Locks in which are sharpened. Old castles. Secrets of ancient castles. Ancient castles of the world. Dragsholm Castle, Denmark

Ancient castles keep many secrets and mysteries. Some attract people with their creepy legends about demons, vampires and werewolves, others with romantic love stories.

Edinburgh castle

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  • Scotland
  • It hosts the Mary King Festival
  • Founded on the site of an extinct volcano.
  • According to legend, several ghosts still roam the castle. The first ghost-ghost of the bagpiper who got lost in underground labyrinths castle and died there. The second ghost is the ghost of a headless soldier who beats drum rolls as danger approaches. According to legend, it was this soldier who, during his lifetime, warned of the offensive of Oliver Cromwell's troops. The third ghost is Lady Glamis, who is often seen wandering the dark halls of the castle. She was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake in 1537. There is also an old man in a leather apron and a ghost of a dog walking near the cemetery. Also, from the tunnels of the castle, you can still hear the French prisoners imprisoned during the Seven Years War.

Glams Castle

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  • Scotland
  • Visitors to the castle met such ghosts as Lady Janet, the little page, the Gray Lady.
  • The castle has a walled up room. There is no entrance to it, but its windows are visible from the street side. According to legend, one Sunday two friends decided to play cards, which was strictly forbidden. Now they will play cards in this room all their lives, because they disobeyed the ban.

Moosham Castle

  • Salzburg, Austria
  • Built in 1208
  • Known as the Witch's Castle. Between 1675 and 1687, thousands of women were called witches and sentenced to death by the Inquisition. They were tortured and then beheaded, and most of them still roam the castle's halls in the form of ghosts. In addition to the place of execution of witches, the castle of Moosham served as a werewolf's den. The history can be traced back to the early 19th century. Many mutilated cattle and deer corpses were found in the castle. And some of the inhabitants of Moosham were convicted and imprisoned as werewolves.

Bran Castle

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  • Transylvania,
    Brasov, Romania
  • Built at the end of the XIV century
  • The castle was the home of the famous Vlad the Impaler, known as Vlad the Impaler, for his love of impaling his enemies. Vlad III the Impaler was the prototype of Count Dracula the vampire and killer of people described in the novel by Bram Stoker. Prince Vlad Tepes had the nickname Dracula (translated as "son of the dragon"), which he inherited from his father. Vlad did not live in Bran, as many believe, but only stayed for a few days while hunting in the surrounding forests.

Chillingham Castle

  • United Kingdom
  • The castle was located on the border of two opposing nations, therefore, detachments of British troops who followed to Scotland often stopped in the castle. And the Scots often raided the castle. Bloody battles often took place around the castle, and captured enemies were immediately tortured and killed. Since then, their souls wander around the castle.
  • Chillingum Castle served as a massacre site. This castle was owned by John Sage and for three years worked as a torturer-executioner in a torture room. It is said that he tortured approximately fifty people a week. It is believed that in a fit of passion he strangled his mistress Elizabeth Charlton. Elizabeth's father threatened King Edward I Longlegs that he would ally with the Scots and revolt if the murderer was not punished. As a result, by order of the king, Tormentor Sage was executed on the territory of the castle. Sage's ghost can be heard still dragging bodies around at night.
  • Another famous ghost is the Blue Boy, who lives in the pink room. The guests of the castle heard loud crying more than once, after which they saw blue flashes of light. The ghost of the blue boy has not been seen since the castle underwent extensive reconstruction and the bodies of a man and a boy were found walled up in a 10-meter wall.
  • Another famous ghost is the spirit of Lady Mary Berkeley, who appears frequently from her portrait in The Gray Room. According to legend, Lady Mary's husband, Lord Gray Work, went to her sister, leaving her alone with her child. Since then, Mary has been wandering around the castle in search of her husband.

