Commonly known outside of Romania as ‘Dracula’s Castle,’ Bran Castle certainly looks the part. The forbidding fortress lies hidden in a forest in Transylvania. Despite its eerie appearance, however, the castle only has tenuous links at best with the cruel and barbaric 15th-century ruler Vlad the Impaler, who inspired Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula.

Clever marketing ploy aside, Bran Castle is definitely worth visiting for its amazing architecture and beautiful setting in a lush valley. In addition to this, visitors can now enjoy exploring the castle’s many rooms, which house the extensive art and furniture collection of Queen Marie.