The scariest castles in the world beckon with their secrets. The raw smell of dust blows from them, and amazing stories are passed down from generation to generation. According to legends, some castles are doors to the underworld.
Ancient castles hide many secrets and mysteries. Some lure people with their creepy stories about vampires and demons, others with romantic love stories.
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
It was built at the beginning of the 12th century on the site of an extinct volcano.
According to legend, several ghosts still roam the castle. The first ghost is the ghost of a piper who got lost in the underground labyrinths of the castle and died there. The second apparition is the apparition of a headless soldier who beats a drum when danger approaches. According to legend, it was this soldier, when he was alive, who warned Oliver Cromwell about the advance of the enemy army. The third apparition is that of 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. And the ghost of a dog was seen at the local cemetery. Visitors to this castle claim to have seen disembodied entities within the castle walls and beyond.
Chillingham Castle, Great Britain
Chillingham Castle was built back in the 12th century specifically to repel raids by the Scots in the northern part of England. The castle is located on the border of confrontation between two nations, so bloody battles often took place around the castle, where the enemy was tortured and killed. It is said that their unrepentant souls have been wandering near the castle ever since.
In this castle, it is often possible to capture a ghost in a photo or video.
Massacre site
Chillingham Castle served as a place of mass murder. This castle was owned by John Sage. He worked as an executioner-torturer in the torture room for three years. It is believed that once he lost his strength and strangled his lover. Her father threatened King Edward I Longfoot that he would ally with the Scots and stage a rebellion if the murderer was not punished.
As a result, by order of the king, the Tormentor Stage was executed on the territory of the castle. You can hear Stage’s ghost still moving bodies at night. Another famous ghost is the Blue Boy, who was seen in the pink room. The guests of the castle more than once heard a loud cry, after which they saw blue flashes of light. It is believed to be the ghost of a boy who was bricked up alive in the castle wall. The ghost of the blue boy has not been seen since the bodies of a man and a boy were found in the castle during reconstruction, they were walled up in a 10-meter wall.
Another famous apparition is that of Lady Mary Burkley, who often appears from her portrait in the Gray Room. According to legend, Lady Mary’s husband, Lord Gray Wark, betrayed her and left her alone with the child. Since then, Mary has been wandering around the castle in search of a husband.
Dragsholm Castle, Denmark
Built at the end of the 12th century, Dragsholm Castle now serves as a hotel. Researchers of otherworldly phenomena say that there are at least a hundred entities in this castle. That is why it is so loved by tourists. In the times of chivalry, the castle performed various functions – it was a fortress, a bishop’s palace, a prison.
The most famous otherworldly inhabitant of the castle is the White Lady. Once a father walled his daughter in a wall because of his love for a commoner. Her restless soul is still in the castle. The ghost of the count who died in prison was also seen here. He scares tourists with a horse neighing.
Elz Castle, Germany
A very beautiful castle with beautiful views. It was built back in 1157. Frederick I gave the castle to Count Rudolph van Eltz in Europe. Since then, the castle has always belonged to the same family. At the moment, it is owned by 33 generations of owners. According to legend, the castle has never been captured, because it is guarded by both the living and the dead. Ghosts of long-dead knights stand guard at the castle.
In the castle you can see the ghost of Countess Agnes, who, according to legend, died protecting the castle from an uninvited guest.
Moosham Castle, Austria
The castle was built by the bishop in 1208. Known as the Witches Castle. Hundreds of witches and sorcerers were executed here and now their spirits roam the castle. Visitors feel touches, hear voices, see things they cannot explain. According to the owner of the castle, at night someone lights candles, and if you listen closely, you can hear soft singing.
The castle is also believed to have been a haven for werewolves. This version appeared when a huge number of cattle skeletons were found during the reconstruction of the basement. Some Mooshama residents were convicted and imprisoned as werewolves.
Houska Castle, Czech Republic
Houska Castle was built by the Bohemian ruler Ottokar II in the 13th century. It is located in a remote forest and still terrorizes the local residents. This castle was not built to protect against enemies, but to protect people from what is hidden inside the castle. According to legend, the passage in this place led directly to hell. From there, demons, witches and other evil entered our world. All this devilry fed up with the ruler, who decided to wall up the entrance to hell, building a strong castle in that place. In the center of the yard is a well from which hellish sounds can sometimes be heard.
In the early 1930s, the Nazis conducted occult experiments here. Most often you can meet the ghost of a black horse without a head and a human-bulldog. From the window of the upper floor, a woman in black clothing is constantly shown. According to rumors, the skeletons of otherworldly creatures were found in the castle.
Bran Castle, Romania
The castle was built at the end of the 14th century, it is covered with legends about the mysterious Count Dracula. This castle was also the refuge of Vlad the Impaler, who loved impaling his enemies.
A characteristic feature of Bran Castle is that inside it there are many confusing corridors in which you can easily get lost. According to legend, there is a well in the courtyard of the castle, which is actually the entrance to a secret dungeon.
Dunluce Castle, Ireland
Dunluce Castle is built on the cliff edge of the Antrim coast and has been rebuilt several times over the years. In 1586, clashes began over the right to own this castle, which ended with the hanging of the constable of the castle. Since then, a ghost in a purple cloak and with a ponytail on his head has been wandering in the tower of the castle where he was killed. Visitors to the castle feel chills on their skin in some places, and employees of the gift shop say that someone is translating books and playing with the radio.
Frankenstein Castle, Germany
The castle was built in the 10th century. It is the ruins of the ancient estate of the German Barons von Frankenstein. Frankenstein Castle is one of the most famous in Germany, mainly due to its owner, Joseph Konrad Dippel. He practiced alchemy. Dippel called himself von Frankenstein, but was in no way related to the barons. According to rumors, the alchemist was accused of stealing body parts from the cemetery. According to legend, he tried to revive body parts in search of the secret of eternal life.
Additional information on the topic in the article about the Halloween holiday (Halloween): history and traditions 🎃