They are used as a handy disposal method, a perfect death trap, and sometimes, for the villains demise in a dramatic last scene. Houska Castle is one of the best-preserved castles in the region and is 29 miles north of Prague. In this special Halloween season bonus episode, Ryan brings us just outside the North of Prague in the Czech Republic, to a 13th century castle with an ominous and extremely dark history. So, holes that deep will often collect water. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. Haleakala volcano in Hawaii has its own Bottomless Pit. When he was pulled from the chasm, his hair had turned white. Many people wonder why Houska Castle was built in such a strange location and odd way. Is The Houska Castle A Portal To Hell? - Paranormal Junkie The location of the castle is also peculiar. jolene_fleur/InstagramThe castle's chapel was dedicated to Archangel Michael. A truly bottomless hole would go through the earth and come out the other side an impossibility to create and a physical conundrum in terms of falling into it. There was an infamous story, frequently retold, that someone once threw a dog carcass into it and later the dog was seen alive. Mylroie, J.E., Carew, J.L. But in this case it has nothing to do with food. Allegedly, SS leader Heinrich Himmler feared his extensive library of occultist manuscripts would be destroyed as the war increasingly threatened Berlin. houska castle pit explorationbulgarian beauty standards. New light on contested identity of medieval skeleton found at Prague Castle New light on contested identity of medieval skeleton found at Prague Castle Date: August 22, 2019 Source: University of Bristol Summary: Used as a propaganda tool by the Nazis and Soviets during . The castle was supposedly constructed in the middle 13th century to surround and cover the hole to hell that had spontaneously formed. A single survivor reports that the black clad men have lead prisoners back to Houska Castle where they are being used as slaves, helping the strange men assemble towers of steel. When the construction of the castle began, it is said that all the villages prisoners who had been sentenced for gallows were offered pardons if they agreed to be lowered by rope into the bottomless pit and then to tell them what they saw. For more on that location, see a previous feature here. Originally constructed in the 13th century during the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia, the gothic castle is located about an hour north of Prague. They are named for the deep blue color and their depth may actually be difficult to discern as they are connected to carbonate solution cavities and fissures that extend below sea level. Learn more about your ad choices. Houska Castle has become one of the Czech Republics most famous landmarks. The Youdig marshland of Yeun Elez in Brittany, France is loaded with legends and lore as a bottomless bog. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Others claim to hear a chorus of screams coming from beneath the heavy floor. The Nazis used Houska Castle as a magical artifact depository of sorts. Inquisitive Wonder 2023. Investigators who have tried to find a bottom have not been able to find one in the well. Tourists may visit the chapel with fading frescoes and murals "including pictures of demon-like figures and animal-like beings". There is nothing about Mels Hole that is genuine. The Swedish Commander was also known to be carrying out inhumane experiments on prisoners of war. Known to locals as the location to the Gates of Hell, all sorts of demons and mysterious entities have been spotted here. According to the legend, local villagers claimed that demonic half-human and . Kettles or kettle holes are glacial features that seem out of place and are fodder for legends. Feb 11, 2016 - Explore Lori Kopperman's board "Houska Castle, Gateway to Hell" on Pinterest. Knucker or knacker holes are bottomless ponds that do not freeze or dry up. The black magic practitioner allegedly toiled nightly in his laboratory in an effort to create an elixir for eternal life. Then, check out 33 pictures of Spain's Bellver Castle. Its possible that a strong current might have existed underwater at times, creating a visible swirling effect. Petr David, Vladimr Soukup, Lubomr ech, Learn how and when to remove this template message, | Haunted Castles Around the World |October 10, 2017, |This castle is believed to be the entrance to the underworld |TravelBook.de |Annette Schimanski |April 24, 2020, |Discover the dark history of Houska Castle |CzechTourism 2017, |The Most Haunted Places in Prague, Czech Republic |Prague Visitor Staff | September 24, 2019, |The Scariest Places in the World |Bob Curran, |Houska Castle Blatce, Czechia |Folklore says this medieval fortress was plopped atop a portal to hell to trap the demons below |29 January 2018, |This castle is believed to be the entrance to the underworld |Travel Book |Annette Schimanski |April 24, 2020, See the castle in Czech Republic, believed to be the gateway to hell with bottomless