Bran Castle - Skyrim Special Edition/AE Player Home

[@joebenzz]

“Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!”

[@FebrithDarkstar]

:XD

[@Ddon98801]

Beautiful

[@Aikohitoshi]

Febrith, Bran Castle, which exists irl with the same name, is also known as Dracula's castle. Just thought I'd give that little context. Great review, keep up the awesome content!

[@EFergDindrane]

This castle is gorgeous IRL and does look very much like this, though it's unlikely that Tepes ever spent much time here. It was a VERY important castle for protecting the region though. It was built by Saxons in the 1300s, IIRC. :D

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Thanks very much!:)

[@EFergDindrane]

This is extraordinary. It looks so detailed and must be a real labor of love. I like how well a real historical castle still fits into the game so well! Catnip for a historian like me. (no offense, Inigo) :D

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Lol I'm sure none taken :D

[@wolfwilkopter2231]

NICE! That is a castle that i might even use. Well done after the original Romanian "Castelul Bran" built in the 13th century, in german known as the the "Törzburg" as it belongs to the Habsburgs Heirs to Princess Ileana and her Husband Anton Habsburg-Lothringen, who where the rightful owners before Romania became a cimmunist Country after WW2 and took ownership and the got it back after 2005 or so. Well known tourist attraction, also often called "Draculas Castle" in the once independant Region of Siebenbürgen bordering the Walachei...and now think of "Bram Stokers Dracula" where this is meant to be the location of Draculas Castle, but Count Vlad Tepec Draculea never set Foot in that Castle. The message that it was his castle was developed as marketing to get people there in the 70's and was kept up and with success and due to its look and feel of somehow beeing "vampiric". look it up! :) and yep Armario is Closet in spanish.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Thanks! :D

[@wolfwilkopter2231]

@@FebrithDarkstar You're welcome. 😀

[@vincemac2223]

This mod might bring me back to Skyrim again.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

I'm not surprised!:)

[@tygrahof9268]

Reminds me a little of Skingrad Castle in Oblivion! Lovely castle!!

[@uroboi]

It’s stunning. I was expecting a vampire lair all through your video (which wouldn’t be my thing). Looks real world authentic but not too out of place for Skyrim either. Keep up the great content Feb x

[@FebrithDarkstar]

There might be one in there - I just didn't find it yet! Who knows - it's massive :D

[@TheVoxbox13]

Tried this a while back. Love it. Great design. I wish they'd make the "stables" bigger in a lot of people these custom homes. My horse deserves a nice place, too. ;) Also - I did make me smile that even though the owner was fleeing for their life because of a siege, and sadly didn't make it... For some reason there's still a whole staff showing up for work, preparing meals, and are seemingly completely not bothered about any of what happened. ;)

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Lmao yeah I love that :XD

[@RogueFire777]

The textures on this palace are truly stunning and I love the author hung their own portrait

[@leneecasteel2005]

Hi Feb!! This has got to be the most intricately laid out castle I've seen in Skyrim. I know it's based on the real Castle Bran on the exterior, but it also seems to be completely filled with rooms within those exterior walls. Lots of castles in Skyrim have areas that you can't get to even though you know there's rooms beyond your access. Thank you so much for showcasing this mod! Lots of love hun ❤😊!

[@FebrithDarkstar]

I'm so glad you loved it too - it's quite magnificent! I need to update my top 5 castles in Skyrim video! :)

[@MrJakedog104]

This mod really scratches the itch for me. I have been wanting a castle mod that is at least semi-realistic in size and design, but still big enough to get lost in. Bran Castle is right in that sweet spot for me. Plus, I love that it isn't all stone, there is color, the walls are white washed, the floors are dark wood. It feels regal and cozy, instead of just being a fortification. Obviously, it really helps that this is based off of the real life Bran Castle.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

It really is a beauty:)

[@CrplCon]

The lore allowing for ownership is so funny!! The previous owner tries slipping out through an underground tunnel, somehow falling so hard on the way out that he dies while leaving the shortest journal ever that conveys ownership to whoever finds it. What a shock to the servants who were left to their fate on learning that any of them could have advanced from service to ownership with just a little motivation. This is a fantastic home, too! I love the Drac vibes on the outside, and that French villa feel you described. Thank you, Madam Darkstar! Oh, yeah, and PitotencatL, fantastic work!!

