Dracula's Castle

, also known as or Castlevania, is Count Dracula's lair and symbol of his magic. It houses an army of his supernatural minions, and tends to collapse when Dracula is defeated. Yet, it is able to restore itself and reappears intact in later games, even the ones where Dracula has not yet revived himself.
==Overview==
The exact location of the castle is impossible to determine. Being an entity of chaos, it has the ability to reemerge in different places whenever it revives. Still, the vast majority of times it has reappeared was in Europe, in Transylvania.
If one takes into account the events from the original 1897 novel that inspired the series, as well as real historical landmarks where Vlad III Drăculea was known to inhabit, that may be indication that the castle from the series was at some point located somewhere in Transylvania or in northern Wallachia, where one of the voivode's real castles, Cetatea Poenari, is located.
Nevertheless, due to its supernatural nature as symbol of Dracula's magic and its ability to revive in different regions, the castle in the series cannot be considered the same as the historical landmarks. It does not exist in the earthly plane but is, in fact, a spiritual world atop another dimension.Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow: Dialogue with Graham JonesCastlevania: Aria of Sorrow: Dialogue with Genya ArikadoAkumajō Dracula: Kabuchi no Tsuisoukyoku Owing to this, whenever Dracula himself is killed, the castle generally ends up collapsing and leaving no trace behind, the only known exception being when Simon Belmont confronted Dracula in 1691 up to 1698, where only the keep portion of the castle collapsed while the outer areas up to the wall remained relatively intact.
The appearance of the castle also varies; in artwork for the original Castlevania it appears to be on top of a mountain, while in Symphony of the Night it is located off the shore of a lake, and in Curse of Darkness it resides by the ocean (maybe the Black Sea). In Symphony of the Night, Maria Renard remarks the castle is different from how she remembers it (she had fought in it five years earlier during the events of Rondo of Blood). Alucard, who had probably once lived there, notes the castle is "a creature of chaos", hinting at the castle's origins and explaining its constantly changing nature.
It is possible the castle originally belonged to Walter Bernhard. His castle had the familiar strange keep structure present in Dracula's Castle. If this was the case, the castle dates back to at least the 11th Century. In 1094, the castle appeared more like a traditional medieval castle than the more elaborate Gothic architecture seen elsewhere. One factor in favor for Walter's castle being Castlevania is that, in Curse of Darkness, the abandoned castle is the place where only a Belmont's blood can gain access to the infinite corridor. Seeing as Leon Belmont was the first Belmont proclaimed at Walter's castle, the abandoned castle could be Walter's original castle.
A factor against the theory of Walter's castle becoming Castlevania is that at the end of Lament of Innocence, Mathias Cronqvist (Dracula) leaves the castle in the form of a bat and it is not known where he went, or if he ever returned. The Japanese instruction booklet for Castlevania: The Adventure outright states Dracula to have built his castle himself at the outskirts of Transylvania.Castlevania: The Adventure instruction booklet story translation Koji Igarashi has also expressed that one of the reasons for the change of the franchise's Japanese title from "Akumajō Dracula" to "Castlevania" was due to there being no Dracula, nor his castle, on a given game, indicating that the castle seen in Lament of Innocence might indeed not be the same castle that Dracula uses later down the chronology.Gamers.com Koji Igarashi interview backup
Following Dracula's defeat in 1999, the castle was sealed into a solar eclipse. It was later visited by Soma Cruz in 2035 and almost ended up returning, although it was ultimately sealed back up when Soma rejected Chaos, and by extension, his destiny of becoming Dracula. In 2036, Celia Fortner and her cult built a castle immensely similar to Dracula's to foster the growth of a new Dark Lord. As her plan was left in ruins, the castle completely collapsed. The castle, or at least a copy created via Legion, ultimately returned due to Olrox effectively taking over as the Dark Lord, until Death put an end to him. Arikado later made sure the castle was still sealed away when learning from Lucy Westenra that darkness was coming once more.
==Rooms and features==
Castlevania's interior constantly shifts between games, below are a few of the rooms that have appeared.
*Entrance
*Bridges
*Castle Keep
*Ceremonial Room
*Chapel
*Clock Tower
*Courtyard
*Guest Rooms
*Great Stairway
*Halls
*Kitchen and Storage Area
*Mansion/Villa
*Marble Corridor
*Outer Wall
*Throne Room
*Top Floor
*Towers
===Recreation===
*Arena
*Ballroom
*Garden
*Library
*Theater
===Research===
*Laboratory
===Underground===
*Armory
*Catacomb
*Caves
*Dungeon
*Waterway
==Similar structures==
Although the general structure of the castle is never the same from one game to another, some places keep a similar structure in some opuses.
