Creaking floors, opening doors, strange noises... Who's there? Silence. It's probably just the wind. Many people still had to visit castles or ancient mansions, from staying in which a shiver goes down the spine.

Perhaps it's because of their gothic charm or the atmosphere that transports visitors back to the days of knights and ladies, medieval dramas and glories that have long since become history. Maybe this is because of the tragic stories of the former inhabitants of the castles, captured in the numerous portraits hanging on the walls of the halls.

The reasons for ghost stories can vary. Perhaps something happened within the walls of some castles and old estates that frightened residents and guests. But let's face it, most of us just want there to be ghosts in one castle or another. Secret passages, dungeons, secret rooms, an ancient, cold, dark atmosphere - this is already enough to scare most visitors. We offer a review of castles with good old ghosts.

Built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, Warwick Castle has seen more fighting than any other castle in Europe. Probably all its halls, without exception, are imbued with the spirit of violence and war. The most visited part of the castle by tourists is the ghost tower and house with the ghost of Sir Fulk Greville, who was killed by his own servant in 1628. It is said that the owner of the house materializes late at night from a portrait that hangs on the wall in the tower. The dungeon is another one scary place. Many visitors complain of nausea and dizziness just by touching the rusty bars and instruments of torture.

Predjama Castle was built in a mountain cave in 1274. Its powerful fortress withstood numerous fierce battles. It was used for both defensive and offensive purposes, but was destroyed as a result of a series of long sieges and earthquakes in the 14th and 15th centuries. In 1567, the castle was restored along with numerous secret tunnels and passages, which are said to be haunted by the ghosts of many dead warriors, which is why mysterious footsteps and noises can be heard periodically there.

Built at the end of the 12th century, Dragsholm Castle is currently used as a luxury hotel. But it became truly famous thanks to the 100 ghosts that wander the corridors every night. Three of them are even famous: the Gray Lady, the Lady in White and the Earl of Boswell. The castle has a sad legend that a lady in white fell in love with a peasant. Her father found out about their romantic relationship and locked her in the room. After that, no one ever saw her. In the 1930s, workers were restoring a wing of the castle and found the skeleton of a young woman in a white dress walled up inside the wall. As for Earl Boswell, in the 16th century he was imprisoned in the castle, where he died. The Gray Lady worked as a hotel maid all her life. After her death, she was never able to leave the castle, so she returns every time to check if everything is okay.

One of the castles loved by ghosts is Leap Castle in Ireland. His chapel has a very interesting story. It was here that in 1532 one of the brothers, a priest, was killed by another brother right on the altar during the service of a family mass, in the presence of the whole family. The ghost of the murdered man still wanders in the chapel, which is called “Bloody.” The dungeon has some horror stories of its own. It had a high ceiling with a hatch through which prisoners were thrown down to the bottom of the dungeon, covered with numerous spikes. Another manifestation of something otherworldly is a creature about the same size as a sheep with a human face and black sockets for eyes. When a ghost appears, you can smell the terrible smell of rotting flesh.

In the forests north of Prague there is an amazing castle. This is a defensive structure, but it has not withstood a single attack. The castle is also haunted by the ghosts of a headless black horse and a woman who often looks out the window. Legend has it that once upon a time there was a bottomless pit in this place, from which winged creatures, half people, half monsters, flew out. In the 13th century, Czech rulers decided to close the pit, which they called “the entrance to hell.” This is why the castle was built. However, before this, several soldiers were lowered into the hole using a rope. Once there, the first soldier screamed, and when they pulled him out, it turned out that he had aged 30 years and died a few days later. In the 1930s, Houska Castle attracted the attention of Adolf Hitler. The Nazis used it to perform a number of occult experiments. Several corpses of Nazi soldiers were found here, most likely executed and tortured. They say that they even found the skeletons of unearthly creatures.

A wonderful example of Austrian architecture and also a source of ghost stories. Built in the 12th century, Musham Castle is also known as the Witches Castle. This building was once the site of some of the bloodiest witch trials. In 1675-1687 thousands of women were convicted of witchcraft and sentenced to death. They were tortured and executed, beheaded within the castle walls. That is why most of them continue to wander the halls even after death. In addition, Musham Castle is also considered to be a werewolf's lair. In the 19th century, mutilated corpses of cattle and deer were found nearby. As a consequence, some Moosham residents were convicted and imprisoned as werewolves.

Chateau de Brissac is the tallest castle in France, with seven floors. Located in the heart of the picturesque Loire Valley, it is one of the most frequently visited castles in the world. In the 11th century, the owner of the manor was Jacques de Brezé. His wife, Charlotte, began an affair with a young man, and for their romantic meetings they used the bedroom next to her husband's room. Every night he heard their passionate moans, until the two lovers mysteriously disappeared. Perhaps the deceived husband was directly involved in their disappearance, but it was not possible to completely get rid of the loving couple. Every night he continued to hear their moans until he went crazy and ran away from the castle. They say that the sounds of their passion can be heard today, from night until morning.

