The Castle of Peñíscola – it has been my goal for a long time. During my first visit many years ago, an old man had told me about the legend of the Templars, who built this fortress in the early 14th century on the remnants of a crumbling Moorish palace. And they did it for one reason: It was to be a safe hiding place for the Holy Grail. The man swore to me that the legend was true. I haven't forgotten that.
Well, chalices, bowls, or goblets have always had a great allure for me. And it is mutual (my old boys know that!). So, I set out this morning on a treasure hunt.
Suddenly, figures from long ago appeared before me.
I was one of the first visitors. And even in the first small chamber, I saw figures appearing on the walls: Knights of the Templar order. One of them handed a magnificent grail to a man wearing a papal crown. It had to be Papa Luna, Benedict XIII, who resided here for years and ultimately died in the castle. Was that a sign?
Strange tinctures and mysterious little bottles. What was that about?Old manuscripts. Perhaps a crucial hint was hidden among their pages.
I found books that I searched through and translated with the help of my AI. I discovered hidden shelves and mysterious little bottles with colorful tinctures. What was that? I hadn't seen those during my first visit. Or maybe they weren't there at that time?
Centuries had smoothed the stone steps. A wrong step could end badly.
I continued onward. Steps carved from rough, heavy boulders led steeply down, then back up again. It was not without danger, as the stones were smoothed by centuries of booted footsteps. I slipped and tumbled up the stairs. My head scraped along the rock wall, but fortunately, I was left with just a scrape.
A magnificent view. But I had no eyes for the sea.
I reached the top. Through mighty battlements lay a magnificent view. From up here, I could inspect the lower courtyard more closely. I discovered a small door that I had overlooked before.
The heavy door seemed to have been locked for ages. But the bolt could be moved.
I went down. The door was secured with a heavy lock. But when I touched it, I found that the bolt could be moved. Behind it, a narrow staircase led deep down into the darkness. Dirt and dust on the steps revealed to me that they had not been used for a long time. Should I dare?
Step by step, the path led me deeper into the castle.
I looked around. No one was in sight. I felt inwardly. There was something. A wish, a desire to move forward. Something was pulling me down here.
Step by step, the path led me deeper into the castle.
I took the first steps. Now just don’t fall. The staircase became narrower, the steps steeper. Soon I had to turn on my phone's flashlight. The walls became damp, the stones sharper. I felt my vest and shirt tearing. Something warm was running down my arm… blood.
I was about to turn back when I spotted a pallid glimmer in the light of my phone further down. What was that?
A few steps later, the ground suddenly became flat. And there! On a small wooden table stood something.
I couldn't believe it.
There it was!
It had to be!
The Grail.
I had found it.
Lost for centuries. And now in my hands. The holy grail!
To my old boys from the football betting round: Don't worry, guys, of course I'll bring it with me next time to Straubing.
At a glance
Automatically extracted from the post
Accompaniment
Alone
Mood
AdventurousCulturalOff the beaten track
Highlights
Schatzsuche in der Burg von Peñíscola
Alte Kammern, Bücher und geheime Treppen erkunden
Den Heiligen Gral in den Tiefen der Burg entdecken
Topics
CultureStoryAdventureArchitecture
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