pit, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Houska_Castle&oldid=1142138997, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing translation from Czech Wikipedia, Articles lacking reliable references from February 2023, Articles with disputed statements from February 2023, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. As with many sinkholes, it connects to and drains into the underground openings. Thus, by constructing the Gothic building's defensive walls facing inward, they were able to keep the demons trapped in the lower level's thickest walls closest to the hole of the castle. Caligulas stunning 2,000-year-old sapphire ring tells of a dramatic love story, Evidence of a 14,000-year-old settlement found in western Canada, Archaeologists locate earliest known North American settlement, 2,400-year-old baskets still filled with fruit found in the submerged Egyptian city, 9,000-year-old site near Jerusalem is the Big Bang of prehistory settlement, Oldest stone tools ever found were not made by human hands, study suggests, Mysterious skeleton revealed to be that of unusual lady anchoress of York Barbican. The bottomlessness of the various pits, lakes and bogs worldwide is not physically accurate but the concept of the unknown abyss is an essential feature of a mythological and enchanted landscape. The Bohemian noble families of Berka z Dub. Locals reported seeing black winged creatures coming up out of the pit and attacking people. Many of the windows were fake, in that they were made of real windowpanes but had thick walls blocking them from inside. And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts: Hidden by thick forestry, Houska Castle in Czechia is shrouded in nightmarish myth and occultist legend. Scholars have since discovered cracks in Hjek's histories, and any evidence of Oronto's existence is rather dubious. This ancient stone structure has for centuries held certain notoriety in the region of northern Bohemia in the Czech Republic. A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. It is an early Gothic Castle that was built in 1253-1278 during the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia. Hindi News Photo Gallery Bizarre News The Houska Castle Czech Republic mysterious Bottomless Pit is Gateway to Hell ' ', . Those waiting eagerly above pulled the man up frantically, and when he came back into sight, he looked as if he had aged around 30 years, just from spending a few seconds in the darkness of the pit. After learning about Houska Castle, read about Caerlaverock Castle and its 800 years of Scottish history. This is suggestive of some evil entity or the lake itself as a living thing that takes sacrifices. He got to 80,000 feet and gave up. While Nazi Germany took countless castles and plundered the nations it invaded during the war, the appeal of Houska Castle remains debatable. He had been so disturbed by whatever he had seen in the pit, that when he reached the surface, he was still screaming. A depth of 745 feet is seriously impressive. A phantom White Lady is also said to haunt the building. Two qualities of a lake indicated the almost certain presence of a legendary monster first, dark water, and secondly, it was deemed unfathomable. Several other tales are also associated with the pool including that it was the source of the winds on the moor. The best example would be Devils Hole in Death Valley which claimed the lives of two boys in 1965 and inspired Charles Manson. As Bohemian chronicler Vclav Hjek detailed in his Czech Chronicle in 1541, the first known structure at the site was a small wooden fort in the ninth century. When the construction of Houska Castle began, the intrigue of the locals got the better of them. If you search for bottomless hole on the internet, youll find this crazy story incorporating the usual tropes with modern supernatural ideas. People said they picked up radio signals from the past originating from near the hole. The president of koda Auto would have to abandon it during World War II, however, when the Nazis invaded and took control of the fortress. [1] It is one of the best preserved castles of the period. Does Houska Castle Have a Gateway to Hell? - Weird World Villagers eventually tried to block the alleged "gateway to Hell" with stones, only to see the seemingly bottomless pit devour whatever they threw in refusing to be sealed. The listener may hear no splash or crack of a stone hitting some surface below. Legend has it that when construction began in the castle, all of the prisoners that were sentenced to death were offered a pardon if they consented to be lowered by rope into the hole, and report back on what they saw. Gases were once emitted from this vent during past eruptions. Its impossible to discuss the bottomless pit or pool without its connection to hell. PORTAL TO HELL | Exploring Houska Castle, Czech Republic - YouTube Located in a rift valley, the average depth is over 2000 feet with the maximum depth measured at 5,387 feet. Despite Oronto's death, locals continued to avoid the area. Legend