The scariest castle in the world. Mysterious glamis castle

Have you ever been to medieval castles? They say that almost any fortress that has survived to this day has long been a haven for real ghosts. Of course, rational thinking tells us that we should not be afraid of these tales - but what about the facts that prove the real existence of paranormal activity?

Medieval Europe was not the most pleasant place to live. Here reigned the cult of the lord, capable of sending peasants to death for the slightest offense. The times of the witch hunt left the widest clearing in the female population of half the continent, and the bones of the so-called sorceresses are still found embedded in the walls. medieval castles. Here are a dozen of these fortresses, which even the locals try to avoid.

• Wolfsegg

  Germany

  It is believed that a whole horde of ghosts has been living here for five centuries. Around the beginning of the 16th century, the owner of the castle hired a couple of farmers to deal with his unfaithful wife. Soon after, both the man himself and his sons died in their own beds. Since then, the castle has been considered cursed.




Lip Castle

Ireland

In the 12th century, the castle was built by the influential O'Bannon clan. The family nest of eminent Irish people very soon turned into a scarecrow for the whole neighborhood: fratricidal feasts, constant executions and even sacrifices took place here. The local chapel received the nickname "Bloody Chapel" after a jealous husband stabbed her wife and lover, and then he brought the children there and made them pray for seven days over the rotting bodies of adulterers.Are there ghosts here?




Zvikov

Czech

This is one of the most important and significant gothic castles medieval Czech Republic. According to rumors, the local Zvikovsky devil lives in the castle, who does not like people very much. Jokes aside, but strange, unpleasant things actually happen here. Animals refuse to enter some rooms of the castle, curtains in the main hall sometimes spontaneously light up, and those who sleep in main tower, die within a year. At least that's what the locals say.




Moosham

Austria

Built at the end of the 12th century, Moosham Castle has become a silent witness to the death of thousands of young girls. The times of the witch hunt turned Moosham into a real stronghold of the Inquisition, blood flowed like a river for the glory of the papacy and Christian virtues. Much later, in the 19th century, the remains of dead deer and livestock began to be found near the castle, which gave rise to new wave rumors. To this day, it is believed that a clan of ancient werewolves lives in the basements of Moosham, hunting at night.




Bran Castle

Romania

One of the most feared castles in the world, Bran Castle was the residence of Vlad III - the cruel Romanian ruler, better known as Vlad Dracula or Vlad the Impaler. It was this man who inspired Bram Stoker's famous gothic novel "Dracula": you can imagine how gloomy the atmosphere is in the family nest of the world's main vampire. A little more creepy? Easily. In one of the main halls of Bran, there is a golden casket where the heart of Queen Mary is hidden. Naturally, it is still beating - if you believe the rumors.




Chateau de Brissac

France

Built back in the 11th century, Brissac Castle is considered the home of all the ghosts and ghosts of the west-central part of France. According to legend, one of the original owners of the castle caught his wife with another man and killed them both. Today, the new owners are hosting receptions here for high society from among those who want to tickle their nerves.




Fraser Castle

Scotland

Located in eastern Scotland, Fraser Castle is famous for terrible story about a princess killed in her sleep by demons. They say that the body of the unfortunate woman was dragged down the stone steps of the tower, and the servants could not wash off the blood after that. The owners allegedly had to sheathe the steps with wooden panels, but on a full moon, blood again appears through them.




Horst

Belgium

The dilapidated castle Horst is inhabited to this day. True, not people live here, but real ghosts. At least that's what the locals say. They also say that the ghost of the former owner of the castle returns every full moon on a wagon drawn by six pitch black horses.




Predjama Castle

Slovenia

The famous pirate knight Erazem once lived here, who raided the coast and passing ships. The castle is riddled with hundreds of underground passages, caves and shelters, which even certified "demon hunters" do not dare to explore.




Dragsholm

Denmark

One of the scariest places in Denmark. The famous White Lady lives here - the ghost of a young girl who fell in love with a local commoner. The father walled up his own daughter in the room where she ended her days. It sounds like an ordinary legend, but there is a place for truth. At the beginning of this century, shocked builders working on the restoration of part of the walls discovered secret room where a skeleton in a white wedding dress was sitting at the table.

A heroic medieval knight, a beautiful princess or just a legend – castles capture our hearts and captivate our imaginations. We yearn to explore their narrow corridors, climb the dimly lit stairways and gaze into the distance from their tall stone towers. And if the past of the castle is connected with defeated enemies, forgotten prisoners and evil spirits…well…so much the better.