Gouska Castle

  • Prague, Czech Republic
  • Built by the ruler of Bohemia Ottokar II in the 13th century
  • The castle was not built to protect from outside, but to protect people from what is hidden inside the castle. According to legend, the passage in this place led directly to hell, from where a half-man-half-monster once emerged, and demons, witches and other evil spirits also fell into our world. In the center of the castle there is a well, from which sometimes hellish sounds are heard. Before the construction of the castle, the inhabitants lowered a soldier with a rope into the pit. The soldier let out a scream, they pulled him out, and after a couple of days he died. In 1930, Gouska Castle attracted Hitler's attention and was very popular with the Nazis, who began to use it for a number of secret experiments and occult experiences. This is evidenced by several bodies of Nazi soldiers who were executed in the basement of the castle. According to rumors, skeletons of unearthly creatures were found in the castle. Ghosts still walk around the castle - a black horse without a head and a bulldog man. And a woman in a black dress is constantly shown from the window of the upper floor. Only the most courageous tourists decide to go down into the underground, because demons still roam there, who came to us from the other world.

Rozmberk castle

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  • Czech
  • Rozmberk is one of the most mysterious Czech castles located in the south of the country, near the Austrian border.
  • Named after the aristocratic family that owned it.
  • The most famous ghost Czech castles is the White Lady (or the Lady in White, as it is also called).
  • Once upon a time in this Czech castle, Baron Rozmberk. He was a cunning and greedy man. The main henchman of Baron Rosenberg was a monk who prepared all the documents for his master and thereby helped him to seize more and more lands. One day the baron wanted to seize the land plot on which the monk's relatives lived, so the monk refused to draw up the documents, for which he was executed by the baron. While dying, the monk cursed the baron himself and all his descendants. The baron has only one daughter, Perkhta, whom he tried to marry as profitably as possible. Perkhta married the Count of Liechtenstein and went to the groom's palace. But, since the greedy baron refused to issue the promised dowry, the young husband sent his wife back to her father. Already in old age, Lichtenstein came to her to ask for forgiveness, but Perkhta refused him. After that, the Count of Liechtenstein cursed the Rozhmberk family. Perchta still wanders through the castle corridors in the form of the ghost of the White Lady. It is believed that the sleeves of the White Lady's dress have the ability to change color, if they are white, then fortunately, if they are red, then to fire, if black, then to great trouble.

Eltz Castle

  • Germany
  • The first mention of the castle dates back to 1157, when Frederick I presented the castle to Count Rudolf van Eltz. Since then, the castle has always belonged to one single family.
  • According to legends, the castle was never captured, because it is guarded not only by living people, but also by the spirits of long-dead knights, who once owned it and are still guarding the castle.
  • In the castle you can also see the ghost of Countess Agnes, who, according to legend, died defending the castle from an intruder.

Lip castle

  • North Roscrea, Ireland
  • Lip Castle was built in the 15th century by the Ocarroll clan.
  • Lip Castle has a long and bloody history. During the reconstruction, a prison with human remains was found in the castle, which were filled with three carts. One of the most famous stories is connected with the chapel ("Bloody Scale"), in which in 1532 a soldier killed his brother priest with a sword. Since then, a priest has lived in the castle. Another terrible spirit is called a certain phenomenon, which is called "It". It does not look like a person, it is described as a creature the size of a sheep, but with a human face. When it appears, visitors smell sulfur and rotting flesh. In the castle you can also find the ghost of the Red Lady, holding a dagger in her hands. The castle contains the ghosts of two girls, Emily and Charlotte. Sometimes visitors see them playing and running around the castle. Or Emily flying from a height and disappearing near the ground (she died at the age of 11, having fallen from a height).
  • The dungeon of the castle is not ignored either. According to one of the stories, there is a room in the dungeon with a special hatch through which prisoners were thrown onto numerous metal spikes embedded in the floor.
  • Scotland
  • Built in the 17th century, the castle was originally owned by the Gregor clan. Today it is owned by the textile magnate J. Bullock.
  • In this castle lives the ghost of the wife of the chef Menzie Clan and it behaves very unusual. They say the woman was very loving and flirted with every man in a row. The husband could not bear such behavior of his wife and killed the woman, and cut the body in two before getting rid of it. Since then, the woman's lower body has roamed the lower floors of the castle and basements, and her upper body has been upstairs where men sleep.
    Some of the guests of the castle claim that at night, when they slept, they were kissed by a woman.

