This is the forum for helping you out if you're stuck or if you want to discuss the nitty gritty details of the dungeons within Mount Grimrock. Warning: forum contains spoilers!
This is my second playthrough, and I ran into this door which seems to be unlocked with a somewhat fancy looking key. I had found the key in my previous playthrough, although I can't remember where.
Screenshot:
Edit:
The screenshot has been cut for some reason. Anyway, to the right there is a staircase leading to level 4.
Poomermon wrote:If I recall correctly that key is dropped by spiders in that level. Go double check if the golden key is on the floor in the spider area.
Without a doubt the stuff behind that door is not worth the key, you will however miss out on a secret. The thing is the books are the best thing to get in each treasure room and the rest of the stuff you can pretty much do without so it's no big deal to save up your keys.