[@FebrithDarkstar]

We don't look to closely at these sort of things on our channel :XD

[@DarkWillUser]

THIS is an impressive and *beautiful* castle. Not the biggest ever made, but truly beautiful. I love it.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

It really is!

[@DarkWillUser]

@@FebrithDarkstar I just noticed that this is based on the real life Dracula's Castle! Freaking awesome! They did a good job!

[@nicoletucker570]

I love this castle! Room for followers, a children’s room, cute little stable with water trough & hay and fenced in area with a gate so your horse can’t just wander off, bathrooms, charming courtyard, beautiful artwork, sad but cute story & so much more! This very well might be my favorite! The only other things I might like would be chickens and a cow and more toys for the children’s room. Love it so much ❤

[@FebrithDarkstar]

I totally agree!

[@TheDeborah0101]

Wow! This castle is gorgeous. I've played Skyrim religiously since 2011, but haven't played in the last two years. Burn out. However, this mod inspires me to start a new play-through. As always, thank you for the tour.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

You're so welcome - welcome back!:)

[@security9999]

Gorgeous. The author obviously put a lot of work into it. Wow!! What a neat teleporting map. Definitely something to tell the guests about.. or not depending on how wanted they are.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Lmao - right! :D

[@belgeode]

Me with magical clairvoyance GPS spell - Ok... GPS.. find... my bedroom please. Magical GPS - *recalculating*

[@FebrithDarkstar]

LMAO - I need that spell! :XD

[@belgeode]

​@@FebrithDarkstarme too!!! 😂

[@ladooshka]

So much work was done to make this place so gorgeous! I am in awe! ❤

[@FebrithDarkstar]

It really is!

[@YourWaywardDestiny]

I was NOT expecting this to be an _exact_ representative of Bran Castle, I thought surely someone would maybe cut a few little things out because being a real castle, it's very big and all... No, that's just Bran Castle, within reason. (I mean, there's no alchemy lab or enchanting table in the real Bran Castle as far as the on-line tours have shown. lol) I love this.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

\o/

[@CountessKek]

It reminds me of Castle Skingrad from Oblivion!😍😍😍

[@michaelkingdeseptionvocali1137]

I didn't hear the word gorgeous nearly enough 😊

[@FebrithDarkstar]

LMAO aaah shaddupa ya face

[@sharoncropp6101]

I am tossed up whether I like the castle or not. Neat touch on the map on the wall that open up Skyrim. Have never seen that touch at all. I find it a bit big and empty. Thank you Febrith for taking us on this journey

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Thanks for the visit!

[@MichaelButchin]

Also, my inner historian wants to point out that Vlad III did not live at Bran, but at Poenari, which is a ruined heap these days-- as opposed to the still-gorgeous Castle Bran.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

I love that all my internet friends are bigger nerds than I am

[@Reviresco2]

Bran Castle, home of Count Dracula. Downloading to give it a whirl. Thanks Febrith.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Enjoy my friend! :)

[@pauldunlop1660]

Never actually been to Castle Bran myself but this looks just like the pictures and the filmed footage from Christopher Lee's documentary in search of Dracula (on KZbin). Fantastic work all it needs is a portrait of Vlad The Impaler and perhaps the odd coffin or two...such a cosy place🦇🦇🦇

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Absolutely gorgeous:))

[@antiquegeek]

