Slains Castle at Cruden Bay was the inspiration for Castle Dracula 14. Vlad the Impaler's Poenari fortress was the inspiration for Castle Dracula. Hungarian professor Arminius Vambery provided Stoker with much information about vampires, Transylvania and Vlad the Impaler. Elizabeth Bathory was a major influence on Dracula . Vampire bats are a common phenomenon in the Carpathians.
Vampire legends originate in occurrences of porphyria, a rare skin disorder.