Today our journey lies along the most terrible and mystical castles in the world where spirits, ghosts and other evil spirits live. Scary? Then read and enjoy.

It is considered one of the oldest Czech castles, because the first stones of its foundation were laid back in the 13th century. They say that in the rock on which it is located there was a deep fissure that reached all the way to hell, from where all kinds of evil spirits crawled out at night and wandered around the surrounding area. Frightened residents nearby villages tried to close the rift, filling it with stones and logs, but unknown creatures still found loopholes. Then it was decided to build a chapel on this site so that the consecrated building would ward off evil. Over time, the chapel grew into a castle, but judging by the architectural design of the building, it seems that the fortress was not intended to protect from external enemies, but to restrain internal demons.

It was built in the 14th century. It was owned by Lord Glemis, from which the fortress got its name. The owner was known as a very wild and gambling man who loved cards and strong drinks. One Saturday he and his friend sat at the card table until late. When the servant reminded them that Sunday had already arrived and it was a sin to indulge in such an activity on this day, the angry count shouted that even if Satan came to their room, he would have caught him playing the game too. As soon as Glemis said this, the devil appeared and declared that from now on the count would have to play cards with him until the Day of Judgment. The frightened servants immured the count in a room with an evil spirit, and since then swearing and screams have been heard in the castle. And although there is a window outside the fortress, there is simply no entrance to this room inside the castle.

This small country has a huge number of castles, but the most famous among them is Dragsholm. It was built back in the 12th century and belonged to the clergy, and many of the premises were used as prisons. Over time it was rebuilt to serve as a defensive structure during the war. The owners of the fortress constantly changed until in 1932 it fell into the hands of the Boettger family, who decided to turn it into a hotel and did so very successfully. After all, the legend about " Hundred Ghosts of Dragholm"attracts crowds of tourists here who want to see the ghost with their own eyes. And, by the way, judging by the enthusiastic reviews, many actually succeeded.

The most famous is trinity of ghosts.

• The first is the White Lady, who was once the daughter of a nobleman, whom her cruel father walled up in a wall after learning about her love for a commoner.
• Second, the Gray Lady worked here as a maid in ancient times and died of illness, and her soul was unable to leave this place.
• And the third is Earl Bothwell, who died in captivity in one of the cells and now his spirit wanders the corridors.

Grandiose medieval buildings, erected to protect against uninvited guests and arrange the life of the nobility, delight and fascinate. There are many ancient castles preserved in the world, even glossy photos of which, outside and inside, testify to incredible power and splendor. All of them constitute the wealth of world culture.

Many fortifications and royal residences have survived to this day in their original luxurious form. Among them there are unique architectural masterpieces of extraordinary scale and beauty.

Konopiste

45 km from Prague, immersed in the emerald greenery of an English park, stands the 700-year-old handsome Konopiste. The original defensive cylindrical tower with a drawbridge eventually became part of the fortification belt of the powerful fortress, along with 6 new structures. The castle was rebuilt several times.

The last grandiose reconstruction at the request of Archduke Franz Ferdinand von Habsburg turned the Gothic castle into a luxurious architectural complex in the Baroque spirit. Neat snow-white buildings with terracotta roofs are surrounded by a park, ponds and terraces with marble statues.

The magnificent decoration of the castle, coupled with the unique collection of the passionate collector Franz Ferdinand, has been completely preserved to this day. Detailed catalogs compiled by the Archduke made it possible to place the exhibits exactly as they were located during the lifetime of the noble owners.

Among other treasures, the castle houses:

• the famous collection of military weapons and armor of the 16th–19th centuries, including about 5 thousand rare items;
• a unique collection of St. George, made up of 4 thousand artifacts from the 15th–19th centuries with the image of St. George.

Ancient castles of the world, photos of the inside and outside of which have amazing magnetism, attract crowds of tourists. The Czech landmark is no exception. The castle welcomes guests from April to October every day from 9:00 to 17:00.

Ancient castles of the world. Photos inside and outside will help you see exactly how noble people lived before.

Tourists are offered several excursion routes, falconry, visiting an ancient shooting range, holding business receptions and weddings in the surroundings of magnificent halls. The entrance ticket price, depending on the selected options and benefits, varies between 90–300 CZK.

