Scary castles. The most mystical castles in Europe. Horrors at Glamis Castle

Old castles keep secrets. Majestic, dignified, gloomy and lush, they attract to themselves, promising to show something special. The most ancient castles amaze with their scale and skillful decoration.

Old castles. General characteristics and functions

If we consider these buildings outside of eras, we can distinguish the following features that distinguish old castles:

Locks as a means of protection

The prototypes of these buildings appeared in Iran, later moved to Ancient Rome, after which they advanced to Byzantium, where they became very popular due to the fact that they were used as forts.

However, castles flourished during the Middle Ages, they were used as dwellings of feudal lords and were primarily defensive in nature. It was then that they came to our usual form. The castles were geographically located on steep hills and hills in order to complicate the possible assault as much as possible. These measures were not related to pervasive mania of persecution the mighty of the world that time. We must not forget that the Middle Ages passed "under the auspices" of feudal fragmentation and unrest, the protection of life in such conditions was paramount.

Castles as a sign of status

Time passed, customs changed, the Middle Ages with its theological dictates and the need to live, looking back, was replaced by the Renaissance, which elevated anthropocentrism to a cult. Castles naturally turned into simple dwellings for people. The buildings became lighter, more elegant, more beautiful, each one created something of his own, competing with his neighbor to the best of his ability and ability.

Castles as the focus of secrets

Walking through the winding corridors of castles, it is difficult to get rid of the feeling that you are being watched. They keep too many secrets and understatements. Deposed monarchs, corrupt servants, unfortunate love stories - all this excites the imagination and gives goosebumps. Consider some secrets ancient castles?

Tower

Mentioned ancient castles with their secrets and ghosts - what comes to mind first? Of course, Tower. This is a London building.

served as a prison for those that from now on had only one way - to the scaffold. Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry the Eighth, did not escape this fate. The church did not allow him to divorce, but new love demanded decisive action. The monarch, who became the prototype of Bluebeard, found a way out - he accused his wife of incest and sentenced to death. Eyewitnesses said that the queen was infinitely calm and majestic, ascending to the chopping block, no tantrums and tears. In turn, her husband also “mercied” - he provided a skilled French executioner and, after Anna’s death, did not put his head on public display, but buried it, placing it under right hand. Since then, not only in the Tower, but also on the territory of London itself, a blurry image of a woman in a luxurious dress, holding her head with her right hand, periodically began to be noticed.

Mayerling Castle

When you look at this photo, the old castle seems so serene that it's hard to believe in its dark and tragic history for Austria. It was there that the heir to the throne, Rudolf, the only son of Sisi and Franz Joseph, died under mysterious circumstances. Rudolph, according to contemporaries, suffered from depression and temporary clouding of reason, from which he was "treated" with shock doses of alcohol. One frosty January day in 1899, he entered Meyerling Castle with his mistress Maria Vecheroy, never to return. They were found dead some time later - the girl was shot dead, and Rudolph was poisoned. There are many versions of what happened: some say that the crown prince persuaded Mary to leave with him and shoot herself after he took the poison, others that the heir himself killed her and then committed suicide, others insist that both were killed by opponents crown to destabilize the situation in Austria.

Olesko Castle

When the old ones are mentioned, this building is first of all remembered.

Its history is rich in events - what is worth at least the fact that in the 17th century his father served at the court, at the same time a tragedy occurred, which is still being talked about. The owner of the Olesko castle had a beautiful daughter, whose hand was stubbornly but unsuccessfully sought by young Adam. The mission to get the blessing of his beloved father was initially doomed to failure, since he wanted to see only a representative of the royal family in his sons-in-law. Unable to withstand another refusal, Adam committed suicide in front of everyone. Due to the fact that he became a suicide, they buried him without a Christian rite - according to one version, they buried him near the walls of the castle, according to another, they simply threw the body into the swamp. The owner's daughter could not survive the loss and also took her own life. The daredevils who decide to spend the night in the Olesko Castle claim that two restless souls still roam the building, breaking the silence with groans.

woodstock castle

The most famous ancient castles in the world include Woodstock.