Built in the 12th century, Edinburgh Castle is one of those places where all non-believers, as soon as they step on the threshold, become believers. Built on the site of an extinct volcano, it is a symbol of all Scottish castles. Various paranormal phenomena often appear in this place. Many visitors see ghostly figures. Lady Glamis is often seen wandering the dark halls. She was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake in 1537. Since 1650, a headless ghost has also been wandering around the castle. There is also the ghost of a bagpiper, an old man in a leather apron and even the ghost of a dog galloping around the cemetery. And from the dungeon you can still hear the groans of French prisoners during the Seven Years' War.

The English castle of Chillingham in Northumberland is very popular among tourists, although it is an incredibly dark place. Death reigned here. John Sage worked as an executioner for three years in the castle dungeons. It is said that about 50 Scots were tortured there every week. You can still hear John Sage dragging corpses around at night. Another famous castle ghost is the Blue Boy, also called the Glowing Boy. He often visits the Pink Room. Such bright colors can be found in a ghost story! Guests reported hearing long, loud crying and seeing blue flashes of light above their bed. After lengthy repairs, the bodies of a man and a boy were discovered, walled up in a three-meter brick wall.

Walking near the ruins of Berry Pomeroy Castle, you can meet the Blue Lady, who lures all passers-by into the tower, where they meet their death. This is the ghost of Norman's daughter, the owner of the castle, who was raped by her own father. As a result of incest, a child was born, who was then strangled by his father. Some say that the girl herself killed the child. Her ghost still haunts the castle and is considered an omen of death. She's not the only ghost. The White Lady is believed to be the ghost of Margaret Pomeroy, who was locked away by her jealous sister Eleanor and left to starve. Both sisters were in love with the same young man.

Windsor castle
Royal Windsor Castle has its own ghosts, and the Scottish Society of Psychologists even conducted research in the castle. The commission came to the following conclusions: the castle is most often visited by the murderous king Henry VIII. He appears in the enfilades of the palace and creaks his wooden leg. The mad King George III also wanders around there. This noisy ghost loves to stalk members of the royal family and scares them with its appearance. They also see a huge knight in armor, with a sword, but without a head. This knight scared one of the guards so much that he ran away from his post. Servants do not last long in the royal palace. And the family members themselves are accustomed to ghosts. Princess Margaret often sees King Charles I and Queen Elizabeth I in the corridors. The brave princess even traced the movement of the ghostly queen, who, upon reaching the library, disappeared into thin air without a trace. The bloody ghost of Lady Dorothy Walpoll, who died here in the 18th century, also wanders around Windsor Castle. However, not all members of the royal family are favorable to ghosts. Princess Diana did not like them very much, she even suffered a nervous breakdown when she came face to face with one of the family ghosts.

Hampton Castle
Hampton Court Palace is also famous. It was once the residence of the royal family, and the past of this family is shrouded in dark and dark secrets. Among the English royals there were many villains and unfortunate victims. Many of them have not yet found peace. The name of one of the most brutal wife-killers - King Henry VIII - is associated with Hampton. This murderer first divorced his wife Catherine of Aragon, married young Anne Boleyn, from whose ghost the guard in the Tower lost consciousness, then sent Anne to the scaffold and married Jane Seymour, but she died after childbirth. The king did not calm down, and his next wife, Catherine Howard, soon fell out of favor and also ended her days on the scaffold. The ghosts of the women tortured by the king still haunt Hampton. On the second floor in the great hall of the castle there is a portrait of Anne Boleyn. And in the years when the day of her execution coincided with the full moon, eyewitnesses observed that the image in the portrait disappeared, and muffled groans and women’s screams were heard inside the castle. The king's beloved wife, Jane Seymour, also appears to the servants. For example, Jane was seen by several castle servants on October 16, 1970. A woman in long, light-colored clothing walked along the cobblestone courtyard. In her hands she carried a ghostly candle, the fire from which illuminated only the figure of Jane herself, but did not cast glare on the surrounding objects. The queen reached the stone wall and... disappeared.

In the castle's covered gallery you can meet the ghost of Catherine Howard. It was there that she was taken into custody by the king's guards and later accused of adultery. In 1978, two tourists encountered the ghost of Catherine in a gallery and lost consciousness. Then they said that they reached the place where there was a sign with a story about the fate of Catherine, and suddenly they felt a terrible cold and felt that someone had passed by. They looked back and saw a woman dressed in white running towards the castle chapel. At the door of the chapel, Catherine turned around and screamed shrilly and horribly. The tourists could not stand this sight. Neither their guide nor the other tourists heard any screams. True, the guide thoughtfully said that according to historical information, Catherine, having learned about the accusation, ran to the chapel to beg for mercy. Obviously, the ghost repeats the same story every time.

Two years later, another mass phenomenon of ghosts was observed in the castle. A group of tourists was in the castle courtyard waiting for a guide. Tourists suddenly noticed at the other end of the courtyard two knights in medieval clothes, with bows and quivers. The knights laughed merrily and then went inside the castle. Naturally, tourists perceived this appearance of people in armor as a theatrical performance. This is exactly what they told the guide who came up. However, he noticed that there were no actors in the castle. The incident was remembered when the Stewarts' patio was renovated the following year and the cobblestones were removed. A shallow grave was discovered there with the remains of two men, who anthropologists concluded were young. Who they are, history is silent about this. But legend says that the two guards from whose hands the unfortunate queen escaped were then secretly killed and buried right in the castle.