Hohenzollern Castle

Rising above the picturesque surroundings near Stuttgart, the family castle of the Hohenzollerns, who were in power from the 12th century to the beginning of the 20th century, is a real architectural gem.

The elegant structure was erected on the top of a mountain about 860 m high, and in cloudy weather it seems to float above the ground in a ghostly haze. For this feature, the family residence of the Prussian kings is called the “castle in the clouds.”

The building in the neo-Gothic style is permeated with the spirit of German romanticism. Conceptually, the architectural creation is the embodiment of an ideal knightly fortress: with an internal square, high towers with pointed roofs, chapels, powerful battlements, many galleries and steep passages.

The columned halls are furnished with luxurious furniture and decorated with beautiful antique tapestries. The museum exhibits, among other unique items, famous artifacts: the crown of the Prussian kings and the military uniform of Frederick the Great.

The popular castle museum in Germany opens its gates to guests every day at 10:00. A tour of the castle grounds without visiting the halls costs 7 €. A general ticket, including excursion services in the halls, costs visitors 12 €.

Neuschwanstein

Ancient castles of the world, photos of the inside and outside of which testify to their unique beauty, are a place of attraction for lovers of knightly stories and fantasy literature.

The exemplary appearance of the book knightly fortress is fully consistent with the real-life Neuschwanstein Castle. The beauty of the “New Swan Cliff”, which is how the name of the castle is translated from German, is ideal.

A romantic castle complex in Bavaria, near the city of Fussen, built on a high cliff commissioned by King Ludwig II in 1869. The architectural creation synthesized the best elements of fortification engineering and palace architecture.

A slender, dynamically upward-looking white stone structure with many elongated arched windows and decorative projections is crowned with pointed turrets with balconies and loopholes. The height of the central tower is 80 m, the main building rises 57 m.

The elegant structure is devoid of the spirit of belligerence. In wall and ceiling paintings, the interior of galleries and staircases, and the design of furniture, the leitmotif is a romantic image of a swan. Currently, 12 luxurious rooms are open to visitors.

Among them, the rooms on the 4th floor are especially noteworthy:

• The throne room, designed in the likeness of Orthodox churches with a dome of the sky and images of saints;
• a huge living room, decorated with canvases with scenes from the legend of the Swan Knight;
• royal neo-Gothic chapel with an image of Saint Louis IX in the center of the altar.

The exhibition is available for viewing from 9:00. From October to March the museum closes at 16:00. In other months - at 18:00. The entrance fee is 12 €.

Burg Eltz

The picturesque 12th-century German castle Burg Eltz, built on a mountain washed on three sides by the Elzbach River, is reliably hidden from prying eyes by dense protected forests. Due to its favorable strategic location, the defensive structure in Rhineland-Palatinate was never subjected to destruction or looting.

An attractive feature of the castle is its architecture: 8 fabulous towers up to 40 m high, a closed cozy courtyard, pointed roofs, bay windows, half-timbered structures, a portico with a mosaic image of the Madonna. The appearance of the castle has changed more than once over 8 centuries: from the strict Romanesque style to the luxurious Baroque.

The picturesque architectural complex still belongs to the Eltz family. From the beginning of April until November 1, excursions are held on the territory of the complex. The exhibition, which includes more than 500 objects of art made of precious stones, metal, porcelain and crystal, deserves special attention. Excursion services are available from 9:00 to 17:30. Price - 10 €.

Vaduz Castle

The first written mention of the capital castle of Liechtenstein dates back to the 14th century, but, according to the results of historical research, the central tower of the defensive complex was erected in the 12th century.

The ancient fortification is located on a hill and occupies a strategically convenient position overlooking the capital Vaduz and the surrounding areas. The thickness of the walls of the main tower reaches 4 m, the base area is 12 by 13 m. Inside the majestic fort there is a residential complex with 130 rooms. On the territory there is a chapel of St. Anne, made in the late Gothic style.

Since the 30s of the 20th century, the architectural complex has been the home of the princely family, and most of the time it is closed to public access. On the main national holiday, Assumption Day, celebrated on August 15, the castle doors open to tourists.

Beleuil Castle

Beleuil Castle in the province of Hainaut, located in the historical part of the city of the same name, is called the “Belgian Versailles”. The first mention of the fortress dates back to the 13th century. Since the end of the 14th century, the castle has been owned by the princely house of Lines.

An aristocratic residence with a huge courtyard surrounded by a French park and water canals perfectly emphasizes the prestige of its noble owners. An extended two-story building with 4 round corner towers is erected on the ground floor. The waters of an artificial lake come close to the walls, along the banks of which classical sculptural compositions are installed.

The ground floor entrance hall leads to the Marshals' Hall, Ambassadors' Hall, Library and Dining Room. The second floor is reserved for the private quarters of the aristocratic family. The halls and living rooms are decorated with chic typical of the Renaissance style. There are many expensive items presented by famous guests: Marie Antoinette, Catherine the Great, Goethe and Voltaire.

The library stores more than 20 thousand rare ancient books. The castle is open to travelers from 13:00 to 18:00 every day in July and August. In April, May and September, guests are only accepted on weekends. The cost of visiting is 9 €.

Chambord

The architectural miracle of the Renaissance - Chambord Castle - is attributed by researchers to the work of Leonardo da Vinci, suggesting his participation in the development of the project. A few months before the start of construction (approximately 1519), the brilliant creator served as an architect at the court of the French king Francis I.

The castle was built 14 km from the city of Blois according to the model of fortified medieval castles. However, it was not intended to repel attacks. According to contemporaries, the king built his residence near the estates of his lady love, Countess Turi, and used the castle only as a hunting lodge.

The composition of the grandiose structure revolves around the “donjon” (the main tower of the knight’s castle). The tower has 5 floors with 8 halls on each tier. The eastern wing with the royal chambers and the western wing with the chapel are attached to the central part. There are 426 rooms in the castle.

The architectural highlight is a spiral staircase with two flights, allowing you to avoid encounters between descending and ascending visitors. A double spiral staircase with carved ornaments leads right up to the roof, to a terrace from which a picturesque panorama opens.

The design of the ceiling vaults, staircases, turrets, and stucco capitals bears the design of the royal lily. Exquisite interiors and a collection of rare paintings arouse the interest of travelers all over the world. The doors to the historical halls are open daily for them from 9:00 to 18:00. Entrance ticket price - 13 €.

Windsor castle

In the provincial English city of Windsor (30 km from London) the residence of British kings is located, the history of which goes back almost 1 thousand years. The date of its foundation is considered to be 1070. The beautiful palace on a hill surrounded by the ribbon of the Thames River today serves both as a summer vacation spot for the crowned family and as a tourist attraction.

The castle complex is conventionally divided into the Upper and Lower Courtyards. Travelers pay special attention to the ancient Round Tower, 45 m high, where the famous knights of the Round Table met centuries ago. Today, a flag flying above the tower announces the Queen's presence in the castle.

Attracting tourists is the Chamber built in honor of the victory at Waterloo, St. George's Hall with elegant carved stone decoration and original roof, and the Memorial Chapel. Many are fascinated by Queen Mary's toy house, which is a small copy of the original interiors of the royal palace.

The castle halls are decorated with paintings by famous painters: Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt and other brilliant artists. The impressively designed castle park is covered with a network of comfortable walking paths. At 11:00 the ceremony of changing the royal guard takes place.

Tickets for the residence grounds are sold at the door for 21 GBP. Summer visiting hours are from 10:00 to 17:15, in winter - until 16:15.

Alcazar in Segovia

The Alcazar Castle, located in the ancient Spanish city of Segovia, has gained worldwide fame due to its architectural individuality. The silhouette of an ancient building, proudly standing on a rocky ledge surrounded by the Eresma and Clamores rivers, resembles a ship with high masts. Its exotic lines often echo the cartoon castles of Walt Disney.

The first stone structure, erected by the Arabs in the 8th century, came into the possession of the Spanish kings in the 12th century. The Arab fortress was reconstructed, turning into a Romanesque castle with Gothic elements. Today there is a museum on the territory of the citadel.

12 halls, which have preserved the decor in an elegant Moorish style, and the chapel, where the wedding ceremony of the Spanish King Philip II and his chosen one, Anna of Austria, are open to visitors.