Speaking of distinctive features, we can mention the fact that the echo in it is surprisingly clearly heard 17 times in a row. However, this is not what excites the imagination of people. In the XII century, he witnessed a love triangle, two corners of which were represented by the most influential spouses of that time, and the third corner was a brilliant beauty. We are talking about Henry II Plantagenet, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Rosamund Clifford. According to legend, Henry hid his mistress Rosamund in the tower of Woodstock Castle. The path went through a labyrinth that was impossible to blindly overcome. And this measure was justified, for the monarch knew perfectly well that his crowned wife was not only smart, but also extremely vengeful. Against all odds, Eleanor followed her husband and discovered the beauty. Her decision was inexorable - Rosamund had to die. The choice was given to her death by dagger or poison. Heinrich's beloved chose the latter and met death in terrible agony - indeed, it is difficult to expect a quick, merciful death from an angry woman. Plantagenet, having learned about the tragedy, went mad with grief and imprisoned his treacherous wife forever. He kept the memory of Rosamund until the end of his days and presumably died on the same day as her, but 13 years later. The spirit of the girl still roams the castle, waiting for her king.

Scotland is known for its medieval castles, palaces and forts that keep the history of the country, in which the spirit of knights and kings, beautiful ladies hovers and the ghosts of the past roam.

Edinburgh Castle Rock rises in the center of the Scottish capital on a crater extinct volcano. This ancient fortress castle rock, exceeding in size a small medieval town, has a very rich history full of bloody and tragic events. Mysterious murders and insidious conspiracies, hundreds of prisoners tortured in the dungeons of the castle gave rise to many legends.

The ghost of a piper who disappeared without a trace, who was sent to look for a way out, roams the huge mysterious dungeon of the castle. What happened to him is unknown.

And the headless ghost of the drummer, who beats the drum roll when danger approaches, can be seen in the wee hours, in the courtyard of the castle. According to legend, it was this soldier who during his lifetime warned of the advance of Oliver Cromwell's troops and was executed in the castle.

It is home to the spirits of plague-stricken captives, an old man in a leather apron, and even the ghost of a dog from a nearby dog ​​cemetery. From the dungeons of the castle, where in time Seven Years' War French prisoners were imprisoned, sometimes strange sounds are heard and translucent silhouettes are visible. Visitors to the castle also report unnatural fluctuations in temperature, breathing sounds coming from nowhere, and invisibility touching their faces. And on the slopes of the volcano, sentries sometimes see the ghost of a poor fellow who tried to escape from the dungeon, but, by an absurd accident, was thrown alive from a cliff. Edinburgh Castle is the most haunted place on earth.

Stirling Castle is located in the city of Stirling of the same name and is considered one of the most important and largest castles in Scotland. For many years this castle was the residence of the rulers of Scotland. It was besieged 8 times and never once was it subdued.

Like all medieval castles, Stirling is full of secrets and legends. And ghosts live here, and the most famous is the Green Lady - the ghost of the servant Mary Stuart, who, at the cost of her life, saved the queen from a fire that happened in the castle. A foggy green figure appears in the most unexpected places, each time foreshadowing some kind of danger for the inhabitants of the castle.

In the numerous passages of the ancient castle and even on the fortress walls, a human figure in armor is often seen. He wanders around the castle, mumbling unintelligible prayers, and disappears at the first attempts to approach him.

Duntrune Castle, located in the west of Scotland, was built in the 12th century by the MacDougall clan, but later came into the possession of the Campbell clan. In 1792, the Campbells sold the castle to the Malcolm clan, and to this day Duntroon belongs to this family. It is considered the oldest continuously inhabited castle in all of Scotland. Rising above the bay, among heaps of rocks, it is adapted to repel attacks from the sea. Over the long years of its existence, Duntrune Castle has participated in many battles, and these were mainly battles in the struggle of clans for power.

There is a legend that the ghost of an armless piper lives in Duntroon, who saved the owners of the castle by notifying them of an ambush. He paid for his devotion terrible death Both of his hands were cut off so that he could never play. The musician bled to death and died from his wounds. However, his spirit never found peace. He is often met by the inhabitants of the castle, and sometimes the sounds of bagpipes are heard as if from nowhere.

