Castle Legends

Castle legends

Legend of the Immured Catherine

It is said that the wife of Lord Vincenc of Vartenberg, Catherine of Landstein, fell in love with the owner of the nearby castle Orlik above Humpolec - Lord Henry of Duba. When Vincenc found out about it, he allegedly ordered his people to kill Henry, and prepared a cruel end for Catherine as well. The body of his dead rival was placed in a niche in the castle chapel, and poor Catherine had to stand by his side. Then Vincenc walled her up alive with his own hands. At the beginning of the 18th century a walled niche was really discovered during the reconstruction of the chapel, and indeed, it contained two human skeletons - one reputedly with the remains of armour still on it.

The Legend of the Treasure and the Third Cross

The rumour goes that a great treasure of the Landstein Lords is hidden at Lipnice. The treasury is said to be hidden beneath the Third Cross. The first two crosses are carved in the castle gate, and he who find a third cross similar to the other two, will also find a secret cave with the treasure beneath it. But that treasure has a guardian - a skeleton with diamond eyes, and the explorer must be clever enough to outwit him and seize the treasury.

The Tale of the Black Man

At the beginning of the 19th century, one menial servant from the castle, with his face disguised with black coal dust, killed the governor of the dominion and his wife, and robbed them of their possessions. But the governor's wife recovered briefly and called the castle grooms. The servant was then caught in the town inn along with his two mates, and was sentenced to death by hanging. He killed himself before the execution, and from then on, his troubled soul is believed to wander around the castle seeking release.