Creepy castles of the Middle Ages. Journey into the unknown: the most terrible castles in Europe. Old castles. General characteristics and functions

So many famous and not so famous people were executed in the Tower of London that it simply could not help but become the main haven of signs. The Countess Margaret of Salisbury, who was beheaded here in 1541, runs everything here. Since then, she regularly terrifies the guards of the Tower, she has a special dislike for them, in this, by the way, you can understand her, given that her death was terrible, the executioner managed to cut off the poor thing's head only the third time.

The spirit of another executed charmer - Anne Boleyn - has not left the Tower for several centuries. Anna, the second wife of Henry VIII, was beheaded 1,000 days after her marriage, and her body was hastily buried in St. Peter's Chapel. Often, the ghost of Anne Boleyn is sent to the chapel, and not alone, but in the company of a whole procession of the same restless souls. By the way, eyewitnesses claim that the spirit looks more than intimidating - there is a white cap on its neck, but, alas, there is no head.

Not complete in the Tower and without the ghosts of children. It is believed that along with Anne Boleyn, Princes Edward V and his brother Duke Richard of York roam the corridors of the fortress. The boys hold hands tightly. True, if the existence of other ghosts is “proven”, then these two are more talked about than believed - the execution of babies has not been proven, and the widespread opinion that King Richard III contributed to the death of the brothers arose thanks to Shakespeare's play.

Ghosts of Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace - main residence English monarchs. Every Briton knows from the cradle that if the roof of the castle develops state flag, means one of the representatives of the royal family of the house. But, according to lovers of all kinds of mystics, not only the living, but also the dead are found in the palace. There are two otherworldly guests. The eldest of the ghosts does not cause much harm to anyone, on the contrary, he is quiet and meek. Who is this? According to historical facts, earlier on the site of Buckingham Palace there was a leper hospital - a good place to build a royal residence, isn't it? It seems that it is generally in the tradition of the British (and not only the British, to be frank) to build structures on the site of cemeteries, houses of sorrow and other "pleasant establishments". Actually, as the inhabitants of the palace themselves say, for several centuries now the spirit of one of the founders of the hospital cannot find peace, he was too dissatisfied with the cardinal restructuring. Having destroyed the building of the hospital for the construction of the palace, the builders brought a curse on the palace, which, however, has not yet made itself felt. But since then, on rainy dark nights, in the corridors of the palace and in the park, some see the ghost of a monk who talks about the impudence of the authorities.

The second ghost is much younger and, as usual, much more active. This is the ghost of John Gwynn, the private secretary of King Edward VII. At the beginning of the twentieth century, John got into a scandalous story that became public knowledge. Wanting to restore his reputation, the secretary acted in the best traditions of aristocrats (although he himself was not one, but the environment, you know, leaves an imprint) - he committed suicide. He locked himself in one of the rooms of the palace and shot himself. Rumor has it that to this day the sounds of a shot are heard in the ill-fated room, however, by itself, no traces of human presence are found there.

Hampton Court and all his royal ghostly men

In the former country residence of the British monarchs, Hampton Court is also restless. The ghost of the executed Anne Boleyn, the wife of Henry VIII Tudor, likes to visit here. Apparently, the ghost does this during the hours free from walking around the Tower. And on a permanent basis, the spirit of her successor, the third wife of the loving Henry, Jane Seymour, who died during childbirth, lives here.

And, if you believe the rumors, every self-respecting representative of the royal family after death does not go to heaven at all, but to Hampton Court, because it was here that the ghost of Queen Elizabeth I, and King Henry III, and even the same Henry VIII were seen . All of them are harmless. Maybe.

Chillingham Castle and its three inhabitants

For mysterious reasons, this castle, located in the north of England in the county of Northumberland near the southern borders of Scotland, is considered the most popular among adventurers. By the way, there are only three ghosts here: the Blue Boy, the tormentor Sage and Lady Mary Berkeley. Favorite ghost is the Blue Boy. Judging by the stories of impressionable eyewitnesses, one of the owners of the castle was once walled up with his son alive in a crypt, where both, as expected in similar cases died of starvation. And if for the father everything ended more or less safely - his soul, as if innocently killed, went to heaven, then the son remained to live in Chillingham - so that tourists would not relax.

