Everyone knows that every decent castle with a solid history must have its own ghost. Such an attraction increases its attractiveness at times, not to mention the cost. Krustpils Castle in Latvia is no exception.
GOD, DEVIL AND SACRED SACRIFICE
For 777 years the Krustpils Castle has been standing on the right bank of the Daugava. Over the past centuries, it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, changed a large number of owners, witnessed and participated in many historical events. The castle saw the offensive of Ivan the Terrible and the retreat of Napoleon, was a military hospital for the Germans and then Soviet soldiers, served as a garrison, school, home and even a film set.
It is impossible to imagine how many human destinies he experienced in his lifetime, how many intrigues, tragedies and dramas played out within these walls. It is even strange that, having such a rich history, Krustpils has bothered to acquire only one ghost in his entire life. But how! Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you: Lady in Brown!
It is the Lady in Brown that is the main attraction and the main inhabitant of Krustpils Castle. Basically, people come here as an invited host from a famous theater. And when they find themselves in the castle, they inevitably fall under the charm of the old walls. There is something to see and hear here. And now the more than 700-year history of the castle is becoming not only interesting, but also magical and exciting. So do not rush - we will always be in time for the Lady. Krustpils has many other secrets and mysteries!
Krustpils is the modern name of the castle, and originally it was built as Kreuzburg, that is, "castle of the cross". But what does this mean? There is nothing cruciform in the blueprints for this structure. It turns out that in 1237 the first owner and initiator of the construction - the Riga bishop Nikolai of Magdeburg - ordered to draw a cross over the entrance in order to save future inhabitants from the forces of evil.
Promotional video:
According to another version, the road to the dark forces was blocked by a large stone cross, installed at the entrance. Unfortunately, neither one nor the other has survived to this day, but it must be admitted that they fulfilled their mission with dignity: after all, the castle stands to this day.
But the guarding cross appeared later, but the construction of the walls was not without mysticism.
Legend says that the start of construction was accompanied by a serious problem. The place was chosen, the work was in full swing. But here's the trouble! No matter how many stones the masons laid in the daytime, in the morning they all turned out to be scattered around the neighborhood. This went on for a long time, until the builders realized that all this was the devil's trick.
Whatever they did to get rid of him, they offered money, read prayers all night long, and put crosses around. Nothing worked! Finally, one wise, but apparently not very humane person suggested: in order to appease an unclean person, you need to sacrifice a person to him.
The choice fell on a simple peasant - he was drunk to the point of feeling insensible and walled up in the foundation of the castle's main tower. And from that moment on, the construction went like clockwork: apparently, Satan accepted the gift, since he no longer made obstacles.
And the main tower itself eventually gained fame as miraculous. At its very top hangs a bell of desires, and everyone who has something to dream about rushes there. It's very simple: to make your wish come true, you need to kneel down, throw any coin into a copper basin and ring the bell. That's all! But, they say, the result is guaranteed.
HORSE PIG NOT COMMAND
The bishops of Riga were ousted from Krustpils by the knights of the Livonian Order. And those were later put out the door by the Poles. The Russians were also noted there - during the Livonian War. In short, the castle passed from hand to hand more than once, until finally, at the behest of the Polish king Stefan Batory, it fell into the hands of Baron Nikolai von Korf. It happened in 1585. Von Korf turned out to be strong masters - the castle remained in their possession for more than three hundred years, right up to the First World War. They left behind a good, albeit somewhat eccentric, fame.
They say that all von Korfs were distinguished by their remarkable intelligence, difficult character and were very fond of women. However, as a rule, they were in no hurry to get married. And for the time being they indulged in entertainment of a different kind: for example, they made a bet. One of the von Korfs once argued with his neighbor about whose horses are better. Nobody wanted to give in. But von Korf got so distracted that he declared: “My pigs run faster than your horses! We argue? " - "And then!" The neighbor happily agreed, looking forward to an easy victory.
Von Korf, on the next morning regaining consciousness, realized that he was playing a big fool. But here he was rescued by the famous Fonkorff ingenuity. He invented and carried out a brilliant undertaking: along the entire route, where the competitions of pigs and horses were to be held, he ordered to hang wolf skins. As a result, the horses, smelling the smell of predators, scurried around in fear and refused to run, and the baron's sows, as if nothing had happened, trotted along the path and eventually finished first.
THE SECRET OF ETERNAL ATTRACTION
If you happen to visit Krustpils, you will hear many more interesting stories. And at the same time you will definitely be shown the so-called mirror of the Baroness. It looks nothing special - a simple mirror in a carved frame on the dressing table. However, he has a magical property: it prolongs a woman's youth in the eyes of her husband.
The key to success is to appear in Krustpils on the day of your own wedding and look into the magic glass together - let the newly made spouse admire the young wife. If he sees her reflection in this mirror, then in his eyes she will forever remain as young and beautiful as on the day of the wedding.
And after that, is it any wonder that Krustpils has become a real Mecca for newlyweds: what woman does not dream of preserving eternal beauty and youth? Even if only for one man. For the same representatives of the fair sex who have not yet acquired a second half, it is also useful to look in a magic mirror: there will be no end to the gentlemen. In any case, all the baroness did this before the balls, so as not to miss a single dance. Although, of course, without a mirror, these ladies did not have to complain about the lack of attention.
Von Korfs were usually happily married (thanks to the mirror) and pampered their wives as best they could. One, for example, knowing how his wife adores horses, bought her a magnificent horse for her birthday. And at the same time a new carriage. I decided to arrange a surprise: here the Baroness wakes up, goes to breakfast, passes through the front hall … And there - a luxurious carriage and a horse!
One problem: the main hall, like the Baroness's bedroom, is located on the second floor, where a very steep staircase leads. But there are no obstacles for true love, especially when you are a rich baron with many servants. The carriage was disassembled and reassembled at the top, but how the horse was dragged, history is silent. The main thing is different: the surprise was a success, and the amazed baroness was very pleased with the gift.
LADY IN BROWN
Alas, not all von Korfs' lovers were so lucky. One of the young barons managed to fall in love with a servant girl. He was extremely determined to marry! The family, of course, is in a panic. No arguments worked for the lover; it was also not possible to pay off the girl with money.
The issue was fundamentally resolved: they lured the girl into the dungeons, built by the Riga bishop, and walled them up there … there is a cafe and a bar: dishes rattling, sighs …
Museum staff say that the Lady in Brown appears as soon as the door closes behind the last visitor. She does not hide too much from employees, and even those do not fear her, but rather welcome. It does not cause any harm, except that he does not like modern technology: here they have long been accustomed to the fact that computers constantly fail by themselves, and then they are also incomprehensibly repaired, mobile phones do not work, cameras and voice recorders fail.
But these are all little things that you shouldn't even pay attention to. Seeing a Lady in brown is considered a good omen: they say that she herself, who has not known happiness in love, gladly brings it to others. That is why the night tour of the Krustpils Castle dungeons enjoys stable popularity. What if you are lucky, and the once failed bride, and now the true mistress of the castle, who has outlived all her enemies and foes, will decide to arrange someone's fate? Why not?