© Oana Vinatoru (istockphoto.com)

Dracula’s Castle – officially the "Bran Castle" in Bran, Romania – is purported to have been the residence of Vlad III Dracula (also known as Vlad "Tepes", Vlad the Impaler), the cruel Prince of Transylvania during the 15th century and the inspiration behind the famous 19th century novel about vampires by Bram Stoker. The presence of this castle has created a vibrant tourism industry for Bran, which now also includes agri-tourism on picturesque farms that dot the nearby foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. As a result, Bran is noticeably more affluent than the neighboring villages.