The tormentor Sage also lives here, who once killed his mistress, and then executed by the girl's furious father. With Lady Mary, everything is much simpler - the husband left the poor thing for her own sister. The woman was so worried that she died in her youth, most likely from despair, but for some reason she also lingered in the castle.

Horrors at Glamis Castle

Here it is, a favorite place for those who like to tickle their nerves: in Scottish castle Glamis, where Elizabeth I spent her childhood, there is nowhere for an apple to fall - solid ghosts. The Gray Lady is in charge here, or, more simply, Janet Douglas. The unfortunate woman was lucky to be in the royal family - her brother was the stepfather of King James V, and he hated all Scottish relatives, and therefore, after the death of Janet's brother, all misfortunes fell upon the Douglas family. Jacob confiscated Gladys Castle from Lady Douglas, and Janet herself, along with her son, was taken into custody in Edinburgh castle. Later, the unfortunate lady was burned at the stake.

The Scots rightly consider Janet a martyr, and therefore they are terribly glad to see her in the family castle. She often looks into the chapel. Caring servants of the castle forever reserved a place for her on one of the benches, none of the tourists has the right to occupy it.

Another inhabitant of the castle is the spirit of Count Beardy. True, his story is not as tragic as that of the Gray Lady. The fact is that the count was an avid card player and, of course, one day, when he was tired of earthly entertainment, he offered the devil a party. The devil, of course, did not refuse, he won his soul from Bierdi, as usual, and since then the unfortunate man has been forced to play cards forever within the walls of his home. Particularly impressionable guests of the castle claim that at night you can even hear the rustle of cards and obscene language. Representatives of the Ogilvy clan, who were starved to death in a secret room, also live here, and the ugly son of one of the many owners of the castle, who also did not escape imprisonment. They all moan, scratch the walls and beg for mercy. In short, you will definitely not be bored in such a busy place.

Castle Berry Pomeroy and his Lady

Here, the 14th-century castle is haunted by several ghosts from the Poumroy family to whom it once belonged, including the White Lady and the Blue Lady. The Pomeroy family was not distinguished by kindness. So, for example, the White Lady is Margaret Pomeroy, who was starved to death by her own sister Eleanor, unable to cope with envy - Margaret was beautiful, but Eleanor was not. As for the Blue Lady, she also had family ties with the Pomeroys, but she became famous not for this, but for strangling her own child, obviously not out of great love.

The castle is a complex fortification structure that serves both as housing and protection from external threats. And also a mute evidence of the power and high social status of its owner. In an attempt to impress rivals with the magnificent splendor of the fortress house, the noble feudal lords of the past built the most interesting castles that only the imagination can imagine.

Most of them are located in Europe. But unique defense-type structures can also be found in Japan, as well as in some Asian countries.

In Rus', buildings with castle architecture appeared only in the 18th century. and were purely decorative.

Chronicle frozen in stone

The older the castle, the richer its history, the more interesting it is to “read” the stone pages that have preserved the memory of the events of centuries ago. What can medieval forts tell about, still proudly and impregnably rising above the bustling modern world?

The construction of this fortification began in the 9th century. in the Loire Valley, northern France. The militant Count Fulk III of Anjou erected a powerful stone keep on the site of a dilapidated wooden fortress of his ancestor to protect his possessions from his main rivals, the de Blois family. Small - only 38 m high and 25 m long, the square structure was well fortified and could repulse any enemy. The 3-meter-thick walls were built so skillfully that, having survived numerous wars, they are still well preserved.

Loches is considered the oldest donjon in the world.

The building underwent significant reconstruction in the 12th century. under King Philip II Augustus. The monarch built a residential complex here, and took the former fortress as a prison, which was quite in the spirit of the times.

Many noble captives "honored" Losches with their presence, although not by own will. Among them are the Duke of Milan Lodovico Sforza, the historian and diplomat Philippe de Commines, who did a lot to strengthen the military power of France in the 15th century. as well as Bishop Jean La Balue, who spent 11 years sitting in a tiny metal cage, unable to even straighten up to his full height.

