Houska Castle, known locally as the Gates to Hell in the Czech Republic it is thought to be one of the most haunted locations in the world. It is an early Gothic Castle that was built in 1253-1278 during the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia. It was turned from a Gothic castle into a Renaissance Chateau in the 16th century.
The Castle is located 47 km north of Prague in Blatce, it is situated in a remote area with no strategic value, and it is not situated on any trade route. The area is surrounded by swamps and thick forests surrounded by sandstone mountains.
Legend says that on the site before the castles construction there was a bottom cave/pit locals, believed to be the Gate to Hell. It was said that there were half animal, half human creatures inhabiting it and black winged creatures coming from it (probably bats). Local legend says Houska Castle was built to keep the evil in, the castles chapel built directly over the gates of hell to keep them closed. When construction of the castle began, local prisoners who had been sentenced to death were invited to the site and offered a reprieve for being lowered down into the cave and then reporting there findings.
The first volunteer was lowered down, and after only a few seconds after disappearing into the darkness his screams were heard above. When unfortunate fellow was pulled to the surface his hair had gone white and he was still screaming. The prisoner was sent to an insane asylum where he died two days later from unknown causes.
During the late 1930's the Nazis took over the castle and carried out experiments on dimensional portals and other fringe physic's experiments. In the Inner courtyard the skeletons of 3 German soldiers were unearthed, all 3 had been executed.