Haunted Castles

Blood Countess of Cachtice

The Castle of Cachtice is located Western Slovakia. It was once inhabited by Elizabeth Bathory, a member of Hungarian royalty. She was known as the „Blood Countess of Cachtice“. Legend says that Elizabeth accompanied with her female lover Anna Darvulia and 2 servants killed over 600 young women. Elizabeth used to bathe in their blood to stay young. These killings became an obsession for Elizabeth Bathory and went on for over 30 years. Elizabeth was captured on December 29, 1610 as she had just killed a servant for stealing food. Elizabeth Bathory was put on trial for murder and was declared insane by the judge. She was sentenced to a confinement in the tower of Castle Cachtice. Her servant acccomplices were executed by fire or beheading. Elizabeth died in 1614.

Infidelity at Castle Opočno

The owner of the Castle in the 15th century was Mikulas Trcka of Lipa. It is known that he married a very young woman of a noble background. There was a big age difference between them. Mikulas was away from home very often and his young wife began an affair with a young man out of boredom. Mikulas discovered an affair soon and cruelly punished both of them. He had the lover beheaded. His wife, still alive, was walled up in the castle cellar. The cellar was discovered in 19th century during the reconstruction of the castle. Inside, the workers found a skeleton in medieval dress fastened to a chair. Unfortunately, when touched, it crumbled to dust.

Devil's Bet at Castle Bezdez

It’s one of our most valuable castles located in Northern Bohemia. A legend says that long time ago there lived three devils in the castle. One of them made a bet with a mysterious knight that he would build a wall from the Castle Bezdez to a nearby hill named Jested quicker than the knight would manage to ride the same distance on his horse. The race began. First it seemed that there would be no doubt about the winner, since the track went through deep gorges and thick forests, but then the plains opened and the knight was quicker than the wind! Close to Castle Bezdez he outran the devil. Devil lost their bet. He was so furious that he tore his apron full of stones, thus creating a “Devil’s hill”, today also known as a “Small Bezdez”. You can still see a part of the wall today, near the town “Cesky Dub”.

Castle Spilberk's Inmate

Castle Spilberk , a dominating the Moravian seat, defended its walls against many armies, Turks and Swedes, and later became a state prison for the worst criminals. One of its involuntary “guests” was a count Pandor Trenck, a leader of a pack of forest robbers who were meant to harm German enemies. Soon they became too greedy and started to attack their own people. The Empress soon lost a patience with Pandur Trenck and had him caught and imprisoned for the rest of his days. He was buried by his own wish in a long robe and enchained. However, not even after his death did he find peace. He often wanders through Spilberk’s corridors at night, loudly swears and his chains rattle.

Ghosts at Castle Buchlov

Buchlov is one of the oldest castles in Bohemia dating back to the 13th century. That’s why many ghosts gather in its chambers. One of them is a “White Lady” that scared a mean lord of the castle so much that he jumped out of his window and killed himself. Another apparition here is a former owner of the castle recounting his money all night long. Every time he is almost done he makes a mistake and has to start over. During his life he borrowed a large sum of money from the Templar Knights. Instead of returning it he murdered them one by one during a Christmas feast in the Castle.

Unfortunate Countess at Cervena Lhota

One of the most romantic castles in Czech Republic, a red pearl on a lake’s island, hides a mystery behind its walls. There is a cross on one of the walls that can’t be repainted. The cross was done by a devil from blood of an unfortunate countess named Johanka. How did she deserve it? While her husband was alive she was a very pious woman. When he passed away she uncovered her real religion – Protestantism. To get rid of every item resembling the hated Catholic Church she decided to throw a memorable cross from her window. All of a sudden a great storm began; the devil himself jumped into the room and took Johanka with him to the hell. Before that he slammed her head onto a wall and drew a cross by her blood. To cover this dreadful sign the later owners painted the whole building red. Since those times it’s been called the Red Mansion, “Cervena Lhota”.

