CHAPEL END CHARLIE Posted 12 January, 2012 Share Posted 12 January, 2012 I've just finished reading 'The Historian' by Elizabeth Kostova, which is a meticulously researched, and quite brilliant, novel dealing with the Dracula/Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler) legend. In the book one of our heroic historians spends a memorable night at Castle Poenari in darkest Transylvania, a site closely associated with the real historical Vlad. Anyone who finds this tale as interesting as I do, may care to take a look at what 'Dracula's Castle' really looks like today. http://www.draculahistoryandmyth.com/my-visit-to-castle-poenari-draculas-castle-part-1/ Wow ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svetigpung Posted 13 January, 2012 Share Posted 13 January, 2012 the reviews on Amazon sound promising. I love a book with a bit of relavant history thrown in. i have now added the book to my list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torres Posted 13 January, 2012 Share Posted 13 January, 2012 I visited that in 2007. It's quite a climb and if, like me, you don't particularly like heights, the final crossing over the small bridge to the castle itself is not much fun. Those railings are less sturdy than they look, too. Good views from the top though and it's on the way to the Transfagarasan Pass, as seen on Top Gear a couple of years back. Romania is an ace country, tbf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHAPEL END CHARLIE Posted 13 January, 2012 Author Share Posted 13 January, 2012 I visited that in 2007. It's quite a climb and if, like me, you don't particularly like heights, the final crossing over the small bridge to the castle itself is not much fun. Those railings are less sturdy than they look, too. Good views from the top though and it's on the way to the Transfagarasan Pass, as seen on Top Gear a couple of years back. Romania is an ace country, tbf. I share a similar fear of heights so well done ! .... and it should go without saying that I'm insanely jealous. The story goes that the magnificent sheer drop down to the Arges River far below the castle is the last sight Vlad's first wife ever saw as she threw herself off the battlements rather than accept capture by the Ottoman Turk army, who treated their prisoners little better than The Impaler did. Vlad had had the ruined castle repaired by inviting his noble mates and their family's (the 'Boyars') around for a shindig only to enslave them all and force them into brutal hard manual labour rebuilding his castle - and if they didn't like it they could go to the stake like so very many others did - Nice chap. A dark chapter in European history for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio Saint Posted 13 January, 2012 Share Posted 13 January, 2012 I watched a show a few days ago where they investigated if it was really possible to impale someone in the anus so that the stake comes out through the mouth and the victim can still live for 2 days. It is possible, apparently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 13 January, 2012 Share Posted 13 January, 2012 Awful book IMHO although well researched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Posted 13 January, 2012 Share Posted 13 January, 2012 I watched a show a few days ago where they investigated if it was really possible to impale someone in the anus so that the stake comes out through the mouth and the victim can still live for 2 days. It is possible, apparently. Thanks for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles34 Posted 15 January, 2012 Share Posted 15 January, 2012 I went there back in `98, a long story involving getting back to Brashov with a priest and pretending to me French! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 15 January, 2012 Share Posted 15 January, 2012 I'm pretty sure a shedload of Saints fans took the daytrip up there when we were in Bucharest. Not me though, I preferred to wander around the sodden streets of the City looking for a pub. For 5 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durleyfos Posted 16 January, 2012 Share Posted 16 January, 2012 I'm pretty sure a shedload of Saints fans took the daytrip up there when we were in Bucharest. Not me though, I preferred to wander around the sodden streets of the City looking for a pub. For 5 days. Yes they did, I was one of them! Good day out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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