Tales are told of swimmers pulled to their doom by whirlpools or some other underwater force. Therefore, it might not be surprising to discover how often legendary bottomless holes have a demonstrated bottom that people simply chose to ignore. There are several examples of holes being associated with both the devil and the appearance of being bottomless. A water fountain at Houska Castle was installed during renovations. Go, or I will swallow you up and no one tried since. 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. There is mention in places that a natural crevasse existed at the site and people disappeared (Fallen in or dragged in? Again, we see the idea of a sucking current that could capture swimmers. Its presence suggests the explanation for the pools they are upwelling springs that emit cold water but never freeze. This gothic castle dates back to the late 1200s, though the tales surrounding the land it is built upon span back even longer. Upon completion, he offered prisoners facing the gallows a full pardon if they entered the endless abyss and reported on what they saw. Rather than having defences on the outside to try and stop people getting in, all of its defences were built on the inside, as though they were built to try and keep something in. Divers enjoy exploring the blue holes but, as with any cave system, underwater caving can be treacherous. While evidence is scant, some say that a Swedish mercenary and practitioner of black magic named Oronto inhabited Houska Castle in the 1600s. [3], Houska Castle was built in the second half of the 13th century probably on the orders of Bohemian ruler Ottokar II of Bohemia during his reign (125378) to serve as an administration center from which the extensive royal estates could be managed. Where is Houska Castle? jolene_fleur/InstagramThe castle's chapel was dedicated to Archangel Michael. Link Location Gps 50.4909607. In accordance with the castles paranormal origins, one highly significant feature of the castle is its defences. Investigators who have tried to find a bottom have not been able to find one in the well. . This has raised doubts as to the castles intended purpose, but if it wasnt built to be a fort or residence, why was it built at all? In order to try and unlock the power from beneath the foundations, its said that he practiced numerous rituals, which included animal sacrifice. After the war, the remains of three german soldiers were uncovered in the inner courtyard they had been shot. It would only be fully restored more than a century later in 1823. Its a dangerous feature. The weight of the line (at least 40 pounds) would mask the feeling of a weighted end hitting bottom. When he was pulled from the chasm, his hair had turned white. For more on that location, see a previous feature here. Archaeological evidence has shown that Celtic tribes inhabited the land Houska Castle stands on in antiquity. Soundings in 1896 found a bottom just 20 feet below, but the legend of the pool as supernaturally deep continued. The castle is very well-preserved for a castle from that period. The physics of such a hole is quite weird. [6] Animal-human hybrids were reported to have crawled out of it, and dark-winged, otherworldly creatures flew in its vicinity. As of early 2020, the castle was open to the public and had been since 1999. There is a story that famous undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau saw it and never told anyone additional details. Nestled away deep in the Czech countryside, Houska Castle was built near the top of a cliff around one hour from the city of Prague. He had grown wrinkles and his hair had turned white. Formed during times when sea level lower, they were then flooded and may be isolated in inland areas or open to the existing marine environment. What happened to Daylenn Pua after climbing Hawaii's infamous Haiku Stairs? To fall into the pit is symbolic of the descent into hell and damnation. It is situated in a remote area surrounded by thick forests, swamps, and sandstone mountains. GHI investigates the Czech Republic's Castle Houska, a structure supposedly built to keep something in. This Massive Castle Was Built In Order From Keeping Something From Getting Out The Most Haunted Place In The World The Czech Republic's Houska castle is said to be one of the strangest places on the planet. It also has a monster legend. Their geological origins are diverse. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. 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. It was built in the early part of the 13 th century, believed to be on the order of Ottokar II of Bohemia. Houska Castle. The danger is personified in a monster called the Lusca, a shark-headed creature with an octopus body who was said to live in the deep blue holes. In the 18th century, it stopped serving as a noble residence and fell into a state of disrepair before being renovated in 1823. Could we create a bottomless hole? (1957). When the hole gets blocked it may temporarily hold water until the plug comes loose and the hole drains. A Lifers PTY LTD venture. While this is not technically impossible for a water pathway via a regional aquifer, it is NOT remotely plausible for objects of any size, like an animal or person. Corliss, W. (1988). It was built atop a cliff in Prague's countryside, mysteriously isolated from all trade routes. Houska Castle, also known as Hrad Houska, is located about one hour's drive north of Prague, Czech Republic. According to the legend, local