"Dracula's Castle" (offically, the Bran Castle) perches on a bluff overlooking the village of Bran, Romania, in the province of Transylvania. For the purposes of tourism, the castle 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 has evolved to also include agri-tourism on picturesque farms the dot the nearby foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. As a result, Bran is noticeably more affluent than the neighboring villages.

In Dreaming of Wolves you will read an account of wolves which, as in the famous novel, roam the surrounding hills hunting for prey. But, being real wolves, their quarry is four-legged not two. As you follow researchers tracking the predators, you will also discover fascinating facts about the castle, the historical Dracula, and local vampire folklore.

© Jürgen Sauer