Witchcraft at Moosham Castle
Nestled amidst the picturesque, yet often foreboding, landscapes of Austria’s Lungau region, stands Moosham Castle, a medieval fortress shrouded in a history so dark and disturbing that it has earned a chilling reputation as one of Europe’s most haunted locales. This formidable stronghold, with its imposing walls and ancient courtyards, was not merely a silent witness to the ebb and flow of regional power; it was the epicentre of unimaginable suffering during the infamous Zaubererjackl witch trials and, later, became entangled in terrifying legends of lycanthropy.
Moosham Castle’s past is a brutal tapestry woven with mass hysteria, torture, and death, leaving an indelible mark on its very stones. This isn’t a place for the faint-hearted, but for those who seek to confront the chilling realities of a bygone era, Moosham offers a visceral, almost tangible, connection to a period when fear, superstition, and injustice held sway.
To truly comprehend the profound darkness that permeates Moosham, one must delve into its historical foundations, recount the horrors of the witch trials, explore the unsettling werewolf legends, and consider the lingering spectral presence that many claim still resides within its ancient walls.
Foundations of Fear: A Castle's Bloody Genesis
The history of Moosham Castle stretches back to the 12th century, with its first documented mention appearing in a deed from 1191. It is believed to have been constructed upon the foundations of an even older Roman castrum fortress, suggesting a long-standing strategic importance for this elevated site overlooking the Mur valley.
Over the centuries, Moosham transitioned through various hands, notably becoming a possession of the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg around 1285. From the 14th century onwards, it served as the residence of an episcopal burgrave, a powerful administrative and judicial figure.
The castle underwent significant rebuilding and extension under Prince-Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach in the late 15th century, giving it much of the formidable appearance it retains today. By 1520, Moosham had solidified its role as an administrative seat for the entire Lungau region. This position, while conferring authority, also embroiled the castle in the turbulent conflicts of the time.
It was besieged during the German Peasants’ War of 1524–25 and witnessed numerous skirmishes and battles throughout the tumultuous centuries of European history, from the passing of Crusaders to the various Austrian-Hungarian wars. Each conflict, each siege, undoubtedly stained the ground around Moosham with blood, contributing to the grim aura that predates even its most infamous period.
This long and often violent genesis established Moosham not just as a defensive structure, but as a nexus of power, justice, and ultimately, profound suffering, setting the stage for the horrors yet to come.
The Zaubererjackl Trials: A Horrific Chapter in Witchcraft History
It is between 1675 and 1690 that Moosham Castle earned its most chilling notoriety, becoming the central administrative and judicial hub for the infamous Zaubererjackl witch trials – arguably the bloodiest witch hunt in Austrian history, and one of the most brutal in all of Europe.
This period of mass hysteria and unimaginable cruelty resulted in the execution of an astonishing 139 individuals, primarily on the grounds of Moosham Castle. What makes the Zaubererjackl trials particularly distinctive, and horrifying, is the demographic of its victims: an overwhelming majority were male, and a significant number were children and young adults.
The catalyst for this reign of terror was the arrest of Barbara Kollerin in 1675, accused of theft and sorcery. Under torture, she implicated her son, Paul Jacob Koller, and her partner, Paul Kalthenpacher. Koller, a young beggar, was soon demonised as ”Zaubererjackl” (Wizard Jackl), portrayed by the authorities as a malevolent leader of a gang of beggar children and teenagers who supposedly practised black magic.
The confessions, extracted under the most barbaric forms of torture – a regular feature within Moosham’s dungeons – spiralled out of control, leading to the arrest of hundreds of homeless, impoverished, and often disabled individuals. The records are stark: 113 of the executed were male, 39 were children aged between 10 and 14, 53 were teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 21, and only two were not beggars. The youngest victim, a boy named Hannerl, was just 10 years old, while the oldest, Margarethe Reinberg, was 80.
The methods of execution were sadistic even for the era. Victims were brutally tortured, some having their hands cut off and their chests branded with hot irons before being paraded through the streets as a warning. Many were hanged, some decapitated, and horrifyingly, some were burned alive at the stake within the castle grounds. The peak of the executions occurred in 1681, with 109 lives extinguished in that single year.
The Zaubererjackl trials were less about actual witchcraft and more a tragic manifestation of societal anxieties, post-war poverty, famine, and plague, with the most vulnerable members of society becoming convenient scapegoats. Moosham Castle, as the administrative centre for these trials, stands as a grim monument to this dark chapter, its walls echoing with the screams and despair of the innocent.