Bardi Castle

  • Italy
  • The castle was built in 900 to defend against Hungarian raids.
  • This castle attracts tourists with its romantic history. According to legend, the garrison of the castle was commanded by Captain Moroello, in love with the lady of the court Landi Soleste. Their feelings were mutual. Once Moroello went to battle, and Soleste remained to wait for him in the fortress. She climbed every day main tower and waited for Moroello. Once an army appeared on the horizon, adorned with the flowers of the enemy. Soleste jumped down, never knowing that Moroello had won and ordered his subordinates to put on the attributes of their enemies to show contempt for the enemy. Having learned about the death of his beloved, the captain also threw himself off a cliff. Visitors to the castle say they saw him wandering around the castle in search of his beloved.


Medieval castles weren't really just large fortresses with massive stone walls. These were ingeniously designed fortifications that used many ingenious and creative ways to protect the castle's inhabitants from enemy attacks. Everything from the outer walls to the shape and position of the stairs has been carefully planned to provide maximum protection for the castle's inhabitants. In this review, about the little-known secrets hidden in the construction of medieval castles.

Moat

Almost every castle was surrounded by a moat filled with water. It is generally accepted that this was an obstacle for the assault forces, but in fact it was not the main function of the moat.


One of the biggest problems for the inhabitants of a medieval castle or fortress was that the invading army could dig tunnels under the fortifications. Not only could the enemy get inside the castle underground, but the tunnels could also lead to the collapse of the castle walls. The ditch prevented this, since the tunnel dug under the ditch inevitably flooded with water and it collapsed.


This was a very effective deterrent against tunneling. Often the moat was laid not around the outer wall of the castle, but between the outer and inner walls.

Concentric circles of defense

This was an extremely effective method of defense for the inhabitants of a medieval castle, which looked like a series of obstacles surrounding the castle.


As a rule, such obstacles were (as far as the distance from the castle) a burnt and dug field, an outer wall, a moat, an inner wall, and a keep. The attacking army had to overcome each of these obstacles in turn. And it took a lot of time and effort.

Main gate

The main gate of the castle was often the most dangerous place the entire structure, since, if necessary, they could turn into a deadly trap.


They often led to a small courtyard, at the other end of which there was also another gate equipped with an iron lowering lattice. If the attackers broke through the first gate and ended up in the courtyard, then the grill fell, after which the aggressors were trapped.


At the same time, there were small holes in the walls of the courtyard through which the defenders could shoot from bows and crossbows at the trapped enemy soldiers.

Hidden secrets of the stairs

The stairwells in medieval castles were actually very elaborate. First, they were almost always helical, very narrow, and built in a clockwise direction.


This meant that the attacking opponents who climbed up the stairs (and one at a time, because the stairs were narrow), it was very difficult to fight, because they had a sword in their right hand. And since there was always a wall on their right hand, they had no opportunity to swing. The defenders, on the other hand, had the wall of the spiral staircase on their left hand, so they had more opportunities to swing.


Another original feature of the stairs was that they had uneven steps: some were very high and others were low. The defenders of the castle, being familiar with the local stairs, could quickly climb and descend along them, and the attackers often stumbled and fell, substituting themselves under attack.

Secret passages

Many castles had secret passages that served various purposes. Some of them were made so that the inhabitants of the castle could flee in case of defeat, and also so that during the siege the defenders were not cut off from the supply of food.


Secret passages also led to secret chambers where people could be hiding, food was stored and (which was quite common) an additional water well was dug.


therefore medieval castle was much more than just a large glamorous palace with massive stone walls around it. It was a structure designed down to the smallest detail to protect the inhabitants. And each castle was full of its own little secrets.

Among the splendor of medieval castles, there are not other, no less interesting architectural objects, such as.

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The most terrible castles in the world - the door to the otherworldly reality

Ancient castles have always attracted the attention of people, because they are shrouded in the secrets of the Middle Ages, they breathe with damp smells and dust, and amazing stories are told from generation to generation. Our "old lady" Europe has the most of such mysterious places

and if you suddenly want to go on a trip to european countries, do not forget to look into one of these castles, many of which, according to legends, are the door to the other worlds.

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

Having once visited this castle, even those who have desperately denied this phenomenon all their lives will believe in ghosts. Edinburgh Castle was built at the beginning of the 12th century, its visitors claim to have seen ethereal entities, both within the walls and outside the castle. According to legend, the ghost of a bagpiper still wanders around the castle, who got lost in the underground labyrinths of the castle and died there. And when the castle was in danger, the people living in it heard the drum roll. The drumbeat is beaten off by the ghost of a headless soldier, it was this soldier who warned about the offensive of Oliver Cromwell's troops during his lifetime, and the ghost of a dog was seen at the local cemetery.

