The Broken Castle
The first impression you get from the poor remains of Gribben Castle, better known as The Broken Castle, is that of menhirs on a grave-mound; a kind of miniature Stonehenge. There are three dominating pieces of brick-work left from the medieval castle that was ruined during the Eighty Years' War. Before World War II there still was a rather impressive ruin, but at the end of the war the Germans gave the finishing touch at the remains. They had fortifications in and on the castle hill, and they blew them up when they withdrawed.
The ruins of The Broken Castle lie on a motte, surrounded by a moat.
Once a young man had to flee from his country and found refuge at an inn at the village of Grubbenvorst. He fell in love with the daughter of the landlord, and they promised each other eternal faith. One night the young man couldn't sleep and decided to go for a walk. He walked along the ruins of the castle, when he heard voices. He recognized the voice of his girl and found her there with another man. He stepped forward to confront her, but the other lover took his dagger and stabbed him to death, threw his body into a pitt and left him there to die. The dying man cursed his unfaithful financee, who died three days later of terrible fevers. Her ghost now is bound to the castle and is still haunting the ruins as a white lady.
One night a farmer, who was visiting some friends, wanted to go home and decided to take the shortest way, which lead along the ruins. His friends warned him not to do so, because of the white lady. He made fun of it, and said that he wasn't affraid of ghosts, and that, if he met her, he would dance with her. When he passed the spooky ruins, a white shade came towards him. It was the white lady, who took his hand and dragged him into a dance. The morning after they found his dead body laying beside the ruins.