The Howl of the Beast: Werewolf Legends of the 19th Century
Even after the horrors of the witch trials subsided in 1690, Moosham Castle’s dark reputation continued. By the late 18th century, with the dissolution of the Moosham bailiwick by Archbishop Count Hieronymus von Colloredo in 1790, the castle fell into disrepair and partial abandonment. It was during this period, in the early 19th century, that a new, equally terrifying legend began to circulate, further cementing Moosham’s association with the supernatural: that of werewolves.
Reports began to emerge from the surrounding countryside of mutilated livestock – deer, cattle, and other animals – being found dead in the vicinity of the castle. The wounds were often described as savage, pointing to something far more ferocious than common wolves.
Superstitious locals, living in fear and perhaps influenced by the castle’s already grim history, quickly jumped to a terrifying conclusion: the residents still living within the decaying castle walls were lycanthropes, shape-shifting into monstrous wolves under the cover of night to sate a horrific bloodlust.
The mass hysteria that had gripped the region during the witch trials seemed to resurface, albeit with a different focus. Rather than accusations of sorcery, the fear now centred on a primal, bestial horror. The locals, driven by fear and a desire for vengeance, reportedly stormed the castle, captured its remaining residents, and, in a shocking act of vigilante justice, murdered them in the castle courtyard.
This brutal incident effectively emptied Moosham of its inhabitants for several decades. While no formal ”werewolf trials” akin to the witch hunts were recorded, this violent act demonstrates the very real and devastating impact that superstition and fear of the ’other’ could have on communities, transforming perceived monsters into actual victims.
The legend of Moosham’s werewolves, though less documented than the witch trials, adds another macabre layer to its history, confirming its place as a focal point for the darkest fears of humanity.
Lingering Shadows: Paranormal Phenomena and Accounts
Given its deeply disturbing past, it comes as little surprise that Moosham Castle is now widely considered one of the most haunted castles in Europe. Visitors and staff alike have reported a myriad of paranormal phenomena, suggesting that the anguish and despair that permeated its walls centuries ago continue to echo through its ancient chambers. These are not merely sensationalised claims but consistent reports that contribute to the castle’s unique, chilling atmosphere.
One of the most frequently reported experiences is the feeling of being watched or touched, particularly in the castle’s infamous torture chamber. The instruments of torment, some original to the castle, are still on display, creating a visceral connection to the suffering that occurred there.
Visitors have described sudden, inexplicable chills, a palpable drop in temperature, or the unsettling sensation of someone breathing on them. Disembodied voices, whispers, and even screams are said to be heard, especially at night or during paranormal investigations using EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) equipment. Shadow figures, fleeting white mists, and unexplained light anomalies have also been sighted moving through corridors and ancient rooms.
Doors are reported to open and close on their own, and phantom footsteps are heard echoing through empty halls, with no visible source. ”Toni’s Room,” believed to be the living quarters of the man responsible for much of the torture during the witch trials, is frequently cited as a locus of intense, dark energy, with visitors often feeling an overwhelming sense of dread or oppression there.
Whether these phenomena are residual energy imprints of past trauma, actual sentient spirits, or psychological reactions to the castle’s powerful history, they undeniably contribute to Moosham’s reputation as a place where the veil between worlds feels incredibly thin. For paranormal enthusiasts, it is a prime destination for an authentic, and often unsettling, encounter with the unexplained.
An Immutable Darkness: Moosham's Enduring Legacy
Moosham Castle stands today as an immutable testament to the darkest aspects of European history – a period when fear, religious fanaticism, and societal desperation conspired to inflict unimaginable suffering. Its story is a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked power, mass hysteria, and the persecution of the vulnerable. However, the castle’s enduring legacy is also one of fascination. It compels us to confront these uncomfortable truths, to learn from the past, and to remember the lives that were so cruelly extinguished within its walls.
In modern times, Moosham Castle has transitioned from a place of dread to a significant historical and cultural site. It attracts ”dark tourists” and paranormal investigators from around the globe, eager to immerse themselves in its chilling narrative. The castle’s current owners, the Wilczek family, who purchased and meticulously restored the crumbling ruin in 1886, have ensured that its history, however grim, is preserved and presented to the public.
Beyond its macabre tales, Moosham also houses impressive art collections, hunting trophies, and exhibits detailing its history, offering a broader cultural context. Yet, it is the raw, visceral tales of witch trials and werewolf legends that truly define its identity. Moosham Castle is more than just a stone edifice; it is a living, breathing museum of human folly and fear, where the whispers of the past continue to haunt the present, ensuring its place as a chilling, yet profoundly important, historical landmark.