King Henry himself appears at the castle before a thunderstorm. He's definitely attracted to electricity. Numerous witnesses experienced an oppressive feeling and fear at his appearance. Here is the entry left by one of the eyewitnesses: “Resonant footsteps were heard in the distant gallery. They grew louder, iron spurs pounding on the stone floor. It seemed like a heavy giant was walking. So he entered the huge hall. The wind howled outside the castle windows. The giant's steps are getting closer, you can hear his heavy breathing. Suddenly lightning flashed, its light illuminated the figure of the king. He had a crown on his head and was clad in armor. His gaze burned with anger, as if he had just caught yet another wife cheating on him. As Henry approached, we felt that heat was emanating from him, like from a stove...” This is one of the rare types of ghosts that radiates not “grave cold”, but “hellish heat.”

In addition to the crowned heads, less significant ghosts also wander around the castle.

Hampton Castle Church contained the tomb of Sybil Pan, Prince Edward's nanny. Until the mid-nineteenth century, the nanny slept peacefully and did not “be naughty.” But in 1829 the church was demolished and the remains of the nanny were disturbed. Since then, a sound ghost has appeared in the room where Sibyl Pan once lived. From there you can hear the sound of a spinning wheel at night. The most interesting thing is that when they carried out repairs in 1950 and destroyed one of the walls, they found a spinning wheel there. The sounds stopped after that, but the ghost of the nanny began to wander through the galleries of Hampton.

A very serious witness, a policeman guarding the main gate of the castle, reported that he saw a group of men and women on the evening of February 13, 1985, around midnight. The men, according to his explanation, were in tuxedos, and the women in evening dresses. The group reached the gate and, at a distance of thirty meters from the post, disappeared into thin air. The peace officer resigned from service after this incident.

For many years now, there has been a special book in the castle, which records all cases of ghost sightings. Even Queen Victoria left her note there.

Scientists have tried many times to study the mysteries of Hampton. Physicist Richard Weissman even received official permission to install instruments there. He installed sensors that recorded the temperature and humidity in the room (Weissman examined the gallery where Catherine Howard appears). In this way, he tried to determine the air currents that, in his opinion, bring and carry away ghostly visions. He did not achieve much success. I spent a lot of sleepless nights and, as a result, fell asleep right at my post. It was then that the ghost of Catherine woke him up. The sleepy scientist was unable to pinpoint either the place where she came from or the place where she disappeared. “Half of the visitors to the castle with whom I talked experienced strange sensations,” the scientist noted. “But I haven’t found any evidence of the existence of her spirit.” According to Richard Weissman, evidence of the ghost's closeness to humans is, in particular, that "we feel intense cold, difficulty breathing and pressure on the chest." But the director of the museum, under the pretext that research could scare away ghosts, put a quick end to Weissman’s nightly vigils.

Edinburgh castle
The same Richard Weissman, with a group of 9 scientists, conducted research in Edinburgh Castle, rich in its bloody history. For ten days, 240 volunteers from around the world tried to catch the ghosts, holed up in the basements of the famous castle, where a prison for captured French soldiers was set up in the seventeenth century, and in ancient dungeons located in the medieval “Old Town”. The Edinburgh dungeons have interested scientists, primarily because it is here, according to hundreds of reports, that tourists and local residents met ghosts. The volunteers' task was to wander the corridors, basements and attics of the castle at night in search of spirits. At the same time, everything that happened in the castle was recorded by sophisticated equipment capable of sensing electromagnetic changes, detecting air currents, temperature changes, geomagnetic fluctuations, ultrasounds, etc. Among them, the main role was given to a digital scanner costing 50 thousand dollars, which is usually used by police to search for people. Ghost hunters have paid particular attention to the area around the castle's south bridge, where, according to tradition, the ghosts of people buried there alive during the plague appear. Besides these unfortunates, there are other ghosts in the castle - a ghost playing the bagpipes, a mother with a stillborn child and other spirits. “We want to establish whether all this is an illusion or true,” Richard Weissman explained the purpose of the experiment. - In any case, it will not be a waste of time. Experience will allow us to understand the mechanism that leads people to believe in spirits.”

“The results were not quite as expected,” reports the English press. - Half of the participants in the experiment (presumably these were people lacking imagination) did not experience anything unusual, the rest experienced something similar, but for the most part it was not terrible - such as an unexpected and sharp drop in temperature, an unpleasant draft that came from God knows where, or the feeling that someone is watching you. However, several subjects took away more ominous impressions from their underground vigils: one felt as if something hot was being applied to his hand, another fell into a real panic, driven out of control by the sounds of someone's breathing in the corner of the room. Someone was touched on the face and the edges of their clothes were pulled; and one of the volunteers saw a certain person wearing a huge leather apron. The strangest thing is that the person in the apron, according to reports, was repeatedly met in the same place, and the volunteer had never been to Edinburgh before and about national characteristics I knew nothing about the Edinburgh ghosts.