This one is worth downloading to explore and appreciate the thought that went into it. To me, I see in the architecture the original bones of an imposing fortress that was upgraded in more peaceful and prosperous times. The original stonework serves as one end of the castle with bits of the original building poking out in various places as it is integrated into the upgrade. That choice forces some awkward room designs and sometimes labyrinthian layouts but it is ever so cool for those of us that love the result. Strange little cubbies, secret passages, and sometimes a mystery or two to explore. The "Oh no, a bard" cracked me up. We share our attitude towards bards, who, through no fault of their own, annoy me to no end. They do render a service that is essential and if I were to cultivate a spy network they would be high on the list of candidates I would employ but in the day-to-day in Skyrim I avoid them like the plague. Barding does work in real life like that and if you ever want to try it break into song on a crowded bus and after a few bars yell "Everybody singgggg!!" Odds are that the next stop is everybody's stop and you will have your choice of seats.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

LMAO it would be if I started to sing - I wasn't blessed :D

[@JeanetteTerry-q6h]

Wow, it’s stunning, I had figured with the name Bran Castle it would be dark and creepy!! Feb, you’re not on the bottom rung for directions, my kids have accused me of being able to get lost in a round room!! Some of my first thoughts while watching your showcase was I needed to get out my graph paper to make a map of the castle,LOL!! You’re right about the Librarian’s name, I love Felicus!! I wonder if there is anymore secret doors?? I thought it looked like a Mediterranean Villa!! Well done, I love this place!! Thank you and have an amazing day!!

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Thank you so much - and I'm for sure pinching that expression "lost in a round room" - omg perfect!

[@dot1shots61]

Now that’s a great dragon born home. As it should be, after all you are saving the world. Great color scheme. Very nice!! And cool!!

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Totally agree!:)

[@rhainbedwyr229]

Damn it Feb! I'm running out of room on my modlist already, and you keep showing us these magnificent homes! Time to edit the list (goodbye signpost to Goldnehills lol).

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Lmao - sorry not sorry? :))

[@WarsmithBob]

Most castles were white. Thick layers of white wash were painted over the stone to protect it from the weather, and to make it look nice. If you were exceptionally posh you could hire artisans to paint veins over the white wash so it looked like marble.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Sounds lovely!:)

[@sharoncropp6101]

It is very Intriguing and has lots of amenities, still tossed up about it. Will take a look for myself and decide then

[@teresauplinger1601]

Those is the best castle ever! I would be wandering around constantly lol. And travel maps yayyy😊. It's everything🥰❣️ thank you

[@FebrithDarkstar]

It really is!

[@blutwulf666]

OMG, this is GORGEOUS! Yet another reason that I've got to get a decent gaming PC or laptop.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

It really is!:)

[@urbanexotic]

Absolutely beautiful, with so many interesting nooks and crannies. Could've used a few more plants in and around the courtyard, but that's what Metha's mods are for. Since the architecture is so different than Skyrim, I'd have liked some kind of explanation for that. With places like Clockwork and Laboratorium, you have the sense that the architects were eccentrics from other parts of Tamriel, but here there's nothing - just a distinctly non-Nord castle in the middle of the tundra. Even if there were just a note talking about someone wanting to create a little slice of Cyrodiil or High Rock here, just to make it make sense... Seriously a labor of love, though. Fantastic place.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

For sure:))

[@naji_aka_Tracey]

👀 wow! Feast for the eyes. I need the notepad open on my phone to remember why I went into a room IRL 😂 With a modded home that big I'd probably buy it, explore it and never go back.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

LMAO

[@patriksimion]

Nice one as always. Relly love this castle and i now there is one in Romania with that name and looks.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

So everyone is telling me lol - I don't know how I missed that!:)

[@babydrane8402]

This is how you do a castle. Very well done!!!

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Right?!

[@MichaelButchin]

THE Castle Bran? This is amazing! Dunno if it fits in to Skyrim so well, though I'd hesitate to make the exterior Solitude stone. Still-- I gotta get this one, I think.