Chillingham Castle, Northumberland, UK

Chillingham Castle was built specifically to repel the Scottish raids in the northern part of England. Bloody battles often took place around the castle, and captured enemies were immediately tortured and killed. They say that since then their restless souls wander around the castle. Here, more often than in other medieval castles, it is possible to take pictures of ghosts or video. Guests who spent the night in the Pink Room claim to have seen a shining boy, researchers say that this ghost belongs to a boy who was immured alive in the castle walls, his remains were found during the restoration of the castle. There is another amazing room in the castle - the Gray Room, in which there is a portrait of Lady Mary Berkeley, whose ghost descends from this portrait, she died after learning about her husband's betrayal.

Dragsholm Castle, Hoerve, Denmark

One of Denmark's most haunted castles. Researchers of otherworldly phenomena say that this castle was chosen by at least a hundred otherworldly entities. This inconspicuous castle has become a favorite tourist destination for this very reason. During the time of the knights, the castle performed various functions - it was a fortress, the palace of one bishop, a prison. The most famous otherworldly "guest" of the castle is the white lady. Once a father walled up his daughter in a wall because of a connection with a commoner, her restless soul is still in the castle. They see here, as well, the ghost of the count, who died in captivity. He scares the tourists with horse neighing.

Eltz Castle, Wierschem, Germany

The castle is very beautiful, located in scenic location, it was built back in 1157. Surprisingly, throughout history, this castle belonged to only one family, in this moment it is owned by the 33rd generation of owners. Inside the castle are the most chic interiors imaginable in medieval castles, and of course, the ghosts. According to legend, the castle was never captured, because it is guarded not only by living people, but also by the spirits of long-dead knights who once owned the castle, who are constantly guarding Eltz.

Moosham Castle, Salzburg, Austria

Moosham was built by a bishop in 1208, and since then it has acquired a very bad reputation, as hundreds of witches and sorcerers were beheaded here, now their spirits roam the castle. Visitors feel someone touching them, hear otherworldly voices, see something they cannot explain. Once this castle was a haven for a werewolf.

Gouska Castle, Czech Republic

Gouska Castle is located in deep forests in the north of the country, and it still inspires fear in the locals. By the way, not far from Prague, some 50 kilometers!

The castle was built in the 13th century for very strange reasons, because it was built not at all in order to defend against enemies and not as a home for a wealthy family. This castle closes the gates to hell! According to legend, at the place where the castle stands, there is a direct path into the abyss, from where demons, witches and other evil spirits fell into our world. All this devilry bothered the ruler, who decided to seal the entrance to hell by building a strong castle on this place. In the early 1930s, the Nazis conducted their occult experiments here. The most common ghosts in this castle are the black horse without heads and the bulldog man. A woman in a black dress constantly appears from the window of the upper floor. Only the most courageous tourists descend into the dungeons of this castle, because demons still roam there, who came to us from the other world.

Bran Castle, Transylvania, Romania

The castle was built in the 14th century, it is covered with legends about the mysterious Count Dracula, and it is called "Dracula's castle". This castle was also once the home of the famous Vlad Tepes, known as Vlad the Impaler, for the fact that he loved to impale his enemies. The castle is now a museum, visiting which visitors can contemplate antique furniture, decoration and art objects.

Tamuer Castle, England

The most famous otherworldly inhabitants of Tamuer Castle are the Black and White Ladies (a kind of chess queens) who appear in the vicinity from time to time. The story of the White Lady is such that when she learned about the death of her lover, she threw herself off high tower... And the Black Lady is the spirit of a nun named Edita, which other nuns called with their prayers long ago after their expulsion from the monastery.

Berry Castle Pomeroy, England

Once upon a time, a sad story happened in this castle, the castle was built in the 12th century and there is also a White Lady here. The White Lady was called Margaret Pomeroy, she starved to death elder sister Lady Eleanor, who always envied her sister and imprisoned her in a tower for 20 days. The ghost of Margaret is completely white and transparent, she is often seen above St. Margaret's Tower. People who have seen her experience anger, fear and depression.