To the surprise of the researchers, who, being true scientists, did not give a damn about ghost stories and in fact were just looking for a rational explanation for “meetings with ghosts,” most of the strange sensations occurred precisely in those dungeons that were already notorious. In those places that, despite their ominous appearance, had not previously been visited by ghosts, the number of recorded oddities turned out to be significantly less. And this despite the fact that, according to the conditions of the experiment, the volunteers were not told anything about the exact place in which they would be vigil and what its “ghost” history was.

After the experiment with volunteers, they examined the basements of Edinburgh using a wide variety of scientific equipment, measured temperature, humidity, magnetic fields, etc., but did not notice any deviations from the norm.

In England they take care of ghosts. For example, the first official ghost hunting club was organized in this country back in 1665. This society was founded not by insane people or psychopaths, but by quite respectable scientists of that time, among whom was the famous physicist Robert Boyle, known to every schoolchild according to the Boyle-Mariotte law. And the only task of this club of interests was precisely to study the phenomenon of ghosts. And in 1882, another organization was created to study the same issue - the Society for Psychical Research. The great merit of this society is that they began to question eyewitnesses and carefully document all information about ghosts. True, the problem is still far from being resolved.

Whenever a "haunted" house changes hands, members of various English ghost societies notify them. As soon as it became known that Titanic star Kate Winslett became the owner of a haunted house on the southwest coast of England, she was immediately notified. The house, located in the village of Tingale, is famous for the fact that, according to legend, the famous King Arthur and all his numerous retinue lived in it. Kate was politely asked not to disturb the peace of the ghosts. A similar request was sent to actress Claudia Shefferd, who purchased Coldham Hall, a house in Suffolk. The young nun Penelope Rockwood “comes to this house every year for vacation.” Although she has long since died, Penelope continues to visit her birthplace. Coldham Hall is also famous for the fact that there are two damned paintings there. That's why the British Ghost Club immediately took control of the new owner.

Tower
The ghost of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, who was executed on May 19, 1536 on his orders, walks free in the Tower. The corpse of the executed woman was buried in the Tower. Since then she comes here at night. In any case, since 1864, Anne Boleyn began to be called the Woman in White. This is what folk legends tell about it.

Once the captain of the guard was making his rounds and found his sentry at his post, but in a faint. The captain ordered the sentry to be brought to his senses, and he said that he saw a woman in white clothes come out of the room where Anna spent the last night before her execution. Her figure seemed to float towards the sentry, who got scared and ordered her to stop. But the unexpected guest did not respond and continued to attack the sentry. The sentry got angry and pierced her with a bayonet, but the bayonet went through the figure as if through air. The soldier got scared and... lost consciousness. Of course, like any reasonable person, the captain decided: the soldier was lying. He decided that he had simply fallen asleep at his post and was awkwardly trying to justify himself. The soldier was sent to court. The soldier’s case was carefully recorded, witnesses were called and heard. These witnesses, the same guard soldiers, testified that they also repeatedly saw a ghost near this ill-fated room. They described in detail what this ghost looked like. Moreover, they gave their testimony under oath. As a result, the guard was acquitted.

Borough of Coventry
Still residents English city The ghost of the Naked Horsewoman is sometimes seen in Coventry. In the middle of the night, a ghostly figure on a snow-white horse appears on the streets of Coventry. She gallops from the ruins of the medieval St. Michael's Cathedral to the famous statue in the town square, which many years ago was erected in honor of Lady Godiva, the heroine of folk legend. The horse rider who scares people is Lady Godiva. She lived in the 11th century, when the small kingdom of Mercia was located on the site of modern Leicestershire. Lady Godiva was the wife of Duke Leofric. According to legend, she was young, beautiful and unusually kind. She cared very much about the welfare of her subjects. One day she asked her husband to reduce taxes. The Duke did not like such a request, but he pretended to agree and put forward a condition: his wife would have to ride naked on a white horse through the entire city. Beautiful Godiva immediately gave her consent. And the residents, in gratitude for the selfless act, closed all the windows in their houses when the woman fulfilled the terms of the contract. The only townsman, Tom Bradsley, secretly peered through the crack between the shutters. They called him Peeping Tom. The ghost of Godiva appears rarely and usually before serious disasters - wars, epidemics and other troubles. The ghost of Godiva was seen in September and October 1940 before the terrible bombings that almost completely destroyed this city.

Plaxley village
In the British Isles, ghosts live not only in family nests. The world famous village of Plaxley is home to 12 ghosts.

The first of them is the ghost of a robber, who chose Freight Corner as the place of appearance, where a branchy old oak tree previously stood. It was here that his enemies overtook him, pierced him with a sword and nailed him to a tree trunk with a spear. Residents say the drama repeats itself over and over again every night.

A country road leads from Plaxley to Maltman's Hill. A ghostly carriage appears on it from time to time. The carriage rattles, creaks, and is pulled by four horses.