[@captaincaveman5377]

Love the size and layout

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Lol me too (even though I got lost :D)

[@user-ki3wj3dw3z]

Hi Feb. Couple of notes to hopefully help you. Bran castle is the name of what was supposedly Vlad the Impaler's castle so it wouldn't be surprising if you find vampire quaters somewhere. (I've not finished the vid yet) And the name Vadislav is of a Vampire from What we do in the shadows movie so very fitting. Lastly, im not really a castle dewelling adventurer......however the sheer attention to detail and beauty of this castle may very well change this.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Love What we do in the Shadows - the TV series is also awesome!:) Such a shame it's finished now:(

[@user-ki3wj3dw3z]

@FebrithDarkstar LOVE that you love it too. Yes you're absolutely right, the TV show is amazing but the movie ties first place with The Huston/Ritchie Addams Family movies as my all time favourites.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

@@user-ki3wj3dw3z Also so much fun!:)

[@secretsquirrel5566]

Ever since Legend of the Dragonborn, I lost all interest in player homes (with the exception of listening to Feb) but this? THIS? This I must have just because it is so freaking awesome.

[@elgebarstar5275]

If you liked this, you must also visit the original castle in Romania. Built in 1377 by Saxons in the Bran region (Transilvania), it looks identical to the in-game artwork. I also spent a night in it due to an acquaintance. Otherwise, during the night it is closed to the public.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

It really is! :))

[@Jacobofthevalley]

Wow ! its mods like this that keep tempting me back to skyrim i loved raven castle so much and castle revalhost just two that come to mind it's really refreshing to see something traditional and attractive yet not made entirely of gray bricks. I'm a bit on the fence with skyrim i never usually know what im going to play from one day to the next i think once ive squeezed the life out of fallout though I'll soon come crawling back thats usually how it goes 🙄 im so indecisive

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Lol - Skyrim always brings you back:))

[@bjkjohnson03]

Add some greenery and paintings (luckily we know where to get both lol) and this castle is an A+

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Totally:))

[@ShirleyCurryTheOlderGamer]

Beautiful!!!

[@FebrithDarkstar]

/wave - hi Shirley! :)

[@ShirleyCurryTheOlderGamer]

@@FebrithDarkstar Hi!! I love looking at the houses you tour for us. :)

[@FebrithDarkstar]

@@ShirleyCurryTheOlderGamer Aaaw thanks!:)

[@wod5203]

I am curious how you came up with French influenced architecture, when you were out on that terrace. I immediately thought Spanish, with the white stucco and red tiled roofs. I love the rugs he used throughout the home, top notch, but I was a bit underwhelmed by the tapestry selection. From the outside, the clash between Nordic stone and the white stucco was a bit off-putting, but it can easily be explained that a traveler conquered the castle and rebuilt the destroyed sections with a style from his own country of origin. I like the place and the thought that went into its creation, but there aren't any in-game mechanisms that would foster any major long term interactions within that space. I have a pretty developed sense of imagination, but even with that , in a single player setting, it would just be me pretending to have tea parties with my stuffed animals... get what I'm saying? I wish the mod author well and I would like to see more from him in the future. I highly recommend that you get Face Discoloration Fix mod off the Nexus, and SkyUI would be a bonus too! Edit: Addendum: I see in the comments that this is a reproduction of a real castle, and more northern Europe than I would have imagined. So I retract my query of how you got French influence. I guess I'll have to brush up on my Old-World Architecture and styles knowledge. Take care!

[@adamoneil5317]

Tbh there are quite a few villas in the French Riviera region that resemble what she was speaking about.

[@elgebarstar5275]

It is an identical copy of the Bran Castle in Romania (Transylvania). The castle was built by Saxons in 1377.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Let's agree on "European" then

[@jacquesdixon2480]

Ooh she’s a beaut!

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Right!:D

[@philswiftdestroyerofworlds1988]

I'm loving this place, I don't know how I feel about the roof tiling being so red (because I usually prefer gritty/dark colours) But I can get past that, interior looks phenomenal

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Definitely:)

[@jacsondouglas9150]

That castlle remember so much the guards's barracs off Chorrol in Cyrodiil from OBLIVION! Mabe for that is so diferent of casttle from Skyrim...

