Magical Places in the Czech Republic: The White, Black and Blue Ladies of Castles and Châteaux

The most intriguing ghosts you’ll find in our castles and chateaux are the White Ladies. They might not consider themselves ghosts, but their presence is usually associated with strange sounds and light phenomena: you can hear the rustling of old skirts, the creaking of ancient doors, the clatter of shoes on the cobblestones, and a light that suddenly goes out around the corner. Set off with Kudy z nudy to castles, chateaux and other places where, according to folk legends, white, black and blue ladies appear.

The famous White Lady of Rožmberk

The most famous of the white apparitions is the White Lady, who became the family ghost of the Vítkovec and Rožmberk families. She was modelled either on Perchta of Rožmberk or Markéta of Hradec, and in places such as the castle and chateau in Jindřichův Hradec, Rožmberk Castle, Třeboň Chateau, Telč Manor House and the castle and manor house in Český Krumlov, she was, according to many accounts, seen with keys fastened to her waist as she walked through the corridors and halls. When she smiled, it meant that a pleasant event was approaching. Conversely, if she wore black gloves and had a sad expression, it meant that some misfortune was imminent.
Perchtawas a real person, not merely a vague legend. She lived in the 15th century, was born into the powerful Rožmberk family, and was married to Jan of Liechtenstein in Mikulov. Her marriage was unhappy, and it is Perchta’s letters that today rank among the most compelling personal accounts of that era. Perhaps that is why, in folklore, she became the silent protector of the family, who still appears at the Rožmberk estates to this day.
Her portraits can be found in almost all the Rožmberk estates. She was so famous that Alois Jirásek dedicated a chapter to her in his work Old Czech Legends. You can meet her at Rožmberk Castle, where her portrait is one of the highlights of the castle’s interiors. At Třeboň Castle, the White Lady also appears in a more playful guise, where children on tours with the White Lady Perchta learn what it is like to be a ghost, what the colours of her gloves signify, and where the treasure is hidden.

The White Lady of Pernštejn and the Lord’s Garden

Whilst we know a great deal about the identity of the Rožmberk apparition, little is known about the White Lady, about whom you will be told at Pernštejn Castle. She too changes the colours of her gloves and veils; white signifies happy events, whilst black brings misfortune. When the last Pernštejn, Vratislav, fell at Tangermünde in Germany in 1631, bringing the family to an end, she is said to have appeared on the ramparts at night, without a bonnet, full of sorrow and despair.
After the family died out, the White Lady of Pernštejn vanished, but she was replaced by another figure: the unkempt maid Eliška roams the castle at night. It is said that one day, in her little room before the mirror, she spent so long combing her hair and primping that she forgot about mass. When thunder was heard, the floor opened up and Eliška fell into the ground as punishment.
When you visit the castle, be sure not to miss the magnificent Manor Garden. This recently restored garden on the south-western slope of the castle, set in unusual mountainous terrain, is a unique collection of various garden styles. You’ll be guided through a formal French garden, a romantic garden, an Anglo-Chinese section, and on to the woodland areas. The tour is physically demanding and full of steps, and is accessible from the castle’s third courtyard after paying the entrance fee.

Black Berta of Sychrov: a ghost who doesn’t bring bad luck

Not all black ladies portend misfortune. At Sychrov Castle, Black Berta wanders at night – a kind and good-hearted ghost who wears rustling skirts. This apparition was inspired by a real historical figure: Berta, Princess of Rohan and Duchess of Bouillon, who lived at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Her fate was not an easy one, but the Sychrov legend did not turn her into an evil creature; rather, she became a quiet lady who belongs to this romantic castle with its neo-Gothic atmosphere just as naturally as the Rohan portraits, the woodcarvings and the castle park.

