Corvin Castle, Hunedoara, Romania.

In the heart of Transylvania, one of Europe’s largest castles looks like it sits atop a rocky bluff with naught but a thin bridge allowing access.

But this is simply Corvin Castle, which looks like something straight out of a fairytale, largely because restorers thought that it should.

Built in the mid-15th century, the castle was the work of Hungarian military leader John Hunyadi, who built the tall structure over the remains of a keep built by Charles I.

It consists of a series of rectangular halls that are connected by both circular and rectangular towers that were used for both defense and as prison cells. The elaborate architecture was designed in a rich gothic style, that accentuates the already impressive architecture.

The castle was kept in regal condition during Hunyadi’s lifetime, but after he died, the castle fell into swift decline.

It was not until the 17th century that there was more interest in restoring the castle. As the restorations began, the workers redesigned the castle somewhat to reflect what they considered a gothic castle should look like, which explains much of its currently fanciful look.

A number of legends are associated with the castle, the most prominent among them being that Vlad the Impaler spent some seven years in the dungeons of Corvin Castle, a stay which resulted in his eventual madness.

Even though this is unlikely to be true, Corvin Castle still seems like just the sort of place where a Dracula might have been held.

Source: Corvin Castle – Hunedoara, Romania – Atlas Obscura