In 1880, during repair work, workers discovered a human skeleton that was missing hands. Despite the fact that, at the insistence of the owner of the house, the remains were properly buried, strange things continue to happen from time to time. Either knocking on doors with no one behind them, or paintings falling from the walls for no apparent reason, and once all the pewter utensils were thrown to the floor by an invisible hand. It is believed that the reason for the ongoing unrest is that the piper was a Catholic and, perhaps, the Protestant rite, in accordance with which he was buried, did not appease his soul.

Meggernie Castle was built in the 17th century on the banks of Loch Tay in Central Scotland. At first, the Gregor clan owned the castle. Today it is owned by textile tycoon J. Bullock.

The ghost of the wife of the cook Menzi Clan lives in this castle and behaves very unusually. They say that the woman was very loving and flirted with all the men in a row. The husband, in anger at this behavior, killed his wife and cut the body in two before disposing of it. Since then, the lower part of the woman's body wanders through the lower floors of the castle and cellars, and her upper part - upstairs, where the men sleep.

Medieval Glamis Castle, located in the Angus region, is home to several ghosts. It is home to one of the most ancient ghosts of this country - King Malcolm II of Scotland, who died in 1034 from wounds.

According to legend, the ghost of Count Glamis, who loved to play cards, also lives in the castle. One Saturday he played so hard that he stayed up until midnight. And when he was hinted that gambling on Sunday was a great sin, the count declared that he was ready to play with the devil himself. The devil immediately materialized and very quickly won everything from the count and his partners, including their immortal souls, which forever remained in the very room where the game took place. And now in the castle you can sometimes see a luminous window, behind which, judging by the sounds, they are playing cards.

He likes to wander along the corridors and often prays in the chapel of the castle, the ghost of Lady Janet, Countess of Glamis, who was burned at the stake in 1537, accused of witchcraft and an attempt to poison the then-reigning King James V. In the same corridors you can meet the ghost of a woman with a bloody mouth and clothes. This is a maid who had her tongue cut out to keep what she saw a secret. The castle was also chosen by a certain knight, who looks into the faces of sleeping guests at night. And in the dungeons of the castle appears a man with a terribly mutilated body. He was probably tortured to death there.

Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire was built in the 16th century on the site of a ancient fortress located on an island in the middle of a swamp. The castle belonged to the Barnett of Leys clan for 400 years, and this moment is owned by the National Trust for Scotland. On the territory of the castle there is a large Botanical Garden with manicured lawns and paths strewn with red gravel.

The most famous ghost of the castle is the Green Lady. According to legend, this spirit belongs to an unfortunate maid who lost her newborn child, was rejected and killed by her lover. Since then, the ghost of a woman in a green dress is seen in the castle tower, who moves around the room to take the ghost of a child with her, and then disappears into the fireplace. During repairs in the 18th century, the skeletons of an unknown woman and child were found under the floor near the fireplace, but even after the burial, the ghost still roams the castle.

The dilapidated Hermitage Castle is considered one of the most terrible and sinister castles in Scotland. It is believed that the name of this castle comes from the old French word l'armitage - "bunker". The oldest part of the castle was built at the beginning of the 13th century.

There are several ghosts in the castle. One of them is the ghost of Sir Alexander Ramsey, Sheriff of Tevitdale. In 1342 he was lured to the castle on the pretext of meeting an old friend, Sir William Douglas. The sheriff was captured and thrown into a dungeon, where he was left to die of hunger and thirst. When at the beginning of the 19th century the wall that closed the former dungeon was demolished, they found a skeleton and a rusty sword. Heartbreaking cries for help can sometimes be heard from the dungeon.

Another inhabitant of the castle is the ghost of Lord Suli, who practiced black magic and used it to commit crimes. It was said that he abducted babies, whose blood he needed for witchcraft rituals. Lord Souley's excesses knew no bounds. According to legend, the lord was executed by being thrown into a barrel of boiling lead. The ghost of Lord Suli, along with his faithful servant Robin, was seen many times, and at night they heard demonic laughter in the uninhabited ruins of the castle.

