The bridge between the old castle and miklavški hrib
According to the legend, during the reign of the Counts of Celje, the Old Castle on the left bank of the Savinja River and the hill opposite the castle, called Miklavški hrib (St. Nicholas Hill), atop of which there is the St. Nicholas Church, were connected by a bridge made of leather. Not more than a century ago, people would show the ring embedded in a rock on the Miklavški hrib that held the bridge.
The bridge between the old castle and st. joseph
This is a tale about a bridge leading from the Old Castle to St. Joseph. Mostly treaded by the counts, it is said to have been the last stop for many a peasant or other foe of the nobility who was pushed from the bridge into the abyss. The bridge was also used by the Count Urh to return to the Castle after he had been beaten by Mlinarjev Janez (Janez the Miller).
Underground passages from the old castle
The Old Castle was said to have been connected with the "outer world" by four underground passages. The first one led to Bežigrad. It was so high that rider could mount the horse and pass the entire way without having to dock a single time. The second passage led to the center of the town; the third one terminated in the large round guard tower – most likely the Water Tower. The fourth one, the mightiest among them, took the nobles below Vipota (a hill over the Savinja River) towards another castle in Laško.
Torture board in the old castle
There was a heavy iron board in the Old Castle that was lowered and raised. When a prisoner was brought to the dungeon tower, they lowered the board onto him and it slowly slid downwards until he was completely crushed.
On the fate of the castle well
A peasant came to the castle one night, bringing important news. As he entered the ward, he suddenly heard a voice: "Where is my land? Where is my castle? Who am I?" The peasant approached the well and who did he see? Count Ulrik, standing waist high in the water, massacred. After that, no one dared to fetch water from that well and it was filled and blocked.
About the treasure of the old castle
Over a hundred years ago, a poor yet brave peasant lived in a cottage under the castle. Returning home one night around midnight, he spotted someone with a waggon near the castle gate. The peasant approached him and what did he see? A weird-looking character, tall and broad-shouldered, wearing a broad-brimmed top hat. "What are you carrying and where to?" the peasant asked. "Tell me, or I will help you down the hill so you know who you are dealing with!" There was no response, so the peasant grabbed the carter by the hand. But what a hand it was! It was made of leather and stuffed with hay. Poor peasant! He quickly let go of the hand and ran to fetch a man sleeping in a cottage nearby. As the peasant left, the carter cracked the whip so strongly it felt as the roar of thunder. But when the peasant came back with the man, the carter was nowhere to be found. They searched every corner, yet they could not find him. And what was he carrying? The gold of the Counts of Celje! And the legend says: if only the peasant held his hand until midnight, all the money would have belonged to him. Thus, it was too late.
About the monk who dug for treasure on the old castle
A large treasure is buried in the Old Castle ruins. It was placed in a deep cave behind large black door, guarded by a dog, as big as an ox, with glowing eyes and paws like pig hooves with claws, and the way to the door is filled with earth. One day, a monk decided to dig out the treasure and use it for his convent.
The evening he set out to start his work, he piously prayed the Rosary and gulped down a couple of mouthfuls of wine. He carried a cross under his robe and a shovel and a pickaxe in his hand. The way up the rocks was anything but a walk in the park – and the thunderstorm made it no easier either. Nevertheless, the monk, although gasping for air, reached the cursed ruins. The closer he was to the entrance, the more he was terrified and his hair stood on end. But he had confidence in the holy cross he carried under his robe and when he reached the passage, he put down his lamp and started to dig. He dug and dug, his heart pounding with fear. When he removed a large rock with his pickaxe, a layer of stones and earth came crushing down. The monk first saw a lightning, and then the dog which let out a bone-chilling howl. The monk was scared stiff. He dropped his pickaxe and shovel, and only managed to shout: "God help me!" before he fell down. After he uttered these words, he heard the most terrible howling, whistling, screaming and hissing, and he saw shadows of all shapes and forms, shooting towards him in the dark. Petrified, he grabbed hold of his cross and fainted. Early in the morning, the peasants found him, stiff and exhausted, in front of a heap of rocks, stones, and dirt.