Within the walls of Loches, the historic meeting of the Virgin of Orleans - Joan of Arc with Charles VII took place. The blessed girl urged the French dauphin to accept chrismation in Reims, which meant the official ascension to the throne.

A modest-sized fortification in the middle Lake Geneva, within walking distance of the city of Montreux, became famous throughout the world, thanks to Lord Byron's poem "The Prisoner of Chillon". It is about the Swiss historian and politician Francois Bonivare, imprisoned in the castle prison for opposing the authorities.

The description of the suffering of this man, who almost lost his mind during his stay in the granite dungeon of Chillon, fanned the castle with a gloomy halo that has not been erased 200 years after the poem was written. However, Bonivare was lucky in a certain sense. The historian was released by the Bernese who attacked the fortress, but many of his predecessors, for example, Jews accused of witchcraft and poisoning water sources during the plague of 1348, were brutally tortured and killed.

located in picturesque place and having a very unusual, severe architecture, the defense complex, despite its by no means romantic history, attracted many famous writers. Victor Hugo, Jean-Jucque-Rousseau, Alexandre Dumas, Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky came here in search of inspiration.

The fortress on the water was built around the 12th century. (although some historians suggest that her age is older) at the initiative of the rulers of the Savoy dynasty. Most likely, earlier on the same place there were fortifications of the Romans.

The permanent residence of the British monarchs was erected on the Thames, among other defensive structures, by the Norman Duke William I the Conqueror at the beginning of the 11th century. A few decades later, a well-fortified and strategically significant object was chosen for his residence by his youngest son, Henry I.

Over the 900 years of its existence, Windsor has been rebuilt several times until it has acquired its unique look, easily recognizable by every modern tourist. The ruling queen, Elizabeth II, does not live in a luxurious fortress all the time, but only a month and a half a year: March and part of April, as well as a week in June.

Sometimes Windsor is jokingly called "summer cottage". At the same time, the oldest monarch in the world claims that it is the grandiose building in Berkshire, and not her official London residence - Buckingham Palace, that she loves the most.

Windsor is the largest and oldest continuously inhabited castle in the world. Now it is home to about 500 people, including service personnel. The length of the structure is 580 m, width - 165 m.

The history of this fortress, which has become the "visiting card" of the country and obligatory place tourist visits began in the 12th century. Presumably, the Alcazar was built on the site of earlier Arab fortifications, hence its name, which is common to all military installations from the time of Muslim domination.

Segovia is a city in northwestern Spain autonomous community Castile and León was liberated from the Moors in 1085 by the Castilian ruler Alphonse VI the Brave. On the site of today's Alcazar fortress, there was then a small wooden fortification, which turned into a royal residence.

Of course, the vulnerable building could not become an effective defense for the monarch and his retinue, and also did not correspond well to the ideas of palace grandeur. Therefore, it was decided to build a stone castle, decorating it in the Moorish style, as a reminder of the Arab origin.

In the XVI century. the building was reconstructed, giving it the features of medieval European fortifications. Then the royal family left the fortress, moving to the new Spanish capital - Madrid. And the former palace, having lost its former grandeur, began to perform the unpleasant functions of a prison.

In 1762, the Royal Artillery School was marked out in the Alcazar of Segovia. And since 1953, the building was given over to a museum with a rich collection of historical and cultural relics.

The complete opposite of its European counterparts, the Japanese Himeji Castle (translated as "White Heron"), is no less beautiful and full of true grandeur. The construction of this elegant building began in 1333 and lasted 13 years. The fortress is located at the foot of Mount Hime, in historical area Harima.

The defense complex includes 83 buildings, most of which are made of wood. Apparently, only Europeans consider this material not strong enough and prefer stone for their fortifications.

At the beginning of the XVIII century, the next owners of Himeji completed the 4-meter central tower- tensyukaku of 7 tiers gradually decreasing in size, which became the dominant architectural composition. In the same period, ditches were dug around the fortress and a series of defensive walls were erected. But most importantly, they broke a huge garden-maze, through which the enemy was supposed to wander, falling under the fire of the soldiers who took positions in the central tower.

The snow-white Himeji, indeed reminiscent of the silhouette of a noble heron resting, became a model for military construction in Japan and acquired many "copies". He is an object of admiration for foreigners and a treasured relic of his country.