Dunluce Castle, Ireland

Dunluce Castle is built on the cliff edge of the Antrim Coast and has been rebuilt several times over the years. In 1586, because of the ownership of this castle, civil strife began, which ended with the hanging of the castle constable. Since then, his ghost in a purple cloak and with a ponytail on his head, wanders the tower of the castle where he was killed. Visitors to the castle in some parts of it feel inexplicable chills, and the workers of the gift shop say that sometimes someone shifts books and plays with the radio.

Villa Whaley House, San Diego, California

This villa is one of the most haunted homes in the entire country. Previously, the building housed a court, and criminals were executed right in the courtyard. In 1960, a museum was opened here, visitors to the museum often see a woman walking through walls and a hanged man.

Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

This hotel is familiar to everyone who is an admirer of Stephen King's talent, because it was here that he wrote the plot for the novel "The Shining", and the shooting based on the novel took place here. Guests often see the ghost of the first owner of the house and his wife. The hotel staff say that strange sounds are heard from the vacant rooms, and the piano in the lobby from time to time starts to play by itself.

Villa Crenshaw House, Illinois

This villa is now state property and no entry is allowed, but this was not the case before. This villa was built in 1838 and was called the "Villa of the Old Slaves". Its first owner needed free labor to run the business, and he and his subordinates took over entire families of former slaves. People were kept in basements, in small closets, chained to the floor. The slaves were poorly fed, beaten and bullied. After the villa was sold, the new owners witnessed many paranormal phenomena, the ghosts that inhabit the house are the souls of tortured slaves. No one was able to spend the night in the attic. Without waiting for the morning, people ran away from there in horror.


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Still, medieval architects were geniuses - they built castles, luxurious structures that were also extremely practical. Castles, unlike modern mansions, not only demonstrated the wealth of their owners, but also served as powerful fortresses that could hold the defense for several years, and at the same time life did not stop there.

Even the very fact that many castles, having survived wars, the blows of the elements and the carelessness of the owners, are still intact, suggests that they have not yet invented more reliable dwellings. They are also incredibly beautiful and seem to have appeared in our world from the pages of fairy tales and legends. Their high spiers remind of the times when they fought for the hearts of beauties, and the air was saturated with chivalry and courage.

So that you are imbued with a romantic mood, websitecollected in this material 20 of the most famous castles that are still left on Earth. They will certainly want to visit and, perhaps, stay to live.

Reichsburg Castle, Germany

The millennial castle was originally the residence of King Conrad III of Germany and later King Louis XIV of France. The fortress was burned down by the French in 1689 and would have sunk into oblivion, but a German businessman acquired its remains in 1868 and spent most of his wealth on rebuilding the castle.

Mont Saint Michel, France

The inaccessible castle of Mont Saint-Michel, surrounded on all sides by the sea, is one of the most popular attractions in France after Paris. Built in 709, it still looks stunning today.

Hochosterwitz Castle, Austria

The medieval Hochosterwitz castle was built in the distant IX century. Its towers remain vigilantly watching the surrounding area, proudly towering above it at an altitude of 160 m. And in sunny weather you can admire them even at a distance of 30 km.

Bled Castle, Slovenia

The castle is located on a hundred-meter cliff, threateningly overhanging Lake Bled. In addition to the magnificent view from the windows of the castle, this place has a rich history - here was the residence of the Serbian queen of the dynasty, and later Marshal Josip Broz Tito.

Hohenzollern Castle, Germany

Barciense Castle, Spain

Barciense Castle in the Spanish province of Toledo was built in the 15th century by a local count. For 100 years, the castle served as a powerful artillery fortress, and today these empty walls attract only photographers and tourists.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

The romantic castle of the Bavarian king Ludwig II was built in the middle of the 19th century and at that time its architecture was considered very extravagant. Be that as it may, it was its walls that inspired the creators of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.

Methoni Castle, Greece

Since the 14th century, the Venetian castle-fortress of Methoni has been the center of battles and the last outpost of the Europeans in this area in battles against the Turks who dreamed of capturing the Peloponnese. Today only ruins remain of the fortress.

Hohenschwangau Castle, Germany

Chillon Castle, Switzerland

This medieval bastille looks like a warship from a bird's eye view. Rich story and the characteristic appearance of the castle have served as inspiration for many famous writers. In the 16th century, the castle was used as a state prison, as described by George Byron in his poem The Prisoner of Chillon.

