Everyone knows: every decent castle with a solid history should be your ghost. A similar attraction at times increases its attractiveness, not to mention the cost. Castle Krustpils in Latvia is no exception.
GOD, THE DEVIL AND THE SACRED VICTIM
For 777 years, Krustpils Castle has been rising on the right bank. Daugava. Over the past centuries, it has been destroyed several times and rebuilt again, changed a large number of owners, became witness and participant in many historical events. I saw the castle the offensive of Ivan the Terrible and the retreat of Napoleon, was a military served as a hospital for the Germans and then Soviet soldiers garrison, school, home, and even a movie set.
A photo from open sources
It is impossible to imagine how many human destinies survived in his lifetime, how many intrigues, tragedies and dramas broke out in these walls. It’s even strange that having such a rich history in all Krustpils bothered to get only one ghost in his life. But how so! Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce: Lady in brown!
It is the Lady in Brown that is the main attraction and the main inhabitant of Krustpils castle. Mostly on her, as on I’ll invite a guest from a famous theater, and people come here. And when find themselves in the castle, inevitably fall under the charm of the old walls. There is something to see and what to hear. And now more than The 700-year-old history of the castle becomes not only interesting, but also magical, exciting. So do not rush – to the Lady we are always in time. Krustpils has many other secrets and mysteries!
A photo from open sources
Krustpils – the modern name of the castle, and was originally built he is like Kreuzburg, that is, the “castle of the cross.” But what is it mean? There is nothing cruciform in the drawings of this structure. It turns out that in 1237 the first owner and initiator of construction – Riga Bishop Nikolai Magdeburg – ordered to draw over entrance cross to protect future inhabitants from the forces of evil.
According to another version, the road to the dark forces was blocked by a large stone cross installed at the entrance. Unfortunately, neither the other has not survived to our days, but, admittedly, they worthily fulfilled their mission: after all, the castle still stands day.
But the guard cross appeared later, but the erection of the walls did not there was no mysticism.
The legend says that the start of construction was accompanied by a serious problem. The place was chosen, the work began to boil. But here trouble! No matter how many stones the masons put in the afternoon, in the morning all of them turned out to be scattered around the county. This went on pretty long, until the builders realized that all this is a trick trait.
Whatever they did to get rid of him – and money offered, and prayers all night read, and crosses around set. Nothing helped! Finally, one wise, but apparently not a very humane person suggested: to appease the unclean, need to sacrifice a man to him.
The choice fell on a rustic peasant – he was given to drink insensibility and even walled up in the foundation of the main tower of the castle. And with from that moment, the construction went like clockwork: apparently Satan accepted the gift because he no longer posed obstacles.
A photo from open sources
And the main tower itself gained fame over time miraculous. At its very top is a wish bell, and that’s all, who have something to dream about, rush there. Everything is very simple: to make a wish come true, you need to kneel down, quit any coin in a copper basin and ring the bell. That’s all! But, they say, the result is guaranteed.
HORSE PIG NOT COMRADE
Riga bishops ousted from Krustpils by Livonian knights orders. And those later put out the door of the Poles. Checked in there and Russians during the Livonian War. In a word, the castle more than once passed from hand to hand, until finally at the behest of the Polish king Stefan Batory did not fall into the hands of Baron Nikolai von Korf. It happened this is in 1585. Von Korfa turned out to be strong masters – in their the castle remained in possession for more than three hundred years, right up to the First World War war. They left a kind, albeit somewhat eccentric glory.
It’s said that all von Korfa had a remarkable mind, difficult character and very fond of women. True, with marriage, usually not in a hurry. And for the time being indulged other kinds of entertainment: for example, betting. One of the background Korfov somehow argued with his neighbor about whose horses are better. No one wanted to give in. But von Korf was so divided that he said: “My pigs run faster than your horses! Do you bet?” – “And then!” Neighbor happily agreed, anticipating an easy victory.
A photo from open sources
Von Korf, having regained consciousness the next morning, realized that he had dumped a large a fool. But then the famous Fonkorf savvy helped him out. is he invented and implemented a brilliant undertaking: throughout the route where the competitions of pigs and horses were to take place, he ordered to hang wolf skins. As a result, the horses, smelling the predators in fear dodged around and refused to run, and sows the baron, as if nothing had happened, was cowardly along the path and in the end finished first.
SECRET OF ETERNAL ATTRACTIVENESS
If you happen to be in Krustpils, you will hear more many interesting stories. And at the same time they will definitely show you so called the mirror of the baroness. Looks nothing special – simple mirror in a carved frame on the dressing table. However he has magical property: it prolongs a woman’s youth in her eyes husband.
The key to success is to appear in Krustpils on the day own wedding and look into the magic glass together – let the newly made husband will admire his young wife. If he sees her reflection in this mirror, then in his eyes she is forever will remain as young and beautiful as a day weddings.
And is it then surprising that Krustpils has become real Mecca for the newlyweds: which woman does not dream of preserving the eternal beauty and youth? Even if only for one man. Same the fair sex, who have not yet got a second half, a look in the magic mirror is also useful: from cavaliers will not hang up. Anyway, all the baronesses are so acted before the balls, so as not to miss a single dance. Though, of course, and without a mirror complain about the lack of attention to these ladies did not have to.
A photo from open sources
Von Korfa was usually happily married (thanks to the mirror) and They spoiled their wives as best they could. One, for example, knowing how his wife loves horses, bought her a beautiful horse for her birthday. A at the same time a new carriage. I decided to arrange a surprise: here is the Baroness wakes up, goes to breakfast, goes through the front door hall … And there – a magnificent carriage and a horse!
One problem: the front hall, like the baroness’s bedroom, located on the second floor, where a very steep staircase leads. But there are no obstacles to true love, especially when you are rich Baron Wed many servants. The carriage was dismantled and assembled again already above, but how the horse was dragged, history is silent. The main thing is friend: the surprise was a success, and the astonished baroness remained very happy with the gift.
LADY IN BROWN
Alas, not all beloved von Korfov was so lucky. One of young barons managed to fall in love with a maid. Configured he was extremely determined – to get married! Family, of course, in panic. No arguments on the lover did not act, pay off money from the girl also failed.
A photo from open sources
They resolved the matter radically: lured the girl into the dungeons, still built by the Riga bishop, and walled up there … But quite to get rid of the failed bride failed – since then at night she wanders around the castle, and along that wing, where before Baron cuisine was located, and now there is a cafe and bar: thunders dishes, sighs …
Museum workers say the lady in brown appears as just closes the door for the last visitor. From employees she is not too lurking, and even those are not afraid of her, but rather welcome. It doesn’t cause any harm, unless modern technology He loves: here they are used to the fact that computers constantly themselves themselves fail, and then also incomprehensibly repaired, not mobile phones work, cameras and voice recorders fail.
But these are all trifles that you should not even pay attention to. Seeing Lady in brown is considered a good omen: they say she, she did not know happiness in love, she brings it with pleasure to others. And therefore, a night tour of the dungeons of Krustpils the castle is stable in popularity. Suddenly lucky, and she a bride who never happened before, and now she’s a true mistress of the castle, having outlived all her enemies and enemies, she decides to arrange someone fate? Why not?
War Time Money Mirrors