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Yes it really stands out in a most wonderful way in your landscape here:)

[@jacsondouglas9150]

No doubt, friend :)

[@_eclipz_]

Wasn’t this a mod in Morrowind as well. Seem to remember having it and loving it.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Interesting but sorry no clue, I never played Morrowind!

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

This one is really cool.😊

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Absolutely amazing - sorry it took me so long!

[@troystutsman1400]

This is really cool and it’s not plopped down in another snow covered place… My only exception as always is I do not like all of the useless static stuff… Most all of us want as most immersion as we can possible get and if I see something then I should be able to interact with it ie; pick it up, touch it, eat it, store it, move it around, use it, sell it, ect. Static stuff just ruins it for me, sure it looks cool but it’s useless as a player… Hat’s off to the mod though as I stated, I really liked it and can tell that lots and lots of work has gone into this. Thank you for sharing with us…!

[@FebrithDarkstar]

No problem:)

[@kyleputman2094]

It has a pool you would like also.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

I saw that later when I was wandering about!

[@Apis4]

As mentioned, this is the real world castle of Vlad Tepic, aka Dracula, and it is done amazingly well. More, it is worth mentioning for those reading... THIS is what almost ALL Castles in medieval Europe looked like, in terms of the presentation and palette. That is to say, almost, not all, but ALMOST all Castles built between 1000AD and 16000AD, were PAINTED or WASHED in some way, and any exposed stone was DRESSED or CURATED in someway. Normally, they used a simple lime wash, whitewashing the outside of the castle, as this was cheap and hardy, and exposed stone was just stones of roughly equal size, set out with more geometric synergy as we see with the exposed stone here, again, because it was a cheap easy option. However, we know from Art of the period, the richer a Noble, especially a high blooded one, Marquis and Dukes and Princes, an certainly Royalty, the more likely you would be to have other colours. We have pale Pink castles, Light Blue ones, Soft Green ones, light Yellow ones, all show up in Art. They were almost ALWAY weak, light, pale colours, as the ingredients used to make rich bright full colours were exceptionally expensive.... a light yellow could be made from ochre soil, crushed daffodils, and egg yoke, for example, mixed with a little egg white and clear sap.... but making bright rich yellow, a canary yellow.... you had to use things like ...gold.... crushed, powdered gold.... and Saffron...which cost MORE than gold. Nevertheless, they were always painted or dressed, and always presentable. Same for the interiors. Again, like the outside, you would use a simple pale paint, a whitewash, or ochre reds and yellows... you would make sure exposed stone was dressed or a the least curated to be presentable, and hang some tapestries or art. If you could not afford those, you would paint the edges of the walls, like illumination margins in old tomes of the era, again in simple colours made of butterfly wings, and flower petals, ochre soil, and egg yokes etc etc. Again though too, if you were RICH, the more fancy it got. Interior walls would often be wood paneled, or covered in hung brocades, or both, or be fully dressed, and sometimes carved, stone, painted in richer colours, or even tiled. Often a combination of those things. Wood panels from the floor to window line, like later wainscotting, tiled from there up, WITH Brocade hung over all of it. And the VERY VERY wealthy, WOULD go so far as to have 'feature rooms'... usually only their main throne/reception room/hall, and their private solar.... these COULD be painted a deep forest green, or rich sky blue.... even though to make those paints, you need to use semi precious minerals or even noble metals, like different coloured agate, lapis lazuli, gold, bound with better quality agents, like gum Arabic, etc etc. If you were a King wanting to show how rich you were, if you received a delegation in your hall and it was painted a deep bright loud sanguine Red... that was that... that was all you needed. That you could afford to make so much paint of that colour, enough to paint a whole room.... then there was no argument you were the 1%.... the 0.1% even. Just worth mentioning. Because most castles we see today, are big cold stone things... but we need to understand most have not been lived in for CENTURIES, when they WERE though, they would have been kept MUCH more 'Pretty' or... to borrow one of your fav words... Bijou. Indeed, even the ones still lived in, I know there's a few German nobles who managed to survive the end of feudalism the fall of the last Kaiser, and end of Monarchy, and the troubles in the wake of, with a ton of wealth in tact, and all their lands and assets, and who still live in their ancestral castle as for the last 900 years.... but even they only know what the thing is meant to look like from photos and more modern renders.... so they are stone.... but at some point, someone let the thing go, and never painted or dressed it again... and so that is why even still extant castles are stone too. That was not how it was in the medieval period for the most part... they were, in general, MUCH more likely to look LIKE THIS. The author, thus, did a truly amazing job, and I am now off to grab this.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

