Spooky River Cruise Ports
Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert
Halloween is this Sunday 31 October 2021.
I thought you might enjoy some spooky places you could visit while on a river cruise.
So, let’s explore together and learn about Halloween—you won’t be disappointed!
The Origins of Halloween
According to the website of History.com, Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, in which folks would build huge bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.
In the 8th Century, when Pop Gregory declared that November 1st was All Saints Day, the time to honor and remember all the Saints.
Over time some of the traditions of Samhain were incorporated into the All Saints Day and the evening before was called All Hallows Eve.
Now, the celebration has become the traditions we observe today and we enjoy dressing up in costumes, kids and adults get to trick-or-treat and we all are reminded of scary places in the world.
Rhine River Spooky Places
Rheinfels Castle, in the Rhine River Gorge, was the largest castle in this wonderful collection of 40 castles. While most is in ruins today, it had an extensive maze works of tunnels that the defenders could use to make surprise attacks on any enemy forces if the castle was under attack.
Rheinfels Castle ruins has a series of tunnels and catacombs that legend says have perished soldiers ghosts haunting these ruins.
The spooky facts are many ghosts of these defenders are said to still roam these areas, as explosive accidents and actual seizes cause them to lose their lives. Paranormal investigators claim there are shadows and unexplained activity in the foundations, especially the catacombs area. You can actually stay here if desire or like me, just enjoy the view while sailing the Rhine River Gorge.
Further down the Gorge area Reichstein Castle is another haunted place.
Reichstein Castle is said to be haunted by a ghost of a previous lord of the castle who was beheaded
According to the legend, a headless ghost wanders the castle.
Here is the story—in the 16th century, the Holy Roman Emperor, ordered the lord of the castle and his 9 sons hanged. The lord of the castle, offered his executioners a deal—if they chopped of his head and he managed to walk past his 9 sons headless, then they were to be spared.
His head was cut off, but he managed to walk past all 9 sons before tumbling to the ground. He saved his sons, but still roams the grounds.
Mauseturn Toll Tower
Mauseturn Toll Tower is another spooky place,
The legend of this tower is that the Archbishop of Mainz, Hatto, collected a corn tithe from the river barges. After one year of bad harvest, peasants came asking for grain.
He sent the peasants to the storage barn, locked then in and burned it down.
All died except the mice, who chased Hatto to the Mauseturn (mice tower) and ate him alive. It is empty today.
Lorelei Rock, a bend in the Rhine River south of St. Goarshausen, is another spooky place.
The legend is of a siren who lures sailors to their doom in this most dangerous part of the Rhine. Here is the story—a beautiful maiden fell in love with a sailor, they became lovers, and he promised to return for her. She waited faithfully for his return on a rock at the narrowest and shallowest point of this part of the Rhine River.
He never returned and she jumped off the rock to her death.
The legend now says her spirit sits on the rock, combing her beautiful hair, and softly singing. The spirit seeks revenge against her unfaithful lover. Sailors are so enchanted with her beauty, they become distracted and either crash or perish in these dangerous waters.
Moselle River Spooky Places
Reichsburg is another spooky place, but doesn’t look spooky.
Cochem Castle
The tower just in front of the big square tower keep, that is white stone and a pointed roof is the Witches Tower.
Standing on a hill 300 feet above the town of Cochem, this elaborately restored castle (it was destroyed by the French in 1689) is a fun and interesting visit. Many river cruise companies visit this castle.
The original castle, whose first purpose like many others on the rivers of Germany was to collect tolls, was rebuilt from 1868 to 1890.
While not authentic, it is still cool—great vistas, interesting rooms, perhaps most importantly, at first glance, it is an impressive structure and I enjoyed visiting it.
What makes it spooky, is the Witches Tower, the oldest part of the original castle. In medieval times it was used as a witchcraft trail place. The horrible way to determine if she was a witch or not was to throw the lady out of a window. If they died, they were given a Christian burial, since they were not a witch!
Harsh times, and very spooky!
Danube River Spooky Places
Braun Castle
In Romania, Braun Castle guards the strategic pass between Transylvania and Wallachia and is renowned as home to Vlad the Impaler, or as most folks want to remember him, as Dracula’s castle.
Most of this legend comes from the novel of Dracula, but the castle is supposed to belong to Vlad, although he perhaps spent 2 months at best here. Not really his castle, but it’s good enough for me—it is still a cool castle!
We visited on a rainy day and after going in the strong castle doors, to get to the main floors, we had to go up the very tight, windy stairway that spiraled in a spooky fashion.
The castle rooms look quite lived in, since they have been remodeled several times, but with passage ways and small connecting rooms, it is a fun visit.
Next is the lonely Danube castle of Baba Vida in Bulgaria. This castle is named after Vida, the daughter of a wealthy Bulgarian boyar.
According to the legend, due to the unsuccessful marriages of her two sisters—Kula and Gamza, Vida rejected all proposals for marriage, built the castle and remained in it for the rest of her life as the protector of Vidin. It is said her ghost roams the castle and grounds, serving to ward of enemies and evil doers of the world and the world of spirits.
Somehow, knowing the legend, and seeing this small but well-constructed castle, I could easily see her spirit standing in defense of the invading Turks.
Baba Vida castle is a common stop by many river cruise lines while sailing the lower Danube, and Braun Castle is a common post cruise land extension.
Nile River Spooky Places
Last, but not least, is the “Curse of the Nile.” King Tut’s tomb was discovered untouched in the Valley of the Kings. The leader of the expedition, late in 1922, the British archaeologist Howard Carter, discovered the tomb, along with the 5th Lord of Carnarvon, who financed the project. It was full of treasures and an amazing discovery.
The news of the discovery quickly became a worldwide press sensation. As one sensational story followed another, some writers began to tell of the Curse of the Pharaohs.
New York World magazine published the best-selling novelist Marie Corelli’s speculations that “the most dire punishment follows any rash intruder into a sealed tomb”
Then It was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the famous author of Sherlock Holmes fame who started the speculation when he told the American press that ‘an evil elemental’ spirit created by priests to protect the mummy” and thus was born the legend of the curse of the Nile.
When first the Lord died suddenly and then Howard Carter died next, the legend now persists to today and has been the source for many horror movies.
Visits to the Egyptian Museum and the Valley of the Kings are common on many Nile River Cruises
My Final Thoughts
Wow—Spooky Places
We hope you enjoyed this report—but be careful out there this Halloween and during your various river cruise trips—we don’t want and ghost or spirits spooky you!.
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HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 50 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:
AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent
