3rd of July 2025 - Snagov Palace and Vlad the Impaler

Snagov Palace, again very opulent, is a historic royal residence which has been built on the shores of Lake Snagov, northeast of Bucharest.  We drove up to the palace through an extensive wooded estate frequented by a number of wild animals, none were to be seen.  Snagov Palace was built by Prince Nicolae, brother of King Carol II, between 1930–1932.

Nicolae Ceaușescu extensively renovated the palace in the 1980s even adding a gym and swimming pool.  On the 22nd of December 1989 Ceaușescu briefly fled to Snagov Palace by helicopter from Bucharest during the Romanian Revolution before being captured.

We had to wear blue plastic covers for our shoes to protect the beautiful wool rugs in Snagov Palace.

 

The final resting place of Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad III or Vlad Dracula, is shrouded in mystery and debate.  “Dracula” means “son of Dracul”, a title Vlad inherited from his father who was a member of the Christian knightly order "the Order of the Dragon".  The link between Vlad the Impaler and Count Dracula is a fascinating blend of historical fact and gothic fiction including Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula.  Stoker never explicitly stated that Vlad was the model for Count Dracula however the name, the Transylvania region and dark legacy suggest a strong influence.  We visited Snagov Monastery, situated on an island in Lake Snagov, which has long been believed to be Vlad’s burial site due to local legends and historical ties.  Excavations in the 1930s revealed no human remains in the tomb, only animal bones.  One alternative theory is that Vlad's burial site is at Comana Monastery situated near the battlefield where Vlad was reportedly killed in 1476.  Despite the intrigue, no theory has been definitively proven.

In the evening some of us went on a Romanian foodie tour with a local guide to taste authentic Romanian flavours.  Each of our three courses were held in a different restaurant.  The most amazing course was the traditional Romanian dessert Papanasi which is made from cow's cheese, eggs, sodium bicarbonate and flour.  Papanasi is similar to a fried doughnut topped with a doughnut ball and served with sour cream and berry jam.  This dessert was delicious but so large that I gave up halfway through.