One of the most famous castles in Scotland - Eilean Donan Castle - is located on a small rocky tidal island Donan, lying in the fjord of Loch Dewey in Scotland. The castle was built in the XIII century, during the reign of King Alexander II. In 1263, Alexander III gave the castle into the possession of Colin FitzGerald as a reward for valor during the Battle of Largs. Colin's descendants took the family name MacKenzie. From then on, Eilean Donan remained Mackenzie's most important stronghold until 1719, when the castle was destroyed. In 1911, John McRae-Gilstrap bought the castle and began restoration. After 20 years, the castle was restored according to the old plans kept in Edinburgh. The renovation included the construction stone bridge connecting the island to the shore of the lake. To this day, the MacRae clan lives in the six rooms set aside for them in the castle.

The castle is haunted by two ghosts. One of them is a Spanish soldier who was killed during the capture of the castle of Eilean Donan in 1719. It is believed that he wears his head under his arm and appears in a gallery dedicated to the history of the castle. Another ghost lives in one of the bedrooms - this is the spirit of who knows who and when the murdered Lady Mary. Who she is has yet to be determined. Some believe that this is the spirit of Mary Stuart herself.

The small hunting castle Huntingtower in Perth, once known as Ruthven Castle, was built in several stages starting from the 15th century.

The castle tower is said to be inhabited by Lady Greensleeves, a young woman named Dorothea, who was the daughter of the 1st Earl of Gowry. Legend has it that she was in love with young man from the servants of the castle. The couple secretly met at night in east tower where the servants' rooms were.

One day, the countess, the girl's mother, found out about this relationship, disgracing the family. From the family apartments in the west tower, she went over the bridge to the east tower to catch a couple in love. Dorothea heard her mother's footsteps on the bridge. The way back was cut off, and she climbed onto the roof. In desperation, the girl decided to jump onto the western tower and miraculously landed safely, jumping over the battlements. The girl managed to return to bed, where her mother found her. The next day, the lovers secretly fled from the castle. Their further fate unknown.

The tall figure of a young woman in a green dress was seen many times near the castle, often at dusk, but sometimes in the light of day. Her appearance, according to rumors, is a bad sign and warns of troubles in the future. In the 1930s, a traveler spent the night in the castle, who saw Lady Greensleeves in the corridor. The next day, while ferrying across the River Tay, he fell into the water and drowned.

In the Argyll and Bute region of Scotland, near the town of Oban, Dunstaffnage Castle is one of the oldest stone castles in Scotland. It is located on a narrow spit of Lake Etive and is surrounded by water on three sides. Earlier, even before the arrival of the Romans, this place was the fortress of Dal Riatan, built earlier than the 7th century.

The castle is known for its ghost of a woman called Elle Maid. Sometimes she is dressed in white, and sometimes in green. No one knows the reason for the appearance of this ghost. Earlier, when the Campbell clan owned the castle, the ghost showed signs of sadness when one of the Campbells died, and joy when some happy event happened in the Campbell family. The ghost also enjoys pestering people by pulling bedding off beds, waking family and guests with loud stomping up the stairs. Elle Maid takes special pleasure in teasing children lying in bed, pulling their hair, arms and legs.

Elena Krumbo, especially for the World of Secrets website

World Travel

4405

08.08.15 17:59

Europe is rich in bloody historical events, and these are not necessarily wars or revolutions: almost every corner of England or Ireland has its own legend about a terrible incident in the family castle, they were besieged, unfaithful wives were dealt with in them. Therefore, there are many famous legends about ghosts who do not want to leave their home. Some owners of ancient buildings profit from this - after all, lovers of the supernatural flock there in droves. Abandoned castles and castles that occupy the top lines in terms of attendance tourism ratings, - the most terrible of them today will reveal their terrifying secrets to you!

A "hostel" for ghosts?

