However, a problem, because we received an influx of foreign tourists who came to our country specifically for the vampire myth, and there wasn’t much to show for. So, what to do when you have people from all over the world coming to see something scary, and you have nothing to scare them with? that created Therefore, tourist attraction had to be created. From a number of medieval castles in Romania, spread along the Carpathian Mountains, Castle Bran located in the central north- west Romanian province of Transylvania, was selected to be a substitute for the vampire castle featured in the novel “Dracula.” a new And even so, Castle Bran itself is nothing to fear. So, to fill this “need”, a filmmaker from America came up with an ingenious solution: build a dungeon next to the castle and make that into a vampire attraction. Introducing...the Horror Tunnel! It’s supposed to be a mini replica of hell. Scary, spooky, frightening. I visited the place years ago, and it was an interesting experience. A Halloween-ish type of establishment through and through. Eerie lights, scary sounds, sticky floors, and in some rooms pitch black that you couldn’t see a thing. I was going along the designated path, but finally got out of the tunnel and lived to tell the tale. It was fun, but, personally, since I’m not a fan of scary stuff, I won’t go there again. By and large, the horror
The Legend. A highlight of modern-day, global scale entertainment, Hollywood has taken the vampire myth to new dimensions, capitalizing on people’s fascination for larger- than-life characters. Much better than the originals, contemporary entertainment icons, such as the Count in Sesame Street, Vampirina, and all the residents of Hotel Transylvania, provide global audiences with a fun way to explore history. Interesting fact: Perhaps the most iconic actor who portrayed Count Dracula on screen in 1931 is Bella Lugosi, a Romanian citizen of Hungarian Page 43
tunnel is the scariest thing you’ll find in Romania, aside from the occasional vampire-themed arcades and carousel rides that are available in entertainment parks. For those not interested in being scared, a more appealing destination is the craft fair outside Bran castle, where you can buy souvenirs, traditional artifacts, pottery, clothing, and lots of vampire-themed items. If you ever want to travel to Romania and see “the vampire castle”, you’ll be welcomed by very friendly natives; we love foreigners and especially tourists who help the local economy.
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