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[Vallikat]

For Sale: Dracula's Castle in Romania
By ALEXANDRU ALEXE, Associated Press Writer
1 hour ago


Bran Castle in Translyvania, Romania is seen in ...
BUCHAREST, Romania - A Habsburg heir is hoping someone will take a bite of his offer Monday to sell "Dracula's Castle" in Transylvania.

The medieval Bran Castle, perched on a cliff near Brasov in mountainous central Romania, is a top tourist attraction because of its ties to Prince Vlad the Impaler, the warlord whose cruelty inspired Bram Stoker's 1897 novel, "Dracula."

Legend has it that the ruthless Vlad _ who earned his nickname because of the way he tortured his enemies _ spent one night in the 1400s at the castle.

The Habsburgs formally put the Bran Castle on the market Monday, a U.S.-based investment company said. No selling price was announced.

Bran Castle was built in the 14th century to serve as a fortress to protect against the invading Ottoman Turks. The royal family moved into the castle in the 1920s, living there until the communist regime confiscated it from Princess Ileana in 1948.

After being restored in the late 1980s and following the end of communist rule in Romania, it gained popularity as a tourist attraction known as "Dracula's Castle."

In May 2006, the castle was returned to Princess Ileana's son, New York architect Archduke Dominic Habsburg. He pledged to keep it open as a museum until 2009.

Habsburg, 69, offered to sell the castle last year to local authorities for $80 million, but the offer was rejected.

On Monday, he put the castle up for sale "to the right purchaser under the right circumstances," said Michael Gardner, chief executive of Baytree Capital, the company representing Habsburg. "The Habsburgs are not in the business of managing a museum."

He predicted the castle would sell for more than $135 million but added that Habsburg will only sell it to a buyer "who will treat the property and its history with appropriate respect."

Habsburg said in a statement: "Aside from the castle's connection to one of the most famous novels ever written, Bran Castle is steeped in critical events of European history dating from the 14th century to the present."

According to a contract signed when the castle was returned, the government pays rent to Habsburg to run the castle as a museum for three years, charging admission. After 2009, Habsburg will have full control of the castle, Gardner said.

The government has priority as a buyer if it can match the best offer for the castle, he said.

Opposition lawmakers have claimed the government's decision to return the castle to Habsburg was illegal because of procedural errors.

In recent years, the castle _ complete with occasional glimpses of bats flying around its ramparts at twilight _ has attracted filmmakers looking for a dramatic backdrop for films about Dracula and other horror movies.

Some 450,000 people visit the castle every year, Gardner said.

[Ceryn]

oooh I'd buy it... now where'd I leave me chequebook?

[Jugsmalone]

Yeah well I guess since vampires live there you wouldnt have to hire a cleaning lady, or a cook I am sure they can live off a few tourist.

[Ashval]

That'd be sweet.

[Aakasha]

oooo if I only had the money -drools-.

[Myz_Lilith]

Well... it'd be nice for a weekend retreat, but I'm still holding out for a nice state-of-the-art evil supervillain base under a volcano. Or the moon.

(Not a supervillain base ON the moon. The whole moon. I have plans...)

[Ceryn]

If it involves setting up a huge sonic projector and playing 'britney spears' to the earth until they accept submission to your dominance..

I thought of that already.

[Twisty]

Interesting. A possibility to became a lord of a vampire castle.
*checks bank account*

One thing needs to be said however, if someone actually considers buying it. (knowing you guys, quite possible )
Sadly, the Bran Castle is not actually the real Dracula's castle. Some movies might have been filmed there, but the historical figure Vlad III "Tepes" Dracula apparently never lived there. The Bram Stoker's novel does not have any events situated on the castle either. Events of the novel are located few hundred kilometres north. The king's actual castle, castle Poenar, is few hundred kilometres south towards Bukarest.

[Fishi3]

Last I heard the decendant of the original owner was trying to get the property back so whomever bought it would be buying a mess of legal troubles.

Read a bit closer. I hadn't heard that the matter had been resolved. still at 80 million it's a bit steep for a castle thats a historical landmark which means you likely will be subjected to alot of upkeep expenses and limitations on use. Namely that you couldn't change the decor or live in it.
Also since your not going to have a historical claim if the Government chooses to take it over again your not going to have more than the bill of sale to argue ownership with.

Besides which the Hapsburgs were the most inbred royalty in the history of Royalty. Look at the British Royals who have Hapsburg connections. Do you really want an entire castle full of portraits of people who look as goofy as Prince Charles staring down at you?

[Sneakpastu]

If I had an unlimited supply of funds this place would so be mine....and of course I'd let all of my GSP and GSP Dancer friends come for extended vists. This is the place that dream are made of...or is that nightmares.