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Whether one approaches by car or bus, the castle can be glimpsed from afar, perched above a clustered village of red roofs pushed into the side of densely forested hills. The peace and quiet of the scene evaporates as you get closer. During festival days, and especially on weekends, the mass of little kiosks, which sell everything from baskets and ceramics to kitchen ware and socks, spills out from under the castle into the village. Tables extend onto the streets from restaurants serving sizzling pork dishes and steaming Slovak dumplings. Music blares from a corner of the grounds, a mixture between traditional accordion, violin, and vocal harmonies, and loud disco music pumped in by a DJ.
Halloween-like props, a straw-stuffed corpse hanging by its neck from a tree, a pirate ship in the moat, black witches and fortune tellers are scattered all around the castle. Spontaneous shows re-enact ancient medieval legends. Knights clash on horses. Wizards enchant maidens. The atmosphere is almost uninhibited.
On the hour, falconers put on a spectacle as majestic falcons and hawks soar to towering heights and then swoop over the audience before returning to their master's arm.
All of this excitement surrounds the castle, which forms a kind of supporting cast for the festival's main attraction, a castle tour. Guides in full medieval costume lead tours of 40-50 people around the historic interior. Inside, each room showcases some bit of Bojnice history with live acts, a king and queen, Arabic dancers, and other famous Bojnice inhabitants. It gets a bit corny after a while, but at least the participants don't try to pretend otherwise.
5th International Ghost Festival
April 30 - May 10
SNM - Muzeum Bojnice, 972 01 Bojnice
Tel: 0862-430633 Fax: 0862-430051
e-mail: email@bojnicecastle.sk
Thursday April 30, 1998
12.00 - 18.00 Scary Castle Tour
19.00 - 20.30 Uncover your destiny using tarot cards
21.00 - 22.00 Lux in tenebris
22.00 - 23.00 Exegi monumentum
Friday May 1, 1998
9.00 - 18.00 Scary Castle Tour
19.00 - 20.30 Secret European History
21.00 - 22.00 Lux in tenebris
22.00 - 23.00 Exegi monumentum
23.00 - 24.00 Lux in tenebris
Saturday May 2, 1998
9.00 - 18.00 Scary Castle Tour
19.00 - 20.30 Aura Watching and Personal energy
21.00 - 22.00 Lux in tenebris
22.00 - 23.00 Exegi monumentum
23.00 - 24.00 Lux in tenebris
Sunday May 3, 1998
9.00 - 17.00 Scary Castle Tour
21.00 - 22.00 Lux in tenebris
22.00 - 23.00 Exegi monumentum
Thursday May 7, 1998
12.00 - 17.00 Scary Castle Tour
19.00 - ?.00 Scary Ball
20.00 - 21.00 Exegi monumentum
22.00 - 23.00 Exegi monumentum
Friday May 8, 1998
9.00 - 18.00 Scary Castle Tour
21.00 - 22.00 Lux in tenebris
22.00 - 23.00 Exegi monumentum
23.00 - 24.00 Lux in tenebris
Saturday May 9, 1998
9.00 - 18.00 Scary Castle Tour
21.00 - 22.00 Lux in tenebris
22.00 - 23.00 Exegi monumentum
23.00 - 24.00 Lux in tenebris
Sunday May 10, 1998
9.00 - 17.00 Scary Castle Tour
21.00 - 22.00 Lux in tenebris
22.00 - 23.00 Exegi monumentum
Scary Castle Tour - Castle tour with ghosts and fairytale characters from the legends and long history of Bojnice Castle scattered around each room, plus a few surprises.
Lux in tenebris (light in shadow) - Audiovisual reconstruction of Bojnice Castle's history through tales told by play actors with sound and light special effects.
Exegi monumentum (interpretation of the record) - Choreographed drama about Bojnice Castle count Jan Palffy's life - located near the castle moat in a cave under the castle.
Uncover your destiny using tarot cards- Understanding tarot cards, various ways of looking at tarot cards - prepared by Bohumil Vurm with real examples.
Secret European history- Bohumil Vurm gives a lesson focused on topics like Delphy Fortune-tellers, the holy grail, and the mysterious Templars.
Aura watching and understanding personal energy - practical guide how to see auras that surround people, how to gain, protect and transform energy, astral tourism.
Scary Ball - A sociable end of the festival for sponsors and lucky invitees.
Scary Castle Tour:
adults - 100 Sk, children 50 Sk (children up to 6 years old - free).
Camera-50 Sk
Video camera- 200 Sk
Attention: During the festival, castle tour reservations are not available.
Bojnice Castle - Prices:
Lux in tenebris- 100 SK
Uncover your Destiny and tarot cards- 100 SK
Secret European History- 100 SK
Aura Watching and works with energy- 100 SK
KaSS Prievidza - Prices:
Exegi monumentum- 100 SK; Tel: 34671, Fax: 36880
