Houska Castle, Built Over a Hole
A Czech castle seems to have been built to keep something in, not out. Legend says its chapel sits on top of a pit leading to hell.
What was reported
Houska Castle stands on a rock in the forests north of Prague, built in the late 13th century. It's an odd castle: it has no well, no kitchen in its original plan, and was on no important road, and some of its defences seem to face inward.
Legend explains why. A crack in the rock below was said to be a gateway to hell, from which half-animal creatures climbed. A prisoner lowered into it on a rope is said to have been pulled out screaming, his hair turned white. The castle's chapel was built on top to seal the hole.
Explanations offered
Historians say Houska was more likely an administrative centre for royal lands than a fortress, which would explain its plan. The prisoner story is a legend with no record behind it. Houska is now open to visitors and plays up its reputation.
- When
- Built in the 1200s
- Where
- Houska, Central Bohemia, Czech Republic
- Witnesses
- Local legend, and visitors
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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