One of the oldest Japanese castles is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Filmmakers are very fond of Himeji and often use him to shoot films and TV shows.

Mysterious and beautiful

This is the only way to characterize the castle buildings - the material embodiment of ancient knightly legends. Some of them, despite their name, are not related to military affairs, but they awaken lofty dreams in the heart and touch the poetic strings of the human soul. We are talking about the most unusual castles in the world with a stunning appearance and an exciting history.

Built at the end of the XIV century. a powerful castle on the border of Trasylvania, near the city of Brasov, changed many owners during its long life. But he was remembered only by one - the prince of Wallachia, Vlad III Tepes, also known as Dracula.

An unusual name, translated as "devil" or "dragon", this Romanian governor inherited from his ancestors. He had a really cruel character, ruthlessly cracking down on his enemies. The reign of Tepes inspired the Irish novelist Bram Stoker to create the gothic work Dracula, which contains many biographical facts from the life of the prince of Wallachia.

Perhaps the documentary evidence of the governor's atrocities led the writer to the idea of ​​turning him into a monstrous vampire. The real Dracula was not associated with otherworldly forces. However, Bran Castle, where he often visited and in the vicinity of which he hunted, acquired a bad reputation.

Tourists come here to wander through the rooms of the "vampire dwelling" and shy timidly, examining the mysterious labyrinths of the old building.

Unique building of the XII century. literally grows out of the rock, becoming its architectural continuation. It is inscribed in huge cave, as if guarding the entrance to the mountain depths. Hence the name, which in Slovenian means “standing in front of a pit”, which means a rocky grotto.

The mountain fortress is located 10 km from the tourist town of Postojna, in southwestern Slovenia. The history of this stronghold is inextricably linked with the brightest events of the country's liberation movement. Among its owners, the one who lived in the 15th century was especially famous. Baron Erasmus Yamsky, who actively fought against the dictates of the Habsburgs and was ranked among the national heroes.

Due to the inextricable connection with the caves inside the rock and branched underground passages, the fortress was considered impregnable. Its defenders could come to the surface in the most unexpected places, attacking the enemy or heading to neighboring villages for provisions. And the underground river Lokva provided them with water.

Today, spectacular jousting tournaments are held in Predjama Castle. The building also became the "hero" of the film "Armor of God" with Jackie Chan.

Title of the famous castle in the world, you can not hesitate to give this amazingly beautiful building, as if hovering over the outskirts of the city of Füssen, at the southwestern border of Bavaria. The name of the fortress, which seems to have arisen at the wave of a magician's hand, is as romantic as its appearance.

The "New Swan Cliff", which is exactly what is translated from the German Neuvanstein, was created according to the plan of the eccentric Bavarian ruler Ludwig II, a great lover of Wagner's operas. The work “Lohengrin”, dedicated to one of the knights of the legendary King Arthur, especially won the royal heart. According to legend, the young man, like his seven brothers, was bewitched by an evil stepmother and turned into a swan.

The building was built in the middle of the 19th century. did not have a defensive function, it is only an imitation of a fortress, made in the neo-Romanesque style. The interiors are finished with sophisticated luxury and are reminiscent of the glorious history of the Knights of the Nibelungs.

Neuvanstein "pushed" Pyotr Tchaikovsky to write the ballet " Swan Lake". The image of the fairy-tale fortress has been used for several computer games and fantasy films.

But the most impressive replica of Neuvanstein was the Sleeping Beauty Palace at Disneyland Paris.

A tiny neo-Gothic castle building at the very top of the 40-meter Aurora Rock has become an easily recognizable and beloved symbol. south coast Crimea. The mini-fortress is a dacha that belonged to the famous Russian oilman Shteingel. According to his project, an elegant two-story house, only 12 m high, was built on the site of the former wooden structure.

A native of an old German family, Steingel wanted to give " swallow's nest» traits medieval castles their historical homeland. Despite its small size, the building looks very impressive. The Crimeans even came up with a legend in the ancient Greek spirit for the popular attraction.

