I was surfing Cracked.com yesterday when I saw a story entitled, “The 6 Creepiest Places On Earth.”
Yeah, right. This is probably one of those articles that uses a catchy title to lure in unsuspecting readers.
Um, no. Not in the least. While the Sedlec Ossuary was only ranked #3, it is by far – in my opinion – the creepiest place ever.
Naturally, the ossuary is in the former Czechoslovakia; home to my maternal grandparents.
For centuries the abbot in the small Czech town of Sedlec has been the Niagara Falls for dead people, regardless of cause of death. Ever since someone sprinkled soil from the Holy Land on the local cemetery in the 13th century, people from all over Europe started demanding to be buried there. The Sedlec graveyard kept growing until 1870, when the priests decided to do something about all those surplus bones lying around. Something insane.
Today, the Sedlec Ossuary is a chapel famous for being decorated with tens of thousands of human bones. This macabre style of interior design was the work of Czech woodcarver Frantisek Rint, hired to organize the church’s skeleton collection. The results were mounds of human remains in the four corners of the chapel, a terrifying chandelier built from every bone in the human body, and a massive skull coat of arms adorning the entrance.
I’ve gotta be honest: I really want to visit the place now. As long as I’m armed to the teeth with every weapon – for the dead and undead – I can carry.
Yeah, go right ahead… That just a ‘tad’ weird…
Thanks Wyatt, now I have a need for BBQ ribs………
I know I know, I denounce myself……………………..
Old NFO – As bizarre as some eastern European countries can be, the former Czechoslovakia usually leads the pack.
LDIV – I feel like learning to play the xylophone.
I was lucky enough to travel to the CR a couple of years after the Velvet Revolution took place in ’89. Didn’t get to Sedlac, fortunately. That place would creep me out for a bit. Damn good beer in the CR, but the food is very blah.
My brother and I share one opinion about ghosts. We don’t know if they exist, but we don’t worry about dead people… they can’t hurt you. Only the live ones can.
BTW, he lives in a house that is notorious for being haunted by a previous resident. And, yes, he has heard things that go bump in the night there. Never saw anyone/thing, just heard them.
Just read “The Blood Gospel” by James Rollins and some dame.
Excellent.
Neat!!!
I find that quite creative. I wouldn’t mind a chandelier like that. It sure would be a conversation piece
THAT. IS. AWESOME.
Do the priests there need to, bone up on their Latin? Does the sign outside say…No Dogs Allowed? Dexters summer home? I bet its bone dry in there. Bone Apatite!
“Oh the chandelier bone is connected to the roof bone, the roof bone is connected to the
flying buttress bone, the flying buttress bone is………….”.
Enough bones to keep The Cleveland Browns Dawgpound supplied for decades.
Thank god they’re not zombie bones.
Jim – I’m used to blah. Maternal grandmother made everything with bread and sauerkraut. And I loved it.
Robert B. – No. Thank. You.
JT – “And some dame.” SEXIST!
Sally Anne – How did I know you were going to say that?
EL – So it’s set. Me, you and Sally Anne will take the trip. Bring your vampire-hunting gear.
Jon – I wonder if anyone walks through there with a boner?
Wyatt:
So, a “go-bag” over there might consist of:
Garlic
SIlver bullets
Crucifix
Wooden stake
Mallet
Holy water
Mirror
Wolfsbane
And a…BOOMSTICK!
(…”groovy”…)
Stay safe out there