In the town of Sighișoara, in central Romania

 “I am longing to be with you, and by the sea, where we can talk together freely and build our castles in the air.”

-- Bram Stoker, Dracula
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(in Romania's historic region of Transylvania) So resplendent are Sighişoara’s pastel-colored buildings, stony lanes and medieval towers, you’ll rub your eyes in disbelief. Fortified walls encircle Sighişoara’s lustrous merchant houses, now harboring cafes, hotels, and craft shops. Lurking behind the gingerbread roofs and turrets of the UNESCO protected old town is the history of Vlad Ţepeş, the bloodthirsty, 15th-century Wallachian prince. He was allegedly born here, in a house that is visitable to this day. Ţepeş is best remembered as Vlad the Impaler, or Dracula, fuelling a local industry of vampire-themed souvenirs.

+ Should you be looking for a fairy-tale destination in Europe, look no further than Sighişoara, a charming medieval town in the heart of Transylvania; Sighişoara is one of the last inhabited citadels in the world. You can explore its colorful buildings, cobbled streets, and ancient towers, while feeling the history of the place that was once home to the legendary Vlad the Impaler. You can also admire the stunning Clock Tower, the symbol of the town, and its intricate astronomical clock. (Don't forget to climb the covered stairway to the hilltop church, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the citadel and the surrounding countryside. Sighişoara is a place where you can immerse yourself in the magic and mystery of the past, and discover the rich culture and traditions of the Transylvanian Saxons.)

+ The clock tower of Sighisoarais the grand dame of the city, standing tall atop a central hill. Founded by Transylvanian Saxons during the 12th century, Sighisoara features well-preserved medieval stone streets and structures. Visit fortified churches, climb the famed Scara Şcolarilor covered staircase, and get goosebumps at the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s terrifying creature, Count Dracula.

+ The town of Sighișoara, in central Romania, is 40 miles (65 km) northeast of Sibiu city and 110 miles (175 km) northwest of Bucharest. The town circles a hill, on the summit of which stands a citadel with a ring of walls, nine extant towers (including the “Tower of the Clock”), and several  medieval churches. + Settlement of the area dates from the Bronze Age and, later, the era of Roman Dacia, but the town originated in the 12th century when it was colonized by Saxon Germans. In the 14th century they secured its designation as a free city, enabling it to become an important center of trade by the second half of the 16th century. Much of the lower town had to be rebuilt after being ravaged by fire in 1676. (The historic center of the town was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in the year 1999.)