In the ruins of the Franziskaner-Klosterkirche in Berlin, there is a legend of a murderous monk haunting the place, after he ended up murdering his own son.
The old ruins of the once great Franziskaner-Klosterkirche was a Franciscan monastery since the 1200s and was before its destruction the most important medieval building in Berlin.
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Franziskaner-Klosterkirche was bombed to ruins by the allies during the last day of the second world war in 1945. It was probably one of the oldest buildings in the city. Still today it is a part of the city landscape though, just by the Alexanderplatz in the city center of Berlin.
The Runaway Knight Roderich
But the monks of Franziskaner-Klosterkirche have been gone for years and the only ones living there now are ghosts. The most famous ghost in the ruins of the monastery was once a knight named Roderich. He became a monk when he was running away from the father of his one night stand. The father was enraged as he had dishonored his daughter and was after him.
Franziskaner-Klosterkirche: The monastery was also called Graues Kloster (The Gray Monastery) and was in use even after the reformation and used as a school. This is from a postcard around 1910.
On the run, the knight turned monk broke his leg and kept walking with a limp. From then on everyone called Roderich the limping monk, and he was not a popular one.
Because of his injury and his unfortunate circumstances isolated in the monastery, Roderich grew bitter over the long years. He didn’t get along with the other monks either and paid two criminals to murder one of the other monks in the monastery. He blamed the murder on some Knights Templar who ended up being executed for it.
The Murderous Monk in Franziskaner-Klosterkirche
Another monk was sent to the Franziskaner-Klosterkirche called Bernhard. He entered because of the grief he had of his miserable love that turned out badly. He loved and wanted to marry a woman, but as the cruel fate would have it, it turned out she was his sister, and he was unable to go on outside of the monastery.
Bernhard was a skeptical person though and had his own theory of the murder of the monk Roderich had killed in Franziskaner-Klosterkirche. When Bernard met Roderich he told him that he didn’t believe that the Knights Templar was behind the murder of their fellow monk brother.
This was the nail in the coffin for Bernhard and Roderich locked him up in a dark cellar of the monastery to cover his crime when he was found out, ending up killing him so he wouldn’t spill his secret.
The Ultimate Sin
While this is going on, the two criminals Roderich hired came clean and confessed to what really happened when they murdered the monk and it was in fact Roderich that was behind it all. The anger and rage against Roderich grew and an angry mob stormed the monastery, searching for Roderich to put things right.
The angry mob found him kneeling in the cellar next to the dead body of Bernhard. After he had killed Bernhard, Roderich went through Bernhards stuff and found a letter from Bernard’s mother. This was a woman who Roderich knew intimately and it was Roderich’s former lover telling him that Roderich in fact was the father of Bernhard.
Overcome with grief and regret he confessed at once and was killed on the spot without a trial.
Since then, Roderich has been haunting the Franziskaner-Klosterkirche, even after it all turned to ruins. He can be heard wailing in the night from the outside of the monastery, unable to atone for his sins of killing his own son in cold blood to cover his own tracks.
The once huge floating restaurant Jumbo Kingdom used to be an iconic landmark in Hong Kong for decades. Now there is only a capsized wreck left and stories about good times at the restaurant as well as ghost stories that came from the place.
The Jumbo Kingdom (珍寶王國) was a floating restaurant in Aberdeen Harbour in Hong Kong for 44 years before capsizing because of bad weather and an iconic landmark for tourist to experience. It was built in the 1970s and has architecture with traditional Chinese vibes and luxurious decorations.
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After being in operation for so many years, it is no wonder that haunted rumors started to attach itself to the huge restaurant. Here are some of them:
The Spirits of the Drowned
Every night more than 2000 people could eat at the place and the visitors ate crabs, lobster and suckling pig at the place, and even if it wasn’t the best food, it was certainly an experience to eat there, looking out over the harbor.
Not all is glamorous dining at the floating restaurant though as the drowned bodies are taken to the underside of the restaurant by the current in the harbor. Even though they were not far from land, there was always a danger of the water and there were often search teams looking for missing people under the restaurant.
Some say that these drowned spirits latched onto the restaurant and haunted the place, trying to get ashore.
