It is the largest brown bear sanctuary in Europe and welcomes visitors all year, Tuesday to Sunday.
About the place
The sanctuary was opened in 2005 by the Millions of Friends Association (AMP) on forest land leased from the town, and is dedicated to Maya, a bear found in a cage near Bran Castle. Today more than 130 brown bears live here, brought from cages next to restaurants and from zoos, that could no longer survive alone in the wild. Visitors walk a forest trail of about 2 km, with the bears on the other side of an electric fence.
Entry is by guided tour only, in Romanian or English, at fixed morning times: 9:45 and 11:00 on the website, with extra tours added at busy times. The classic tour lasts about an hour and a quarter. The sanctuary is closed on Mondays and on Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and New Year's Day; there is no separate winter timetable, and tours run in bad weather too.
Good to know
- Buy tickets online: they go on sale 10 days ahead, places are limited and few tickets are sold at the gate.
- Children under 5 are not admitted; bring an ID showing the age of children and students.
- Photos are allowed without flash, a personal camera needs a separate ticket, and eating inside the sanctuary is not allowed.
Opening hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:45, 11:00 |
| Wednesday | 9:45, 11:00 |
| Thursday | 9:45, 11:00 |
| Friday | 9:45, 11:00 |
| Saturday | 9:45, 11:00 |
| Sunday | 9:45, 11:00 |
Hours may change on public holidays. Check before you go.