Were medieval peasants being dragged to Hell by demons? Did a pit, straight to the Underworld, exist in a limestone cliff? Was building a chapel on top the best way to stop winged creatures from carrying off livestock? This week's legend is: Houska Castle’s Gateway to Hell.
-
“History & Mysterious Forces.” Houska Castle, https://hradhouska.cz/
-
Perry, BP. “The Gateway to Hell: Why Was Houska Castle Built?” Sky History Channel, https://www.history.co.uk/articles/houska-castle-gateway-to-hell
-
“Houska Castle.” The Little House of Horrors, 16 June 2021, https://thelittlehouseofhorrors.com/houska-castle/
-
Baxter, Stew. “Inside Houska Castle (Built to Close a Gate to Hell).” Dark Tourists, 19 Dec. 2019, https://darktourists.com/inside-houska-castle/
-
stonoceno. “Houska Castle.” Atlas Obscura, 29 Jan. 2018, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/houska-castle
-
Mark, Joshua J. “Religion in the Middle Ages.” World History Encyclopedia, 28 June 2019, https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1411/religion-in-the-middle-ages/
-
Morton, Caitlin. “19 Haunted Castles Around the World That You Can Visit.” Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Aug. 2025, https://www.cntraveler.com/info/about-us
-
K., Commander. “Houska Castle — the Gates of Hell.” Medium, 15 Feb. 2024, https://medium.com/@commanderk/houska-castle-the-gates-of-hell-d2cb5e3c2e90
-
Remitly Editorial Staff. “Houska Castle Guide: Bohemian Legends and Gothic Architecture.” Remitly, 25 Sept. 2025, https://www.remitly.com/blog/lifestyle-culture/houska-castle/
-
Kiesewetter, Pauline. “Houska Castle: So Close to Hell?” Dlubal, 6 Jan. 2025, https://www.dlubal.com/en/news-and-events/news/blog/000165
-
Dehning, Michaela. “Dark Legends of the Houska Castle.” Prague Monitor, 16 Mar. 2021, https://praguemonitor.com/life/16/03/2021/the-dark-legends-of-the-houska-castle/