Gateway to Hell at Castle Houska

Many legends twist around the walls of this mystical castle, also it has always lured lovers of secrets. Why was it built on a place with no strategic importance, without any source of water, away from all trade paths? Supposedly its purpose was to guard a gateway to hell leading through a bottomless well. Local people wanted to fill it with rocks to get rid of evil spirits. However with no success, so they covered the place with thick stone plates and built a chapel over it. Its walls were always moist, even during the biggest draughts. The evil spirit of this place is obvious since it was chosen during World War II by the Nazis as their residence.

Royal Treasury of Karlstejn

Karlstejn is considered the most famous and best preserved castle in Bohemia. It was built by the Emperor Charles IV., and gained its fame as a Royal Treasury. Apart from that it’s quite rich in paranormal energy as well. The treasure is guarded by a shepherd dressed in fur, leading a wild ram. Sometimes barrels glowing red hot roll down the hill into a village. Story has it that once soldiers discovered these barrels full of mess-wine. Before they could have a sip the barrels started rolling out from the cellar and disappeared in the darkness. A ghost also resides here, a white lady, supposedly one of the wives of Charles IV, Blanka from Valois. She sits on a well and sobs. Sometimes she ventures into a nearby village, knocks at door and tells people which of their sick ones are going to die and which ones will survive. Therefore she was always feared, people would cover their windows so that they wouldn’t see her and always locked their door properly for the night.

Black Countess of Milotice

Milotice has been called the baroque jewelry for its beauty. It stands out as a precious stone on the crown. However, a ghost of black countess has been appearing in the castle. The legend says that the castle’s owner liked balls and hunts, enjoyed the company of other people, whereas his mistress rather kept to herself. She rather spent her time embroidering canonical dresses, or with her parson. The count grew suspicious and jealous on parson. One day the countess and her parson met in a park as usual, and the parson courteously kissed her hand…and fell down shot dead, hit by a just a single shot. The shooter was never found, but the countess fell sick. When she finally recovered she put on a black dress. After her early death she started appearing in the company of the parson. She embroidered his dresses while he saying masses, the same as during their life.

White Lady of Pernstejn

Another mysterious Moravian castle hides many engraved astrological signs that no one can understand. In one of the window arches there is a mysterious stone built in – whoever touches it dies within a year. Through its pathways also wonders a white lady. She was a daughter of a lord, who was besieged by a Polish army. He saw no other solution than to give up the castle to grant life to his people and himself. His daughter had a combative spirit, refused this agreement, ran on to the top of the outside walls and started shooting at enemies. When her father saw it, he flew into such a rage that he beheaded her on the spot. Since then she haunts the place. Sometimes she wears black clothes, it is a sign that some tragedy is coming.

Treasure of Straznice

No one knows who had hidden a treasure inside walls of this beautiful castle, however it was well guarded by a headless knight. He would venture into streets at night riding a hackney coach. A coach ran soundlessly even on uneven paths with sparks flying from horseshoes of his horse. He was feared but nobody knew how to set his soul free. Until a day when a poor, young, and curious girl discovered an underground passage and dared to enter. She went as far as a great chamber. Suddenly she saw a body of the knight resting on a pile of hay with his head nearby. The girl took the head and placed it onto the neck without thinking. The knight opened his eyes and thanked her gratefully for he was finally released from a curse. The girl came back with a share of the treasure in her apron. The rest of it was never found.

Lord Rasin's Ghost at Svojanov

Few castles host as many ghosts as this dilapidating residence with a long history of battles and blood. Its mystery is also enhanced by findings of numerous skeletons, perhaps sacrifices of the medieval tradition of burying a child or a virgin alive to strengthen the castle’s walls. Among the most famous ghosts here is one of its former owners, lord Rasin, who governed the place in the 17th century. Every midnight his grave opens wide and eleven carriages ride out. The last comes Rasin himself sitting backwards on a fiery bull, grasping the oxtail as a bridle and loudly swearing.