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Prince Charles is understood to be purchasing a new home in the Romanian region of Transylvania.

The prince has chosen a ruined farmhouse in the village of Viscri in the beautiful area of Eastern Europe and plans to use it to promote sustainable tourism in the country.

Transylvania, famous as the home of the legendary Vlad the Impaler, is also renowned for its natural beauty, while Viscri, a tiny settlement of just 400 homes, is a world heritage site.

Prince Charles hopes that his decision to purchase a property in Viscri will help breathe new life into both the region and Romania, which joins the European Union in January 2007.

The property will not be used personally by Prince Charles, but will be restored and rented out to tourists as part of his work with the Mihai Eminescu Trust (MET), which helps restore Transylvania's Saxon culture and history. The prince visited Viscri in May this year to visit the charity's headquarters in the village and wrote about its 'natural beauty and cultural richness'.

Jessica Douglas-Home, chairwoman of MET, told the Sunday Times: 'It is the most idyllic setting in the world. We try to restore the houses more or less as they were but we will make a concession for Prince Charles. He can have a bath and an inside lavatory.'

The stories surrounding Vlad the Impaler created the legend of Count Dracula and genealogists claim that they can trace a link between the Romanian count and Prince Charles.


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