Prince Charles' secret farmhouse in Romania revealed - along with his unlikely ancestor

Prince Charles' secret farmhouse in Romania is a far cry from his usual royal residence but the rural location has more links to the Royal Family than you might expect. In particular to his very distantly related ancestor - Vlad the Impaler!

• The Prince of Wales owns a stunning rural farmhouse in Viscri, a quaint village in Transylvania.
• Prince Charles bought the property back in 2006 after becoming entranced by the country.
• In other royal news, The curious way Duchess Camilla's engagement ring is connected to her own mother

Prince Charles is known for his royal residences like Highgrove House, his primary residence Clarence House in London, and lesser known boltholes like his Scottish residence Birkhall in Aberdeenshire. However, the Prince of Wales has an extensive property portfolio and Prince Charles' secret farmhouse in Romania is one you can actually rent!

The stunning home is located in Viscri in the Zalán Valley in Transylvania, Romania. Viscri is a Unesco World Heritage site and the Prince of Wales has owned a traditional farmhouse here since 2006, having fallen in love with the country after his first visit back in 1998.

Prince Charles' love of the country is in his blood, considering he's very distantly related to the infamous 15th-century Romanian warlord Vlad the Impaler, who inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. According to Romania Tour Store (opens in new tab), the heir to the British throne is his great-grandson 16 times removed, through the consort of George V, Queen Mary. No wonder he felt so at home there!

According to Prince Charles' Romanian home's website (opens in new tab), "the property has kept its Transylvanian authenticity by having been carefully restored with traditional methods and materials."

As well as respecting local traditional methods and materials, the royal's property in Viscri has been made into a training center for traditional crafts and rural skills. The aim of this center is to help the local communities secure a livelihood in Romania's villages. 

This is a part of the Prince of Wales Foundation in Romania (opens in new tab), which was officially launched back in 2015.

Unsurprisingly, considering his dedication to protecting the planet, the location's focus is on eco-friendly holidays. The bedrooms are furnished exclusively with antique Transylvanian furniture and to keep that peaceful vibe - there are no TVs or radios!

Visitors to the beautiful location can enjoy an all-inclusive stay, including food, activities, and access to the stunning grounds for the bargain basement cost of merely $157 - $167 (£135 - £144) per person, per night.