10. Bran Castle, Romania
Bran Castle, perched dramatically on a cliff in Transylvania, Romania, is famously dubbed “Dracula’s Castle”; though Bram Stoker never actually visited it, and Vlad the Impaler likely never lived there.
Built in 1377 as a castle guarding the border, the castle has served as a customs point, a hospital during WWII, and now a museum showing Queen Marie’s art and royal treasures.
With secret passages, a fake well elevator for the queen, and centuries of history; from medieval battles to royal renovations, Bran Castle is a fascinating blend of myth and reality that draws curious visitors from around the world eager to step into the eerie legend and rich culture of Transylvania.