It says that Poseidon, the lord of the seas, fell in love with Aurora, the goddess of the dawn, and tried to win her favor with a luxurious golden diadem. However, the celestial rejected the gift and tried to throw the jewelry off the cliff. The diadem shattered on impact with a stone, and a piece of the jewel turned into a charming structure known as the Swallow's Nest.

visiting new country, inquisitive tourist I want to discover something interesting, visit places with special energy and mysterious magic. All this can be provided by the oldest castles in the world.

Unfortunately, most of the ancient structures have survived only in the form of ruins, which are of more interest to archaeologists than travelers. However, many of them were indeed made "for the ages". Now in the world there are many ancient castles, open to tourists, and each of them definitely deserves a visit.

A cursory glance is enough to ascertain how many secrets this ancient magical place. Today it looks calm and serene, but its history is filled with tragedy. The Austrian castle is included in the list of the oldest in the world, was built in 1550. It is noteworthy that under mysterious circumstances, Rudolf, the heir to the throne, died here. There are many different speculations and legends about what really happened in this place, but history has not revealed the old mystery. Today it has become a popular tourist attraction.

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Torre de Belem

If you are close to the spirit of adventurism (and the period of conquest in Portugal has become a special page in history), you should visit this amazing place. Torre de Belem is one of the oldest wonders of Portugal. Object is listed world heritage UNESCO. It was built in the sixteenth century for defensive purposes. Created in the Manueline, characteristic of the Renaissance style.

At the same time, here you can find oriental elements of ancient decor, heraldic motifs. In the walls ancient building For the first time in Europe, a sculpture of an animal appeared - the famous rhinoceros. special attention deserves the southern facade with a loggia, decorated in the Venetian style. It is decorated with fine carvings made on limestone balustrades.

Himeji

This place is often mentioned among business cards Japan. The second name is the Palace of the White Heron. The complex consists of 83 wooden buildings, forming a single stylistic ensemble. The structure is securely protected by a spiral labyrinth, with intricate turns, many passages and dead ends. One of the oldest castles in the world was built in the 14th century, it has a powerful energy and attracts with its originality.

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Bran

Better known to tourists as Dracula's Castle. oldest mysterious place not only Romania, but, perhaps, the whole of Europe. This is a shining memorial. medieval architecture erected on a steep mountain. The layout resembles a labyrinth, and the interior is filled with many antique pieces. The castle was built in the 14th century and is one of the oldest on the planet.

Eltz

There are plenty of stunning old castles in Germany, but Eltz stands out even among them. This place is notable for medieval period and to this day it has been owned by the same family. The current steward, Count Karl von Eltz, represents the 33rd generation of the family, and total time ownership of the old estate, built in the XII century, is over 800 years old.

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Within the walls of this amazing place in the XII century, a real love drama broke out. We are talking about a tragic love triangle in which Henry II Plantagenet, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and a certain Rosamund Clifford were present. Heinrich hid his mistress in the tower, the path to which ran through complex maze. Despite this, Eleanor found the girl - Rosamund drank the poison and died in terrible agony. For this, the enraged Henry imprisoned his wife forever in prison. Rumor has it that the spirit of the poisoned girl still languishes in this ancient castle.

Tower

In the list of the oldest castles in the world, one cannot fail to mention the Tower with its mysterious history. This place, built in 1078, became a prison for everyone to whom the only road was open - to the scaffold. Such a fate befell the second wife of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn. Carried away by a new feeling, Heinrich sentenced his wife to death penalty accusing her of incest. The queen accepted the fictitious punishment with dignity and majesty. After this tragic event in the Tower, many began to notice the ghostly silhouette of a woman in a magnificent evening dress, holding her head in her right hand.

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Korf

Despite the fact that this ancient English castle has not been preserved to this day in its original form, its ruins make an indelible impression. The date of construction is considered to be the 9th century, but there are opinions that this happened much earlier, even when there was a need for defense in the fight against the Romans. Thus, it is the oldest castle in the world. The fortress was used to store royal jewels and was a place for prisoners. Today, only parts of the building have been preserved, the reconstruction of which was carried out in the eleventh century.

Ancient castles keep many secrets and mysteries. Some attract people with their terrible legends about demons, vampires and werewolves, others are romantic love stories.