The halls display antique furniture, paintings, handmade carpets with motifs, and a collection of armor and weapons. The castle grounds are open to tourists from 10:00 to 18:00. The entrance fee is 8 €.

Matsumoto Castle

The ancient castles of the world, photos of the inside and outside of which are filled with magical aesthetics, are located not only in the European part of the globe. In Japan, near Tokyo, there is a structure of exotic beauty. Matsumoto Castle, built in 1504, is recognized as the national treasure of the Land of the Rising Sun.

The black walls and side towers of the exquisite multi-tiered structure resemble the outstretched wings of a raven, which is why another name for the Japanese masterpiece is Crow Castle. The visual lightness of the structure is deceptive. The ancient castle, surrounded by rings of deep moats and thick stone walls, was an impregnable fortress.

Nowadays there is a garden of chrysanthemums around the castle, and snow-white and coal-black swans are circling in the waters of the moat surrounding the building. There is a museum within the castle walls. The halls display samurai armor, firearms and swords from the second half of the 15th–16th centuries.

The exhibition is open from 8:30 to 17:00. The entrance fee is 600 yen. In the fall, the museum holds a “Moon” festival. Guests of the castle are allowed to climb the tower, built in 1635 specifically for observing the Earth's satellite.

The most terrible ancient castles

It is not paradoxical, but places covered with gloomy glory are not inferior in popularity to beautiful ancient monuments.

Name	Visiting time	Ticket price
Chillingham	from 12:00 to 17:00	10.50 GBP
Edinburgh castle	from 9:30 to 18:00	16 GBP
Fraser	from 12:00 to 17:00	9.00 GBP
Houska	from 10:00 to 17:00	80 CZK
Leap Castle	By prior agreement with the owner	6 €

Chillingham

The ancient Chillingham Castle is considered the most mysterious landmark in all of Europe. It was built in the 12th century on the border between England and Scotland, in the county of Northumberland. Numerous photographs inside and outside the buildings show the silhouettes and faces of the ghosts living here. There are few places in the world where the inhabitants of the other world so often appear in the frame.

Initially, the fortification served as protection against Scots raids. The captured soldiers were tortured, killed and thrown into a basement pit. Their restless souls still wander through the ancient labyrinths. It was not only adults who were subjected to torture. In an underground chamber, among the torture machines, the skeleton of a tortured girl is still kept.

A shining silhouette of a boy and a man often appears in the Pink Room of the castle. During restoration work, a child's and a man's skeleton was discovered in one of the destroyed dead ends. Scratches on the stones indicated that the prisoners had been walled up alive.

Another famous ghost is the spirit of Lady Mary Berkeley, who has not forgiven her betrayal of her husband, appearing from the portrait. According to legend, the husband went to her sister, leaving an abandoned woman to suffer in the painful atmosphere of a gloomy fortress. There is a museum in the castle. They say that due to annoying ghosts, several caretakers have already changed in the museum, and one disappeared without a trace.

Edinburgh castle

The famous Treasury of the British Isles, home to the jeweled Scottish Crown and the legendary "Stone of Destiny", was built on Castle Rock in the center of Edinburgh in the 11th century. AND The history of the oldest capital castle in Scotland is full of bloody events.

Next to the suspension bridge is the Witches’ Well, near which more than 300 women convicted of magical abilities were burned during the Inquisition. Near the gate there is a memorial to Sir William Kilcaldy, who was hanged for his participation in the murder of the cardinal and secretary of Queen Mary of Scots. Above the gate rises the Tower of the rebel Marquess of Argill, who was executed in Edinburgh.

Tourists often see ghostly entities within the walls of the fortress and beyond. The famous ghost is the spirit of a bagpiper who got lost and died in the underground labyrinths. Visitors sometimes hear the drumming of the spirit of a soldier who, during his lifetime, warned of the approach of Cromwell’s troops. Eyewitnesses claim to have noticed the ghostly shadow of a huge dog.

Fraser

In a beautiful estate near the Scottish city of Aberdeen, there is a stone giant of the 16th century - Castle Fraser. Its beauty attracts tourists and newlyweds who want to hold a wedding ceremony in an impressive setting. And no one is afraid of the restless souls living here.

