Now visit tunnel where Dracula was held captive

A secret tunnel discovered under Turkey's second-largest castle where Romanian Prince Vlad III, also known as Dracula, was held captive will be opened to public.

The tunnel, Ceylanyolu, under the Tokat castle was discovered during restoration work which started in 2009, the Hurriyet Daily News reported Friday.

A railway system has been set up for the removal of stones and earth at the entrance of the tunnel.

"The castle served as a prison in the Ottoman era, and many famous figures were kept there," Abdurrahman Akyuz, Tokut's culture and tourism director, said.

Akyuz said Dracula was kept captive in the castle. "The castle has great potential for tourism. Such a steep castle is very rare in any city centre in Turkey. We estimate that the tunnel is about 300-350 metres (long)."

Prince Vlad III the Impaler ruled Wallachia, a historical and geographical region of Romania, from 1448 to 1476.

Dracula was held captive in the Tokat castle during the early 15th century. Although the exact time of his captivity is debatable, indications are that it was from 1462 to 1474.

The tunnel is claimed to have been used to go to the Pervane Bath in the Canakci stream area. A military shelter and two dungeons were also discovered.