Bran Castle in Transylvania
Despite the fact that this 14th-century fortress echoes the legends of Dracula, Bran Castle has managed to acquire the name "Dracula's Castle" and all the associated monetary gains.
They say that Bran Castle was once the home of Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad the Impaler, he really liked to impale the enemy. Today, the castle is a museum displaying furniture and art collected by the royal family.

Edinburgh castle, Scotland
Rising above the Princess Gardens, these majestic towers are in the most eerie European city with ghosts...
The 900-year-old fortress was built on the remains of ancient volcano and is home to the world's most mysterious ghosts.
While some visitors claim to hear a monotonous drumming, several people saw the drummer himself, reportedly decapitated and only showing up just before the attack on the castle.
They say that the ghost of a dog roams around the castle cemetery, and something incomprehensible is happening in the towers.

Tamworth Castle in Staffordshire, England
Although the English Tamworth Castle in Staffordshire has never been inhabited by fictional vampires, the Norman design of the courtyard and the ominous stone tower betray that same creepy factor. And yes, there are still ghosts.
The most famous residents of Tamworth Castle are the Black Lady and the White Lady, both of whom are regularly heard or seen in the area. It is said that the White Lady threw herself off the battlements when she learned that her lover had been murdered. And the Black Lady, in all likelihood, is the spirit of a nun named Edita, summoned from her grave by the unkind prayers of other nuns after they were expelled from a nearby convent.

Berry Pomeroy Castle in Devon, England
There are many legends associated with this castle and according to the English Heritage Guide it is "reputed to be one of the most famous castles haunted in the UK. The castle is said to be inhabited by two female ghosts: the White Lady and the Blue Lady. The Blue Lady, calls for help to passers-by, luring them into her tower. If they go to her, they will surely find their death. It is believed that she was the daughter of a Norman lord and is said to wander among the cellars, mourning the loss of her child, whom she herself killed, because she bore him from her own father. The White Lady is said to be the spirit of Margaret Pomeroy. Connoisseurs say that she, being imprisoned by her sister, Elinor, who was jealous of her beauty, still wanders through the corridors of the dungeon.

Bodelweedan Castle in Wales
It is believed that the castle is haunted, including a soldier who lives in one of the galleries. Sir John Hay Williams recorded in 1829 that during the reconstruction period, human bones were found near one of the chimneys. The bones were immured back into the wall, and there they remain. The castle has been featured in two popular TV shows, Most Haunted and Ghost Hunters International.

Dunluce Castle in Northern Ireland
In 1586, royal civil strife began over the castle and ended with the hanging of the constable of the former castle. His ghostly figure, wearing a purple cloak and wearing a ponytail, roams the tower of Dunluce Castle, where he was actually killed.
In 1639, the castle's kitchen collapsed into the sea, taking the lives of several servants to the grave. Today, visitors experience chills in parts of the castle, and gift shop workers notice that occasionally someone is shifting books and fiddling with the radio.
Despite the fact that no one sensed the evil intentions of all these ghosts, the thought of cheerful residents returning to diversify your stay already gives goosebumps.

Chillingham Castle, UK
Most famous ghost Chillingham - Blue (or shining) boy. It is said that at night in the "Pink Room" of the castle, loud screams are heard and a blue glow appears above the bed or a boy dressed in blue clothes.
In Chillingham you can visit a fully equipped torture room. There, according to eyewitnesses, the spirit of Torturer John Sage appears, former owner castle. In a fit of passion, he strangled his mistress Elizabeth Charlton. Elizabeth's father threatened 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.
Another famous ghost- the spirit of Lady Mary Berkeley, who is said to often appear from her portrait in the Gray Room. According to legend, Lady Mary's husband went to her sister, leaving his wife to suffer alone in the castle.

Dragsholm Castle, Denmark
Many otherworldly creatures live in Danish castles, but the most densely populated of them is, of course, Dragsholm, where, according to the most conservative estimates, about a hundred ghosts live (due to which, by the way, this one is not particularly interesting fortress became one of the most visited in the world). The number of ghosts increased century by century: the castle was and episcopal palace, and a fortress, and a prison. Among the famous "inhabitants" stuck on the border between the worlds, a white lady, whom her own father immured in a wall for her connection with a commoner, and the spirit of a certain count, who died in captivity and since then frightens visitors with horse neighing.

