Ghostly Visits

Norway

Spirits of horse and vicious dog

Akershus Castle was a Norwegian stronghold and of great importance in Scandinavian history. Whoever was the owner of this castle, ruled the country. Throughout the centuries both Swedish and Norwegian armies fought to siege the castle and a lot of blood was spilled. Today it is considered to be the most haunted place in Norway. Not just human spirits haunt this terrifying castle but also the spirit of a horse and a vicious dog. The horrifying story of the dog is that the main entrance to the castle was the weakest spot so a guard took his most beloved and fierce guard dog and buried it alive near the entrance. Now legend has it that the dog returned in spirit more vicious dead than when he was alive.

Denmark

Tormented ghost

Voergaard Castle is located in the northeastern town of Dronninglund in Denmark. In the castle, you can see the artwork of Raphael, Goya, and El Greco. This castle has a dark side to it, and a myth tells the story of Ingeborg Skeel, who acquired the castle in 1578. Skeel decided to make the design of his castle unique, so no one would have one built, just the same he drowned his architect in the moat. To make the castle even scarier you have to visit the dungeon which is a room built so no adult man could stand up in it or lie stretched out in it and there are no holes for light or air to enter. Today supposedly, Skeel’s tormented ghost wanders through the castle at night all dressed in white. You see him, you know you’ve seen a ghost.

White Lady

One ghost or two might be bad enough, but Dragsholm Castle is haunted by more than a hundred ghosts. It was built in the late 12th century. Among the spirits that make their home here is the White Lady who was the daughter of nobility. When she fell in love with a commoner who worked at the castle, her father locked her in her chamber forever. While working on the castle in the 20th century a construction crew found a small female skeleton trapped in the castle wall all dressed in white. Now the spirit of the unlucky daughter or White Lady walks the halls of the castle, seeking her long-lost lover.

Curse of the Wooden Doll

Egeskov Castle was built by a nobleman named Frands Brockenhuus in 1554. To make sure he was safe at all times, the castle has several escape routes. The castle was built on a wooden construction made of oak trees, and according to legend, its wooden structure is so strong that it took an entire oak forest to build it. This castle is also haunted by a White Lady who was supposedly the daughter of the owner, Rigborg Brockenhuus. When she fell in love with a commoner and became pregnant, her father also locked her away. but after five years when her father passed away, she was rescued and went to live in a convent. However, after her death, her spirit returned to the castle and haunts it today. That is not the worst about this castle what is, is the legend of the wooden doll. The previous owners of the castle loved dolls and had a miniature version of the castle built. The miniature was built by hand in Ireland. There is a legend that in the attic lies a wooden boy doll on an old pillow. No one knows who put it there but legend has it that if the doll is removed the castle will slip into the lake on Christmas Eve of any year. Today many visit the castle since it has become a museum.

England

Many ghostly spirits

Chillingham Castle is considered to be the most haunted castle in Britain. It has dungeons and torture chambers. Among the known ghosts who haunt it are the whimpering “blue boy”, the “white lady” in the pantry, and the lonesome Lady Mary Berkeley. It is a Medieval castle located in the northern part of Northumberland. The barriers of the castle helped the English armies to stop the Scottish from entering the territory. One of the bizarre hauntings is the “blue boy” who haunts the pink room.

The Ghost of Margaret

Berry Pomeroy Castle in Devon also comes with a story of a woman all locked up. This was Lady Margaret Pomeroy, who was supposedly murdered by her sister, Lady Eleanor. The sister was very jealous of the younger and much prettier Margaret. To put an end to her own torment she took Margaret to the dungeon and locked her in throwing away the key. To this day the 12th-century castle is haunted by an unhappy woman all in white thought to be Margaret. People who have seen her or been near her say they felt intense sorrow, depression, and anger coming from the spirit.

Scotland

Ghostly princess

Castle Fraser was built between 1575 and 1636 and is known for its elaborate architecture, farmland, and gardens in the east of the country. The castle comes with a legend that says a young princess staying at the castle was horribly murdered in her sleep. Then her body was dragged down stone stairs leaving a trail of blood behind. Afterward, no one could scrub the blood away, so they covered the staircase with wood paneling. Today this princess supposedly roams the halls of the castle in the dark of night.

Ireland

The Ghost of Lady Isobel Shaw

Ballygally Castle was built in the 17th century and is located north of the town of Larne. There appear to be quite a few ghosts making this castle their home. One of the spirits is Lady Isobel Shaw, who was once a former resident here. Today it is a hotel, and the lady likes to knock on hotel doors. She knocks and then vanishes on the spot. Lady Isobel Shaw died of falling from the window of her room in which her husband had locked her. There is also a small room in the castle known as “The Ghost Room,” which appears to be haunted but is presently not in use.

France

Ghostly skeleton face

Chateau de Brissac was built in the 11th century and rebuilt in 1455. Today it is still owned by the Brissac family and is open to the public. If you like, you can spend the night here with the spirits. Supposedly the castle is haunted by a Lady in Green, whoever she might be. Then there is Charlotte de Breze, whose husband Jacques de Breze discovered she was having an affair right in the castle. In a fit of rage, he killed her and her lover. Unfortunately, the lovers were not to remain quiet in death and started bothering the husband, who fled the castle in terror. As the years went by the spirit of the lover left the castle but Charlotte de Breze is still there, and what is frightening is that even though the family has become used to her presence she appears with a skeletal face.

