Today we had a very special event: the unveiling of an extraordinary key by our first returning international staff member, Claudia Leonte. Claudia just arrived from Romania for her second season at the Baldpate. After spending a year here, she asked for the key to Dracula's castle so she could donate it to our key room.
Claudia emailed the managers of Bran Castle to ask if they had any keys they would be willing to donate. In response, they sent the key to a secret passageway leading from the well to the Royal Park. Queen Maria used this route in order pass from the inner courtyard to the outside Royal Park.The Bran Castle was built in 1377, and is rumored to have been under the brutal rule of Vlad the Impaler, the man who inspired Braum Stoker's Dracula.
Interestingly, between 1836 and 1920, the key was used to unlock the main castle gates. It was only in 1937 that the secret passage was dug and the key was given a new purpose.
Come see this spectacular key in its new American home, the Baldpate Key Room!
Check back next week!
Lauren
Baldpate Inn Key Room Curator