villagers claimed that demonic half-human and . Wikimedia CommonsSkeletal remains of Nazis were purportedly found in the courtyard of Houska Castle. Giant of Odessos: Skeleton unearthed in Varna, Bulgaria, Conneaut Giants: Extensive burying ground of giant race discovered in the early 1800s. The Bohemian noble families of Berka z Dub. The castle today is littered with unsettling decorations. This mysterious castle near Lake Mchovo in Central Bohemia attracts visitors with the legend on a rift to the Hell and a convict who was lowered down into the rift. Ottokar II built this castle as an administration center. When the castle was built, the crack in the limestone was covered with thick stone plates and the castle's chapel was constructed on top of it in order to seal the hole to Hell. Divers eventually discovered it was about 30 feet deep but that didnt squelch the more impressive rumor. There arent many explanations for the claims of bottomless holes. If those methods fail, then, seemingly by default, the opening is declared bottomless. Meurger, M. (1988). The area in which the castle was built isnt all that strategic. As a folklore motif, the unfathomable hole is ancient. Standard admission is 135. Any fissures or small hole on the surface can look deceptively deep because a narrow space does not allow light to penetrate far, so it looks scary. ABN 90643368665. legends surrounding Houska Castle may provide the answer. In his dreams, he had a terrifying vision, which he recorded in a letter to his friend, Edward Hindle. Skeletal remains of Nazis were purportedly found in the courtyard of Houska Castle. A large gash in the limestone rock opened up a "bottomless pit" sometime in the 12th century. Two huntsmen were keen to take the locals up on their offer, and managed to shoot him through a window. June 4, 2021. Today, visitors have claimed to be able to hear the scratches of these entities from beneath the floorboards of the chapel, as they desperately try and claw their way back into the world. Historians believe the painting is a hint to the creatures that lurk beneath the church. The Swedish Commander at the time, Oronto, was known to be a cruel man, who gave his men specific orders to plunder everything they could, as well as giving them free reigns to practice rape as sport. There were many superstitions associated with the lake bolstered by real airplane crashes. Visitors still claim to hear screams and scratching noises from the chapel at night. Before Houska Castle was built, archaeologists have also found evidence of a wooden structure existing there in the 9th century. The cool story became popular. With World War II resulting in fierce fighting across the continent, the Nazis swept into the Czech Republic, and decided to enrich their knowledge of the occult by studying at Houska Castle. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Fearful of turning into these demonic entities themselves, villagers avoided the rocky entrance. No single person can hand-measure that depth its entirely impractical as, at that length of line, you could not feel youve reached the bottom. Houska was built by Pemysl Otakar II as a remarkable royal castle, but was soon sold to a noble family, which continued to own in until after WWI. Though the location may initially seem somewhat strategic as it is situated at the top of a cliff overlooking the Czech countryside, there are no sources of water, no kitchen, and the building stood vacant for years after its construction. While Nazi Germany took countless castles and plundered the nations it invaded during the war, the appeal of Houska Castle remains debatable. 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 . [9][10] Another source states locals believed that the Nazis had been using the "powers of Hell" for their experiments. No wonder, all the prisoners agreed. linus pauling vitamin c, lysine protocol. Houska Castle is an early Gothic castle in the municipality of Blatce in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It is said that underneath the castle is a bottomless pit filled with demons. There are many names that describe this curious castle. sacramento obituaries 2021; apartments on aldine mail route In 1897, it was purchased by Princess Hohenlohe and in 1924, the times of the First Republic, bought by the President of koda, Josef imonek. Located around 30 miles north of Prague, Houska Castle is well preserved, retaining much of its Gothic stylings, including an intact chapel. And the second type is a tropical karst feature initially identified in the Bahamas. Animals were lost in it. The water conceals the ultimate depth. Houska Castle, located in Czech Republic, is a castle that was built over a hole so deep, that nobody could see the bottom. Even if a lake had a measured floor, it was common to see mentioned a cave passage that existed somewhere within the perimeter that was where the true danger or mystery was. It was said he toiled night and day to discover an elixir for eternal life. Vaclav Hajek also mentioned a strange crack in the top of the limestone cliff, and a pit so deep, that it seemed to be endless. Houska Castle is a gothic construction dating back to the late 1200s. He got to 80,000 feet and gave up. 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. Ive tried using a well probe to test for depth and you start to lose that feeling of hitting bottom at about 300 feet. Also, Mel Waters was a made-up name. In 1901, English Mechanic magazine reported on a seemingly bottomless hole at 171st St in New York City. 