Edinburgh castle

dreamhouseapartments.com

• Scotland
• It hosts the Mary King Festival.
• Founded on the site of an extinct volcano.
• According to legend, several ghosts still roam the castle. The first piper ghost who got lost in the castle's underground labyrinths and died there. The second ghost is the ghost of a headless soldier who drums when danger approaches. According to legend, it was this soldier who, during his lifetime, warned of the advance of Oliver Cromwell's troops. The third ghost is Lady Glamis, who was often seen wandering the dark halls of the castle. She was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake in 1537. There is also an old man in a leather apron and the ghost of a dog walking near the cemetery. Also from the tunnels of the castle you can still hear the French prisoners imprisoned during the Seven Years' War.

Castle Glams

blog.bravofly.com

• Scotland
• Visitors to the castle met such ghosts as Lady Janet, the little page, the Gray Lady.
• There is a walled room in the castle. There is no entrance to it, but its windows are visible from the street. According to legend, one Sunday two friends decided to play cards, which was strictly forbidden. Now they will play cards in this room all their lives, because they disobeyed the ban.

Moosham Castle

• State of Salzburg, Austria
• Built in 1208
• Known as the Witches' Castle. Between 1675 and 1687, thousands of women were branded witches and sentenced to death by the Inquisition. They were tortured and then beheaded. Most of them still roam the halls of the castle as ghosts. In addition to the place of execution of witches, Moosham Castle also served as a werewolf's lair. The history can be traced back to the beginning of the 19th century. Many mutilated cattle and deer corpses were found in the castle. And some residents of Moosham were convicted and imprisoned as werewolves.

Bran Castle

magidos.blogspot.ru

• Transylvania,

  Brasov, Romania

• Built at the end of the 14th century

The castle was the home of the famous Vlad the Impaler, known as Vlad the Impaler, for his love of impaling his enemies. Vlad III Tepes was the prototype of the vampire Count Dracula and the killer of people, described in the novel by Bram Stoker. Prince Vlad Tepes had the nickname Dracula (translated as "son of the dragon"), which he inherited from his father. Vlad did not live in Bran, as many believe, but only stayed for a few days while hunting in the surrounding forests.

Chillingham Castle

• Great Britain
• The castle was located on the border of two opposing nations, so detachments of English troops that followed to Scotland often stopped in the castle. And the Scots often raided the castle. There were often bloody battles around the castle, and captured enemies were immediately tortured and killed. Since then, their souls have been wandering around the castle.
• Chillingham Castle served as the site of massacres. This castle was owned by John Sage and for three years he worked as an executioner-torturer in the torture room. It is said that he tortured about fifty people a week. It is believed that in a fit of passion, he strangled his mistress Elizabeth Charlton. Elizabeth's father threatened King Edward I Longshanks that he would ally with the Scots and revolt if the killer was not punished. As a result, by order of the king, Torturer Sage was executed on the castle grounds. Sage's ghost can still be heard dragging bodies around at night.
• Another famous ghost is the Blue Boy who lives in the pink room. The guests of the castle heard loud crying more than once, after which they saw blue flashes of light. The ghost of the blue boy has not been seen since the castle underwent an extensive renovation and the bodies of a man and a boy were found walled up in a 10-meter wall.
• Another famous ghost- the spirit of Lady Mary Berkeley, who often appears from her portrait in the Gray Room. According to legend, Lady Mary's husband, Lord Gray Wark, went to live with her sister, leaving her alone with her child. Since then, Mary has been wandering around the castle in search of her husband.

Houska Castle

• Prague, Czech Republic
• Built by the ruler of Bohemia, Ottokar II in the 13th century
• The castle was not built to protect from the outside, but to protect people from what is hidden inside the castle. According to legend, the passage in this place led directly to hell, from where one day a half-man-half-monster was released, and demons, witches and other evil spirits fell into our world. In the center of the castle is a well, from which hellish sounds sometimes come. Before the construction of the castle, the inhabitants lowered a soldier with a rope into the pit. The soldier let out a cry, they pulled him out, and a couple of days later he died. In 1930, the Houska castle attracted the attention of Hitler and was very popular with the Nazis, who began to use it for a number of secret experiments and occult experiments. This is evidenced by several bodies of Nazi soldiers who were executed in the basement of the castle. According to rumors, the skeletons of unearthly creatures were found in the castle. Ghosts still walk around the castle - a black horse without a head and a bulldog man. And from the window of the upper floor, a woman in a black dress is constantly shown. Only the most courageous tourists decide to go down into the dungeon, because demons that came to us from the other world still roam there.

