Famed internationally, this peaceful forest outside of Nottingham is known as the hideaway of medieval enigma Robin Hood.
Located within Sherwood Forest, the Major Oak is a striking tree whose roots date back millennia. It is believed Robin Hood and members of his Merry Men sought frequent refuge here.
Mystical limestone caverns with an enchanting waterfall reputed to house trolls, fantastical creatures that instilled reverence and fear in the local population according to Norwegian folklore.
Writhing and twisting their way through cobbled stone, the oak trees of Agia Theodora in Arkadia are miraculous. The emergence of these trees remains a mystery, even under scrutiny of modern science. These remarkable trees sprout seemingly from nowhere, an attribute to the church being built upon the site where Saint Theodora was condemned to death.
An eerie ambiance exists within the crumbling ruins of this underground temple, said to be the site where many nefarious rituals were held to appease and summon Hades, the God of the Underworld. Worshippers flocked here under cover of darkness to converse with the dead, provide sacrificial offerings, and assemble ominous chanting circles in an attempt to rouse spirits.
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Encased by picturesque fir forest, hikers scramble over a ’sea of rocks’ in Germany’s Odenwald, relics left behind from the Ice Age. As local folklore would have it, these stones came to be scattered here during the heat of an epic battle between two neighbouring giants who lobbed them at each other from across the land. Slain by his rival, it is said that the giant named Felshocker lays beneath these rocks and can be heard crying out, restless in his defeat.
Hercules, the Ancient Roman deity, is said to have close connections with these limestone caverns. Myths vary, some detail that Hercules sought shelter in the cave on his penultimate night of rest, whilst others dictate that the cave was formed by his hand as he smashed through the face of a mountain that stood between him and the Atlantic Ocean. Facing out to sea, the rear cave mouth is referred to as ‘the Map of Africa’ in ode to its resemblance in shape to the continent, supposedly carved by the Phoenicians.
Continuing to draw in visitors with its fabled tales of magical mysteries, the ruins of Blarney Castle are shrouded in equally enchanting forestry. Inside, the site beholds the infamous Blarney Stone — a slab of rock that promises ‘the gift of the gab’ to those who lean back and plant a kiss on its stony surface. This was a much desired effect, as the ability to entertain and charm has always been integral to Irish culture; a trait that is associated with Ireland to this day.
Deep are the roots of West African Vodun, an ancient religion whose worshippers serve ancestral spirits with often macabre ceremonious rituals that make use of skeletal remains and blood offerings. In this temple in remote Benin, a glimpse into the origins of voodoo can be seen. African pythons roam freely within, held in reverance by locals as totems of their deities.
In the densely forested regions of the Pacific Northwest and Canada, tall tales of Paul Bunyan — a heroic super-sized lumberjack spread by word-of-mouth in the late 19th century. Recounts of the story detail his trusted companion Babe, an equally oversized ‘blue ox’. Statues of the duo dominate the landscape and beckon visitors to traverse a playful pathway lined by wood carvings depicting the folk icon’s follies.
Bewildered visitors undertake a perilous journey to a tiny, rugged island amidst the open seas of the Scottish Hebrides, where lies one of the most captivating places on Earth. Legendary Celtic warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill is the namesake of this cave; a dramatic cathedral of basalt columns submerged and carved by the swelling sea. An enchanting natural echo ripples through the interior, boasting a musicality that has inspired the opus of many composers.
Whilst perusing the Krakow’s Wawel Castle, you may notice a striking silhouette of fire-breathing dragon jutting 20 feet above the surface. Symbolic of local folklore, the sculpture is a monument to a fierce, bloodthirsty dragon that would wreak havoc upon the townspeople. According to legend, the eerie limestone cavern directly behind the statue was nicknamed ‘Smocza Jama' — or ‘Dragon’s Den’ — in ode to the beast’s supposed lair.
Little is known about the reclusive life of St. Govan, a peaceful hermit who sought solitude on the fringes of a rocky stretch of coast in Pembrokeshire. He lived in isolation aside from occasionally crossing paths with roaming knights in King Arthur’s cavalcade. His body is said to be buried beneath the altar of this small chapel, which hugs a limestone cliff. Accessible by stone staircase, local guides perpetuate the legend that the number of steps tend to magically change between descent and ascent, with no explanation as to why.
Buried within the scant remains of the once mighty Knossos are the origins of a stirring folk tale that has endured for thousands of years. A fearful tale of the fabled ‘minotaur’, a spawn of the underworld that took form in the body of a man, yet with the head of a bull. Many brave warriors are said to have died within the walls of a subterranean labyrinth beneath the palace of the Cretan king.
An eerie atmosphere lingers over the decrepit ruins of an ancient Phoenecian burial ground where it is believed that ritual sacrifice took place. The origins of its name seem to imply that this place is hell on Earth, a likely truth based on the compelling evidence to support that infants were sacrificed to appease bloodthirsty Gods. Like much of the ancient empire of Carthage, the area was sacked by Roman conquerers.
Seeped in elaborate legends, mystery precedes this quaint chapel. Beneath, a subterranean crypt is said to conceal the head of Jesus Christ himself, Templar treasures, and even the Holy Grail. Many historians have rebuffed claims of links to Freemasonry and the Knights of the Templar, yet the conspiratorially minded remain speculative. After gaining much notoriety, these stories have multiplied.
Beset on a hillside, crumbling Čachtice Castle was the final residence of the depraved serial killer, countess Elizabeth Bathory. Driven mad by her family’s unanimous power and the occult, Bathory would lure young women to various castles in the region with lavish promises, only to be subject to her evil depravity. It was her belief that to bathe in human blood would keep her youthful forever, a bone-chilling story that has endured for centuries.
On the windswept north-western coast of Iceland, rudimentary ‘cottages’ constructed by turf are found to bear mysterious symbols, scrawled into wooden beams that hold up these humble hovels. Harkening back to a time where witchcraft was prevalent, these symbols were believed to ward off sinister spirits that would threaten the local community. Other carvings were drawn to connect with the ethereal world, in hopes that blessings would be given in an otherwise unforgiving existence.