The castle servants say that at night music sounds and a female silhouette in black clothes appears. It is believed that this is the ghost of the owner of the house, Lady Mary, who died of tuberculosis at the end of the 19th century.

The most famous legend tells about the tragic fate of a Scottish princess. Demons or people killed the young creature in her sleep, and dragged the bloody body from the Green Room of the 5th floor down the stairs, leaving terrible traces. The servants were unable to wash off the blood: traces appeared again and again on the washed steps. The staircase was re-lined with wood to hide the bloody stains.

Houska

The 13th-century Gothic Houska Castle, located 50 km from Prague, is considered one of the most mystical ancient buildings in the Czech Republic. According to legend, the castle chapel was built over a deep crevice in the ground leading straight to the underworld. The holy building is decorated with numerous frescoes with images of Saints Gabriel and Michael fighting the devil, and serves as a seal on the gate to hell.

The design of the castle itself is amazing. The fortress has no defensive structures, water storage, warehouse, or kitchen. The plan of the fortress demonstrates that the citadel was not built to protect against external aggression, but to protect against what was inside. The plan shows that the defensible towers that have not survived are turned inward.

Recently, a secret room was found carved into the rock adjacent to the castle. Experts suggest that the cell appeared here during the construction of the fortress. For what purpose it was cut into the mountain remains a mystery, as does the mystery of the construction of a structure unsuitable for life.

Leap Castle

The 15th-century Leap Castle, which stands as a gloomy hulk in County Offaly, is one of the creepiest places in Ireland. The fortress belonged to the extravagant O'Carroll clan for a long time. Members of the family more than once invited them to feasts under the pretext of reconciling their enemies, and then killed them right during the feast. The bodies were thrown into an underground dungeon.

In the middle of the 17th century, when the castle passed to other owners, many human remains were removed from the dungeon and had to be transported to the burial site on 3 carts.

Members of the clan showed cruelty not only to strangers. One of the owners of the castle killed his priest brother right during the service, offended that the mass began without him. Since then, the ghost of a priest has often appeared in the Bloody Chapel.

In the castle, phantoms of two girls, the Red Lady with a dagger in her hands, and a spirit that sometimes takes the form of an animal and exudes a stench were repeatedly seen. It is believed that this is the guardian of the Druid sanctuary, on the site of which a castle was once built.

Traveling to the ancient castles of the world is full of various surprises. If a glossy photo conveys a magnificent picture from the outside, then it is completely unknown what is hidden inside. Centuries-old giants have accumulated many secrets during their existence. And yet most of them are fabulously beautiful guests from the times of chivalry and courage, vividly telling the story of the past.

Article format: Lozinsky Oleg

Video about ancient castles

Top 20 ancient castles in the world:

Whether it's a heroic medieval knight, a beautiful princess or just a legend, castles capture our hearts and captivate our imaginations. We long to explore their narrow corridors, climb their dimly lit staircases, and gaze into the distance from their tall stone towers. And if the castle's past involves 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 profits.
They say that Bran Castle was once the abode of Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad the Impaler, who loved to impale his 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 located in Europe's spookiest haunted city...
The 900-year-old fortress was built on the remains of an ancient volcano and is home to the world's most mysterious ghosts.
While some visitors claim to hear the monotonous drumming, several people have seen the drummer himself, who is reportedly beheaded and appears only before the attack on the castle.
They say that a ghost of a dog is wandering around the castle cemetery, and something strange 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 stone tower, clearly foreshadowing something evil, betray that very creepy factor. And yes, there are still ghosts there.
The most famous residents of Tamworth Castle are the Black Lady and the White Lady, both of whom can be regularly heard or seen in the area. It is said that the White Lady threw herself from the battlements when she learned that her lover had been killed. And the Black Lady is in all likelihood 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 monastery.

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 haunted castles in Britain." The castle is said to be haunted by two female ghosts: the White Lady and the Blue Lady. The Blue Lady calls out to passers-by for help, luring them into her tower. If they go to her, they will definitely find their death. She is believed to have been the daughter of a Norman lord, and is said to wander among the cellars, mourning the loss of her child, whom she herself killed, having bore him by her own father. The White Lady is said to be the spirit of Margaret Pomeroy. Experts say that she, being imprisoned by her sister, Elinor, who was jealous of her beauty, still wanders through the corridors of the dungeon.

Bodelwydan Castle in Wales
The castle is believed to be haunted, including a soldier who lives in one of the galleries. Sir John Hay Williams recorded in 1829 that human bones were found near one of the chimneys during the period of reconstruction. The bones were walled 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 feuds began over the castle and ended with the hanging of the former castle's constable. His ghostly figure in a purple cloak and with a ponytail on his head wanders around the tower of Dunluce Castle, where he, in fact, was killed.
In 1639, the castle's kitchen collapsed into the sea, killing several servants. Today, visitors experience cold chills in some parts of the castle, and gift shop workers notice that sometimes someone rearranges books and plays with the radio.
Despite the fact that no one felt the evil intentions of all these ghosts, the thought of cheerful residents returning to spice up your stay already gives you goosebumps.

Chillingham Castle, UK
Chillingham's most famous ghost is the Blue (or Shining) Boy. They say 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 appears.
In Chillingham you can visit a fully equipped torture room. There, according to eyewitnesses, the spirit of the Tormentor John Sage, the former owner of the castle, appears. 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 start a rebellion if the murderer was not punished. As a result, by order of the king, Tormentor Sage was executed on the castle grounds.
Another famous ghost is 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 left for her sister, leaving his wife to suffer alone in the castle.

Dragsholm Castle, Denmark
Danish castles are home to many otherworldly creatures, but the most populous of them is, of course, Dragsholm, where, according to conservative estimates, about a hundred ghosts live (thanks to which, by the way, this not particularly interesting fortress has become one of the most visited in the world) . The number of ghosts increased century by century: the castle was a bishop's palace, a fortress, and a prison. Among the famous “residents” stuck on the border between worlds is a white lady, whom her own father walled up in the wall for having an affair with a commoner, and the spirit of a certain count who died in captivity and has since been frightening visitors with a 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 other European fortress can boast of such a history filled with bloody battles). Defeated enemies were tortured in dungeons, and therefore, to this day, people who find themselves in dungeons feel dizzy and nauseous. Of the ghosts most often seen by tourists, it is the ghost of one of the owners of the estate, Sir Fulk Graville: on cold evenings, he emerges from his own portrait and wanders around the castle, terrifying the living.

Eltz Castle, Germany
The picturesque Eltz Castle in the German state of Reynald-Palatinate was built in 1157, and since then it has always belonged to one single family. Now Eltz is owned by the 33rd generation! Tourists are attracted to these places by both the luxurious (according to some, the richest in all of Germany) interiors and the ghosts. According to legend, this castle has never been 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, while looking at medieval chambers, you constantly feel someone’s touch, hear strange sounds, or even see something inexplicable. And at one time the castle was the home of a werewolf - how else to explain the mutilated corpses of cattle and wild deer found within its walls?

Brissac Castle, France
Brissac is the highest of the Loire castles. It appeared in the 11th century, but was constantly getting worse: now the chateau has 203 rooms - there is room for both people and ghosts. At night, ardent groans 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 was publishing them, and found his wife Charlotte with someone else. 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, the ancient Bardi Castle rises on a rock made of red jasper. It was erected in 900 near the intersection of busy roads for defense against Hungarian raids. Gradually, reconstruction 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 her betrothed to return. 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 had won and ordered his subordinates to wear enemy paraphernalia solely for the sake of showing off. Having learned 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 deep forests in the north of the country, and it still inspires fear among local residents. By the way, it’s very close to Prague, about 50 kilometers! The castle was built in the 13th century for very strange reasons, because it was not built at all in order to protect itself from enemies and not as a home for a rich family. This castle closes the gate to hell! According to legend, at the place where the castle stands, there is a direct path to the abyss, from where demons, witches and other evil spirits entered our world. The ruler was tired of all this devilry, 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 frequently encountered ghosts in this castle are a black horse without heads and a bulldog man. A woman in a black dress constantly appears from the upper floor window. Only the most courageous tourists descend into the dungeons of this castle, because demons who came to us from the other world still roam there.