The Danish castle Dragsholm was built in the 12th century and served as a fortress, but then turned into a banal prison. Today, this is by no means an abandoned castle, but a hotel with a conference room, two restaurants and ... a home for hundreds of ghosts. One of them is the bishop of the city of Roskilde, who died within these walls: he still wanders the halls and mutters something from the Catholic mass. Another ghost is Count Bothwell, a prisoner in the local prison, he went crazy and died behind bars. Visitors claim that the sound of his horse's hooves is heard in the courtyard of the castle. But the most famous infernal inhabitant of the Danish landmark is Selina Bowls, who fell in love with a commoner and became pregnant. The angry parent dealt with the recalcitrant. Workers found her skeleton in 1930 in one of the walls of the castle. The poor fellow here is simply called the White Lady. She wanders the corridors and moans in grief. But the Gray Lady is a local maid. Suffering from a toothache, she turned to her master, who made her a poultice, and everything went away. She still wants to express gratitude to her savior and walks around the castle in search of work.

Punished traitors

French ancient castle, abandoned Chateau de Chateaubriand, dates back to the 11th century. The ghost appeared here a very long time ago - since the 16th century, after the death of Jean de Laval's wife, Francoise de Foix. She was the king's mistress and maid of honor to his wife, and died mysteriously in October 1537. Most likely, her jealous husband had a hand in this, poisoning the unfaithful one. For hundreds of years, the poor thing appears on the night of the anniversary of death and walks through the halls.

The Scottish castle of Meggerney is much younger than its previous "brothers": it was built in the 17th century. Its main supernatural resident is harmless and even playful: she loves to show up unexpectedly and kiss sleeping men. It is believed that this is the ghost of the wife of the leader of the Menzi clan: he did not tolerate the flirtatious behavior of his wife, killed her and cut her in half. The lower half of her body "floats" on the lower floors and around the castle grounds, while the upper half is looking for someone to flirt with.

Don't play on the stairs!

Charleville is located in Ireland and was commissioned by the first Earl of Charleville, Charles William, at the end of the 18th century. This is one of the most famous abandoned castles in Europe, the home of the ghost of the earl's daughter Harriet. In 1861, eight-year-old Harriet was sliding down the railing of a high staircase, but could not resist, fell to the stone floor and broke to death. Anyone who wants to tickle his nerves comes here. Visitors claim that they hear children's laughter, screams at night, singing, while others saw the fragile silhouette of a girl on the stairs.

They don't like guests here.

Kip Castle is one of oldest buildings in Newcastle, the construction of which began in 1080. Starting from the 17th century, its premises were given over to a prison, notorious for its unbearable conditions for prisoners. They say that each room of this abandoned castle has its own legend. Inexplicable shadows and gray mists make staying here very unpleasant. Some of those who came to gawk at the castle were attacked by ghosts (they touched uninvited guests or pushed them). Other tourists heard the voices of women, the cries of soldiers, children and the singing of monks.

German giant

The German castle Eltz was first mentioned in the middle of the 12th century: Frederick the First instructed Count Rudolf von Eltz to protect trade route connecting the mountain plateau and the Moselle River. Surprisingly, the Eltz family still owns the giant building, so this is also not an abandoned castle. Some of the rooms are allowed to visit. One of the bedrooms belonged to Countess Agnes - her bed, breastplate and battle ax have been preserved. There is a belief that she died defending the castle from an unwanted admirer, and still wanders through the rooms.

And mountains of human remains...

Leap Castle was founded in Ireland in the 15th century. When they began to repair it, mountains of human remains were found in the dungeon - it took three carts to take them out of the territory. The long and bloody history of the castle "settled" a lot of ghosts here. One of the most disgusting is a strange creature the size of a sheep with a decaying snout. If you suddenly smell sulfur and rotting flesh, you need to run as fast as you can. You also need to be wary of the Red Lady - she was captured and raped, and the beauty committed suicide. Since then, she yearns for revenge, so she wanders around the castle with a dagger. And Emily is harmless - she died at the age of 11, falling from the wall. The ghost of the girl appears at the place where she took her last step and disappears just before hitting the ground.

Musician and lady

In 1602, Sir Thomas Kennedy built Scottish castle Cullin, famous for two ghosts. The first is a musician who plays his bagpipes whenever one of the owners of the castle is about to get married. The second is a young woman dressed in an elegant ball gown. No one knows who she is or why she wanders around the castle. The castle and the adjacent park are open to tourists.