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

The castle, located on a rocky island in the Loch Duich fjord, is one of the most romantic castles in Scotland, famous for its heather honey and legends. Many films were filmed here, but the most important thing is that the castle is open to visitors and everyone can touch the stones of its history.

Bodiam Castle, England

Since its founding in the 14th century, Bodiam Castle has experienced many owners, all of whom enjoyed fighting. Therefore, when Lord Curzon acquired it in 1917, only ruins remained of the castle. Fortunately, its walls were quickly restored, and now the castle is as good as new.

Guaita Castle, San Marino

The castle has been located on the top of the inaccessible mountain of Monte Titano since the XI century and, together with two other towers, protects the oldest state in the world of San Marino.

Swallow's nest, Crimea

At first, a small wooden house was located on the cliff of Cape Ai-Todor. And its current form " swallow's Nest”Received thanks to the oil industrialist Baron Steingel, who loved to relax in the Crimea. He decided to build a romantic castle that resembles medieval structures on the banks of the Rhine River.

Stalker Castle, Scotland

Stalker Castle, which means "Falconer", was built in 1320 and belonged to the MacDougal clan. Since that time, its walls have experienced a huge number of strife and wars, which affected the state of the castle. In 1965, Colonel D.R.Stewart of Allward became the owner of the castle and rebuilt the building with his wife, family and friends.

If you are a fan of traveling to places with a century of history, from which there is an air of archaism, take a look at what ancient castles are still inhabited by people and even ghosts.

Modern skyscrapers and design exhibition centers are gradually replacing traditional architecture from cities. Given their popularity, the desire to live in a secluded castle seems extravagant. Nevertheless, in every corner of Europe you can find old houses that have been preserved thanks to the efforts of loving owners. While they are not as comfortable as the state-of-the-art penthouses, castles have their own charm.

1. Chateau Plessis-Bourret, France

Its appearance is so severe that the castle looks more like a defensive fortress. Its interior decoration will amaze even the most sophisticated person, accustomed to luxurious decorations. It has not undergone any modifications: the absolute preservation of the original design makes the chateau truly unique. Plessis-Bourret was built in 1472 by Jean Bourret, who served as finance minister under King Louis XI. The briber Bure was so afraid of the uprising of the inhabitants of his lands that he ordered the palace to be surrounded by the widest moat in France. The drawbridge, which makes it possible to leave it, is still used for its intended purpose.

Modern owners do not hide their historical monument either from curious tourists or from filmmakers. In 2003, Penelope Cruz spent several unforgettable weeks at the castle, starring in the film "Fanfan Tulip" with Vincent Perez. Today anyone can follow her example by renting one of the Plessis-Burré rooms as hotel room... For those who prefer five-star hotels, free and individual excursions with a guide lasting several hours.

2. Residence of the Queen of Great Britain in Berkshire, England


Windsor Castle is the largest and most famous among the brothers still considered residential. Its splendor and scale scare and amaze at the same time: on an area of \u200b\u200b45 thousand square meters there is a complex of buildings with 1000 residential premises. For 900 years, Windsor has belonged to the ruling dynasty and all its members have the right to modernize the estate to their liking. Each new monarch expanded and expanded the area until the adjacent hardwood forest became Berkshire Park. At the end of the last century, the Queen's residence was urgently reconstructed due to an extensive fire.

The Queen of England today uses Windsor as a means of defeating foreign heads of state and other distinguished guests. She invites them to live in rooms decorated with Rembrandt and Rubens originals, antique candlesticks and gilded ceiling moldings. Who can then refuse a political request to the royal person?

3. Berkeley Castle, England


The second most populous palace in England after Windsor. At the end of the 12th century, it was bought by the surname Berkeley, which is in the title of Lords. In 1327, members of an influential family reluctantly became prison keepers in their own home. King Edward II's opponents overthrew him and placed him in Berkeley, requiring his owners to pledge to prevent any attempt to escape. In the same year, the estate began to be distinguished from the rest of the castles in the district by a high fence instead of a ditch with water familiar to the eye in those days. For six months, the prisoner twice tried to leave Berkeley, after which he was executed by the new ruler.