The Black Lady of Buchlov and an old murder

According to legend, the Black Lady appears at Buchlov Castle: a lady in a dark gown with her face covered by a veil. Her story is linked to a tragedy from the late 16th century, when the lord of the castle, Jindřich Prakšický of Zástřizl, was murdered. His own rapier was reportedly found in his body, and this murder remains to this day one of the dark chapters in Buchlov’s history.
Suspicion at the time fell on his wife, Kateřina Rájecká of Mírov. Their marriage was not a happy one and, according to contemporary records and later legends, the couple were constantly at odds. It is not clear, however, whether Kateřina was actually involved in the crime. Jindřich had many enemies: he was embroiled in property disputes, lived in the chaotic world of aristocratic rivalry, and several people may have had a motive for revenge.
Legend, however, has chosen its own version. It is said that Kateřina successfully escaped worldly punishment, yet still found no peace: as the Black Lady, she is said to appear in the so-called ‘chamber of the dead’, where the bodies of the deceased were once laid to rest and where poachers were also tried. Today, visitors will find one of Buchlov’s most famous curiosities there – a genuine Egyptian mummy. Buchlov thus offers the perfect blend of history, legend and a slight chill, which is why we love old castles so much.

The Wicked Manda of Nové Město nad Metují

The ghost at the castle in Nové Město nad Metují has a similarly dark nature to the lady of Buchlov. She is known as the Black Lady or the Wicked Manda, and is said to have been Marie Magdaléna Trčková of Lípa, the wife of Jan Rudolf Trčka. She is said to have made such an impression on her subjects with her harshness, pride and malice that they cursed her after her death. According to legend, she still wanders the castle corridors to this day, a reminder of times when the nobility were not always remembered fondly.
However, the castle in Nové Město is well worth a visit even without the ghost stories: this Renaissance residenceon the square features an arcaded courtyard, gardens and interiors associated not only with the Trčka family but also with the later owners, the Bartoň family of Dobenín. Manda can thus be a great excuse to head to Nové Město nad Metují — for history, architecture and one exceptionally wicked lady of the castle.

The Blue Lady not only in Nové Hrady

At the castle in Nové Hrady in South Moravia, you are said to sometimes catch a glimpse of a lady in a blue dress and hat; this usually happens during the day, she is mostly smiling and occasionally waves in greeting. Not much is known about her origins or the rarity of her presence, but the locals consider her a good omen.
They also have their own girl in blue at Měděnec; it is said that, out of unhappy love, she drowned herself in one of the local ponds and since then her soul has been wandering the surrounding woods. Legend has it that she appears on Friday nights, wearing a blue dress with a white veil. In autumn, she carries a basket of fruit and offers it to passers-by.

Where else do other ghosts roam?

• • There are far more Black Ladies than one might expect: at Častolovice Castle, for instance, she appears once every fifty years, or whenever a member of the Šternberk family faces danger.

• • Valdek Castle in the Brdy Mountains also has its own Black Lady, and a similarly evil and ill-tempered ghost is said to haunt the chambers of Náchod Castle.

• • A White Lady also haunts the ruins of Cornštejn Castle, which lies above the Vranov Dam.

• • There is an unusual White Lady at the chateau in Dřevohostice; according to legend, she can be seen at exactly midday, her mouth ablaze with flames and holding a red-hot key to the treasures in her hand.

• • Some places have several white apparitions, such as the three white maidens with green wreaths on their heads who wander the ruins of Dršťka Castle near Rokycany.

• • Silent footsteps, doors opening and slamming, and other noises are said to accompany the nights at Nový Hrad in Jimlín near Louny. If the lights suddenly go out, it is clear that the White Lady has visited the castle; she is said to appear in the rear courtyard, in the longest corridor, and also by the gate.

• • The White Lady of Šelmberk Castle is said to be exceptionally vengeful and treacherous; her wrath is said to be directed mainly at lovers.

• • There are also many legends surrounding the ruins of Dívčí Hrad in Pálava. It is said that when the Swedes besieged the castle during the Thirty Years’ War, the vaults in the cellar collapsed and buried the castle lord’s two daughters. Since then, both have appeared as a pair of white maidens.

• • Conversely, the White Lady from the song ‘Na Okoř je cesta’ has never appeared at Okoř Castle and has never even been there. The song is, quite simply, just a fairy tale.