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Bran Castle's 
architecture


     Previously an unpretentions stronghold -like 
building, with the typical structure of the 14th 
century architecture, Bran castle incorporates -as 
one can see today- elements which highlight the 
different functions it had throughout its six hundred 
years existence. 
    Playng a definite military role within the fortification system, at the end of 
the 14th century the building contained, in its initial phase, only a trapezoidal 
precint surrounded by a curtain wall and a circular corner tower on the east side 
of the former one. The tower was adapted for defence during a firing gun attack and 
for the cionfiguration of the acces way toward and from Barsa County as well. 
     Yet, on the north side there might have been a single 
parapet erected upwards on a rock, and there were rooms on the 
ground floor of the east side -later erected- which contained 
within their structure elemants of a guard road. These elements 
as well as the framings (remains of a fundation on the opposite 
site rock) make us belive that there was a crenelated galery 
(a guard road) supported on the arcades which connected the 
castle's east side with the rock which and it allowed watching 
from a great distance. 
     The building plan is primarly determined by the configu-
ration of the rock on which the castle was erected. The 
   GUNPOWDER TOWER   typical 14th century architectural elements from the exterior 
			    and the interior of the castle were probably due to the role 
played by the stronghold, that of watching and defending the Bran pass against the 
settlements from Barsa County. Thus, all the defensive advantages, the land offered, were 
used to provide necessary lodgings for the garrison. Through an opening made in the south 
curtain wall, they entered the castle using a draw ladder.

    River bolders and bricks were used for raising the 
stronghold, materials processed according to the technology 
of the hydraulic concrete.
    During the 15th century Bran's architectural structure 
suffred a series of interventions, mainly influenced by the 
military technique development: the east side tower was 
built (successive modifications occured that led to the 
shape we have today); it also contains a part of the former gallery and the defence 
works system, erected on the opposite rock, was abandoned, the north side barbican 
being raised. 
    A new stage in the stronghold's architectural  
development was attested in documents at the begining 
of the 17th century during Gabriel Bethlen's reign as it 
is rendered on an inscription engraved on the east front 
of the Gate Tower, dating 1622. By this time, the Gate 
Tower, square in shape, including theformer entrance 
equipped with a draw ladder, was erected on the south 
side; the south curtain wall was doubled and thickened 
up to 3.5m thick; it was adapted to a firing gun attack; 
the keep overseeing the inner bailey was round and a 
Polish attic was attached to. 
     A century later Bran Castle was 
subdued to a new renovation. During 
the Romanian-Russian-Turkish war 
    NORTH-EASTERN VIEW    between 1877-1878, the Austrians took 
                          measures to reinforce the castle. Thus, 
the castle's roof was replaced with faggots,"endowed with several 
openings for cannons and fire guns; earth works and keeps were 
also erected on the mountain peaks, both on the left and the right 
side of the castle". Shortly after, the castle came to a 
progressing state of degradation. In 1883 the citadel of Brasov 
asked the Austrians to repair the castle on their account.
Consequently, the Bran edifice subdued to works of restauration 
to a great extent. Almost entirelyrebuilt, to the keep was added  WELL(INTERIOR    
ornamental crenels and arcades, recreating the aspect of the       COURTYARD)   
castle from the 17 century, meaning that the roofs were renovated 
and the shingle covering was replaced by tiles.
     Having been donated to Queen Maria of Romania on December 1st 1920, Bran 
stronghold acquired a resedential function. Being restored according to the plans 
of the royal court's architect, Carel Liman, the edifice lost the appearance of a 
stronghold with military functions, thus, being turned into a castle whose function 
was primarily residential. A special emphasis was given to the embellishments both 
 from the interior and the exterior side of the castle. Besides 
the Romantic style, co-existing with the Neo-classic in the 20th 
century in Romania, and the eclectic one, the elements added by 
Liman left a significant trace on the castle's architecture. An 
attic was added to the roof and the castle was endowed with a 
fourth floor serving as a dwelling for the queen's aide. The 
corridor on the cylindrical shaped tower, formerly used for defence, 
was closed and arranged as a flat for the Lady of Honour; the 
outbuildings next to the gate and the semicylindric little tower,
 overseeing the inner bailey, were built on the south side; Gothic 
frames, taken from the old houses in Brasov, flanked the front 
entrance doors. Over the ancient well's aperture, which supplied 
the castle with drinking water, a power lift was installed. It used 
SECRET STAIRCASE   to lead the water through a tunnel dug into the rock towards the 
                  park where the famous gardener Pamula planted bushes brought from 
Balcic, dahlias and roses being the queen's favourite flowers, as well as decorative 
elements of a great artistic refinement which were arranged according to Liman's 
projects.