===Entrance===
Entrada expandida 01.png|Symphony of the Night
Entrada expandida 02.png|Circle of the Moon(in Camilla's Castle)
Entrada expandida 03.png|Aria of Sorrow
===Entrance's attic===
Entrada expandida superior 01.png|Symphony of the Night
Entrada expandida superior 02.PNG|Circle of the Moon(in Camilla's Castle)
Entrada expandida superior 03.PNG|Aria of Sorrow
===Outer wall===
Muralha Exterior 01.png|Castlevania
Muralha Exterior 01.5 (1).jpg|Chronicles
Muralha Exterior 04 (2).png|Aria of Sorrow
===Dungeon===
Calabouço 01.png|Castlevania
Calabouço 01.5.jpg|Chronicles
Calabouço 02.png|Rondo of Blood
Calabouço 03.jpg|Symphony of the Night
===Waterfall===
Cachoeira - parte inferior 01.jpg|Symphony of the Night
Cachoeira - parte inferior 02.png|Aria of Sorrow
Cachoeira - parte superior direita 01.jpg|Symphony of the Night
Cachoeira - parte superior direita 02.png|Aria of Sorrow
Cachoeira - parte superior esquerda 01.jpg|Symphony of the Night
Cachoeira - parte superior esquerda 02.png|Aria of Sorrow
Cachoeira - queda 01.jpg|Symphony of the Night
Cachoeira - Queda 02.png|Aria of Sorrow
===Fountain===
Muralha Exterior 01.5 (2).png|Chronicles
Muralha Exterior 02.jpg|Symphony of the Night
Fountain - Aria of Sorrow - 01.png|Aria of Sorrow
Other fountains that aren't located in Dracula's Castle but that reference it:
Fountain - Bloodlines - 01.png|Versailles Palace(Bloodlines)
Muralha Exterior 03.jpg|Villa(Castlevania 64)
Fountain (Castle A) - Harmony of Dissonance - 01.png|Sky Walkway in Maxim's Castle A.(Harmony of Dissonance)
Fountain (Castle B) - Harmony of Dissonance - 01.png|Sky Walkway in Maxim's Castle B.(Harmony of Dissonance)
Fountain - Animated series - 01.png|Targoviste(Castlevania animated series)
==Game appearances==
While the castle, or a replacement, has appeared in every game that comprises the Castlevania series to date, this section mainly focuses, but is not limited, to those instances when the castle has appeared as its own named stage or area.
===Castlevania II: Simon's Quest===
The final act of the game actually takes place inside of Castlevania, which now lies in ruins after years of abandonment following the outcome of the first game. A few sights are still recognizable, such as the long entrance corridor adorned with tall curtains. The castle can only be accessed through the collection of all five of Dracula's body parts, which Simon must bring to the basement to burn them, resulting in a final confrontation with the Dark Lord himself, who must be defeated once again to lift the curse that befell the land after their first encounter seven years ago.
===Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse===
About two thirds of the game take place outside the castle, as renowned vampire hunter, Trevor Belmont, travels the Transylvanian countryside in his quest to defeat the vampire lord, Count Dracula. Throughout his journey and depending on the paths he chooses, he may meet and recruit new companions who will surely help him in this task.
Once inside the castle, the world map is replaced with one of its interior (which is very similar to the one from the first game, although this time scrolling vertically instead of horizontally). The stages will then converge on the Main Hall. From here on, the game only consists of completing level after level (that is, no more options are given to follow different paths) until reaching the castle keep and facing the fiend himself.
===Super Castlevania IV===
This retelling of the first game retakes and expands the concept of beginning the first act by traveling across the Transylvanian countryside, passing through wilds, caves and rivers, until reaching the Demon Castle, at which point the world map is once again changed into a map of the castle's interior, this time viewed from an isometric perspective. From here on, the last levels of the game are accessed, leading to the final confrontation with the Count.
===Castlevania: Bloodlines===
===Castlevania: Symphony of the Night===
One day, after Richter Belmont had gone missing, Dracula's Castle appeared, as if to show Maria Renard the way to Richter's whereabouts. Alucard also set off to this castle to face his father after he had awoken from his 300 year slumber due to the imbalance of power left behind with Richter's absence. The first half of the game takes place in this castle. Richter was later revealed to be the actual Lord of the Castle, or at least was led to believe that he was. After freeing him from the control of Shaft, a second castle was revealed in the sky, which was an inverted version of the first castle, where Dracula would actually be resurrected in. Travel between the two castles would become freely possible at this point. The first castle did not crumble until Dracula was defeated in the second one.
===Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow===
Dracula's Castle was revealed to have been sealed in a solar eclipse after the Demon Castle War in Aria of Sorrow. Years later, Soma Cruz mysteriously awoke inside of the castle and the eclipse. The entire game takes place there.
===Castlevania: Curse of Darkness===
===Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin===
In Portrait of Ruin, the main bulk of the game takes place inside of Dracula's Castle, which serves as a hub of sorts to access the game's many portraits, which are entrances to the different areas that comprise the game. Furthermore, the castle itself is divided into six individual areas that are connected to each other:
#Entrance
#Buried Chamber
#Great Stairway
#Tower of Death
#Master's Keep
#The Throne Room
This time, the castle was taken over by Brauner, who resurrected it using the souls of those dead in World War II and separated Dracula from the castle using his portraits. However, Death was also awakened alongside the castle and retains full loyalty to Dracula, and seeks to get Brauner removed to reinstate its proper master.
===Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia===
Once Barlowe has been defeated in Ecclesia, Dracula's Castle emerges courtesy of Barlowe's last ditch sacrifice and beckons Shanoa to enter it. The castle serves as the setting for the final act of the game, and it's also divided in many individual and different sections, which all in conjunction comprise about the second half of the game:
#Castle Entrance
#Library
#Underground Labyrinth
#Barracks
#Arms Depot
#Mechanical Tower
#Forsaken Cloister
#Final Approach
==Other appearances==
===Captain N: The Game Master===
Dracula's Castle appeared in the Captain N: The Game Master crossover cartoon series that ran from the late 1980s to the early 1990s, being a frequent setting in many episodes, where villains usually reunited to plan their evil schemes and the heroes subsequently visited in order to thwart their plans. Not to much surprise, the owner of the castle was Dracula, although in the series he was solely referred to as "The Count" (apparently, due to copyright reasons), and likewise, the castle was never called after his name, but simply as "Castlevania".
In fact, the word "Castlevania" indistinctly referred both to the castle, as well as the entire realm where it was located; being one of the many realms that composed Videoland, a virtual world where many video game heroes (and villains) hailed from.
===Castlevania (animated series)===
The castle is the home of Vlad Dracula Tepes. During peacetime, it is his home and laboratory. In wartime, it is a weapon of such danger and potency as to be legend.
It is implied that the castle was built by Dracula himself. The building is both a technological and supernatural marvel; it incorporates electricity and advanced mechanics in its workings. In addition to using technology that is centuries beyond of what the outside world possesses at the time, the castle is also known to operate with the aid of supernatural elements.
The whole structure is also capable of teleporting to any location, which can be done softly or in an explosion of fire.
During events of Season 3 the castle is a home of Dracula's son Alucard who lives there mostly in isolation.
===Super Smash Bros. Ultimate===
Dracula's Castle is featured in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a playable stage. Renowned enemy characters from the Castlevania franchise, such as Medusa, the Mummy, The Creature and Flea Man (Igor), Carmilla, the Werewolf, Death, and even Dracula himself, appear in the stage from time to time as background elements.
The castle also acted as the main setting for the announcement trailer for Simon Belmont's inclusion to the game as a playable character, where he arrived at the castle to deal with Dracula, while Luigi, who had arrived at the castle before Simon for unknown reasons (but probably continuing his ghost-catching career from the Luigi's Mansion series), was overwhelmed by the castle's unearthly inhabitants. The full castle was then seen after Luigi screamed at the sight of Carmilla's mask.
In Adventure Mode: World of Light, Dracula's Castle appears as an area in the World of Dark, taking a form very similar to the entire map of the original Castlevania. The player must make use of cannons to dispel evil spirits and battle their way across the castle, ascend to the top, and defeat Dracula as part of the process to make Dharkon appear in the World of Dark's main hub. The characters Ridley, Daisy, Wario, Dark Pit, Robin, Ken and Richter Belmont can be recruited here.
===Dead Cells===
Dracula's Castle appears in the Return to Castlevania expansion to the game Dead Cells.
==Similar castles==
*Castlevania: Bloodlines features an English castle called The Castle Proserpina, which serves as the final level of the game, in which Elizabeth Bartley, and later Dracula, reside.
*Castlevania: Circle of the Moon is set in an Austrian castle owned by Camilla and used as the site for a resurrection ritual for Dracula.
*Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance features a false castle spawned from Maxim Kischine by collecting Dracula's relics, which created a new soul inside of him and a castle with two layers, each one representing an individual half of him – the good half represented by a more realistic and structurally complete castle, and the evil half represented by a decaying castle accompanied by a red sky. These were both evidenced to be portions of the actual castle of Dracula, as merging them (in actuality the merging of Maxim's two personalities by eliminating the "good" one) would create the complete castle.
*Castlevania: Lament of Innocence is set in a castle belonging to Walter Bernhard. Whether Dracula now owns this castle or if it is another castle altogether is unconfirmed.
*Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is set in a castle which serves as the base of operations of With Light, a sect commanded by Celia Fortner. This castle was purposely designed after Dracula's own castle. The castle was destroyed after Menace was defeated by Soma Cruz.
*Castlevania: Curse of Darkness begins in an old Abandoned Castle resembling Dracula's Castle (specifically the one in the original Castlevania), in which Hector chases Isaac. Whether it is an old castle once used by Dracula or another entirely is debatable.
*Akumajō Dracula: Kabuchi no Tsuisoukyoku has a facsimile of Dracula's Castle (and by extension, its inhabitants) being formed from Legion by Olrox as well as Graham's Cult.
*Castlevania: Harmony of Despair features several incarnations of the castle which have been manifested through the Grimoire.
*Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls features an incarnation of the castle included in the titular Grimoire.
Camilla's Castle - 01.png|Camilla's castle from Circle of the Moon.
Dracula's Castle - 12.png|Maxim's Castle from Harmony of Dissonance.
Walter's Castle - 05.png|Walter's castle from Lament of Innocence.
With Lights Base.png|With Light's headquarters from Dawn of Sorrow.
==Gallery==
Dracula's Castle - Castlevania - 01.png|Castlevania (FDS)(instruction booklet)
Dracula's Castle - 01.png|Castlevania
Dracula's Castle NES (end).png|Dracula's Castle at the end of Castlevania. This image was later reused in Harmony of Dissonance.
Dracula's Castle - Castlevania (Amiga) - 01.png|Castlevania(Commodore Amiga)
Dracula's Castle - 14.png|Vampire Killer
Dracula's Castle - 15.png|Konami Wai Wai World
Dracula's Castle - 16.png|Haunted Castle
Dracula's Castle Simon's Quest Japanese Manual Map.png|Castlevania II: Simon's Quest Japanese manual map
Dracula's Castle - 06.png|Castlevania: The Adventure
Dracula's Castle - 05.png|Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Dracula's Castle - 07.png|Dracula's Castle from Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge.
Dracula's Castle - 21.png|Castlevania from the Captain N episode "Return to Castlevania".
Dracula's Castle - 04.png|Super Castlevania IV
Dracula's Castle - 22.png|Kid Dracula (GB)
Ganbare Goemon - Jigen Jō no Akumu - 02.png|Ganbare Goemon: Jigen Jō no Akumu
Dracula's Castle - 08.png|Akumajō Dracula (X68000)
Dracula's Castle - 09.png|Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Dracula's Castle - 10.png|Ruins of the Castle Dracula from Castlevania: Bloodlines.
Dracula's Castle - Dracula X - 01.png|Akumajō Dracula XX(instruction booklet)
Dracula's Castle - 03.png|Castlevania: Dracula X
Dracula's Castle - 20.png|Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Dracula's Castle - 11.png|Castlevania Legends
Dracula's Castle - 17.png|Castlevania (N64)
Dream castleres screenshot57.jpg|Castlevania: Resurrection
Dracula's Castle - Chronicles - 01.png||Castlevania Chronicles (PS)
Dracula's Castle - 18.png|Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Dracula's Castle - 19.png|Dracula's Castle from Castlevania: Curse of Darkness.
Dracula's Castle CoD manga.jpg|Dracula's Castle from the Curse of Darkness manga.
POR-Draculs Castle.png|Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Castlevania dracx-5.jpg|Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles
Ooe dracula 10 1280.jpg|Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia(official wallpaper)
Dracula's Castle - Judgment - 01.png|Castlevania Judgment
PAD Dracula's Castle 7.png|Reel art from Pachislot Akumajō Dracula
PAD2 Dracula's Castle.png|Reel art from Pachislot Akumajō Dracula II
Castlevania-lordsofsh-reverie-castle.png|Castlevania from Lords of Shadow.