Rožmberk Castle

francmotorkar.webgarden.cz

• Czech
• Rožmberk is one of the most mysterious castles in the Czech Republic, located in the south of the country, near the Austrian border.
• Named after the aristocratic family that owned it.
• The most famous ghost of Czech castles is the White Lady (or the Lady in White, as she is also called).
• Once upon a time in this Czech castle Baron Rožmberk. He was a cunning and greedy man. Baron Rožmberk's main assistant was a monk who compiled all the documents for his master and thereby helped him to seize more and more new lands. One day, the baron wanted to seize the land on which the monk's relatives lived. Therefore, the monk refused to draw up documents, for which he was executed by the baron. Dying, the monk cursed the baron himself and all his descendants. The baron has an only daughter, Perkhta, whom he tried to marry as profitably as possible. Perhta married Count Liechtenstein and left for the groom's palace. But, since the greedy baron refused to give out the promised dowry, the young husband sent his wife back to her father. Already in old age, Lichtenstein came to her to ask for forgiveness, but Perkhta refused him. After that, Count Liechtenstein cursed the Rožmberkov family. Perhta still wanders through the corridors of the castle in the form of the ghost of the White Lady. It is believed that the sleeves of the White Lady's dress have the ability to change color, if they are white, then this is fortunate, if they are red, then to the fire, if they are black, then to big trouble.

Eltz Castle

• Germany
• The first mention of the castle dates back to 1157, when Frederick I presented the castle to Count Rudolf van Eltz. Since then, the castle has always belonged to one single family.
• 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 it and still stand guard over the castle.
• In the castle you can also see the ghost of Countess Agnes, who, according to legend, died defending the castle from an uninvited guest.

Lip Castle

• North Roscrea, Ireland
• Lip Castle was built in the 15th century by the Ocarrol clan.
• Leap Castle has a long and bloody history. During the reconstruction, a prison with human remains was found in the castle, which filled three wagons. One of the most famous stories associated with the chapel ("Bloody Chess"), in which in 1532 a soldier killed his priest brother with a sword. Since then, the priest's pizrak lives in the castle. Other terrible spirit they call a certain phenomenon that they call "It". It does not look like a person, it is described as a creature the size of a sheep, but with a human face. When it appears, visitors smell sulfur and rotting flesh. In the castle, you can also meet the ghost of the Red Lady, holding a dagger in her hands. The castle is haunted by two girls, Emily and Charlotte. Sometimes visitors see them playing and running around the castle. Or flying from a height and disappearing at the very ground Emily (she died at 11 years old, falling from a height).
• The dungeon of the castle is not left without attention. According to one of the stories, there is a room in the dungeon with a special hatch through which prisoners were thrown onto numerous metal spikes built into the floor.

• Scotland
• The castle was built in the 17th century. At first, the Gregor clan owned the castle. Today it belongs to the textile magnate 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 could not bear this behavior of his wife and killed the woman and cut the body into two parts before getting rid 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.
  Some castle guests claim that at night, when they were sleeping, some woman kissed them.

Bardi Castle

• Italy
• The castle was built in 900 to defend against Hungarian raids.
• This castle attracts tourists with its romantic story. According to legend, the castle garrison was commanded by Captain Moroello, who was in love with the court lady Landi Soleste. Their feelings were mutual. One day, Moroello went to battle, and Soleste remained waiting for him in the fortress. She climbed every day main tower and waited for Moroello. One day, an army appeared on the horizon, decorated with the colors of the enemy. Soleste jumped down, never knowing that Moroello won and ordered his subordinates to wear the paraphernalia of the enemy to show contempt for the enemy. Upon learning of the death of his beloved, the captain also threw himself off the cliff. Visitors to the castle say they saw him wandering around the castle in search of his beloved.