The Deadly Fire
Even before opening, there was a huge tragedy that struck the floating restaurant and lingered in people’s memories. Some say this is one of the reasons the place had such a haunted rumor about it.
After a fire in 1971, 54 people died when the four deck structure was set aflame in mere minutes after an explosion. This was even before it opened as a restaurant.
After these events, visitors, especially children for some reason have reported seeing spirits with no feet around the halls of the restaurant. Could it be the workers that got trapped during the explosion? Perhaps it is a mix of them and the lost souls that gets carried by the current.
The Rowing Women
Perhaps most mysterious of all, were the stories about visitors seeing a lone woman rowing towards them in the dark.
There are legends about a mysterious woman rowing a small boat at night by the restaurant that people are saying is a ghost. This alludes to the practice prostitutes used in Hong Kong back in the day when they rowed out to ship waiting in the bay to earn money from the sailors waiting in their ships in the harbor.
People think that the floating life full of life and lights in the bay reminds the spirits of the prostitute ghost at sea about their life and attracts them.
Perhaps something went wrong rowing out to the boats and the women are still rowing, long after their death.
The Haunted Remains of the Capsized Jumbo Kingdom
In 2022, the whole floating restaurant capsized after years of misfortune. It closed down during the pandemic, and never got to reopen after.
Perhaps now the floating restaurant itself will become a haunted ship, floating in the harbor in Hong Kong, never forgetting it was once an iconic landmark of the city.
Delve deep into the mysteries of the castle of Dinefwr and discover its haunted ghosts. The castle grounds are said to be haunted by both a loyal butler as well as a murdered lady in white that tried to escape a loveless marriage.
Tucked away in the rolling Welsh countryside, Dinefwr Castle holds a dark secret—it is haunted by ghosts that have roamed its halls for centuries.
The castle, also known as Old Dynevor Castle is now in ruins as it overlooks the River Towy close to Llandeilo in Wales.
Llandeilo Town in Wales
Dinefwr is situated in the small town of Llandeilo in Wales. This area has always had a reputation for mythical tales, with local folklore claiming that Dinefwr Castle was once inhabited by mysterious ghosts.
The stories date back hundreds of years and each generation adds more details to the spooky tales that have become part of the culture. For example, some people believe that spirits haunt the castle grounds and are said to create flickering lights or howling noises!
The History of Dinefwr Castle
Dinefwr Castle is steeped in history and mystery and dates back to the 12th century and was the chief seat of the Dinefwr dynasty of the Kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales.
Built by Rhys ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth, it gained status as an important fortress as tensions among Welsh kingdoms rose.
His reign saw a rare period of peace and stability that led to a flowering of Welsh culture, music and poetry. The Dinefwr dynasty was mostly warlord led and constantly invaded.
Sadly, it was not to last. After Rhys’s death, conflicts over succession led to turbulent years as the Welsh princes fought amongst themselves and against the English. Dinefwr eventually fell into English control in 1287 and remained there for centuries, despite Owain Glyndŵr’s attempt to wrest it back during his uprising of 1403.
Its location on a hill overlooking the Towy Valley was strategic and also held spiritual significance to local residents. Throughout its long history, rumors of spectral residents began to take root and tales of spooky sightings have been told ever since.
The Haunting Grounds in Newton House
When talking about the hauntings around this place, many people make the mistake to think that the ghosts are roaming around the ancient ruins of the castle, but this is not entirely true. The ghosts that are now famous are supposedly haunting the country house called Newton House on the castle grounds in Dinefwr Park that was built in 1660.
Among the ghosts said to be haunting the grounds are Walter the Butler who worked in the house and is now haunting the servant’s basement. People have smelled his tobacco smoke in the room as well as hearing muffled voices as the lights are flickering on and off.
Ghosts of Dinefwr Castle
But perhaps best known is the tragic story about the White Lady that supposedly haunts the grounds as well. This is also supposed to happen in the old country house.
The White Lady of Dinefwr Castle is said to be the ghost of Lady Elinor Cavendish and her horrible end. There are even reports that people have visited and have felt as if their throats are being squeezed, the same way that she died.
