-
Continue reading →: Queen Elizabeth, Carmen Sylva, and the Castle in Transylvania, Sinaia, RomaniaAs I headed away from Brasov, traveling higher into the mountains, a strange sense of peace came over me. As if a vail had been lifted, animals started to appear. Here a deer, there a baby bear, nature guiding me to where I needed to be. Why animals would point…
-
Continue reading →: The Black Church, Rope Street, and Dracula, Brasov, RomaniaWhen I heard about a Black Church in Transylvania, I didn’t know what to expect. A church as black as night, I suppose. But that’s not what the online pictures showed. As one of the oldest Gothic churches in the area, I had to explore it. So, I continued my…
-
Continue reading →: Bran Castle, Bran, RomaniaI heard that Bram Stoker’s description of Dracula’s castle was eerily similar to a Medieval castle nestled in the Carpathian Mountains. So, I went through the valleys of these snow-tipped mountains, headed to the small commune of Bran. Was this the castle that inspired the author? Evidence suggests that Stoker…
-
Continue reading →: Casa Vlad Dracul, Sighisoara, RomaniaI raced down the winding staircase of the Clock Tower in Sighisoara, Romania. The sign had been clear as day. Casa Vlad Dracul. I had finally found the historic building where Vlad Tepes, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, was born. I couldn’t wait to explore it. Vlad’s parents had…
-
Continue reading →: The Clock Tower, Sighisoara, RomaniaThe first thing I noticed about the 14th century clock tower in the historic center of Sighisoara, is that the clock is off center. I would soon find out why, but I had more pressing questions. I had come to this Transylvanian town for a reason, to find out if…
-
Continue reading →: Cemetery on the Hill, Sighisoara, RomaniaThe sky darkened as I left the crypt in the Church on the Hill and headed towards the cemetery across the way. To the right of the entrance, the Ropemaker’s Tower stood like a sentry, its conical-shaped roof a splash of red against the graying clouds. One of the few…
-
Continue reading →: The Church on the Hill, Sighisoara, RomaniaThe first place I searched for vampires in Sighisoara was the Church on the Hill. To reach the Biserica din Deal, which looms over the historic, UNESCO World Heritage Site in Transylvania, you have to enter a dark, wood-covered walkway built in the 1600’s. As I climbed the 176 wood…
-
Continue reading →: Turda Salt Mines, Romania“Someplace deep and dark. That’s where you’ll find vampires.” The words of the mysterious fortune teller in Cluj-Napoca followed me as I drove. In Transylvania, one place fit that description perfectly: The Salt Mines of Turda. “So it begins,” I murmured, thinking of Tolkien and Lord of the Rings. As…
-
Continue reading →: The City of Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFollowing the advice of a man dressed in a cape, I headed further north into Transylvania. I was told that the city of Cluj-Napoca had amazing culture and history. I planned to explore it all, while hunting for vampires. Corvinus, a name associated with vampire lore, has roots in this…
-
Continue reading →: Alba Iulia Citadel, RomaniaI left Castle Corvinesti with questions and strange dreams of ravens perched on windowsills. I thought of Edgar Allen Poe, and I wondered if my search for vampires in Transylvania would lead to better writing, madness, death, or some state in between. I was willing to take the chance. So…
Hello,
I’m Dawn
Writer, photographer, and traveler on this road called life. Welcome to my little corner of the internet. You can find me on most social media sites @dawnberkoski.
Let’s connect
Join the fun!
Stay updated with my latest news.
Recent posts
Arizona Art Bran Castle Catacombs caves Chapels Citadels Corvinus Crusades Doors Douro River Dracul Dracula Famous Bookstores Famous Cemeteries Famous Churches fantasy Fortress Ghosts Gorgeous Gardens Graves Haunted Places Haunted Travels History Jules Verne Medieval Medieval Castles Mines New York Palaces Porto Portugal Princess Marie Romania Spooky Places Staircases Statues Street Art Tombs Travel Traveling Transylvania Underground UNESCO Vampires Vlad Tepes
Dawn Berkoski 