Brasov, Romania (CNN) -- The ruins of Poienari Castle sit high on a mountain peak with a seemingly never-ending vista looking out over deep gorges, charcoal-gray cliffs and mountain streams. 

It's a natural paradise, but we did not make the trip to this castle just for the awesome view. Visitors come for its connection to history's most famous vampire, Dracula. 

The famous book and the ensuing movies are fiction, but since Bram Stoker published his novel in 1897, the world has been looking to Transylvania (in modern central Romania) as "Count Dracula's" home. 

And there is a bit of truth to it. Stoker never visited Eastern Europe, but his famous character is based, in part, on a real 15th-century prince. 

Vlad Dracula lived from 1431 to about 1476 and ruled Wallachia, which was actually south of Transylvania. As military leader, he was a hero to his people, and he has a place in the Romanian National Military Museum. 

Another museum explains the name "Dracula" is actually a title from the knightly order of the dragon, whose mission was to defend Christianity. Documents he signed "Vlad Dracula" still exist. 

A nickname often associated with him is Tepes, which means impaler, and comes from his brutal application of capital punishment by skewering bodies on a wooden spike. 

Visiting Dracula's castle 

Poienari Castle is not on the main tourist route. In fact, it's pretty hard to get there. 

Public transportation is infrequent, and the big tourist town in the region, Brasov, is hours away. 
who is the author?
who did he write about?
where did the character live?
did the author ever go there?
was a real person the inspiration for the character?
who?
when did he live?
do we know the year he was born?
what was it?
when did he die?
what was his occupation?
of where?
where is that?
East of it?
was he called something else?
what?
does it give the meaning of that?
what does it mean?
why was he called that?
a metal one?
what was it made of?
Bram Stoker
but since Bram Stoker published his novel
Count Dracula
Bram Stoker published his novel in 1897, the world has been looking to Transylvania (in modern central Romania) as "Count Dracula
Transylvania
Transylvania (in modern central Romania) as "Count Dracula's" home. 
No
Stoker never visited Eastern Europe
in part
character is based, in part, on a real 15th-century prince. 

Vlad Dracula
Vlad Dracula
the 15th-century
character is based, in part, on a real 15th-century prince
Yes
Vlad Dracula lived from 1431
1431
Vlad Dracula lived from 1431
about 1476
Vlad Dracula lived from 1431 to about 1476
he was a prince
character is based, in part, on a real 15th-century prince
Wallachia
Vlad Dracula lived from 1431 to about 1476 and ruled Wallachia
near Transylvania
Wallachia, which was actually south of Transylvania
No
which was actually south of Transylvania
Yes
A nickname often associated with him is Tepes
Tepes
A nickname often associated with him is Tepes
Yes
Tepes, which means
impaler
 Tepes, which means impaler
because he skewered bodies on a spike.
Tepes, which means impaler, and comes from his brutal application of capital punishment by skewering bodies on a wooden spike. 

No
skewering bodies on a wooden spike. 
wood
skewering bodies on a wooden spike. 