Do you know where the gates of hell are? Where can you be guaranteed to meet a ghost? Stock up on sedatives: we are going to the most terrible castles in Europe!

Edinburgh castle

Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh is the city where any skeptic will inevitably believe in ghosts. Many of these entities, unknown to modern science, settled behind the gloomy walls of the castle, built in the 12th century. There you will meet the ghost of a bagpiper, who got lost and disappeared while exploring the labyrinth of underground tunnels. When the castle is in danger, a headless drummer can be heard beating there - he first appeared to warn that Oliver Cromwell's troops were advancing. There is even a ghost of a dog in the castle, running around the local cemetery.

Chillingham Castle

Northumberland, UK
In the northern part of England, the powerful Chillingham Castle was built to repel attacks by the Scots in the 12th century. Many bloody battles took place on this land; captured enemies were tormented and tortured within the walls of the citadel, and the souls of those killed still cannot find peace. Interestingly, it is in this castle that ghosts can often be photographed or filmed. For centuries, a blue shining boy has been seen there, frightening anyone who decides to stay overnight in the Pink Room. Experts claim that this is a baby walled up alive in the wall of the fortress (his skeleton was found during restoration). Lady Mary Berkeley constantly leaves her portrait in the Gray Room - she died after her husband left for her sister.

Warwick Castle

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

Dragsholm Castle

Herve, Denmark
Danish castles are home to many otherworldly creatures, but the most populous of them is, of course, Dragsholm, where, according to conservative estimates, about a hundred ghosts live (thanks to which, by the way, this not particularly interesting fortress has become one of the most visited in the world) . The number of ghosts increased century by century: the castle was a bishop's palace, a fortress, and a prison. Among the famous “residents” stuck on the border between worlds is a white lady, whom her own father walled up in the wall for having an affair with a commoner, and the spirit of a certain count who died in captivity and has since been frightening visitors with a horse neighing.

Eltz Castle

Wierschem, Germany
The picturesque Eltz Castle in the German state of Reynald-Palatinate was built in 1157, and since then has always belonged to a single family. Now Eltz is owned by the 33rd generation! Tourists are attracted to these places by both the luxurious (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

State of Salzburg, 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, while looking at medieval chambers, you constantly feel someone’s touch, hear strange sounds, or even see something inexplicable. And at one time the castle was the home of a werewolf - how else to explain the mutilated corpses of cattle and wild deer found within its walls?

Brissac Castle

Angers, France
Brissac is the highest of the Loire castles. It appeared in the 11th century, but was constantly being added to: now the chateau has 203 rooms - there is room for both people and ghosts. At night, ardent groans are heard in the castle: the noble family of Jacques de Breze once lived in Brissac. But one day the sounds of love reached her husband. He decided to find out who was publishing them, and found his wife Charlotte with someone else. 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

Emilia-Romagna, Italy
60 kilometers from the city of Parma, the ancient Bardi Castle rises on a rock made of red jasper. It was erected in 900 near the intersection of busy roads for defense against Hungarian raids. Gradually, reconstruction 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 her betrothed to return. 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 had won and ordered his subordinates to wear enemy paraphernalia solely for the sake of showing off. Upon learning that he had actually killed his beloved, the captain also threw himself off the cliff, but his restless spirit still wanders around the castle.

Houska Castle

Czech
In the north of the Czech Republic, in the deep forests 47 kilometers from Prague, there is the mysterious, terrifying Houska Castle. It was built in the 13th century not to protect people from the enemy or to serve as a home for a rich nobleman - it was built to close the gates to hell. The castle was built over the legendary abyss, from where, according to legend, demons and half-humans, half-animals appeared. The Czech authorities were tired of all this devilry and they decided to seal the “gateway” to the underworld by erecting a castle on it. But otherworldly phenomena did not stop, and therefore in the 1930s the Nazis even began to conduct occult experiments there. Among the resident ghosts in Houska are a giant bullfrog-man, a headless black horse, and a woman in an old dress who appears in an upper-floor window. They say that the castle’s dungeons are still teeming with demons that emerged from the cave.

