By: Kathy Murray
Located near Blatce in the Czech Republic, Houska Castle is said to be so full of evil that it sits on the very gateway to the underworld itself.
Construction
Built in the 13th century, Houska Castle was constructed over a seemingly bottomless hole in the earth. During it’s construction, local prisoners were told they would be granted freedom if they would agree to be lowered into the hole. This offer was thought up because free men were too scared to take the challenge, yet prisoners felt they had nothing to lose and a free life to gain. The prisoners were to report back about their findings. But the first inmate to be lowered soon learned that he did have something left to lose—his sanity.
The Gateway
After only several seconds, the man being lowered started screaming. He was pulled to the surface with his brown hair turned completely white. No one is quite sure just what he witnessed, as it seems he went completely insane and died two days later. Construction was eventually finished, but those who worked on the project would report seeing hideous creatures crawl out of the hole, now known, among other names, as the “Gateway to the Underworld.”
Human Chain
It seems that the sole reason for building Houska Castle was to cover this gateway. Nobody dared live there. The part of the castle that was built directly over the hole became known as the chapel, which contained wall paintings of strange, demon-like creatures and dragons being slaughtered. But these paintings didn’t seem to deter the black-winged creatures from lurking in that area of the castle. There have also been reports of half man-half animal beings running around the castle. Perhaps even more disturbing are reports from many of having seen hundreds of humans chained together, walking in a line while black dogs bark at them and bite at their heels.
Experiments
Various Nazi experiments were allegedly carried out at the castle, including experiments on portals to other dimensions. No one is quite sure what they did or didn’t find, but chances are that they witnessed some of the horrific sights and sounds known to plague Houska Castle. It’s also said that the skeletons of three German soldiers were found in the area of the courtyard after WWII ended. Why were they there? Did they end up on the endless chain of spirits doomed to wander the castle with giant hounds chasing them?
Demons, Demons Everywhere
There are many other scary things creeping around the castle. A monk with an axe is said to chase those who are unlucky enough to come across him. There is also a creature that seems to be part frog, part dog and part human roaming the grounds. Moans, screams and voices in all languages come from below the chapel floor. The thud of what sounds like a body hitting the floor can be heard and the sound is sometimes accompanied by the sight of two faceless men who whisper of murder and mayhem.
Evil Dwells Within
Locals who pass by Houska Castle do so quickly, usually while uttering a prayer or two. Houska was built to keep the evil in, and while there are sometimes sightings of spirits in front of it, most of the demons that this place holds do seem to stay near the gateway in the chapel. Hopefully it will stay that way, for if the evil that lurks inside this castle were to find its way out… well, we’ll just leave that up to your imagination.