at The Golden Crown in Bistrita, and sleeping at Castle Dracula Hotel — on the Borgo Pass, approximately where the fictional castle of the Count is supposed to be.

Make sure you take lots of garlic and a wooden stake should you decide to visit! Remember you can subscribe to Psychic Reporter for FREE - daily updates guaranteed.

The Historian - Book Review

Wed, 15 May 2008 20:21:51 GMT

posted by devourerofbooks

Let me just begin by pointing out the creepy face on the cover of this book. Creepy, creepy, creepy. This is at least the third time I’ve read this book, and the first time I’ve ever noticed the face on the cover. Evidently I’m not always the most observant…

“The Historian,” by Elizabeth Kostova, is the story of a group of people who discover that Vlad the Impaler, Vlad Dracula, still walks the earth as a vampire. The story takes place in the ‘present’ of the 1970s, as well as through stories and letters of the 1950s and the 1930s. The main narrator is a teenage girl who lives with her American diplomat father in Amsterdam. Her father narrates the portions set in the 1950s, and his mentor Bartolomew Rossi’s letters describe the events of the ’30s.

The narrator’s father, Paul, is forced to relive his discovery of Dracula’s extant nature and the memories of his search for his mentor, who vanishes under bizarre circumstances, when his daughter discovers an old book in his library. The book is completely blank, save for a woodprint in the center and the word Drakula. Through Paul’s stories, we are taken both through Paul’s journey and through Rossi’s original discovery of the existence of Dracula.

I have read this book multiple times and each time I cannot put it down. The way Kostova weaves together fact and fiction is incredible. Additionally, it is one of those books that is written with an introduction by the main character that introduces the book as if it was a memoir. Those books are somehow the easiest for which to suspend disbelief, even about a supernatural subject like this one. Reading this book alongside Bram Stoker’s “Dracula“, as well M.J. Trow’s “Vlad the Impaler” gave me an even greater appreciation for this book. It became obvious that Ms. Kostova had not only done her research, but she had essentially created a modern day version of “Dracula.” She manages to recreate many of the same elements as Stoker, without simply ‘updating’ his story.

Buy these books on Amazon:
The Historian
Dracula (Barnes & Noble Classics)
Vlad the Impaler: In Search of the Real Dracula

Currently reading..

Sat, 29 Jun 2008 04:41:00 GMT

posted by jinjiruks
Yehey! kahapon dumaan ako sa may Glorietta then napatingin ako sa mga books for sale.. bumaba ako then while browsing natuwa ako dahil andito yung matagal ko nang gustung bilhin kaso mahal; title ng book eh "Dracula: Prince of many Faces, His Life and His Times" by Radu Florescu and Raymond McNally, 4 yrs ago Php 1,500 pa sya pero sa ngayon eh Php 200 na lang kaya naman hindi na ako nag dalawang isip kaya binili ko na, inspired lang siguro ako sa book ni Bram Stoker: Dracula, i want to know more the historical Vlad Tepes (The Impaler) against the novel whereas ginawang inspiration ni Bram ang 15th century Wallachian ruler.

The Real Dracula Castle is for sale!

Tue, 17 Oct 2007 15:24:31 GMT

posted by medieval

This is the actual castle that Vlad the Impaler lived in and it is the setting for the original Bram Stoker Dracula novel and it is now for sale.

The outside of the castle is absolutely gorgeous and I would imagine that the inside is equally gorgeous but I don’t think I would want to buy this place - it just seems like bad karma to me.

There has been quite a renaissance in the big ticket real estate market all throughout eastern europe. Many of these places have been used by film makers for many years and now the properties are finding other uses such as high end hotels, condos, and even casinos.

This particular castle was built in 1212 and was Vlad’s home in the 15th-century. It has been owned by the Romanian government for a very long time but has recently been reacquired by the Archduke Dominic von Hapsburg family.

Curious about the cost?

140 Million!

There are quite a few very similar types of properties for sale and you can read more about them at the forbes.com website:

http://www.forbes.com/realestate/2007/10/12/europe-eastern-property-forbeslife-cx_mw_1015realestate3_slide.html

Tags: Castles/Medieval, Historical, Medieval, shopping

Dracula's Castle

Wed, 30 Aug 2007 21:22:00 GMT

posted by DiANDRE

I've been asked the Dracula questions recently, so I'll post a few pictures I took in January and I will write a few things about Dracula and his castle. :)

Bram Stoker used Bran Castle as his model for Dracula's Castle. This was featured in multiple film adaptations of Dracula, and has informally become known as Dracula's Castle.

The Count Dracula character was supposedly based in part on the real-life Vlad the Impaler. But Vlad's castle was the one at Poienari in Wallachia, not in Transylvania.

Sorry to disappoint you, but Dracula's Castle (in Stoker's novel) is not the real Dracula's Castle!

He he, I promise I will disappoint you even more in the next few days, as I'll write more...