- Bran Castle
If you happen to find yourself in Transylvania this Halloween, Dracula’s castle is opening its doors to two very special guests.
If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t spook easily, the castle will host two very lucky (or unlucky depending on how you look at it) overnight guests on Oct. 31st, marking the first time since 1948 anyone has ever slept inside the castle’s walls.
In case the thought of spending the night in Dracula’s castle wasn’t creepy enough, we must remind you that the person who inspired Count Dracula was a real life serial killer. That’s right — you’re not staying in some movie set. You’ll be staying in the actual home of Vlad the Impaler, a real life prince who lived in Bran Castle in the 15th century and used stakes to impale his victims. He inspired Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula, and we’re betting the house is chock full of angry spirits who aren’t too stoked about being stabbed with a wooden stake (if you believe in that sort of thing).
The contest is being run through Airbnb, and winners will be flown to Romania then taken to the castle in the Carpathian Mountains. Guests will get a tour of the castle, have a candlelight dinner of chicken paprikash (the same meal described in the novel), and be left alone to sleep in red velvet-trimmed coffins like Dracula. If you’re claustrophobic, you probably shouldn’t apply, though beds are on hand for those of you who aren’t so brave. Guests are not allowed to bring garlic or silver jewelry, so if you encounter an actual vampire, you’re out of luck.
Dacre Stoker, a descendant of Bram, is hosting the event at the castle, one of Romania’s top tourist attractions that gets over 630,000 visitors a year. He’s staying true to the novel to give a really authentic — and scary — experience.
“I want to make it both realistic and show the legend in the wonderful country that birthed the whole thing,” he told AP.
The contest launches Monday, and applicants are asked to use their “vampiric wit” to imagine what they’d say to Count Dracula if they met him. What would we say? A couple things — mainly, please don’t bite us and do vampire’s really glitter in the sun? Also, how do you know your hair looks okay if you can’t see your reflection? Being a vampire must be tough.
You can enter the contest on Airbnb’s website if you dare.
