Houska: The castle of horrors and its eerie history
We have all heard of haunted castles, isn’t it? But do you know that there is one that is believed to have been made in order to stop evil spirits from escaping? We are talking about the Houska Castle in Czechia, Prague. Surrounded by a dense forest enveloped in sinister and occult myths, it was built in the 13th century as an official hub for the king. However, according to Czech mythology, this was a portal to hell where demonic creatures would rise to feed on the villagers and drag them into the darkness! Legends would have us believe that Houska Castle was constructed atop a bottomless pit which was believed to be The Gateway to Hell. The hole, it was thought, was so deep that nobody knew where it ended. Wait, that’s not all. The locals were terrified half-animal, half-human creatures emerging out of the seemingly endless abyss who would attack them and drag them into the. Are the stories true? Was Houska Castle built to guard the portal leading to hell? Let us find out!
The Houska Castle and its origin
According to legends, King Ottokar II of Bohemia ordered prisoners complete pardons to prisoners who would agree to be lowered into the pit report back about what they saw inside. One of them agreed. Long after he was descended, they heard a tortured scream. When they lifted him, he had become several years old, and his hair had turned white! He was so haunted by what he saw that he was sent to an insane asylum! Now, the king had to take some concrete steps. And that was why he built the Houska Castle around the pit to seal off the area. It was completed in 1278. One of the strange features of the castle is that most of its fortification structures are built inwards, not outwards. That is why it is probably believed to have been constructed, not to keep enemies outside but to protect against something contained inside.
Chapel inside the castle
The locals believed that God was their ultimate saviour against the unknown dark. So, a chapel was constructed inside, directly above the pit. It was dedicated to Archangel Michael, who raised God's army against Lucifer's (Satan) fallen angels. The walls have images Archangel Michael fighting a dragon. There are also images of demons and dragons being slaughtered, scenes of the Crucifixion. But the most unusual of all these depictions include the painting of a left-handed, half-horse creature aiming a bow at a human. Interestingly, left hand was linked with Satan at that point of time. This is what led experts to believe in the possibility of the presence of evil creatures underneath the chapel.
Sinister occupants of the Houska Castle
In the 1630s, the castle was believed to be occupied by a Swedish black magic artist named Oronto. It was said that he worked day and night to find an elixir of everlasting life. However, because the villagers feared him, two hunters entered the castle and killed him! Wait, it is still not over.
Houska Castle was a part of Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia during World War II. It is said to have attracted the interest of the Nazis. Locals reported hearing terrifying noises from the castle and seeing strange lights. Some claim that several prominent Nazi figures, including Himmler, participated in sinister rituals at Houska Castle, where they sought to unleash the power of hell.
The Houska Castle today
Even today, the past casts a shadow over the Houska Castle, and different narratives of legend continue! One visitor claimed to have heard a 'chorus of cries' coming from the pit below the chapel. Others are reported to have felt nails scratching from below! Wondering if anyone owns the castle of horrors? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. The family of Josef Šimonek, ex-president of the car company Škoda, currently owns the Houska Castle. It is now open for the public.