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Romania Returns Dracula Castle To Original Owners

Dracula Castle, the landmark site which was confiscated by communists in 1948, will now finally be returned to its original owners. The popular tourist site, which has since fallen into disrepair, is located in Transylvania.

Iorgulescu says the owner is not permitted to make any changes to the castle for the next three years. Even though the structure is known as `Dracula`s Castle`, it was never owned by Prince Vlad the Impaler. The prince is believed to have visited Bran Castle, which has appeared in numerous movies.

Culture Minister Adrian Iorgulescu says the hand-over-ceremony will occur on Friday at the 14th century castle. New York architect Dominic van Hapsburg will inherit the estimated $25 million castle. The Hapsburgs ruled Romania starting in the late 17th century. It was once owned by the late Queen Marie, who bestowed it on her daugher Princess Ileana in 1938.