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. This is suggestive of some evil entity or the lake itself as a living thing that takes sacrifices. Secondly, the castle has no fortifications, no water source, no kitchen, and, for years after it was constructed, no occupants. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Naturally, locals would be concerned about the depth of an open hole or pool that they might fall into. Macha described a vision in which his soul descended into the pit, and was then transported to a type of hellish mechanized future Prague 2006. The Life and Travels of French Mesmerist Baron Jules Du Potet de Sennevoy, The Headless Earl of Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate York, The Science and Prophecies of Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac, Couple Claims CCTV In Their Home Shows The Ghost of A Deceased Tenant, 1490: When a Meteorite Killed 10,000 People in the Chinese City of Ching-yang, Ancient Tomb Discovered Under Notre Dame Cathedral. They can be dangerous as the water is constantly cold and the sides may be steep making it hard to climb out. 300-million-year-old wheel found in a mine in Ukraine! Lets check out the legends of bottomless holes. One of the most prominent legends surrounding Houska Castle may provide the answer. Sorbian prince Slavibor. houska castle pit explorationbulgarian beauty standards. Two qualities of a lake indicated the almost certain presence of a legendary monster first, dark water, and secondly, it was deemed unfathomable. These screams may be coming from the prisoners of war that were held captive there, or the local villagers that were taken down into the Houska castle pit by the flying demonic entities. (1960). These internal defences point toward the courtyard. Photo: ladabar / flickr / CC-BY-NC 2.0. It was supposedly built to "keep the demons and monsters from hell" from ever reaching the world. This is likely not true as brown trout and char live in the lake. Though the hole is often referred to as the gateway to Hell, its also referred to as the Houska Castle pit. It is April 8, 2014. Required fields are marked *. Gas release may also account for the tales of the swamp boiling and bubbling. 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. Background. He reigned from 1253 to 1278 and ordered the castle to be made as an administration centre for his royal estates. An oil well in Qatar achieved a longer borehole length at 40,320 feet (but did not exceed the Kola reach in depth below sea level) in 2008. The Czechs do have quite a black sense of humor. Houska Castle is located in the eastern part of the Kokon Forest, 47 km north of Prague and about 15 km from Bezdz, another ancient iconic castle of Central Europe. Firstly, many of the castle windows are actually fake, that are made of glass panes behind which sturdy walls are hidden. Philbrook, S. and Burgess, F. (2017). They were said to have conducted unknown experiments there, perhaps trying to make the Spear of Destiny lead people to immortality or what not, nobody knows. The men saw the muddy bottom but simply assumed the monster was hiding under the mud. Even today, some people remain imaginative enough to think that they found some secret military project, an ancient city or even evidence of a Hollow Earth. Pete Collman and Travis Dow's Bohemican Podcast, covering Castle Houska. There was a gruesome legend where a father killed his son and then also drowning himself. In Lyminster, people tried to find the bottom of the local hole by tying the six bell ropes of the church together. The gateway to Hell is allegedly so deep that one can't see the bottom. Started in 1970, the drilling of this hole in the Kola peninsula of Russia, near the Norway border was shut down in 1992. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. It is fabled that the hole was so deep that no one could see the bottom of it. The first man to do so was young and healthy, and he happily accepted. It was originally constructed in the 13th century, between 1253 and 1278, during the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia. It supposedly would reject fish by throwing them out again. Built in the 13th century by Bohemian settlers, the layout and history of Houska Castle suggest something sinister lurks there and legend holds that it sits atop a gateway to Hell. Wabash Valley Visions and Voices Digital Memory Project. The Demonic Abysse of Houska Castle 2016. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'inquisitivewonder_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',162,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-inquisitivewonder_com-medrectangle-3-0'); If youre lucky enough to observe Houska Castle from the outside, youll notice some quite peculiar additions. No luck. The Nazis used Houska Castle as a magical artifact depository of sorts. where the devil meets with his minions and a headless ghost circles the pond after being summoned by hobgoblins, where living things and buildings slip in and are forever lost, giant cracks miles deep or with lava pools, There was a legend here that parents disposed of their babies umbilical cords in this vent as a magical ritual to give the child positive qualities, a gruesome legend where a father killed his son and then also drowning himself, Hydrogen sulfide gas in the water is toxic and can cause dizziness and nausea, disorienting divers, Rich Buhler, a radio host for