At the crossroads near the bridge you can see the ghost of an old gypsy woman, wrapped in a shawl and smoking a pipe. At this very place she was once burned on charges of witchcraft. Now the ghostly gypsy is scaring the residents.

On the outskirts of Plaxley is Parkwood Pasture. There used to be a forest there, but it was cut down, the place was cleared and cattle began to graze there. But in ancient times, a colonel hanged himself in this forest. His ghost can be seen in the pasture.

There is a laurel tree on Dickie Bassez Lane. After the First World War, a schoolteacher hanged himself with it. Today the ghost of a hanged man can be seen swinging in a ghostly loop among the branches of a laurel.

Next to the house, which everyone calls Kick, there is an old mill. You can often see a black ghost there. They say that this is the ghost of a miller. But he appears only before a thunderstorm, thereby warning the villagers.
Close to railway station there is a clay quarry. Once upon a time, a tragedy occurred at this place: the clay wall of the quarry collapsed and buried a worker. Today his ghost appears here, and the screams of the unfortunate man are heard from the quarry.

There is a house in Plaxley called Rosecourt. The owner of this house once committed suicide. She was poisoned by the juice of poisonous berries. You can still see her ghost there between four and five o'clock in the evening: the suicide was committed at that time.

The name of the Monk is associated with this ghost. The monk appears in Greystones (Plaxley's other home). And they often see this ghost of the Monk walking arm in arm with the ghost of the Woman from Rosecourt. According to legend, a woman who was poisoned by berries was found at the window facing Greystones.

Surrenden Denning Manor was located in Plaxley. But the main house burned down in 1952. The old residents of the village still remember that the ghost of a woman in a white shroud often appeared in the estate. They called her the Woman in White. After the fire the ghost disappeared.

But the ghost of the Woman in Red, who was also from the Denning family, is still alive. She appears in the Church of Saint-Nicolas, where the ashes of the young Lady Denning are buried under the floor in the family crypt. She was buried in the 12th century, according to the chronicles of those times - in a white luxurious dress, with a scarlet rose in her hands. The deceased was placed in a lead coffin, and that coffin was placed in another. There are seven of them in total. The last coffin was placed in a huge wooden chest made from an oak trunk. But these precautions did not reassure the young lady. Her ghost is constantly seen in the village.

Such an abundance of ghosts in the country, oddly enough, does not at all prevent the British from living peacefully. With their characteristic stiffness, they take care of all the “ghostly” places. This is not surprising: crowds of tourists come every year to see the ghosts. Here ghosts are elevated to the rank of national treasure and treated accordingly.

edited news elche27 - 7-05-2011, 17:48

31 August 2017, 17:44

Well, dear girls, summer has flown by unnoticed... Autumn is coming into its own, it’s getting cold, the days are becoming rainy, and in this weather, inspiration comes over me mixed with some kind of romantic mood. For some reason, I associate this particular time with the good old England, where such a cool climate exists almost all year round, and of course, in addition to listening to the best Beatles compositions, and watching all the parts of the Bond movie, I remembered another of my old passions - English castles and fortresses :)

P.S. The texts are not mine

Begin:

Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is located in the city of Warwick (Warwickshire in central England), on the banks of the River Avon. William I the Conqueror built this castle in 1068 on the site of the Anglo-Saxon fortress at Warwick. The castle was used as a fortification until the early 17th century, when Fulk Greville, 1st Baron Brooke turned it into a country estate. It was in the possession of the Greville family, who became Earls of Warwick until 1978.
Today the castle is included in the Catalog of Ancient Monuments, as well as among the main historical and architectural attractions of Great Britain.
Like most medieval castles, Warwick also has its share of ghosts.
The castle, which appeared in 1068, was destined to witness a huge number of battles (it is believed that no other European fortress can boast of such a history filled with bloody battles). Defeated enemies were tortured in dungeons, and therefore, to this day, people who find themselves in dungeons feel dizzy and nauseous. Of the ghosts that tourists most often see, it is the ghost of one of the owners of the estate, Sir Fulk Graville: on cold evenings, he emerges from his own portrait and wanders around the castle, terrifying the living.

Glamis Castle

Glamis is surrounded by a large number of history and legends than any other castle in Britain, but it is best known as the birthplace of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, mother of the current Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth's younger sister, Princess Margaret, was also born in Glamis. Nowadays the castle belongs to the queen’s grandnephew, the Earl of Strathmore, and is partially open to the public.

Over its long history, Glamis has acquired an incredible number of mystical legends. The most famous of them is about the monster's room. According to legend, in one of secret rooms They kept a terribly deformed child born into the family, where he spent his entire life, and then was walled up. There are also rumors that each generation of the family hid one child in the monster's room. Perhaps the basis of the legend was real story Ogilvy family. Fleeing from enemies, they hid in a secret room of the castle, built into a 4.9 m thick wall, where they were walled up alive.

