You've heard of Vlad the Impaler who was one of the role-models for Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula". What you might not know yet is that there was another inspiration: the Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Báthory born in 1560.

"Legend tells us this very rich, beautiful and high born woman tortured and murdered some 650 young women and bathed in their warm blood to keep herself beautiful" This woman was a true vampire! Crime Library has a file which is worth reading. Someone's also doing an opera about this chick and has collected a good web-guide.