Skip to main content

WAARDENBURG CASTLE, THE NETHERLANDS

 





WAARDENBURG CASTLE, THE NETHERLANDS

Waardenburg Castle nowadays is a remnant of a castle with a polygonal shape dating back to around 1283. The castle was preceded by a wooden castle built in 1265. It was then known as Hiern Castle, named after the hill is was built on. This wooden castle was founded by a Rudolf Cock. His ancestors owned the castle until 1401, which was then known as Weerdenbergh Castle. This name translates as "washland hill". During the Eighty Years War, in the 16th century, the castle was taken by surprise and pillaged. The castle was heavily damaged in the process; only its heavy walls and the shells of the towers survived.
The castle remained a ruin until 1627 when a Johan Vijgh gained ownership and started partially rebuilding the castle. During this rebuilding the bailey and the southwing, in which the entrance gate was situated, were completely demolished. In the following centuries the castle was successively owned by the Aylva and Van Pallandt families. Even in 1895 the eastern wing of the castle was enlarged and fitted with a little stairtower. Today the castle lies separated from the river Waal by a dike. But in earlier centuries the river flowed by its walls. Waardenburg Castle is now owned by the "Friends of the Castles of Gelderland"-foundation.
Faust’s home, castle Waardenburg
Faust is famous because of the story by Goethe, based on a German legend. However, few know that this character really existed. Johann Georg Faust was born in Germany around 1480. It was said that he preyed on his young male students and that he practised magic and alchemy.
His habits and different way of thinking resulted in the story that he had sold his soul for idle pleasure. The devil would be his servant for seven years and help him with his experiments. He is thought to have died in an explosion, caused by his own experiments. Some decided that this was the work of the devil, who had come to collect his soul.
Where Faust died is unclear, but in Dutch stories, it was castle Waardenburg where he met his fate. At the top of the tower is a window with ancient bloodstains on the sides of the frame. It is said that this is where the devil dragged Faust away, and the place still feels like something remained to lurk there forever.
Whether Faust really lived in Waardenburg is not clear, but it is known that he spent some time in the Netherlands, and a very old Leeuwarden tale that the castle’s lord sold his soul to the devil existed long before the Faust legend became popular.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How To Get Rid of Negative Energy With Palo Santo

  How To Get Rid of Negative Energy With Palo Santo Whether it’s to refresh your spirit, to cleanse your home, or to help the not so friendly ghost move out, Palo Santo is a powerful helper. Palo Santo is one of a favorite items for clearing a person from negativity, a space from heavy energy, or even removing unfriendly Spirits. Don’t get me wrong, I love white sage, it’s one of the most widely known and used herbs for smudging. But not everyone likes the smell of white sage, and it can even cause respiratory issues for some people. But have you ever tried the sweet aromatic smoke of Palo Santo instead? Literally meaning “wood of the Saints” Palo Santo is just as effective as white sage, but has a much gentler touch. Palo Santo grows from Mexico all the way into South America, is related to copal and frankincense, and is used commonly in rituals and smudging in those areas. It is very good at keeping energy clear and grounded, and has a light, sweet and slightly piney scent. It wi...

ANCIENT ASTRONAUTS IN THE CAVE PAINTINGS OF TASSILI N’AJJER

  ANCIENT ASTRONAUTS IN THE CAVE PAINTINGS OF TASSILI N’AJJER Tassili n’Ajjer (Arabic: plateau of the rivers) seems like an endless stretch of unforgiving desert to the modern traveler. It’s a dry and visually harsh looking area, located in south-east Algeria at the borders of Libya, Niger and Mali. However, that initial analysis is somewhat deceiving. Covering more than 28,000 square miles of the Sahara desert and mainly composed of sandstone, Tassili n’Ajjer holds many secrets which have enamored both the scientific community and alien enthusiasts alike.  For hidden in the many caves and crevices in the crumbling rock, is a treasure trove of ancient cave paintings and rock art. Since it’s first discovery in 1910, and later exploration in the 1930’s, scientific teams have been searching the area in earnest. What they discovered on the cave walls, was both amazing and surprising; some say the pictures are factual evidence that earth has been visited by alien astronauts. Regard...

REAL OR NOT? "La Pascualita," the mannequin that might be a corpse

  REAL OR NOT? "La Pascualita," the mannequin that might be a corpse CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO’S LA PASCUALITA  has been giving window shoppers the creeps for decades with her eerily lifelike appearance and possible adventures after dark. Dressed in bridal wear and exhibited in an otherwise unremarkable storefront window, La Pascualita is not your average mannequin. Local rumor has it that the clothing dummy is actually the well-preserved corpse of the owner’s daughter, who died from a black widow spider bite just before her own wedding. Amazingly, La Pascualita has ‘lived’ in the La Popular store window for over 90 years. She made her first appearance on the 25th of March 1930, reportedly wearing a gown from the spring/summer collection. Immediately locals were struck by how real La Pascualita looked. They were also curiously concerned about her uncanny resemblance to the owner Pascuala Esparz, and given the recent passing of her daughter, rumors of a grisly origin instantly began t...