The Pact with the Devil

The Legend of the Knight and the Pact

Neufelsberg Castle (today Teufelsburg), as it was originally called, is said to owe its name to the fateful story of one of its knights.

The Quarrel over Love:
At the heart of the legend is a bitter dispute between two brothers from the noble family that controlled the castles in the region – the Lord of Siersburg and the knight of Felsberg (the later Teufelsburg). The cause of the quarrel was a beautiful woman named Alice von Forbach, whose favor both knightly brothers vied for.

The Challenge:
The brother at Siersburg challenged the Felsberg knight to a duel to settle the matter. The Felsberg knight, who was either terrified of defeat or desperately wanted to possess the beautiful Alice, saw no other way out.

The Pact:
In his desperation, the Felsberg knight decided to make a pact with the devil. He called him, and promptly a mysterious nobleman appeared—sometimes called "Junker Jörg with the Limping Leg"—who was none other than the Devil himself. The knight sold his soul for victory in the duel and Alice's hand in marriage.

The price:
The Devil kept his end of the bargain: The knight won the duel and captured the beautiful Alice. But as in all pacts with the Devil, the Felsberg knight eventually had to pay his terrible price.

The lament in the wind:
Legend tells that the Devil took the knight's soul and carried him screaming to hell. It is said that on stormy days or in strong winds, the lamenting and screaming of the damned knight can still be heard in the walls of Devil's Castle.