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Dracula Home at Stake

BUCHAREST, Romania () -- The castle that the world associates with the legendary vampire Dracula is in danger of collapse if urgent repairs are not carried out, its architectural director said Wednesday.


The rock on which the 14th-century fortress stands has been deeply eroded over the centuries and needs $300,000 in repairs, a government study shows.


Known as Dracula's Castle, the fortress attracts up to 4,000 visitors a day during the peak tourist season.


Vlad the Impaler, the 15th-century prince of Wallachia infamous for impaling his enemies on spikes, often stayed at the castle. He was the supposed inspiration for English writer Bram Stoker's 19th-century novel "Dracula." Vlad the Impaler's father was called Vlad Dracul. Dracul means "the devil" in Romanian.

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