The heirs of the castle inhabit only 20% of its area: the rest is used as a hotel and museum. But the main source of their income is cinema. Berkeley's interiors can be seen in the series Wolf Hall, Castle in the Country and The Other Boleyn Girl.

4. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland


Built on an extinct volcano, the palace rises 120 meters above sea level. Scientists have found that the first walls appeared here in the Iron Age: they were built by soldiers who were planning a raid on the tribes of the Angles. Over the centuries, Edinburgh Castle passed from the ownership of England to the Scottish one and vice versa. Ten years ago, the British Department of Defense finally abandoned it. Residents of Scotland's largest tourist attraction were unaffected by this decision. Since the beginning of the 20th century, a dynasty of caretakers has lived in the castle, whose only duty is to fire a cannon every hour during daylight hours.

5. Castle Warwick, England


The vast majority of the residents of the house are TV and Youtube stars. The estate, built back in 1068 by William the Conqueror, is a regular participant in the show with psychics, "ghost hunters" and magicians. It even made it into the book Haunted Houses of Great Britain and Ireland. Anyone can find footage of internal surveillance cameras on video hosting sites with evidence of their existence.

Extreme temperature fluctuations, light anomalies and mysterious rustles are arranged by the "Gray Lady" and her assistants. The retired woman who is the heiress of the Earl-owner of Warwick also knows her. For 100 years, her figure has stumbled upon the inhabitants of the palace in its long corridors and scared aside at the sight of children. She does not know how to walk through walls, so Warwick is used to suddenly opening doors. Those who have seen her up close say that it is the ghost of an old woman, dressed in a gray dress. The "Gray Lady" is assisted by the county poet Fulk Greville, who was strangled in the Water Tower in 1628. His chilling cries are heard from the Tower several times a week. In addition to this couple, there are more than 10 unidentified ghosts living in Warwick.

6. Rock of Cashel, Ireland


In the castle on the rock of Cashel lives the caretaker of the cemetery, which spontaneously arose at its walls. A group of medieval buildings dating from the 12th and 15th centuries is adjacent to the Cormac Chapel, a small Romanesque church that houses the sarcophagus of the first owner of the fortress, after whom it is named. During a surprise enemy attack locals tried to hide in the church, but all were brutally killed. They were buried there, and soon new burials began to appear around the graves of the unfortunate victims. According to legend, dozens of spirits also live there.

7. Kronborg estate, Denmark


Built in 1420, a castle on the outskirts of Copenhagen is officially listed world heritage UNESCO. In order to protect it from capture by the Swedes, it was designed in the form of a complex system of labyrinths and underground passages... Creative personalities live in Kronborg - directors, actors, screenwriters. Each spring they create a new interpretation of William Shakespeare's theatrical production of Hamlet and present it to the audience.

8. Bran Palace, Romania


In picturesque Transylvania, there is the estate of the bloodiest resident of Romania of all time - Count Dracula. Bran is a well-known tourist attraction in the country, as well as a hotel with rooms in the form of wooden log cabins decorated with tiles. The legendary vampire loved to stay in it during his lifetime, but he did not leave behind any reminders in Bran. The interior of the castle has been preserved since the time of Queen Mary: she lived there after the count and decorated it with a large number of books, porcelain items and icons. The latter, according to rumors, were necessary for her to prevent the night visits of the vampire.

9. Pfalzgrafenstein estate, Germany


Even native Germans are unable to pronounce the name correctly the first time. It lies in the middle of the Rhine River: the Pfalzgrafenstein island used to be completely deserted and uninhabited. The fortress was built on it as a royal customs office, which checks ships passing by. Later it became the seat of the local nobility. In the 20th century, a state need arose to use the Pfalzgrafenstein as a lighthouse. Now the caretaker lives there and to go to visit him, you will have to cross the Rhine in a boat in the old fashioned way.

10. Fortification of Castel del Monte, Italy


The author of this structure was never found. In the 15th century, it was created as an astronomical calendar, in each room of which you can find out the time according to the sundial or the date according to the light calendar. Castel del Monte has 8 floors, each of which has 8 rooms designed. Modern astronomers managed to prove that the location of the fortress is really ideal for observing the starry sky. It was equipped as an observatory where scientists live all year round.