Visit Wales and its 641 castles – a mixture of gothic, medieval, and Victorian styles

With its rolling hills and numerous royal conquests, there’s no place where history comes alive in such a lush setting as it does in Wales. Everywhere you look, the evidence of kings, queens, conflict and empire call to you. There are more than 600 castles – 641 to be precise – so even without trying …

Vampire bones dug up in Bulgaria

Bulgarian archaeologists are showing off two centuries-old skeletons that they say were pinned down through their chests with iron rods to keep them from turning into vampires — a trend that was all the rage in medieval Europe. The “vampire” skeletons were excavated recently near the Black Sea town of Sozopol, according to reports from The …

Complaints Medieval monks scribbled in the margins

“Now I’ve written the whole thing: for Christ’s sake give me a drink.” “Oh, my hand.” “Thank God, it will be dark soon.” “I am very cold.” “As the harbor is welcome to the sailor, so is the last line to the scribe.”   Find more at Brain Pickings   // Photo via Muffet