Talk:Houska Castle

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This article is written like an tourism advertisement, all the "occult" references are to various low-quality blogs.

How can there be folklore about a "bottomless pit" it the castle can be visited and such a pit simply isn't there?

Isn't it rather obvious that it's all a desperate attempt to make this bland and remote building interesting to tourists? Maikel (talk) 14:25, 6 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]

According to the folklore, the pit was covered by the castle itself. Some sources claim it is under the chapel, but it's likely in another part of the building. And I doubt the Czech tourism board is trying to boost revenue by fluffing the wikipedia arcticle for a 'bland and remote building.' 2001:569:BD44:B700:7072:5AC2:7BB7:BF38 (talk) 09:25, 22 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I found an academic source for most of this (so that the dubious tags could be removed) but the link that I used has since been broken. I am wondering if someone else can figure out how to access it. The source is: Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Fakulta humanitních studií, Tajemství hradu Houska, Bakalářská práce, Autorka práce: Dana Kolářová, Vedoucí práce: Mgr. Jan Kašpar. (translates as: Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Humanities, The Secret of Houska Castle, Bachelor thesis, Thesis author: Dana Kolářová, Supervisor: Mgr. Jan Kaspar, Prague 2011.) Here is the link: https://contattafiles.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/astonishing/fffDgOANZ-CWZvD/BPTX_2009_1__0_250755_0_58752.pdf

The castle was most likely completed in the 13th century (p.22)

Nazi use of the castle as a book depository (p.23, p.29)

The legend of the Swedish mercenary Oronto (or Orontos) who occupied the castle with his men in the 17th century. He and his men raided and plundered the local villages. Oronto was eventually killed by two "huntsmen" who were hired by the villagers (p.26-27)

The dark ghost of a monk who is the guardian of the "Gateway to Hell." (p.27, p.35)

Reports of strange sounds and a dark moving forms (p.41)

Source Quote: "There are no earth paths nearby, it was not a royal castle, nor did it fulfill the function of a border castle, it was built completely in desolate landscape and without an available source of water. There is no reason why he should have been this castle built. Houska Castle stands in a place which has no significance from a strategic point of view. There are no earth paths nearby, it was not a royal castle, nor did it fulfill the function of a border castle, it was built completely in desolate landscape and without an available source of water. There is no reason why he should have been this castle built."(p.36). Novoneiro (talk) 08:49, 21 November 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@Novoneiro: Try https://dspace.cuni.cz/handle/20.500.11956/37958