What happened
Houska, one of the best-preserved early Gothic castles in the Czech Republic, was built in the 13th century, probably under King Ottokar II. It stands in what was once a remote area of forests and marshes, far from trade routes and with no water source of its own. These oddities gave rise to a legend: the castle was built over a bottomless crack in the rock, from which half-human creatures crawled and dark winged beings flew. According to the story, condemned prisoners were promised a pardon if they agreed to be lowered into the abyss on a rope and report what they saw. The first began screaming within seconds, and when he was hauled up he looked thirty years older, his hair turned white. The hole was supposedly sealed by building a chapel over it, with the defensive walls facing inward – to keep the demons in. The chapel frescoes still show demon-like figures and strange creatures. The castle is also said to be haunted by a headless horse, an old woman and a “frog-man.”
Witnesses
Folk tradition; an early version of the tale of a spirit-filled pit was recorded in the 16th century by the chronicler Václav Hájek of Libočany. The castle has been visited by many TV crews.
Explanations and hypotheses
Historians link Houska's unusual location to its function: it was a royal castle administering the surrounding estates rather than a fortress guarding a route, which explains the lack of water and the isolation. Hájek's chronicle is considered an unreliable source full of fantastic episodes. Popular stories of Nazi occult experiments at the castle during the Second World War have no documentary support. The chapel frescoes are typical Gothic depictions of the struggle between good and evil.
Legend A story handed down through generations – it can be neither confirmed nor disproved.
Sources
- Hrad Houska v proměnách věků (Technická univerzita v Liberci, závěrečná práce)
- Sky HISTORY – The gateway to hell: Why was Houska Castle built?
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