The Gothic Room(Sala Gotica).브란 성(Castelul Bran. Bran Castle. 드라큘라 성). 브란(Bran)

The Gothic Room(Sala Gotica).

브란 성(Castelul Bran. Bran Castle. 드라큘라 성).

브란(Bran). 루마니아(Romania)

bran-castle.com

The Gothic Room(Sala Gotica)

The Gothic Room, thus named due to the ceiling's arcades, was once the fortress's chapel, a holy place preceded by a vestibule (today the Crossing Room). The layout of the room is trapezoidal, with cross vaulting elements of uneven lengths. It is believed that around 1512, the chapel was painted by Dominic, a craftsman from Brasov. After 1920, Queen Marie set up the Yellow Salon in this room, which she used for reading or breakfast.

Cetatea Bran intre 1377-1600

(Bran Fortress between 1377-1600)

Bran Fortress's birth certificate ws issued on November 19th 1377 by the King of Poland and Hungary, Louis I of Anjou. During the span of five years, on the Bran pass, one of the most important European commercial routes of its time, the town of Brasov built, with their own efforts and money a fortress and custom house. In exchange for their efforts, they received commercial and customs privileges. The Ottoman threat prompted an alliance between Transylvania and Wallachia and Bran fortress was controlled every now and then, also by Wallachian princes, including Vlad Tepes's grandfather, Mircea cel Batran. From 1498 the fortress and its domains were given to the town of Brasov, which created an economic growth and the development of the guilds. The economic growth of the area can be observed in the fortress' registers, reflected in the expansion and fortification of the edifice. In 1541, Suleiman the Magnificent stripped the King of Hungary of its power and Transylvania fell under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire.

The legend of the Teutonic Knights

As the Romanian states were beginning to form, Transylvania was a strong principality, wishing to be independent, even though it was under Hungarian rule.

In 1211, in order to strengthen the kingdom's borders, the Hungarian King Andrew II gave Tara Barsei (south-eastern Transylvania) to the Teutonic Kinghts, under the conditions that they would build defence fortress. Wanting to become independent from the Hungarian Kingdom, the Teutons were banished in 1225. According to the legend, during their rule, they built a wooden fortification in Bran, from where they used to keep an eye on the pass. Apparently, the fort burned down and in its place Bran fortress was built in 1377.

Lucas Hirscher, Mayor of Brasov

The valuable painting done in 1535 is considered to be the first ever oil easel artwork in Transylvania. Its value is increased by being the first realistic graphic representation of Bran Castle, helping us to view its architectural evolution through time. The character represented in the painting is Lucas Hirscher the 3rd, a Mayor of Brasov and chatelaine of Bran fortress. on the left, in the background, one can observe the north side of the Castle, placed in a mountain area. Lucas Hirscher is situated in the centre of the painting, between Bran Castle and, probably, Saint Martin's church from Brasov, suggesting these were the biggest achievements of his mandate.

Medieval painting

On the wall hiding the secret staircase, traces of an old painting are still visible, revealing what appears to be feminine silhouettes. The records show that on July 7th 1600 Lady Stanca, the wife of the Wallachian ruler Mihai Viteazul, was a guest of the fortressm, together with her son Nicolae Patrascu. on this occasion, the fortress's administrator, Hannes Conrad, prepared 12 different dishes, over 200 trout, served expensive wines and used precious tableware. Apparently, the fresco is proof of this visit, in a short moment when all three provinces - Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldavia - were united under one Romanian prince: Mihai Viteazul.

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