Romania Peace Corps Volunteer Nik Crein corrects tourists' misunderstandings about Vlad Dracula
Shedding more light on Count Dracula stories
I appreciate David Belcher's efforts to highlight Romania as a tourist destination (``Romanian holiday,'' Travel, Oct. 26) but would like to point out some errors in his article. As a Peace Corps volunteer developing sustainable tourism projects in Sighisoara, I often correct tourists' misunderstandings about Vlad Dracula, the probable basis for Bram Stoker's novel. Belcher repeated a few of them.
Brasov is not the hometown of Vlad Dracula. Dracula was born in Sighisoara and spent his early years in the Wallachian (southern Romanian) city of Targoviste. Also, the article identifies Bran Castle as "the home of Vlad's grandfather and the official residence of the royal family from the 12th century until 1945.'' It is true that Vlad's grandfather lived in Bran Castle for a short time but, according to the sign at the entrance to the castle, it wasn't built until 1377, and only served as the royal summer home from 1920 to 1947, when the monarchy was abolished.
Additionally, the grave of the "real'' Count Dracula is nowhere near Bran Castle. It is thought to be in a monastery on Lake Snagov, 20 miles north of Bucharest.
Nik Crain
Sighisoara, Romania