Belcourt Castle

Newport, USA
If you count old dollars at modern rates, then Bellecourt Castle cost its owner in 1894 100 million. The heir to a gigantic business empire, Oliver Belcourt, loved to travel the world; from his trips he always brought various artifacts - this luxurious estate was conceived for their storage. However, for the first half of the 20th century, no one lived in the house, and when in 1956 it was sold to another family, it turned out that mysterious phenomena were constantly happening in it: there was blood on the armor of the 15th century, and everyone who sat on the antique ballroom chairs was pushed in the back by an unknown force.

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Ancient castles keep many secrets and mysteries. Some attract people with their creepy legends about demons, vampires and werewolves, others with 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 ghost is the ghost of a piper who got lost in the underground labyrinths of the castle and died there. The second ghost is the ghost of a headless soldier who beats a drum when danger approaches. According to legend, it was this soldier who, during his lifetime, warned about the offensive of Oliver Cromwell’s troops. The third ghost is Lady Glamis, who is 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 a ghost of a dog walking near the cemetery. You can also still hear French prisoners imprisoned during the Seven Years' War from the castle's tunnels.

Glams Castle

blog.bravofly.com

• Scotland
• Visitors to the castle met such ghosts as Lady Janet, the little page, and 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 prohibited. 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 labeled 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 carcasses of deer were found in the castle. And some of the 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 home to the famous Vlad the Impaler, known as Vlad the Impaler for his love of impaling his enemies. Vlad III the Impaler was the inspiration for Count Dracula, the vampire and murderer of men described in Bram Stoker's novel. Prince Vlad the Impaler 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 who were heading to Scotland often stopped at the castle. And the Scots often raided the castle. Bloody battles often took place 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 approximately 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 start a rebellion if the murderer was not punished. As a result, by order of the king, Tormentor 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 haunts the pink room. Guests of the castle more than once heard loud crying, after which they saw blue flashes of light. The ghost of the blue boy has not been seen since extensive reconstruction was carried out at the castle and the bodies of a man and a boy were found walled up in a 10-meter wall.
• Another famous ghost is 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 her sister, leaving her alone with the 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 for protection from the outside, but to protect people from what is hidden inside the castle. According to legend, the passage in this place led straight to hell, from where one day a half-man, half-monster was released, and demons, witches and other evil spirits also entered our world. In the center of the castle there is a well, from which hellish sounds can sometimes be heard. Before building the castle, residents lowered a soldier with a rope into the pit. The soldier let out a scream, he was pulled out, and a couple of days later he died. In 1930, 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, 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 constantly appears. Only the most courageous tourists dare to go down into the dungeon, because demons who 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 was Baron Rožmberk. He was a cunning and greedy man. Baron Rozmberk's main assistant was a monk who compiled all the documents for his master and thereby helped him capture more and more lands. One day, the baron wanted to seize the land plot 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 his only daughter, Perkhta, whom he tried to marry off as profitably as possible. Perkhta married Count Liechtenstein and went to the groom's palace. But, since the greedy baron refused to give 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 which Count Liechtenstein cursed the Rozmberk family. Perchta still wanders the castle corridors 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 it is fortunate, if they are red, then there is a fire, if they are black, then it is a big disaster.

Eltz Castle

• Germany
• The first mention of the castle dates back to 1157, when Frederick I gave the castle to Count Rudolf van Eltz. Since then, the castle has always belonged to one single family.
• According to legend, the castle has never been 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.

Leap Castle

• North Roscrea, Ireland
• Leap Castle was built in the 15th century by the Ocarroll clan.
• Leap Castle has a long and bloody history. During reconstruction, a prison with human remains was discovered in the castle, which was filled with three carts. One of the most famous stories is connected with the chapel ("Bloody Chapel"), in which in 1532 a soldier killed his priest brother with a sword. Since then, the priest's pizrak has been living in the castle. Another scary spirit is a phenomenon called "It". It does not look like a person, it is described as a creature the size of a sheep, but with the face of a man. 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. The castle is haunted by two girls, Emily and Charlotte. Sometimes visitors see them playing and running around the castle. Or Emily flying from a height and disappearing near the ground (she died at the age of 11, falling from a height).
• The castle's dungeon does not go unnoticed. According to one story, in the dungeon there is a room with a special hatch through which prisoners were thrown onto numerous metal spikes built into the floor.