Dracula's Castle - 13.png|Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth
Jose-vega-45480413-2149637638380574-8107576491547557888-o.jpg|Dracula's Castle from the Castlevania animated series.
Dracula's Castle - 23.png|Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
WoD Dracula's Castle.png|Reel art from Castlevania: Warrior of Darkness.
VH Dracula's Castle.png|Reel art from Castlevania: Vampire Hunter.
Grimoire of Souls Castle Detail.jpg|Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls
Dracula's Castle - Moonlight Rhapsody - 01.jpg|Castlevania: Moonlight Rhapsody
DbD Dracula's Castle.jpg|Dead by Daylight
==Trivia==
*The word "Castlevania" was created by Emil Heidkamp, Konami of America's senior vice president at the time, who believed the game's Japanese name was translated as "Dracula's Satanic Castle", and therefore he chose to change it out of potential religious sensibilities.Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo and a Battle that Defined a Generation by Blake J. Harris.
*In the first game, only the keep portion of the castle collapses, while later games had the entire castle collapsing. This was because it was originally intended that the keep area –more specifically the clock tower gears– acted as Dracula's metaphorical heart and could only remain standing as long as Dracula himself remained alive.Castlevania – Developer Commentary at Shmuplations.
*Several real life castles have served as inspiration in Dracula's design over the games:Real life castles article at the Castlevania Dungeon
**Neuschwanstein Castle: On the cover of Perfect Selection Dracula album and for Symphony of the Night's intro cutscene. It also appears on an early Pack-In poster of the first Castlevania.
**Alcázar of Segovia: On pages 2-3Akumajō Dracula (X68000) instruction booklet of the Akumajō Dracula (X68000) instruction booklet, and on page 8Castlevania: Symphony of the Night instruction booklet of the Symphony of the Night instruction booklet.
**Bran Castle: In the background of the Rondo of Blood cover and the American Dracula X cover.
**Mont-Saint-Michel: On the American Symphony of the Night cover and for the design of Castlevania (N64).
*In real life, Poenari Castle was Vlad Ţepeş' most prominent outposts. Poenari was chosen for its strategic location: built high atop a precipice to gauge properly the lands of southern Romania all around, with a bottlenecked path in and out of its domain, making it hard to infiltrate, and large enough to accommodate a small army, making it difficult to siege. Long after his reign, Poenari Castle is reported to have hauntings and unusual phenomena within its grounds by visitors. While based upon more lavish and grandiose real world castles, Castlevania itself appears to take its geographical and even strategic aspects from Poenari, from its seaside/lakeside position, elevation upon natural mountains and structures, and to be used as a fortification for an army. 
*The castle is referred to as "Dracula's Tower" in an American commercial for Super Castlevania IV.
*Aside from the Demon Castle that frequently acted as the setting of the series, Soma Cruz in Aria of Sorrow twice alluded to a castle that Count Dracula owned in Europe,Castlevania: Aria of SorrowGenya Arikado: "We're in Dracula's Castle."Soma Cruz: "Huh? Dracula's Castle? Are you telling me we are in Europe?"Castlevania: Aria of SorrowSoma Cruz: "Is it true that this is Dracula's castle?"Graham Jones: "It most certainly is."Soma Cruz: "But, isn't Dracula's castle in Europe somewhere?" which was presumably referring to either Bran Castle, Poenari Castle, Hunyad Castle, or Mount Izvorul Câlimanului from the novel.
*The stage Big Battle from Contra: Hard Corps (also from Konami), when seen from the outside, bears a resemblance to Dracula's Castle, with the ending of the stage emulating the classic 'castle crumbling while the hero stares at a distance' ending from Castlevania titles. The interior also bears a long walkway upward to the base's center.
*The Dark Castle from the Boktai series (also by Konami) is probably a reference to Dracula's Castle. It is a castle that can travel in space by the combined powers of the Count and Carmilla (themselves also being Castlevania references), along with other enemies.
**The castle itself bears some resemblance to the Reverse Castle from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, mainly from the cutscene where it is introduced.
Hard Corps Bahamut Castle.png|Big Battle base from Contra: Hard Corps.
Dark Castle - Boktai - 01.png|Dark Castle from Boktai.
==See also==
*Castles
*Lord of the Castle
*Walter's Castle
==References==
==External links==
*Castlevania at the Captain N Wiki
*Dracula's Castle (stage) at Smashpedia Ultimate
*Dracula's Castle (area) at Smashpedia Ultimate
de:Dracula's Schloß
es:Castillo de Drácula
Category:Castles
Category:Recurring Locations
Category:Storyline Elements