There are tales about the ghost of a young girl, now remembered as the White Lady of Dinefwr Castle and according to the rumours, people have seen the ghost of a woman disappearing into the cupboard.
The story goes that Lady Elinor Cavendish was forced into an unwanted marriage in the 18th century and tried to run away from the loveless marriage and her brutal husband to be. But she was not allowed to slip out of his hands and her husband followed her and when he caught up to her, he strangled her to death.
Lady Elinor Cavendish now haunts the grounds, the country house of Newton House and the ruins of DInefwr Castle, still trying to escape the life she didn’t want for herself.
At Belvelly Castle in Ireland, the ghosts haunting it, all met a tragic end. It is said that the unfortunate singer is heard singing out in the night, and the ghost of the faceless woman is said to haunt the castle after she refused a man, turned mad and died.
In the heart of the Irish countryside, near the Cork Road bridge onto Fota Island, stands a relic of another time – Belvelly Castle. Belvelly Castle’s history is woven with legend and folklore, a tapestry of stories that has endured through centuries.
It was originally built by the Anglo-Norman Hodnett family in the 1200s to connect the Great Island to the mainland of Ireland. Over the centuries the castle was in between several feuding families, wars and by the 19th century the Belvelly Castle had fallen into ruins after being abandoned.
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This 14th-century tower house that remains from the castle may appear serene under the daylight, but as night falls, an eerie aura descends upon it, invoking spine-tingling tales of restless spirits and unsettling apparitions.
The Spanish Bard and the Musical Duel
In the year 1209, off the Irish coast near Ballycotton Light, a Spanish galleon was in distress and ultimately wrecked. Among the survivors was a Spanish minstrel named Luccero Moreno. His haunting melodies and enchanting music won him a place in the big stone houses of Cobh, where troubadours were a rare sight.
Luccero’s presence reached the attention of Lady Hodnett that resided at the Belvelly Castle, who invited him to stay with her family. This marked the beginning of a rivalry between Luccero and Dion the Thrush, Ireland’s leading bard, who had been the Hodnetts’ entertainer for years.
To settle the rivalry, Lady Hodnett arranged a “duel with song” over three nights in Belvelly Castle’s great hall between the two musicians. Each contender would sing three songs of their choice, and the winner of two out of three songs over two out of three nights would be retained at the castle.
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Luccero won the first night, Dion the second, setting the stage for a dramatic final night. In the end though, Luccero’s performance was so moving that he was crowned the victor.
As he stood in the window, about to sing one more song, Dion, consumed by jealousy, lunged at Luccero with a dagger. In a swift and desperate move, Luccero managed to disarm Dion and fatally wound him. Before anyone could intervene, Dion died cursing Luccero.
Hodnett, infuriated by the murder of his favorite bard, imprisoned Luccero in a room beside the water gate. Eventually, a vengeful girl, who had loved Dion, poisoned Luccero’s food, leading to his agonizing death.
Luccero’s body was disposed of in the River Lee, weighted down with chains, in accordance with the customs of the time. Centuries later, fragments of a human skeleton were found in the river, believed to be Luccero’s remains.
To this day, people claim to see a ghostly figure in Belvelly Castle, a young man in black, singing strange melodies in an unknown tongue. He stands in a window overlooking the water gate, his eerie music filling listeners with unease as they gaze upon his pale, sunken eyes under the moonlight.
The Faceless Lady Margaret Hardnett
This is not the only ghost said to haunt the castle though. Lady Margaret Hodnett, who resided at Belvelly Castle in 1685 and was renowned for her beauty but also notorious for her capricious and shallow nature. She played with the affections of many suitors, including Clon Rockenby, a member of the Desmond family.
Rockenby’s infatuation with Lady Margaret endured for years, despite her tendency to reject and then recall him. In a fit of jealousy and frustration, Rockenby initiated a siege of Belvelly Castle, aiming to starve Lady Margaret and her family into submission. They blocked off the road where they would transport food, and was hoping that this would teach her.