Another legend tells about Count Beardi, who was an avid card player. One day, when the guests refused to play with him, the count exclaimed: “Then I will play with the devil himself!” Then there was a knock on the door and a stranger in black came in and offered to play, but the bet was the count’s soul. Not suspecting that the devil himself was in front of him, Beardi agreed and lost. Since then, his soul is doomed to play cards until the end of the world, and the sounds of falling cards and swearing can still be heard from the count’s bedroom at night.

Another ghost - the Gray Lady - lives in the chapel. It is said to be the spirit of Janet Douglas, who was burned at the stake as a witch on Castle Hill in Edinburgh in the 16th century. She was accused of trying to poison the king, but the charges were most likely fabricated for political reasons. The ghost of a woman is also often seen behind the bars of a clock tower window, or running through the park.

Fyvie Castle

The history of this incredibly beautiful castle, unfortunately, is incredibly sad and dates back to the 12th century. Obviously, during all this time the castle has seen a lot, so legends have literally shrouded this place, where, of course, it is not without ghosts. If you want to hear them, then, of course, you will visit this castle. One of the first stories that comes to mind is the ghost of the Green Lady, also known as Lilias Drummond. She was driven to death by her husband through starvation, and after death she does not leave this castle alone and haunts everyone who visits it. Visitors also report that they have seen her ghost more than once and heard the sounds of a long-dead trumpeter and drummer playing, which have not stopped for 250 years.

By the way, you can spend your weekend in this castle (for a lot of money, of course)

Muncaster Castle

Muncaster Castle is built on a small hill overlooking the River Esk, which is located in a picturesque area in the west of England, which locals call the Western Lake District. The name of the castle comes from the word “castra”, which means “fort/camp” in Latin. The origin of this name is not accidental: since the times of the Roman Empire, this area has had strategic military importance. For some time, a Roman fort stood on this same spot, so the emergence of a large defensive structure in the classical English style on its foundation was very natural.

One of the sites of ghost activity in Muncaster is the Tapestry Room. Until the mid-1990s, the Tapestry Bedroom was part of the main castle and was not used for castle rental housing. Personal guests of the family were invited to stay there for the duration of their visit, but this practice did not last long. Frost-Pennington said: “We had family visiting and we had to put them up in the Tapestry Room because we were in an awkward position. In the morning they came downstairs, we asked: “Did you sleep well?” They said, “No, we had a terrible night.” So the only people left in that room are the Ghostbusters." Guests who slept in the room complained about the child's screaming that continued throughout the night and kept them awake.
Frost-Pennington's research shows him that the Tapestry Room was used as a nursery in the 1960s. Today Muncaster offers a service called "ghost sitting" where those brave enough can rent the Tapestry Room for the evening.

Muncaster Castle is perhaps the site of the longest ongoing scientific research. Dr Jason Braithwaite from the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena, based in the United Kingdom, came to Muncaster to try to explain what was causing the presence of ghosts in Muncaster. Braithwaite is a behavioral psychologist and researcher at the University of Birmingham in England and visits the castle six to seven times a year to conduct experiments and interview staff and visitors. Braithwaite told me that he has spent many nights in the Tapestry Room and has never personally experienced anything supernatural in the castle, but he admits that what happens in the castle interests him. When Braithwaite first began investigating hauntings in Muncaster, no one except the Pennington family and a few staff knew about the ghosts. This means that if someone experienced a supernatural phenomenon, they could not be affected by what they saw or read about the castle's ghosts. Around 1995, television programs featuring haunted places began to include Muncaster, and within just a few years the castle had gained an international reputation as a haunted place.

Braithwaite said: “There are about eight cases of what I call the full Tapestry Room ordeal, where for at least one to three hours the sound of crying children is heard in the room... Really real ordeals that I have heard about from eyewitnesses with 1940-1950s until the end of the 1980s. Cases of crying children have been happening since then, but since you are making this story public, how do you evaluate the recent cases of ghosts?”

History of no self-respect English castle wouldn't be complete without some facts about the White Lady. The White Lady of Muncaster comes from the story of Mary Bregh. In 1805, Breg was housekeeper at Raven Glass and a favorite footman at Muncaster Castle. But Mary had a rival, one of the maids, who also loved the footman. At night, two men went to Mary Breg and called her, saying that her lover was seriously ill and that they would bring her to his bed. Instead, they brutally murdered her on the road to Muncaster. Her body was found several weeks later, floating along the River Esk. Since then, Mary Breg appears near the castle.
Frost-Pennington said: “She doesn't appear in the building from then on, she - this White Lady - appears on the main roads around Muncaster and sometimes in the garden. Some people even said they thought they had hit someone. They were driving along the road, and a figure in white suddenly appeared in front of them - they knocked down a young girl. We stopped the car, but saw nothing there.
People often saw a figure running quickly. Sometimes it is just a rather dense nebula. Here, strange masses of fog sometimes appear near the hills, but the people I asked were sure that it was not fog. They say, “Oh no. It didn't look like fog at all. This is different - it was a distinguishable large object."