Christianity Today, tracked the story back to the propaganda article that was based on a made-up story, additional features attributed to Mels Hole were bizarre, When he told them the paranormal tales were nonsense but the real hole was a typical mine shaft, The physics of such a hole is quite weird, The Kola Superdeep Borehole is the deepest hole on earth at 40,230 feet. According to folklore, Houska Castle was constructed over a large hole in the ground which was known asThe Gateway to Hell. The chapel is appropriately dedicated to Saint Michael, who protects against the forces of darkness. Some say the Wehrmacht occupied this castle precisely to investigate whether the gateway to Hell was real, as feverish occultism had consumed its higher ranks. By 1639, the castle was occupied by a Swedish mercenary named Oronto. The location of the castle is also peculiar. Craters forming in Siberia, in particular, look very much like a bottomless hole. Eager to know what was below the surface of the Houska pit, local authorities agreed to pardon prisoners if they agreed to be lowered by rope into the gateway to hell. Houska Castle LOCATION: CZECH REPUBLIC Residing in the northern region of Bohemia, Houska Castle seems to be something out of a horror story. It lies about 47km (29mi) north of Prague. Madonna pond was said to be haunted by the coach and horse that fell in, never to be retrieved. Ottokar II of Bohemia, Czech king and warrior, known as the Iron and Golden King. The lake dried up in 1866 and again in 1869 and 1976 proving that it was not bottomless but subject to drought conditions. Crossing the bog is dangerous as dry land can suddenly turn liquid. 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. In what is now the Czech Republic there is a castle known as the Houska Castle. These features are called cenotes and are not uncommon. American Imago , 4: 1, 20-31. Haunted? Slavic tribes migrated to the area that is now Czechia as early as the sixth century C.E. The first of these craters were discovered in July 2014. There is nothing about Mels Hole that is genuine. William Corliss, a collector of anomalies wrote that the accounts of such pits smack of sensationalism and must be taken with several grains of salt. As with some of the bottomless lakes waterless chasms are often karst-related sinkholes or caves. Again, the lack of visibility in the lake is such that a person submerged 10 feet or more disappears from the view of the surface observer. 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. There are even rumors that the Nazis were involved in secret Occult studies at Houska Castle, since for some unknown reason they were stationed there during . Houska, or more specifically, it's chapel, was built over a bizarre hole in the ground that was not only said to be bottomless but was also said to be a literal portal to Hell. Some say it wasn't built to keep evil from entering but to prevent it from spilling out. I kinda doubt it. Houska Castle Country: Czech Republic Built: 13th century Haunting: Located in the forests north of Prague, Houska castle was never a strategic battle location. As of 2020, it was owned by his descendants. After the war, the imonek family regained ownership of Houska Castle, and they still own it to this day. If you dont die from the sheer bottomlessness of it all, you will encounter whatever nasty thing exists in the dark, forsaken void. Houska Castle is generally known as the most haunted castle in all of Bohemia. It is believed that the castle was built only to keep the evil in. The best example would be Devils Hole in Death Valley which claimed the lives of two boys in 1965 and inspired Charles Manson. The castle is surrounded by the forests 30 miles north of Prague. . Many have speculated that the castles chapel was specifically built directly over the mysterious bottomless pit in order to seal the evil in and keep the demonic creatures from entering our world. [4] From 1584 to 1590, it underwent Renaissance-style modifications, losing none of its fortress features as it looks down from a steep rocky cliff. Some caves or shafts are rumored to drop off into a huge cavern. There are scores of examples of lakes in particular that, instead of a bottom, they have a monster. 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. It was described in 1888 as a bowl-shaped feature with a dark pool in the center said to be unfathomable. Oronto made Houska Castle his primary base for some time. Next page In the early 1900s, the bottom was not accessible for measurement so it was commonly said to be bottomless. According to the legends, the scratching of the winged creatures trying to claw their way to the surface can still be heard, phantoms have beenseen walking the empty halls of the castle and the Nazis specifically choseHouska Castle in order to harness the powers of hell for themselves. 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. Adding to the evil in this old fortress, the Second World War saw the invading Nazis set up base in Houska Castles upon hearing the stories of it. The Bottomless Lakes has resident monsters described as giant turtles. He succeeded in measuring the depth himself at 102 feet. The rumor was that the natives called the seemingly shallow pond the black swamp and considered it the home of evil spirits. Little of the above information has much credibility and may all be just tall tales. Several other tales are also associated with the pool including that it was the source of the winds on the moor. 