Warwick Castle, UK
Warwick Castle, which appeared in 1068, was also destined to witness a huge number of battles (it is believed that no European fortress can boast such a bloody history of battles). Defeated enemies were tortured in the dungeons, and therefore, until now, people who find themselves in casemates feel dizzy and nauseous. Of the ghosts, tourists most often see the ghost of one of the owners of the estate - Sir Fulk Graville: on cold evenings, he comes out of his own portrait and wanders around the castle, terrifying the living.

Eltz Castle, Germany
Picturesque castle in Eltz German soil Reinald-Palatinate was built in 1157, and since then they have always belonged to one single family. Eltz is now owned by the 33rd generation! Tourists are attracted to these places both by chic (according to some, the richest in all of Germany) interiors and ghosts. According to legend, this castle was never captured or destroyed, because in addition to living defenders, it is guarded by the ghosts of medieval knights - the ancestors of the current owners of the estate.

Moosham Castle, Austria
The castle, built in 1208 by the Bishop of Salzburg, has an ominous reputation: hundreds of witches and sorcerers were beheaded within its walls, and their spirits have not yet left Moosham. Therefore, do not be surprised if, when looking at medieval chambers, you constantly feel someone's touch, hear strange sounds, or even see something inexplicable. And one more time the castle was the dwelling of a werewolf - otherwise how to explain the disfigured corpses of cattle and wild deer found in its walls?

Brissac Castle, France
Brissac is the highest castle in the Loire. It appeared in the 11th century, but was constantly being taken away: now there are 203 rooms in the chateau - there is a place for both people and ghosts. At night, ardent moans are heard in the castle: the noble family of Jacques de Brize once lived in Brissac. But one day, the sounds of love reached her husband. He decided to find out who publishes them, and found his wife Charlotte with another. Since then, the lovers have disappeared without a trace, the unfortunate husband was forced to sell the castle, but for several centuries a couple of lovers have been disturbing the peace of the new owners and reminding themselves of themselves with loud passionate cries.

Bardi Castle, Italy
60 kilometers from the city of Parma, on a rock of red jasper, rises old castle Bardi. It was erected in 900 near the crossroads of busy roads for defense against Hungarian raids. Gradually, restructuring led to the fact that the citadel turned into a rich palace with an extensive library and a large collection of weapons. Now the castle is filled with tourists, they are attracted by a romantic legend: the beautiful Soleste was in love with the captain of the knights, Moroello. She spent her days on the castle tower, waiting for the return of her betrothed. But one day an army appeared on the horizon, decorated with the colors of the enemy. Soleste hurried to jump down, never knowing that Moroello won and ordered his subordinates to wear the paraphernalia of enemies solely for the sake of showing off. Upon learning that he, in fact, killed his beloved, the captain also threw himself off the cliff, but his restless spirit still wanders around the castle.

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.

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. in a hurry to present the most terrible castles in the world. 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 most ancient castles 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 the researchers. 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.


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 of the secrets of 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.

Many ancient castles keep their own legends, and some of these stories are quite frightening. There are castles where terrible events took place in the past. In this top 10 spookiest castles in the world, we have collected information about castles that, for one reason or another, are shrouded in a mysterious and frightening mood.

10 Edinburgh castle

9 Warwick Castle

8 Baldun Castle

7 Meggerney Castle

6 Dragsholm Castle

5 Moosham Castle

4 Houska Castle

3 Bran Castle

This castle is located in Romania, on the border of Muntenia and Transylvania, 30 km from Brasov. This castle is called Dracula's castle. After all, according to legend, Vlad the Impaler Dracula spent the night in the castle during his campaigns. The area around the castle attracted him for hunting. One version says that the enemies tortured Vlad Tepes-Dracula in the dungeons of Bran Castle.

This castle is located in the north of England, in the county of Northumberland. Chillingham is one of the most famous haunted castles in the UK. Legends tell of three ghosts. At night, an image of a boy dressed in blue clothes appears in the Pink Room of the castle. In the castle wall, the skeletons of a man and a boy were found, which, most likely, were walled up alive. Perhaps just the soul of this boy appears in the castle. The ghost of Torturer John Sage, who was executed at Chillingham Castle, appears in the torture chamber. Another story is told about the ghost of Lady Mary Berkeley, whose husband went to her sister. After death, a lonely woman began to emerge from her portrait in the Gray Room. At Chillingham Castle is scary place, an underground dungeon in which many prisoners died.

Many tourists visit such frightening sights to leave an unforgettable impression after the trip.