Blue Boy and Lady Mary

One of the most beautiful and most visited castles in Great Britain - Chillingham - is located in Northumberland. But remember - in terms of the number of various ghosts, he is also among the record holders. The cries of the Light (or Blue) boy can be heard at midnight. His bones were found in one of the bedroom walls during renovations. And although he was buried, as it should be, the baby did not find peace. Another famous ghost Chillingham - Lady Mary Berkeley. She was the wife of the owner of the castle, but he ran away with her sister, leaving his wife and daughter behind. Mary walks through the halls of the castle and is looking for her husband, who so treacherously abandoned the unfortunate.

Gate to hell

The creepiest of haunted castles Czech castle Houska, because, according to legend, he guards the gates to hell. Built by order of King Otakar II at the beginning of the 13th century, it earned a very bad reputation. In the center of the castle there is a chapel with deep well- there you can hear the sounds of hell (records of eyewitnesses are available on the Internet). Tradition says that paranormal creatures live here, including a monster that is part human, part frog and part bulldog. Wow hybrid! And the ghost of a crazy monk is chasing those who get too close to the castle.

Someone travels in search of beauty, and give someone terrible! And so that it is necessarily ancient, legendary, shrouded in secrets and mysticism. There are enough places like this on our planet. hurry to present the most scary castles peace. Here for you every day.



Bran Castle (Romania)

The castle is not as scary as its legendary owner. Of course, we are talking about. On Halloween, his residence is one of the most visited attractions in Romania. The castle was built in 1382 at their own expense by the inhabitants of Brasov as an important strategic point, for which they were exempted from paying taxes to the state treasury for several centuries. He acquired vampire legends not immediately, but only after the legendary and bloodthirsty governor Vlad Tepes-Dracula began to spend the night here during the periods of his campaigns. In truth, the count's castle became the will of human imagination. Much credit for this Bram Stoker. In 1897, his novel Dracula was published. Enthusiastic readers immediately rushed to find a suitable castle. Romanian was the most suitable for the description, and Tepes appears here. It means to be "Dracula" for him. Nobody is going to argue with this. beautiful legends must live!



Chillingham Castle (England)

This is one of the oldest castles in England, built in the 12th century. With such a respectable age, not to acquire a bunch of legends is just a crime. There are also own ghosts here. It's a man and a little boy. Jokes aside, but during the restoration of Chillingham, when one of the dead ends was destroyed, two skeletons were found: an adult and a child. Scratches on the stones indicate that they were walled up alive. Another famous ghost is the spirit of Lady Mary Berkeley, who appears from her portrait in the Gray Room. An underground dungeon, a museum and a torture room add even more mystery and mysticism to the castle, and at the same time a curious public.



Eltz Castle, Wierschem, (Germany)

It would seem that what could be frightening in one of the most beautiful castles Germany. It is located among the hills on the northern bank of the Moselle River, between the cities of Koblenz and Trier. And its uniqueness lies in the fact that it was never captured and was not defeated, being preserved even during the French Revolution. Only one family owned the castle, today it is already the 33rd generation. The current owner lives in Frankfurt am Main, only with him tourists began to be allowed into the castle. The collected money is spent on keeping the castle in perfect condition, in which Eltz will be passed on to the 34th generation. Traditions say that if it were not for the ghosts of medieval knights guarding the castle, then it would not be so impregnable and flourishing.



Edinburgh Castle (Scotland)

If you don't believe in ghosts, go to Scotland. Even inveterate skeptics, visiting Edinburgh Castle, reconsider their views. Legends say that the restless ghost of a piper who got lost while exploring underground labyrinths still roams the castle. And when the building was in danger, drumming was heard in it. She is beaten off by a headless soldier-musician, at one time he warned of the advance of Oliver Cromwell's troops. Almost the entire castle is a museum: numerous exhibitions are located within the walls of the barracks, the "Governor's House", huge halls and prison cells. In one of the rooms you can see the Stone of Destiny itself. According to one of the legends, it is more than 3,000 years old, and at one time it belonged to the daughter of the legendary Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II.