has it that half-animal, half-human creatures used to crawl out from the pit at night, and those black-winged creatures used to attack locals and drag them down into the hole. Bale Lake was also rumored to hold a dragon. The legend of Bale Lake in Wales tells of the voice of the lake crying out Line cannot fathom me. Though the hole is often referred to as the gateway to Hell, its also referred to as the Houska Castle pit. He succeeded in measuring the depth himself at 102 feet. Lake Baikal in Russia is the worlds deepest lake. If you're looking for a one way trip to the underworld, there's no shortage of alleged "gateways to hell" hidden all over the world. Western Folklore, 19: 4, 278-280. Legend has it that the sole reason to build this castle was to close the gateway to hell! To coincide with the varied nationalities that once held the castle voices and screams in different languages are often heard throughout the castle at night. But the supernatural stories are used as a tourism ploy and mainly appeared after 1994. Houska Castle is said to be the gateway to Hell. Centuries-old legends may be able to answer that question. Though the building has a long history, the land on which it stands and the legends suggesting it covers a portal to hell are even older. Many people who have ventured into the castle have reported hearing scratching and screams from beneath the ground they walk on, especially as you get closer to where the pit lies. It was built in the ninth century, before a crack in the limestone appeared which locals believed was a gateway to Hell and allowed inhuman entities to enter our world. The characteristic of bottomless is associated with the idea that a lake does not give up its dead. The green-blue color from algae makes the pools look tranquil and ultra-deep. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The holes may also release a large volume of methane gas suddenly. Locals avoided the area near Houska Castle even when it lay completely abandoned. He allegedly toiled on experiments to find an elixir for eternal life in his laboratory until terrified villagers assassinated him for blasphemy. There is parking (for 50 CZK) at the base of the castle, and then a little hike uphill through the grounds. Their research into the paranormal was at times both extreme and desperate, and with a reputation such as Houska Castles, it wasnt long before the Nazis decided to take it for themselves and put the local theories to the test. Volcanic crater lakes often have the folkloric feature of being bottomless. Facts cant ruin a good story. New Study Shows Mushrooms Communicate With Each Other Using A Vocabulary Of 50 Words, The Tragic Story Of Harolyn Suzanne Nicholas, Dorothy Dandridge's Mentally Disabled Daughter, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. The Houska Castle is located in the forests north of Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, which is bisected by the Vltava River. In 1989, religious network Trinity Broadcasting (TBN) reported the story framed as Scientists Discover Hell. As the gothic structure today attracts thousands of visitors each year, its reputation has been tainted as one of the most haunted locations anywhere in the world. The castle's eerie history doesn't stop there, though. Houska Castle is thought to be one of the most haunted locations in the world. That is, people didnt travel so their yardstick for a big hole was that one in their vicinity. The castle was supposedly constructed in the middle 13th century to surround and cover the hole to hell that had spontaneously formed. We find many legends of bottomless lakes associated with a resident monster. In the early 1900s, the bottom was not accessible for measurement so it was commonly said to be bottomless. Its likely that attempting to feel the bottom fails because of either the upwelling water or the soft mud floor. Some notable features of the castle include a predominantly Gothic chapel, green chamber with late-Gothic paintings, and a . Unreliable citations may be challenged or deleted. Houska Castle on Wikipedia. Now this carving of what looks like a plaited loaf of bread on a pedestal in the castle makes sense, but I don't know if it's original. The cool story became popular. Legend has it that prisoners who were facing the gallows were offered full pardons, but only if they agreed to be lowered into the bottomless hole and report on what they saw. The Houska Castle Bottomless Pit, the gate of the hell . In his dreams, he had a terrifying vision, which he recorded in a letter to his friend, Edward Hindle. Before Houska Castle was built, archaeologists have also found evidence of a wooden structure existing there in the 9th century. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. (13.06.2020) . June 4, 2021. Situated on a clifftop and surrounded by dark legends and unsettling accounts, the Houska castle is one of the most feared castles in the world. These water bodies claim people (dead or alive), animals, treasure, transport vehicles, and many secrets. There is a story that famous undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau saw it and never told anyone additional details. Harrington, E.R. No one had managed to sound the bottom because it was part of an extensive cave system that continued under the mountain. Its impossible to discuss bottomless pits without invoking the idea of gates to hell. The Prague Daily Monitor reports that many visitors are baffled by its counterintuitive architecture and unnerved by the fresco paintings in the chapel. Corliss, W. (1988). It lies about 47km (29mi) north of Prague. He reigned from 1253 to 1278 and ordered the castle to be made as an administration centre for his royal estates. The Frightening Legend of Houska Castle - Prague Morning Here, more surface occult activity supposedly occurs as this place is where the devil meets with his minions and a headless ghost circles the pond after being summoned by hobgoblins. Skeptoid Media, 2 Jun 2009. https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4156. The chapel is appropriately dedicated to Saint Michael, who protects against the forces of darkness. This instilled villagers with so much mortal fear that two local hunters assassinated him. It supposedly would reject fish by throwing them out again. The current explanation is that they are formed from the collapse of previously frozen ground. Mammoth cave in Kentucky has a bottomless pit that is 105 feet deep. Haunted? There are no trade routes nearby, and its engulfed by dense forests, swamps and sandstone mountains. (1960). A creepy mask displayed on the lower level rooms of Houska Castle. King Ottokar II of Bohemia had the gothic structure built sometime between 1253 and 1278. Falling into Mels Hole.Skeptoid Podcast. Houska Castle - The tale of "the gateway to hell" is not for the faint houska castle pit exploration [2], Folklore considers this castle to cover one of the gateways to Hell, built to prevent demons (trapped in lower levels) from reaching the rest of the world. Person, H.A. Houska Castle in World War II In a practical sense, bottomless simply means someone tried to detect the bottom and couldnt. The location has no strategic value and is not situated near any trading routes. The chapel was dedicated to the Archangel Michael who led God's armies against Lucifer's fallen angels, leading some to believe the gateway truly existed or still does. Storytellers supposed that the loch bottom had hidden caverns that connected to the ocean to the northeast thus providing a passage for one of the worlds most famous lake monsters. He had grown wrinkles and his hair had turned white. There arent many explanations for the claims of bottomless holes. Filling a sinkhole often doesnt work because the fill material collapses into a bigger opening. The story of the hole at Houska castle sounds mighty similar to a more modern version the wholly constructed legend of Mels Hole of Ellensburg, Washington. Some say he had his books secured at Houska Castle and that the Nazis conducted rituals and experiments while they were there to see if they could harness the power of Hell for themselves. Houska Castle, located in Czech Republic, is a castle that was built Groundwater can be found typically within 300 feet of the ground surface. Most castles have a some kind of valid purpose behind them and are built in the best interest of the people around them. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The city is surrounded by water and before the 20th century, the northern portions were undeveloped. The story was first published in Finland by a Pentecostal Christian journal. Manage Settings Houska Castle. When he told them the paranormal tales were nonsense but the real hole was a typical mine shaft, they ignored him. It was supposedly built to "keep the demons and monsters from hell" from ever reaching the world. Glacial lakes can be particularly steep-sided and deep. To fall into the pit is symbolic of the descent into hell and damnation. Bottomless? Houska Castle, which was built in the early gothic style, is the best-preserved castle of the early 13th century in Bohemia and the rule of the Golden and Iron King Pemysl Otakar II. Water kept flowing in. There are countless holes in the ground. It had a constructed stone wall around it. Houska Castle, Czech Republic - The National Paranormal Society Houska Castle- located in the Czech Republic, bisected by the Vltava River is one such castle that has always lured lovers of secrets. It also appears to have no function of outside fortification. I kinda doubt it. The chapel in the castle was built over the bottomless well or so the locals claim and it is here that the gateway to hell is said to be located. Houska Castle: Haunted Fortress That Will Spook Your - Anomalien.com This melting of permafrost forms whats called thermokarst. That is usually more fiction than reality. Houska Castle looks just like any other ordinary medieval castle but upon closer inspection, one can notice a few strange features.
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