There are also oddities that are not like the antics of Tom Foole, the cry of a child, or the White Lady. Frost-Pennington said a woman who was part of the staff at Muncaster came in one afternoon and asked what they were filming that day because she passed what she thought was an actor dressed in 15th-century costume. Seeing someone in period attire wasn't strange because a lot of films are filmed in Muncaster, but there were no festivals or film shoots that day. Frost-Pennington said: “She was walking down this alley at noon and apparently this guy walked past her in trousers and a doublet and she said hello to him and he didn't say a word. Usually when you say hello to someone, they will say hello back. She thought it was somehow strange. Having walked a little further and thinking about it, she turned to look at him, but he was not there. She thought he had walked through the doorway into another yard, but then she thought: What did she see?
Tom Full, Mary Breg, crying children, running shadows and ghosts make Muncaster Castle a haunted paradise. A large ancient castle, standing on a vast area of ​​land, provides many rooms for ghosts and guests. But when choosing a direction, beware of the court jester, whom you may meet sitting under a tree - Tom Full is not to be trifled with.

(the same Tapestry bedroom)

Chillingham Castle

Chillingham Castle - medieval castle in the village of Chillingham in the northern English county of Northumberland, near the border with Scotland. The first fortress on this site was built in the 12th century, but Chillingham Castle became fully fortified after 2 centuries. From the 15th century until the Second World War, representatives of the aristocratic families Gray and Bennett lived here.

Sometimes wandering ghosts are seen in the castle: a man and a little boy. Eyewitness accounts brought smiles, but only until during the restoration of Chillingham, during the destruction of one of the dead ends, two skeletons were found: an adult and a child. Scratches on the stones indicate that they were walled up alive.

In the basement of the castle there is a torture chamber. Here John Sage, the cruel owner of the castle, strangled one of his mistresses during intercourse. These events did not remain within the walls of the dungeon, but were overheard by the maid and made public. The disturbances and unrest associated with this could turn into an uprising on the border, and King Edward Longlegs gave the order for John's execution in his own castle. By the way, many remains of victims with broken limbs were found in the Chillingham dungeon. All bodies except one left as memorial sign, removed. Currently, in the cell you can see the skeleton of a little girl, the last prisoner who died in the dark dungeon of the castle.

Where the ghost stories originated from is unknown. Perhaps some events did take place within the walls of the estates that frightened the former residents. But the most interesting thing is that many people want to believe in invisible forces and dream of visiting the secret rooms of ancient castles

When it comes to castles, many people feel equal parts fear and awe. Strange noises, otherworldly creaking of floors... To the question “Who’s there?” - silence. There are castles that can send shivers down your spine and the hair on your head. It is quite possible that this feeling is caused by the external Gothic style. And it is possible that this is due to the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. In such places, knights and ladies are presented, and there are portraits on the walls depicting the former inhabitants of the castles. Where the ghost stories originated from is unknown. Perhaps some events did take place within the walls of the estates that frightened the former residents. But the most interesting thing is that many people want to believe in invisible forces and dream of visiting the secret rooms of ancient castles, walking through underground passages, feeling the cold atmosphere with their skin. Believe it or not, this alone can scare visitors half-fainting. This article will introduce you to haunted castles.

This castle was built at the end of the 12th century. On this moment it is used as a luxury hotel. Fame came to Dragsholm Castle after rumors began to spread about 100 ghosts who roam the corridors every night. The names of three of them are known to many: the Lady in White, the Gray Lady and the Earl of Boswell. The legend of the castle says that a certain lady in white was passionately in love with a simple peasant. After the girl's father found out about his daughter's relationship with the peasant, he became angry and locked her in a room, after which she was never seen again. During the restoration of the castle in the 1930s, a wing of the castle was restored. During this, the skeleton of a woman in a white dress was found, and it was walled up in the wall. As legend has it, the Gray Lady worked as a hotel maid all her life. After her death, she was unable to leave there, and now she returns every night to check if everything is okay. As for Earl Boswell, in the 16th century he was imprisoned in the castle, where he died.

This unique castle is located in the forests in the north of Prague. The structure was intended to be defensive, but it was not destined to withstand a single attack. The castle is legendary because, as legends say, the ghost of a headless black horse wanders around it, as well as a mysterious woman who constantly looks out the window. According to legend, there used to be a hole on the site of the castle that had no bottom. From it, winged creatures - half people, half monsters - came into our world. The rulers in the 13th century made a decision and closed the pit, which was called the “entrance to hell.” And they closed it like this: a castle was built on this very spot. But... Even before the construction of the castle, several soldiers were let into the pit using ropes. When one of them was just lowered, he let out a terrible scream, and when he was taken out of the hole, it turned out that the man had aged 30 years. A couple of days later he died. This castle attracted the attention of Hitler. There, according to legend, several soldiers were executed.

The full name of this castle is Chateau de Brissac. This castle is the tallest in all of France. It has seven floors. This castle is the most visited in the world. Jacques de Brezet owned this building in the 11th century with his wife Charlotte. She had a lover, and for her meetings with him, she used the bedroom located next to her husband's bedroom. The unfortunate husband was forced to listen to moans every night. This continued until Charlotte and her lover mysteriously disappeared. Maybe the husband is to blame for the disappearance of the lovers, but no one knows. But the couple did not completely disappear. The owner of the castle continued to hear groans every night. This continued until he lost his mind and escaped from the castle. Rumor has it that passionate moans can be heard every night to this day.