Dragsholm Castle in Hörv (Denmark)

Old Danish castles are a favorite haunt for ghosts. And most otherworldly creatures live in Dragsholm. This is not a haunted house, but a whole hostel. There are a few of them here, about a hundred, according to researchers of unusual phenomena. So tourists come here to see the silhouettes of ghosts in the corridors of the castle. Among the famous incorporeal guests wandering around Dragsholm, the most famous is the White Lady. Once upon a time, the father walled up a girl right in the wall, having learned about her connection with a commoner. The spirit of a certain count, who died in captivity, also wanders here. He appears, frightening the guests of the castle with his trademark horse neighing.



Houska Castle (Czech Republic)

In a dense, dense forest, far from busy roads in the north of the Czech Republic, the mysterious and terrifying Houska Castle rises. This fortress was built in the 13th century not at all to protect people from enemies or as the residence of some noble person. In the rock under the castle are the open Gates of Hell. Even today they hide under the floor of the castle chapel. So if it were not for Gowsk, the inhabitants of the underworld would now be walking around the world. Ghosts, of course, come across, where without them. Among the most famous mystical inhabitants of the castle are a headless black horse, a man-bulldog-frog and a woman in a black dress. Only the most courageous descend into the dungeons of Houska, and even then, they do not feel very comfortable, they even lose consciousness. It is said that dogs refuse to enter this room. Dead birds are constantly found in the vicinity of the castle, and voices and groans are often heard from the depths of an empty well.


The most terrible castles in the world - the door to otherworldly reality

Ancient castles have always attracted the attention of people, because they are shrouded in the mysteries of the Middle Ages, they smell damp smells and dust, and from generation to generation indulge amazing stories. In our "old" Europe, there are most of these mysterious places

and if you suddenly want to go on a trip to European countries, do not forget to look into one of these castles, many of which, according to legend, are the door to other worlds.

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

Once visiting this castle, even those who have desperately denied this phenomenon all their lives will believe in ghosts. Edinburgh Castle was built at the beginning of the 12th century, its visitors claim to have seen incorporeal entities, both within the walls and outside the castle. According to legend, the ghost of a piper still roams the castle, who got lost in the underground labyrinths of the castle and died there. And when the castle was in danger, the people living in it heard the drumming. The drum roll is beaten off by the ghost of a headless soldier, it was this soldier who warned Oliver Cromwell about the advance of the troops during his lifetime, and the ghost of a dog was seen in the local cemetery.

Chillingham Castle, Northumberland, UK

Chillingham Castle was built specifically to repel the raids of the Scots in the northern part of England. There were often bloody battles around the castle, and captured enemies were immediately tortured and killed. It is said that since then their restless souls have been wandering around the castle. Here, more often than elsewhere medieval castles, manage to capture ghosts in a photo or video. Guests who spent the night in the Pink Room claim to have seen a shining boy, researchers say that this ghost belongs to a boy who was immured alive in the walls of the castle, his remains were found during the restoration of the castle. There is another amazing room in the castle - the Gray Room, in which a portrait of Lady Mary Berkeley hangs, whose ghost descends from this portrait, she died after learning about her husband's betrayal.

Dragsholm Castle, Herve, Denmark

One of the most haunted castles in Denmark. Researchers of otherworldly phenomena say that at least a hundred otherworldly entities have chosen this castle. This inconspicuous castle has become a favorite place for tourists for this reason. During the time of the knights, the castle performed various functions - it was a fortress, the palace of one bishop, a prison. The most famous otherworldly "guest" of the castle is a white lady. Once upon a time, a father immured his daughter in a wall because of a connection with a commoner, her restless soul is still in the castle. They also see here the ghost of the count, who died in captivity. He scares tourists with a horse neighing.

Eltz Castle, Wierschem, Germany

The castle is very beautiful, located in picturesque place, it was built in 1157. What is surprising is that throughout history this castle belonged to only one family, at the moment it is owned by the 33rd generation of owners. Inside the castle are the most luxurious interiors that you can imagine in medieval castles, and, of course, ghosts. According to legend, the castle was never captured, because it is guarded not only by living people, but also by the spirits of long-dead knights who once owned the castle, who constantly guard Eltz.