The siege endured for three harsh winters, during which Lady Margaret’s beauty withered, and the castle’s inhabitants suffered greatly. The situation grew desperate, and Lady Margaret’s father did not intervene. Exactly why they let it continue and didn’t just give in, no one has an answer to. As the siege intensified, Lady Margaret’s reflection in a Venetian mirror began to deteriorate, mirroring her physical decline.
Upon realizing the extent of the suffering, Rockenby ordered a complete blockade of supplies. Lady Margaret was on the brink of death when the siege finally ended and they raised the white flag. She confronted Rockenby, pointing to her haggard face in the mirror and fainted.
Rockenby, horrified, destroyed the mirror, leading Lady Margaret to regain consciousness. However, a young brother of Lady Margaret, wielding a powerful bow, avenged his sister by fatally wounding Rockenby with an arrow.
As Rockenby died, he cursed Lady Margaret, wishing that she would search for mirrors but never find them. Lady Margaret survived but only partially regained her beauty. She shunned mirrors but eventually sneaked small ones into her possession. Her mind began to unravel, and she exhibited erratic behavior, including trying to dam up the River Lee and obsessively gazing into spots on the walls.
Lady Margaret died alone in Belvelly Castle, leaving behind a haunted legacy. Some witnesses claim to have seen her ghost, but her appearance remains a subject of debate. Some say she is obscured by a thick white cloth or veil, while others claim she has no face, only a sphere of pale mist where her face should be. She is said to roam the castle, rubbing the stones as if looking into invisible mirrors, leaving some stones smoother and gleaming as if glazed, reflecting blurred images of those who dare to look.
Restoration and the Haunting’s Persistence
Recent years have seen Belvelly Castle undergo a restoration process under the care of new private owners. The castle has emerged from the shadows, its ancient stone walls standing tall once more. Yet, despite the renewal, the eerie legends that have clung to it persist like the ivy on its walls.
Visitors and locals alike continue to report eerie encounters within the castle’s hallowed halls. Whispers in empty chambers, fleeting glimpses of shadowy figures, and the inexplicable sensation of being watched are all part of the ghostly tapestry woven into Belvelly’s very foundations.
The Haunted Belvelly Castle
Belvelly Castle, with its timeless beauty and tumultuous history, remains an enigmatic and haunting presence on the Irish landscape. As day turns to night, and the stars cast their pale glow upon its ancient stones, the spectral residents of this medieval tower house come to life once more. Their stories, steeped in sorrow, revenge, and lost beauty, continue to captivate the imagination of those who dare to venture into this chilling realm where legends merge with reality.
One of the more well known haunted places in the Czech Republic are the spooky ghosts sitting inside of the abandoned and decaying St. George’s Church. But for what reason did the locals make them?
For those who love exploring the supernatural and the mysterious, St. George’s Church in the Czech Republic is a must-visit destination and perhaps the most eerie and scary place in the country.
St. George’s Church, or Sv. Jiří in Czech is located in the picturesque town of Lukova, in the Czech Republic, over two hours from Prague. The small village is found in the Manětín-regionen with its deep and somewhat dark forests.
The church is over 700 years old, and it has a rich and complex history that is intertwined with the history of the town itself.
The Church of Ghosts: St. George’s Church in the small village of Lukova has been left to decay for decades after an accident. There have been not enough funds to restore it and rumours about it being haunted made people stay away from it.//Source: Zdeňka Bušková/Wikimedia
The church was originally built in the early 14th century, consecrated in 1352, and it was dedicated to St. George, the patron saint of soldiers. Over the centuries, the church underwent several renovations and restorations, and it played an important role in the religious and cultural life of the town.
The Haunted and Cursed St. George’s Church
However, tragedy struck in 1968, when the roof of the church collapsed during a funeral service. This led to the locals believing that the church was haunted or possibly cursed and started to hold mass outside of the building. The congregation was devastated, and the church was left abandoned for over 30 years.
The Praying Ghosts: The little village is today most known for being the home of many statues of ghosts as an art project. // Source: MiroRosa/Wikimedia
But it wasn’t really what was behind the haunted legends that made the church famous as it was first when they tried to raise money in a unique way that it became known as one of the most haunted places in Europe.
