Houska Castle

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Houska Castle.

Houska Castle is situated in the Czech Republic, and it is one of the most haunted castles, not just in Europe, but in the world. The castle has been the subject of many paranormal investigations, and it is believed to be a gateway to hell.

the story really begins hundreds of years before the castle was built. according to the lore several men stumbled upon a large hole on the ground on the reverse of a mountain as they were exploring the area. they could not see how deep the hole was so they threw rocks down the hole to see how far they would drop, when the rocks did not hit bottom the men believed that they had found a bottomless hole.  however locals would see strange creatures coming out of the hole, and once children began to go missing, locals pointed at the hole and blamed the creatures from inside.  

The castle is believed to have been built in the 13th century. under the patronage of Bohemian ruler Ottokar II of Bohemia. Originally intended as an administrative center to manage the vast royal estates, the castle's distinctive history has since transitioned through the hands of various aristocrats. Castles are  originally designed as  fortresses to protect the surrounding areas from invaders. castles are built in strategic locations, and they are meant to be impenetrable. However, Houska castle is situated amidst dense forests, swamps, and mountains, it stood devoid of external fortifications, lacking a direct water source save for a rainwater collection cistern, and is isolated from major trade routes. it has a unique feature that sets it apart from other castles. It has no outside fortifications, at least not where most people would expect the fortification to be. It has no water source, except for a small collection of rain water and there's no kitchen, this is a big red flag as most castles are usually built in order to house a noble family plus the soldiers protecting the castle, and the staff that is needed to keep a castle up. However Houska castle does not seem to have been built for long term habitation. This has led to many theories about the purpose of the castle, and many people believe that it was built to hide something sinister.

 Interestingly, once the castle was built it remained unoccupied. Notably, it underwent Renaissance-style modifications from 1584 to 1590 while retaining its fortress-like characteristics atop a steep rocky cliff. In the 18th century, it ceased serving as a noble residence and fell into disrepair until its renovation in 1823. Princess Hohenlohe purchased the castle in 1897, and later, in 1924, it came under the ownership of Josef Šimonek, the President of Škoda. Presently, it remains in the possession of his descendants as of 2020.

Houska Castle is a historic castle located in the Czech Republic, approximately 47 kilometers north of Prague. The castle has a unique layout that sets it apart from other castles in the region. The castle is built on a rocky outcrop, and it is designed to look like a Gothic fortress, with high walls, towers, and a moat. However, the castle's interior is quite different from its exterior.

The castle's interior is divided into several levels, connected by a series of winding staircases. The ground floor of the castle is dominated by a large hall, which was used for banquets and other social events. The hall is decorated with intricate carvings and frescoes, and it features a large fireplace and several windows that offer views of the surrounding countryside. 

one of the strangest architectural designs of this castle is that when you look at the outside of the castle you can see that it has windows all round it.  however the first floor does not have any windows. when you are standing in a any of the rooms on the first floor, the windows were border up. some believe that this was in order to prevent anything that might be in the castle to get out. 

The upper levels of the castle are divided into living quarters, with bedrooms, dining rooms, and other rooms designed for daily use. The bedrooms are decorated with ornate furniture and tapestries, and some of them feature for-poster beds and other luxurious amenities. The dining rooms are decorated with elaborate chandeliers and paintings, and they feature large tables that can accommodate large groups of people.

The castle's interior is also home to several unique features that set it apart from other castles in the region. For example, the castle features a large chapel, which was used for religious services. The chapel is decorated with frescoes and statues, and it features a large altar and several stained-glass windows. however one of the frescos in the chapel does not make any sense in regards to where it it. the painting is of a female centaur holding a long sword. this is another red flag for two reasons, the first is that she is holding the sword in her left hand, historically the Christian religion has seen left handed women as witches. the second is that centaurs are historically associated with pagan non chrisitian religions. so by all accounts, it should not be inside of a church. some belief that this is a warning to all who enter the church.  People believe that the church was in fact buildt before the castle, and the church was built over a large hole, which people around the area called the hole to hell. before the church was built locals would see large flying creatures fly out of the hole every night. and there were reports of half human-half beast creatures who would roam the country side. 

eventually the stories reached the king at the time, and he ordered construction of the castle to cover up the hole. before covering it up however, The king was said to have offered pardons to prisoners if they agreed to be lowered into the hole to see what was inside. The first man to go down into the hole was said to have gone mad from what he saw, and he died shortly afterward. The second man to go down into the hole was said to have screamed the entire time he was down there. When he was pulled back up, his haired had turned white, he looked like an old man, and he died shortly afterward.

There have been many reported paranormal instances in Houska Castle over the years. Many people have reported hearing strange noises, such as footsteps, whispers, and screams. Others have reported seeing apparitions, such as ghosts and demons. There have also been reports of objects moving on their own, doors opening and closing by themselves, and strange smells.

One of the most famous paranormal instances in Houska Castle occurred in the 16th century. The castle was owned by a noble family at the time, and they were said to have been plagued by a demon. The demon was said to have been so powerful that it could move objects and cause people to become ill. The family called upon a local priest to exorcise the demon, but the priest was hesitant to enter the castle because of its rumored connection to hell. The priest was said to have been successful. However, the demon was said to have left behind a mark on the wall that can still be seen today.

Another legend tells a similar story, but with some variations. In this version, the noble family that owned Houska Castle during the 16th century was said to have built the castle over a hole that led straight to hell. The family was plagued by strange occurrences, such as objects moving on their own and strange noises coming from the walls. They called upon a local priest to perform an exorcism, but the priest refused, believing that the castle was cursed.

One night, the noble family's daughter was taken by the demon and dragged into the hole. The family called upon the priest once again, and this time he agreed to perform the exorcism. The priest was lowered into the hole, and he performed the exorcism while surrounded by demons and other unholy creatures. When he emerged from the hole, he was said to have been covered in scratches and bruises, and he never spoke of the experience again.

In the 17th century the 30 years war brought soldiers into the woods that surrounds Houska castle. The soldiers were led by a sweedish general called Oronto. At first they thought they would need to fight in order to take the castle, but the castle was empty and so they were able to take it. once they had settled into the castle they began to steal and kill locals surrounding the castle. when Oronto found out about the legends of the castle he began to use blood magic in order to gain power. eventually, the locals got tired of his tyranny and paid two hunters to assassinate him. 

In the 20th century, Houska Castle was used as a Nazi prison camp during World War II. Many people were tortured and killed in the castle during this time, and it is believed that their spirits still linger in the castle today. There have been reports of screams and moans coming from the castle at night, and many people believe that the ghosts of the prisoners are still trapped inside.

It is known that Houska Castle was used as a sub-camp of the larger concentration camp at Flossenbürg. The sub-camp was established in 1944, and it was primarily used to house prisoners who were forced to work in nearby factories and mines. The prisoners were subjected to harsh living conditions, and many of them died from disease, malnutrition, or overwork.

some believe that the nazis used the castle for the liebensborn program,  which translates to fount of life. this was the nazis eugenics program in which women who were found to have pure blood would be used to propregate the german race. the isolated location could have been the perfect settlement for them tp use. 

There are few records or first-hand accounts of the specific events that occurred in Houska Castle during World War II. It is believed that the castle was used as a location for secret experiments, but the nature of these experiments is unclear. Some people believe that the Nazis were conducting experiments on human subjects, while others believe that they were searching for occult artifacts or performing occult rituals.

The reasons why the Nazis chose Houska Castle as a location for their sub-camp are also unclear. Some people believe that the castle's rumored connection to hell made it an attractive location for the Nazis, who were interested in the occult. Others believe that the castle's strategic location near several factories and mines made it a convenient location for a sub-camp.

The nazis had a strong belief in the paranormal.  they believed they could find a powerful supernatural weapon that would give them the upper hand in a war they were slowly losing. Many occult books were transferred to Houska castle, and nazi scientist used science and the occult in their experiments hoping to create anything that would give them power. years after the nazis had vacated the castle, new property owners decided to renovate the courtyard, when digging though the rubble they found hundreds of german soldier's bodies. No one truly knows why they had been executed in this manner, although speculation says perhaps the germans were sacrificing their own officers in order to open a portal to hell. 

There are several stories and legends about the paranormal activity that occurred in Houska Castle during World War II. Some people believe that the ghosts of the prisoners who died in the castle still linger there, and that their screams and moans can be heard at night. Others believe that the Nazis were performing occult rituals in the castle, and that their activities did indeed open a portal to hell.

modern first account stories......

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FRANS: That concludes today's episode of "The Supernatural Collective." Thank you for joining us on this eerie expedition.

ADRIANA: Stay tuned for our next installment, where we'll unravel more mysteries from the ethereal realm.  If you like what we do, please like and follow us. 

Frans: It might seem small, but it can really help. and if you have your own story you would like to share, click on the link on the podcast notes, there you can share your story, idea or suggestion, and we would love to feature it in a future episode. 

ADriana: Until then stay safe, and stay spooky