Moosham Castle, Salzburg, Austria

Moosham was built by a bishop in 1208, since then it has gained a very bad reputation, as hundreds of witches and sorcerers were beheaded here, now their spirits roam the castle. Visitors feel like someone is touching them, they hear otherworldly voices, they see something that they cannot explain. Once this castle was a haven for a werewolf.

Houska Castle, Czech Republic

Houska Castle is located in the dense forests in the north of the country, and it still inspires fear in local residents. By the way, not far from Prague, some 50 kilometers!

The castle was built in the 13th century for very strange reasons, because it was not built at all in order to defend against enemies and not as a home for a wealthy family. This castle closes the gate to hell! According to legend, on the site where the castle stands, there is a direct path to the abyss, from where demons, witches and other evil spirits fell into our world. All this devilry bothered the ruler, who decided to seal the entrance to hell by building a strong castle in this place. In the early 1930s, the Nazis conducted their occult experiments here. The most common ghosts in this castle are a black horse without heads and a bulldog man. A woman in a black dress constantly appears from the window of the upper floor. Only the most courageous tourists descend into the dungeons of this castle, because demons that came to us from the other world still roam there.

Bran Castle, Transylvania, Romania

The castle was built in the 14th century, it is covered with legends about the mysterious Count Dracula, it is called "Dracula's castle". This castle was also once the home of the famous Vlad the Impaler, known as Vlad the Impaler, because he was very fond of impaling his enemies. The castle is now a museum, visiting which visitors can see antique furniture, decorations and art objects.

Tamuer Castle, England

The most famous otherworldly inhabitants of Tamuer Castle are the Black and White Lady (sort of, chess queens), who from time to time appear in the vicinity. The story of the White Lady is such that when she learned about the death of her lover, she threw herself off high tower. And the Black Lady is the spirit of a nun named Edita, which other nuns long ago summoned with their prayers after they were expelled from the monastery.

Berry Pomeroy Castle, England

Once upon a time, a sad story happened in this castle, the castle was built in the 12th century and there is also a White Lady here. The name of the White Lady was Margaret Pomeroy, she was starved to death by her elder sister Lady Eleanor, who always envied her sister and imprisoned her in a tower for 20 days. Margaret's ghost is completely white and transparent, she is often seen above St. Margaret's Tower. People who have seen her experience anger, fear and depression.

Dunluce Castle, Ireland

Built on the cliff edge of the Antrim coast, Dunluce Castle has been rebuilt several times over the years. In 1586, civil strife broke out over the ownership of this castle, which ended with the hanging of the constable of the castle. Since then, his ghost, wearing a purple cloak and ponytail, has been haunting the castle tower where he was killed. Visitors to the castle feel unexplained chills in some parts of the castle, and gift shop workers say that sometimes someone rearranges books and plays with the radio.

Whaley House Villa, San Diego, California

This villa is one of the most haunted houses in the entire country. Previously, the building housed a court, and criminals were executed right in the courtyard. In 1960, a museum was opened here, museum visitors often see a woman walking through the walls and a hanged man.

Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

This hotel is familiar to everyone who is an admirer of Stephen King's talent, because it was here that he wrote the plot for the novel The Shining, and the shooting based on the novel took place here. Guests often see the ghost of the first owner of the house and his wife. The hotel employees say that strange sounds are heard from the vacant rooms, and the piano in the lobby starts playing by itself from time to time.

Crenshaw House Villa, Illinois

Now this villa is the property of the state and the entrance to it is forbidden, but before that it was not so. This villa was built in 1838 and was called the "Villa of the Old Slaves". Its first owner needed free labor to run his business, and he and his subordinates captured entire families of former slaves. People were kept in cellars, in small closets chained to the floor. Slaves were poorly fed, beaten and abused. After the villa was sold, the new owners have witnessed many paranormal activity, the ghosts that inhabit the house are the souls of tortured slaves. No one was ever able to spend the night in the attic. Without waiting for the morning, people ran away from there in horror.

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