Austria

Unseen spirits

Moosham Castle was host to many of the executions, imprisonments, and tortures of both men and women during the Salzburg Witch Trails between 1675 and 1690. In the 1800s, when deer and cattle were found dead near the castle, residents were tried and killed for supposedly being werewolves. The reported hauntings include sounds of banging, footprints seen but no one there, white mists, and people feeling someone breathe on them.

Germany

The ghost of Countess Agnes

Burg Eltz is a castle that dates back to 1157. There are a few rooms open to tourists, with the most haunted room being the bedroom of Countess Agnes. In her room, you can see her bed, breastplate, and battle axe. The ghostly story goes that Agnes Eltz was to marry the Knight of Braunsberg, but she didn’t like him. After slapping him at a ball, he swore revenge for his humiliation. For a while, her father and brothers stayed close to the castle, but as time went on, they figured the knight had changed his mind and accepted defeat. The men went on a hunting trip, and the Knight of Braunsberg chose that time to attack. With his soldiers, he killed everyone they came upon, Agnes being trained for combat put on her brother’s armor and went to defend. Thinking he was dealing with a man, the knight plunged his sword into her chest, killing her instantly. She haunts the castle to this very day.

Czech Republic

Gateway to Hell

Houska Castle is located about an hour north of the capital, Prague. When this castle was built. it had no fortifications, no kitchen, and no occupants. Within its walls is a large hole that is considered to be the gateway to hell. The castle was strategically built over the hole to seal up the gateway and keep demonic creatures from entering the world. Supposedly the demons are trapped in the walls at the lower level. Before the hole was sealed off, prisoners were told they would be granted pardons if they agreed to be lowered into the hole by rope and tell what they saw. The first prisoner was lowered, and soon he started screaming. When pulled out of the hole, supposedly he appeared to have aged thirty years.

Slovenia

Restless spirits

Predjama Castle was built within a cave in the middle of a towering cliff and dates back to 1274/ It is one of the best-preserved cave castles in the world. Once it belonged to Erasmus Leugg, a knight and robber baron. His peaceful life in the castle was disrupted when he killed Frederik III’s (the Holy Roman Emperor) kinsman. By doing this, he angered both the Roman Emperor and the House of Hapsburg. Fleeing the castle Leugg was besieged for a year. His enemies even poisoned the water well. But since the castle had hidden passageways he was able to avoid his enemies until one day he was murdered in the bathroom. To this day, Leugg haunts the castle and, during the years, has been joined by other spirits.

Italy

Ghostly lovers

The Castle of Bardi comes with a tragic tale of love. Soleste was the daughter of the lord of the castle. She was very much in love with Moroello, the captain of the knights. While Moroello was away fighting battles, she stood upon the castle walls searching for his return. One morning she saw riders in enemy colors and thought her lover had been killed in battle. Soleste jumped from the wall plunging down to her death. Unfortunately, the riders were Moroello and his men in enemy colors to celebrate their victory. When he found her body before the castle, heartbroken Moroello killed himself. To this very day, the lovers are together and wandering the castle grounds.

Asia

Japan

Eerie folk tale

Himeji Castle dates back to 1333 and is considered to be one of the greatest examples of Japanese castle architecture. An eerie folk tale tells the story of Okiku, a mythical character from ancient legends, who was falsely accused of losing valuable dishes. She was killed and thrown into the castle well. To this day, her ghostly spirit haunts the castle at night, mournfully counting dishes. When she reaches the number nine, she shrieks and returns to the well.

India

Beware after sunset

Bhangarh Fort in the state of Rajasthan, at the foot of the Aravali Mountain range, lies abandoned. It is a 17th-century ruined fort city. Local lore says a sadhu, a holy person who lived atop the nearest hill, allowed the fort to be built as long as it did not cast a shadow on his home. After his request was disobeyed, he cursed the city. Today this is considered to be the most haunted place in India, and it is strictly forbidden to enter it after sunset. Nearby villagers say that there is paranormal activity in and around the fort.

New Zealand

Haunted ballroom

Larnach Castle was built between 1871 and 1887 as a residence for William Larnach, a local politician. Within the castle, Larnach built a large ballroom as a 21st birthday present for his favorite daughter, Kate. She later died of typhoid at age 26 and is supposedly still haunting the ballroom. People who enter the ballroom have felt taps on their shoulders and heard whispers in their ears. The castle has been investigated by paranormal experts and was featured on Ghost Hunters International.

Africa

South Africa

No hope for the ghostly spirits

Castle of Good Hope is one of the oldest and largest remaining colonial buildings. It is located in Cape Town. During the Second Boer War (1899-1902), the castle was a prison. At one time, it had a windowless dungeon where convicts were chained to walls and drowned when the room flooded in the winter. The place is now haunted by despairing spirits, one of them being Governor Pieter Gijsbert van Noodt. In 1728 seven men were hanged in the courtyard, and Noodt refused to grant the prisoners their last wishes. One of the prisoners cursed him before he was hung, and Noodt died that same day. His spirit now haunts the castle. Among other paranormal activity here is a large black dog that leaps at visitors and then disappears, a bell that rings by itself, thought to be attached to the bell rope by which a guard hung himself, and lights in the Buren Bastion turn on and off by themselves.

Canada

The ghostly owner is still at home

Casa Loma is a Gothic Revival-style castle in midtown Toronto, Ontario. The castle has been featured in "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World", "X-Men", Disney’s live-action "Beauty and the Beast", and as Hogwarts in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows". This castle has decades of reported ghost sightings, among them the spirit of Sir Henry Pallat, the original inhabitant, and his wife Lady Mary, for whom the castle was built. There has even been an apparition of a maid from the early 1900s when 60,000 people in Toronto died of the flu. Today it is a historic house museum and landmark.