I'm so glad you love it and thank you for the thoughtful comment:)

[@Apis4]

@@FebrithDarkstar A long comment I know, but I just wanted to contextualize, historically speaking, just how well done this mod is, I am grateful you reviewed it and as such I learnt of it. It now sits happily in my game.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

@@Apis4 I'm so glad:)

[@Jajaffu]

I love it.

[@rrmerlan]

Hey Feb, yes those names are Spanish for several items in the base game. Looks like the automatic translation doesn't work perfectly. It happens to me all the time the other way around. I have the game installed in Spanish and almost every mod that I install in English has this mixed language thingy. Not a problem to play like that though.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Oh absolutely - it doesn't bother me at all - and I learned a new thing:)

[@JackFrostIsHere]

Idk, ma'am.. The bright white texture looks like death to my potato laptop 😂

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Lmao fair enough! :D

[@JeanetteTerry-q6h]

Thanks!

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Thank you so much - you've no idea how much that helps me!

[@JeanetteTerry-q6h]

@@FebrithDarkstar I wish we could do more, it’s just that pops and I are on a very fixed income. Hope your makeup channel is doing well!!

[@FebrithDarkstar]

@@JeanetteTerry-q6h Aaah well I appreciate it, I know times are hard:) And well, early days yet but I'm having a really fun time! :D

[@Frank-Kristiansen]

Thats a nice keep/castle. but there is need to know if it's that mod that makes black faces on npc or is it something you have in your mod list? I know that some mod makes black faces due to the crash between several mods. Well I just hope it can be used on normal SE (downgraded/not upgraded) and that it don't crash with other mods in same area. But i shalll try on a new game file after i have upgraded my pc 😵‍💫

[@FebrithDarkstar]

I couldn't tell you - my modlist is hayooooge right now - there are fixes out there I believe but I've never bothered myself:)

[@Frank-Kristiansen]

@@FebrithDarkstar okey, well then i guess i don't need to worry to much ☺

[@FebrithDarkstar]

@@Frank-Kristiansen I wouldn't - I know it's fixable though if it bothers you:)

[@KeatonWarner1]

👍

[@FebrithDarkstar]

:D

[@CREATURES59]

100 septims for the journal ???

[@demiusdan3997]

Wow Nice ! I am from Romania ! Kinda cool ! But i am not a vampire yet...!!!😈

[@FebrithDarkstar]

If you start saying "I vant to suck your bloooood" then you know it's time to move out! :D

[@jamesnunya7368]

Is this available for xbox,or just pc?

[@JeffRussell-l9k]

Wish you could get it on console

[@Jajaffu]

Why are the faces so dark and the hands are white?

[@FebrithDarkstar]

That's a very common Skyrim bug unfortunately!

[@evil1143]

I mean it looks cool on it's own but doesn't it bother you that so many of these mods are completely out of place within the world of skyrim?

[@evil1143]

Spanish vibes.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Not even a little bit - when you've seen vanilla for so many years somthing striking like this is just the ticket for me:D

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Very pretty. Too big.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Hehe!

[@senadneslan1563]

cartoon plastik look....

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Hehe!

[@Webendowed]

Thumbs up 81 is from me Febreeze! :) I always enjoy your videos.

[@FebrithDarkstar]

Awesome! Thank you!