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. Montezuma well in McGuireville Arizona is a collapsed carbonate pool 368 feet wide and 55 feet deep. Visitors have also reported seeing a line of ghostly people, all chained together each one with an injury or disability walking towards the castle. He was placed in an asylum, but died two days later from an unknown cause. The listener may hear no splash or crack of a stone hitting some surface below. Priests were said to send the demons from exorcisms into black dogs which were subsequently drowned in the bog. It can be difficult to measure a true bottom if a cavern extends into a deeper karst system. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The castle was built in 1253-1278 and was upgraded to a Renaissance style castle during the 1500's. [12], Houska Castle was featured on an episode of Ghost Hunters International which aired on SyFy on 22 July 2009. It had no source of water or fortification. Houska Castle on Wikipedia. Local geologist Jack Powell had heard the radio show. The strangest of these paintings depicts a creature with the upper body of a human woman and the lower body of a horse. It was renovated in the 1580s, fell into disrepair by the 1700s, and was fully restored in 1823. But even today, over seven hundred years after the pit has been sealed, visitors still claim to hear the scratching of creatures from the lower floors at night, trying to claw their way to the surface. 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, The Czech Fortress Used By Mad Scientists And Nazis The Eerie History Of Houska Castle, The Gothic Fortress Built To Seal A 'Gateway To Hell' By Cara Johnson Published April 7, 2022 Constructed near Prague in the 13th century, Houska Castle has housed mad scientists, Nazis, and perhaps even "demons." By 1700, Houska Castle fell into complete disrepair. Many different types of ghosts are seen around the castle, including a giant bulldog, a frog, a human, a woman in an old dress, and most spooky of all, a headless black horse. Myths and Legends of Our Own Land. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Top ways to experience Hrad Houska and nearby attractions Haunted castle Houska and Kokorin castle tour 3 Full-day Tours from $134.69 per adult Prague Ghosts and Legends of Old Town Walking Tour 618 Recommended Walking Tours from $18.32 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Prague Boats 1-hour Devil's Channel Cruise 552 Day Cruises from $17.69 per adult Certainly. It lies about 47 km (29 mi) north of Prague. Address: Hrad Houska 1, 471 62 Doksy, Czechia Phone: +420 728 351 101 Website Public transport to the castle is limited, so one of the best ways to reach the castle is to hire a car for the day. Some have water. What else you could to Machovo jezero/Doksy. Locals at the time reported strange lights and horrifying sounds coming from the castle. A famous bottomless pit that was said to have released demons and monsters was situated beneath Houska Castle in the Czech Republic. This instilled villagers with so much mortal fear that two local hunters assassinated him. The castle was supposedly constructed in the middle 13th century to surround and cover the hole to hell that had spontaneously formed. Hindi News Photo Gallery Bizarre News The Houska Castle Czech Republic mysterious Bottomless Pit is Gateway to Hell ' ', . Legend has it that the castle, dating back to the 13th century, was built over the Gates of Hell and meant to keep evil spirits from escaping into the world. pic.twitter.com/HToGtolrGH. While Houska Castle now welcomes countless tourists from around the world, the limestone cliff on which it sits has drawn people in since antiquity. Mining created the Chuquicamata Copper Mine, in Chile at 2,790, the Kimberley Mine in South Africa at 700 and the Berkeley Pit, in Butte, Montana at 1700. Get notified of the best booming posts weekly. The castle was built as a fortification to shield the world from the forces of a demonic nature, but more specifically, its the chapel within the castle that covers the supposed gateway to Hell. Considering this claim that he measured a depth to 15 miles, we know Waters is bluffing. The walls of the chapel are covered with some of the . 1 / 3 513 104 104 comments Add a Comment AutoModerator Please note these rules: Some are just open void and darkness. Some believe that an obsession with the occult by high-ranking members was why the Nazis occupied Houska Castle. Dash, M. (2020). There are numerous mysteries associated with Houska Castle such as why was it built in a place with no strategic importance and without any source of water - away from all trade paths? Check out the video at the end of this post to hear the so-called screams from hell. MYSTERIESRUNSOLVED & MRU MEDIA, 2019-2022. While locals claimed to have seen winged creatures fly out of the gateway to Hell in the past, today's visitors say they've observed other entities. The castle was not built as a residence or as a protective sanctuary, but was instead built because the hole was thought to be a gateway to hell. The Youdig marshland of Yeun Elez in Brittany, France is loaded with legends and lore as a bottomless bog. Houska Castle. Houska Castle is thought to be one of the most haunted locations in the world. http://visions.indstate.edu:8888/cdm/landingpage/collection/folklore. The castle is built upon a fabled bottomless pit from which winged creatures and half-man-half-beasts allegedly exited.