Romania’s misty mountains and ancient forests have long been a breeding ground for supernatural beliefs, particularly those centered around vampires. While Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ introduced these myths to the Western world, many Romanian villages maintain authentic vampire traditions that predate the famous novel by centuries. These aren’t just tourist attractions but living cultural practices woven into daily life.
Here is a list of 18 Romanian villages where vampire folklore isn’t just remembered—it’s still very much alive, influencing local customs, architecture, and community practices.
Biertan
Nestled in Transylvania’s rolling hills, Biertan is known for its imposing fortified church and remarkably preserved medieval atmosphere. Locals still place wild rose bushes near windows and doorways, believing their thorns prevent strigoi (restless spirits) from entering homes.
The village cemetery features unique grave markers with protective symbols dating back hundreds of years, designed specifically to keep the deceased from rising.
Sighișoara
This colorful medieval citadel isn’t just famous as the birthplace of Vlad Tepes (the historical figure who inspired Dracula). Sighișoara residents maintain the tradition of burying suspicious deceased with iron stakes near their hearts—though nowadays, it’s symbolic rather than literal.
During winter festivals, villagers still perform ancient dances to ward off evil spirits that might otherwise rise from poorly tended graves.
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Viscri
This Saxon village gained international attention when King Charles purchased property here, but visitors are often surprised by the persistence of vampire folklore. Viscri’s elders continue the practice of ‘grave watching’ for seven days after burial, particularly for those who died under unusual circumstances.
The local church maintains a collection of 18th-century anti-vampire kits containing mirrors, garlic strands, and blessed wooden stakes.
Săpânța
Famous for its ‘Merry Cemetery’ with brightly painted tombstones, Săpânța’s relationship with death is uniquely cheerful—except for potential vampires. The vivid colors and humorous epitaphs serve a dual purpose: celebrating life and confusing malevolent spirits.
Locals still observe the tradition of covering mirrors after death and placing garlic in the deceased’s pockets before burial.
Snagov
This village near Bucharest houses the purported tomb of Vlad Tepes on an island monastery. Snagov’s fishing community maintains several vampire-related traditions, including never fishing at night during a full moon when the water might ‘turn hungry.’
Older fishermen still place garlic cloves in their boats and refuse to speak the names of the deceased while on the water.
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Bran
While Bran Castle’s connection to Dracula is largely a marketing invention, the surrounding village maintains authentic folklore. Residents of Bran’s older neighborhoods still practice the tradition of planting thorny hawthorn bushes along property boundaries to keep moroi (vampiric entities) at bay.
The village’s annual autumn festival features masked performances representing the struggle between the living and the undead.
Horezu
Known for its distinctive pottery, Horezu incorporates anti-vampire symbols into its ceramic designs. The famous rooster pattern isn’t just decorative—it represents the creature whose crow banishes vampires at dawn.
Elderly potters still create special ritual vessels used during funerals designed with tiny gaps ‘to trap the spirit’ of any potentially troublesome deceased.
Arefu
Situated near Poenari Castle (Vlad Tepes’ actual fortress), Arefu maintains some of Romania’s most intense vampire folklore. The village elders still oversee burial rituals where certain corpses receive preventative treatments—including placing coins on the eyes and mouth.
Households maintain collections of protective charms, and many still avoid saying the names of deceased relatives for 40 days after death.
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Sibiel
This small village near Sibiu houses a remarkable collection of painted icons on glass, many featuring motifs related to the battle against evil forces. Sibiel’s pastoral community maintains the practice of painting blue symbols on barn doors and cattle enclosures to prevent vampires from attacking livestock.
The local moonshine (țuică) is still ritually spilled at crossroads on certain nights to ‘satisfy thirsty spirits.’
Malancrav
This Saxon village contains one of Transylvania’s best-preserved medieval churches with unusual carvings specifically designed to repel supernatural threats. Malancrav’s elderly residents still observe the tradition of leaving bread and salt on windowsills during the ‘dangerous nights’ between Christmas and Epiphany, when vampires are said to be most active.
The village maintains special burial plots for those who died by violence or suicide, separated from the main cemetery.
Câmpulung
In this former medieval capital, older residents still practice the tradition of monitoring the graves of suspicious deceased for signs of disturbance. Câmpulung families maintain collections of protective herbs and create special bundles to place under beds during winter months when vampires are believed to be most active.
The town archive contains records of alleged vampire incidents dating back to the 17th century.
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Gura Humorului
Near the famous painted monasteries of Bucovina, this village maintains vampire folklore with a religious twist. Local Orthodox practices include special prayer sequences for those considered ‘at risk’ of becoming posthumous troublemakers.
Households still maintain blessed candles specifically reserved for protection against supernatural threats, and certain homes feature distinctive roof designs with sharp angles to prevent evil entities from landing.
Ciocănești
Famous for its elaborately painted houses, Ciocănești’s colorful exteriors serve a protective function beyond mere decoration. The geometric patterns and floral motifs are arranged in specific combinations meant to confuse and repel malevolent spirits.
Villagers still observe the tradition of leaving certain tasks unfinished at nightfall—a half-swept floor or unfinished meal—to trick lingering vampires into completing the task until dawn.
Rimetea
This village’s distinctive white houses with green windows aren’t just architecturally unique—the color combination has roots in protective folklore. Rimetea’s older residents maintain the practice of making protective amulets from specific local plants gathered only on certain lunar calendar days.
The village cemetery features unusual stone markers with embedded metal objects meant to ‘pin down’ troublesome spirits.
Bogdan Vodă
In this Maramureș village, woodcarvers still incorporate subtle protective elements into the famous wooden gates and houses. Bogdan Vodă maintains the tradition of the ‘midnight watch’ during the three nights following a burial, particularly for those who died suddenly or violently.
The village preserves several ‘case study’ stories of alleged vampire incidents shared during winter gatherings.
Densuș
Home to one of Romania’s oldest churches, Densuș villagers maintain the practice of burying certain deceased face-down—a traditional method of preventing posthumous wandering. Local shepherds still place garlic and wild rose branches around sheepfolds during specific lunar phases.
The community preserves distinctive funeral songs with lyrics specifically addressing the prevention of posthumous wandering.
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Prejmer
This village’s massive fortified church contains hidden symbols throughout its architecture, specifically designed against supernatural threats. Prejmer residents maintain the tradition of placing iron objects at thresholds during the ‘dark of the moon,’ and older families still avoid spinning wool on certain evenings when vampires might be attracted to the motion.
The community preserves recipes for protective bread formed in specific shapes for funeral meals.
Drăguș
This village in the Făgăraș region maintains extensive folklore about identifying potential vampires among the living. Drăguș preserves the tradition of specially designed burial shrouds with symbolic patterns worked into the embroidery.
The village elders still oversee funeral practices, including placing specific herbs and objects in coffins, particularly for those considered ‘at risk’ of posthumous wandering.
Living History in Modern Times
Romania’s vampire villages offer more than folklore—they provide a living connection to ancient beliefs that helped communities process fears about death and the unknown. These traditions reveal how pre-Christian practices merged with Orthodox Christianity to create uniquely Romanian cultural expressions.
While tourism has certainly capitalized on the Dracula connection, these authentic village practices continue to evolve naturally, passed down through generations as a genuine cultural heritage rather than a commercial performance.
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