Danube Cruise #7: Story of the Black Count Who Haunts the Labyrinth

The Black count's ghostly Masquerade Ball in the Labyrinth

In yesterday's blog we told you about the series of underground tunnels and prisons beneath Castle Hill in the Buda side of Budapest. We also talked about Dracula's prison there, but he wasn't the only oddity there. There was also a black count who lived off the people and caused the death of a girl. He haunts the labyrinth. In today's blog, you'll learn about him and his story.

WHO IS THE BLACK COUNT THAT HAUNTS THE LABYRINTH?
In the 19^th century a ghost named as the “Black Count” reportedly haunted the labyrinth. The “Black Count” may be a Count from the 1800s who lived in Budapest. He was

Entrance to the Labyrinth

an ally of bandits, and he allowed them to hide in the labyrinth only if they paid him large sums of money.  That enabled the count to live a lavish lifestyle.   Somehow, the bandits were responsible for the killing of a young girl that was attributed to the Count. He must have thrown the bandits our of the Labyrinth, because the money ceased and his lifestyle crumbled as did his time in the palace.   


WHAT IS THE LEGEND? The ghost of the girl is said to have haunted the Count to his death. After he died, he began haunting the Labyrinth and has been for over 250 years. The locals have seen the wandering apparition known as the Black Count. He has been reported to hold underground masked balls in the caves! In one part of the Labyrinth, there are wax figures depicting the masked ball. 

Inside the Labyrinth

NEXT: The
Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum!