Local hospice care charity Casa Sperantei is holding an exclusive fund raising event at Romania's iconic Bran Castle (in picture). The castle's owners, their Imperial Royal Highnesses Archduke Dominic and Archduchesses Maria-Magdalena and Elisabeth Habsburg will co-host the event. They are the grandchildren of Romania’s Queen Marie, who was herself a granddaughter of Britain's Queen Victoria.

Guests at the event can look forward to a champagne reception, live music and a tour of the castle and grounds. A historian will give a presentation on Bran Castle's story and the Archduke himself will share personal insights and film from his own collection.

Later there will be a gourmet dinner, with more live music. All money raised from ticket sales will go to supporting Casa Sperantei's work with terminally ill children and adults in Romania. Each guest, via the EUR 500 ticket, will provide specialist care for 28 terminally ill people for a month, according to Casa Sperantei.

The number of places for the event is limited to just 40 and those wishing to attend the event on June 2 must contact the charity directly for details. The tickets also include accommodation at a hotel in nearby Brasov, as well as transport between the city and Bran Castle.

Casa Sperantei and the charity network Hospices for Hope were founded in Brasov in 1992 by Graham Perolls, originally from England. His aim was to introduce and develop specialized care services for terminally ill patients in Romania. It was the first organization of its kind in Romania and has become center of excellence for palliative care in Eastern Europe.

Read an Interview with Casa Sperantei Founder Graham Perolls.

Visit the Hospice Casa Sperantei website.

Bran Castle is often associated with the legend of Count Dracula, although the castle has little connection with the historical figure Vlad Tepes, who is one of the inspirations for the vampire legends. The impressive Medieval castle was built towards the end of the 14th Century by the Brasov Saxons in the same area as an earlier, wooden fortress, which was destroyed in the mid-13th Century by invading Mongols. Bran Castle is at the old frontier between Wallachia and Transylvania and guards a vital route through the mountains. Bran played an important role in the battles between the Ottoman Turks and European kingdoms and principalities throughout the Middle Ages.

editor@romania-insider.com

photo source: Wikepedia Commons