Explore the real Transylvania, a region in central Romania whose name fittingly means "the land beyond the forest." This area is defined by the sweeping Carpathian Mountains, which are home to Europe's largest population of brown bears outside of Russia. The region's history is preserved in over 150 unique fortified Saxon churches—seven of which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and in cities like Sighișoara, Brașov, and Sibiu. Visitors can also experience one-of-a-kind attractions, from the world-famous, winding Transfăgărășan Highway to Salina Turda, a massive, ancient salt mine that has been converted into a futuristic underground theme park complete with a Ferris wheel and a boating lake.

While Transylvania is famous for the Dracula legend, the true story is often misunderstood. The historical figure Vlad Țepeș, also known as Vlad the Impaler, was born in Transylvania but was the ruler of neighboring Wallachia, and the fortress commonly known as "Dracula's Castle" (Bran Castle) has little historical connection to him. However, the novel's famous use of garlic as protection is based on authentic Romanian folklore, where it was used for centuries to ward off evil spirits known as strigoi.

Want to learn more? Head over to my website www.funfactsdailypod.com and be sure to listen to my other podcasts Who ARTed: Weekly Art History for All Ages or Art Smart. For family fun, check out my son's podcast Rainbow Puppy Science Lab

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