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SoulSplat Founding Member
Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 543 Game Trophies: 23 Hall Of Fame Member
Location: Atlanta, Ga
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:56 pm Post subject: Dracula's Castle Is for Sale for $78M |
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Dracula's Castle Is for Sale for $78M
By ALISON MUTLER
BUCHAREST, Romania — The Habsburg family said Wednesday that it wanted to sell a Transylvanian castle famous for its connections to the 15th century medieval ruler who inspired "Dracula" for 60 million euros, or $78 million, to the local authorities, an attorney said.
The local council says it is interested in buying Bran Castle, but a government minister criticized the price tag, calling it too expensive.
Dominic Habsburg, the owner, insisted the family had honorable intentions.
"We are trying to find the best way to preserve the castle in the interest of the family and the people of Bran," Habsburg said in a statement made available exclusively to The Associated Press.
The castle was returned to Habsburg, a New York architect, on May 26, decades after it was confiscated by the communists from Habsburg's mother, Princess Ileana, in 1948, the year the royals were forced to leave the country.
After the restitution, concerns were raised that the family could sell castle to a hotel chain and that the site could end up being the centerpiece of a Dracula theme park that would blight the surrounding, pristine countryside.
The castle, perched high on a rock and surrounded by snowcapped mountains in southern Transylvania, is one of Romania's top tourist attractions and is visited by 400,000 people each year.
Faced with the enormous expense of the castle's upkeep, Habsburg said he wanted to place the property in the hands of the local council with an eye toward ensuring its historic character is preserved.
"The family has the country and the people in their heart. We are grateful for the restitution as a moral act to amend injustice," the statement from Habsburg said.
But he added, "The way of life cannot be returned and the restitution has come with financial sacrifice. ... We would like Castle Bran to remain a symbol of everything that is honorable and good in Romania."
The community of Bran, where the fortress was built in the 14th century to help stave off invasion, gave it to Ileana's mother, Queen Marie, in 1920 to thank her for her efforts in unifying the country. It was briefly associated with Prince "Vlad the Impaler," whose cruelty inspired novelist Bram Stoker's creation, the vampire Count Dracula. History says he spent one night there.
In 1938, Ileana inherited the castle, which is located some 105 miles north of Bucharest.
In recent years, the castle — complete with occasional glimpses of bats floating around its ramparts in the twilight — has attracted movie makers as a backdrop for films about Dracula and other spooky themes.
Lia Trandafir, an attorney for Habsburg, said the local authorities are interested in buying it. "They'd like to see it coming back to the community and they consider it a central pillar of tourism in Brasov county," she said.
Aristotel Cancescu, head of the local city council is due to travel to Vienna, Austria, on Monday to open discussions about a bank loan. If he manages to secure a loan, it will need to be approved by local councilors.
Culture Minister Adrian Iorgulescu has criticized the planned purchase of the castle, saying it is too expensive. "I have nothing against the castle being bought by the city council if they are stupid enough to pay this money," he said. He added he believed the castle was worth a fourth of Habsburg's asking price.
LINK TO THE SOURCE:
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/Feature_Stories/Dracula_Castle.html |
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Merticus Site Admin & Founding Member
Joined: 15 Oct 2005 Posts: 603 Game Trophies: 1
Location: Atlanta, GA
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:24 pm Post subject: |
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I say the Community gets together a fundraiser to... jk lol _________________ - Merticus |
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Amber Mallis
Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 413
Location: Florida, U.S.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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Merticus wrote: |
I say the Community gets together a fundraiser to... jk lol |
I know I will pitch in!
xD _________________ "Always be open-minded or let yourself waver underneath the truth." |
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nightchild
Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 1127
Location: Belgium
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:29 am Post subject: |
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what's the deadline on it? _________________ who dares not speak his free thoughts is a slave.Euripides |
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SoulSplat Founding Member
Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 543 Game Trophies: 23 Hall Of Fame Member
Location: Atlanta, Ga
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:40 am Post subject: |
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There's no mention of a deadline. This is the first I've heard of it. From our very own local newspaper. I'm curious if anyone in a different geographic location has heard anything about it. |
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nightchild
Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 1127
Location: Belgium
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 10:12 am Post subject: |
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What would one do when to have castle?
i can come up with manything's. _________________ who dares not speak his free thoughts is a slave.Euripides |
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SoulSplat Founding Member
Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 543 Game Trophies: 23 Hall Of Fame Member
Location: Atlanta, Ga
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:28 am Post subject: |
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One of the things mentioned was turning it into an amusement park. . .
Yep. . .I don't know about that. . . . |
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Amber Mallis
Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 413
Location: Florida, U.S.
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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Hm...*gives this a thought.* _________________ "Always be open-minded or let yourself waver underneath the truth." |
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nightchild
Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 1127
Location: Belgium
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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Spill it out Amber what are you thinking about?
An old castle turned into a amusment park where will they put the rollarcoaster? _________________ who dares not speak his free thoughts is a slave.Euripides |
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Amber Mallis
Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 413
Location: Florida, U.S.
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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Well, there are many ways that you can use the original castle for. Even though I would rather put the rollercoaster in my own backyard. But I'm just thinking of the different ways we can use the castle. _________________ "Always be open-minded or let yourself waver underneath the truth." |
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SoulSplat Founding Member
Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 543 Game Trophies: 23 Hall Of Fame Member
Location: Atlanta, Ga
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:37 am Post subject: |
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Has anyone found any follow up articles on this? I'd be interested to see what happened. How much it went for and to whom. |
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nightchild
Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 1127
Location: Belgium
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Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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there was briefly something about the castle on the internet maybe there still can be something found on the topic or how far they are with it. _________________ who dares not speak his free thoughts is a slave.Euripides |
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