posted 11-02-2002 02:17 PM            

I was wondering if you had any information on *hidden* passages, rooms, dungeons, or anything else hidden in a castle. I'm doing a research project for English. (I'm a senior.) I have to have some kind of thesis, also. Thanks for any help you can give me!!

posted 11-02-2002 11:58 PM            

Try your local library for general books on castles.

Aslo, the word 'dungeon' is derived from the French term 'Donjon', which means the 'keep'. The dungeons of hollywood, the dark corridors and prison cells deep in the bowels of a castle are mostly a myth. Prisoners were seldom kept in castles during the time indicated above, and when so, usually they were of high rank and given good accommodation and food.

OK, as for secret passages and rooms, try using the search engine at the top right of the page and you should find some information from previous posts.

Such things are unfortunately still a secret today, and you will find few examples.

posted 11-04-2002 04:28 AM            

I can also think of several Scottish castles that had dungeons or prisons. The first few that come to mind are:
- Rothesay Castle (Isle of Bute, Argyll) which has a bottle pit;
- Threave Castle (Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway), a basement prison;
- Caelaverock (Dumfries and Galloway), which has a prison tower;
- Castle Levan (Strathclyde) had a basement used as a prison - where Marion Montgomery was starved to death.

No doubt there are many more.

Levan

posted 11-06-2002 04:44 AM            

Cochem Castle (Rheinland-Pfalz in Germany) has a secret passage, which goes in the town the guide says (but they didn't check it, because it is too dangerous to go inside, because of danger of collapsing). During the tour of the castle, the guides show you the entrance of the passageway.