Built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, this castle has seen more battles than any other castle in Europe. It is simply saturated with war and the pain of destruction. Tourists prefer such parts of the castle as the house with the ghost of Sir Fulk Greville, who died in 1628 at the hands of his servant, as well as the tower with ghosts. Legend has it that every night the ghost of the castle owner materializes from a portrait hanging on the wall in the tower. The castle's dungeon is also known. Visitors constantly complain of dizziness and nausea after touching either the bars or any instruments of torture.

This castle has long been favored by ghosts. The castle chapel has a very interesting history. In 1532, the priest was killed by the sword of his brother and his ghost haunts the chapel, which was called “bloody.” And the dungeon is rich in history: it had a high ceiling through which criminals were thrown down to the bottom, strewn with numerous sharp spikes. Eyewitnesses claim that a creature the size of a sheep, with the face of a man and with black hollows instead of eyes, was also repeatedly seen in the castle.

This place is famous among tourists, even though it is a very gloomy place. The executioner here was John Sage, who tortured approximately 50 Scots every week. Nowadays, visitors hear at night how the executioner moves the corpses. Another famous castle ghost is the Blue Boy. They say that at night loud crying can be heard for a long time and then blue flashes of light appear. During the restoration, the bodies of a man and a boy were discovered, which were walled up in a three-meter brick wall.

It was erected in the 12th century. This is exactly the place where non-believers and skeptics immediately become believers. This castle is the symbol of all the castles in Scotland and was built on the site of an extinct volcano. This place is famous for its constant paranormal phenomena happening here. Ghosts are found at every step. Tourists often see the ghost of Lady Glamis wandering the halls of the castle. She was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake in 1537. There is also a ghost without a head. The groans of prisoners can be heard from the dungeon at night. The ghosts of an old man in a leather apron and the ghost of a dog galloping around the cemetery roam the corridors.

In this place, as legends say, the ghost of the Blue Lady wanders. She lures those wandering around the castle inside, where the unfortunate ones meet their death. This is the ghost of the daughter of the owner of the castle - Norman. She was raped by her father. After this, a baby was born who was strangled by his own father. Rumor has it that a girl took the child's life. But the ghost of the unfortunate girl is not the only one in the area. The White Lady is believed to be the ghost of Margaret Pomeroy. She was locked in the room by her sister Elionora and thereby doomed her sister to starvation. And everything happened out of jealousy. Both girls were in love with the same young man.

This castle is the source of legends about ghosts, as well as a wonderful example of Austrian architecture. This castle was built in the 12th century. It is also known as the Witches Castle. This castle was previously the site of bloody witch trials. From 1675 to 1687, thousands of women were convicted within these walls for witchcraft. They were brutally tortured and then beheaded within the castle walls. It is for this reason that many ghosts of witches wander in these places. Some people also consider this place to be the refuge of a werewolf. In the 19th century, mutilated and dismembered bodies of deer and cattle were found near Musham Castle. This was the reason that some residents were convicted and imprisoned as werewolves.

Sometimes these large, noble buildings hold some rather dark stories. Built to last for many centuries, strong and isolated, they were once the homes of powerful families, famous military men and politicians. But with great wealth a hidden part of human nature comes to the surface. Stories about noble dynasties are often accompanied by creepy legends and rumors. These haunted castles may be located far from each other, but they all share ghost legends surrounding the history of their famous inhabitants.

Castle Fraser, Scotland

Castle Fraser was the home of a princess who was killed while sleeping. Rumors say that she still wanders the halls of the castle at night. Read about other famous castles in Scotland in a separate selection.

Bardi Castle, Italy

Bardi Castle is also haunted by a dark history. Here lived the army captain Moroello, who committed suicide after his beloved Solest committed suicide. She did this thinking that her lover had died in battle.

Castle of Good Hope, South Africa

Built in the 17th century, the castle is home to the ghost of Lady Anne Barnard, who previously lived here. Surprisingly, besides Lady Anne, the ghost of a soldier who hanged himself from the bell tower also lives here.

Gorst Castle, Belgium

The ghost of a local lord arrives at the castle at the stroke of midnight in a carriage with six wild horses. He cannot find his peace because he killed the priest. According to rumors, the priest had an affair with the lord's wife, which was the reason for the murder.

Arundel Castle, England

Built in West Sussex in the 11th century, the castle is haunted by the ghost of the first Earl of Arundel.

Larnaca Castle, New Zealand

Larnach Castle belongs to New Zealand politician William Larnach. There are rumors that the house is haunted by the ghosts of Kate, the daughter of the original owner, as well as Eliza, Larnaca's first wife.

It is also worth adding that many marriage agents and tour operators spin these stories to the fullest, even offering to hold a wedding in a haunted castle. There are quite a lot of people who want to experience such extreme sports.