The 32 Ghosts in the Church
During that time, the church fell into disrepair and decay, and it became a symbol of the town’s decline. But in the early 2000s, a group of local artists decided to take matters into their own hands, and they began a restoration project that would transform the abandoned church into a hauntingly beautiful work of art.
The artist Jakub Hadrava made 32 life-sized ghost statues that are now living inside of the haunted church as part of his bachelor in art in 2012.
They are supposed to represent the Sudeten Germans, or German Bohemians, an ethnic group that lived in the area a long time ago. They were all expelled from the country after World War 2.
Raising Money for Restauration: The church installed the ghosts in part to raise money to restore their old church. Many people have visited to experience the eerie sight of the statues.// Source: MiroRosa/Wikimedia
The stunt helped to get the attention of the church, and the congregation who once didn’t have money to repair the roof, have now raised more than 600 000 koruna.
St. George’s Church is a truly unique and haunting destination, steeped in history, legend, and mystery and a place where art meet the legends and perhaps even fuels them.
Take a closer look at the paranormal activity linked to Ottawa’s iconic Fairmont Chateau Laurier and the unique stories told about its hauntings.
For 100 years, the legendary Fairmont Chateau Laurier has been the site of strange and unexplained occurrences behind its Tiffany stained glass windows. The old hotel with over 400 rooms is said to have some guests that never really checked out.
From sightings of a ghostly woman in white to mysterious objects moving on their own, there are numerous tales of paranormal activity connected to one of Ottawa’s most iconic landmarks.
PS! It is not to be confused with the Fairmont hotel in Vancouver, which has its own haunted legend about the Lady in Red.
History of the Chateau Laurier
The Fairmont Chateau Laurier is a luxurious hotel built in the early 20th century as a symbol of Ottawa’s success and prosperity.
Grand Trunk Railway president Charles Melville Hays commissioned Château Laurier, and construction occurred between 1909 and 1912, but never got to live to see the opening himself as he died on the RMS Titanic on 15th of April when he was returning to Canada for the opening. Today it is said he is haunting the hotel that he never got to witness its opening of.
Since its opening in 1912, it has played an integral role in Ottawa’s social scene and political landscape, hosting many important figures from the past and present.
Sightings and Urban Legends Related to the Hotel
Even throughout its storied history, unusual and mysterious events have taken place in the Fairmont Chateau Laurier. Some of the rumors of paranormal activity are more mainstream and related to typical ghostly sightings, noises, and other phenomena.
Others appear to be grounded more in urban legend than founded fact—stories that could be attributed to the hotel’s romantic atmosphere or a bit of dramatism based upon its location near city cemeteries.
What is peculiar about this hotel though, is that there is a striking amount of vague feelings and senses rather than specific stories with not much details. Could it just be the atmosphere of the place that makes you feel so? Or perhaps there is something about the place or the building that plays a ghostly prank on your nerves?
The Strange Happenings on the 7th floor
But let us have a look at what the rumors are saying, and try to pinpoint the few clues that exist.
First, there have also been many deaths connected to the hotel, especially suicides of people that have jumped from the upper floor and many chalk up the strange happenings on the upper floors of the restless spirits of these people.
For many years the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation CBC had a radio studio on the 7th and 8th floor of the hotel for more than 80 years. The people that were working there reported about strange things happening in the nearby suite.
The Ghost Child
Among a general uneasiness, the feeling of being watched and creepy sounds and shakings in the rooms there have been spotted things as well people believe to be ghosts.
There have also been reports about the ghost of a child still roaming the hall.
One night in 1949 people on Po Hing Fong street in Hong Kong woke up to what was believed to be a mass haunting from the dead from world war two.
One summer night in Hong Kong in 1949, the residents in the Po Hing Fong street at the hillside of Taiping Mountain slept soundly. Summers in Hong Kong can be pretty hot and humid, even at night .
It was only a few years after the second world war where over thousands of lives were lost in the Battle of Hong Kong in 1941 and during the three years the Japanese occupied the Island, also in this old street the effect of the war was clear.
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In 1949, the Island of Hong Kong was again governed by the British, and people paid a lot of attention to the warring going on over at the mainland. The communist revolution in China led to a population boom in Hong Kong and people were still trying to get on their feet after years of war.
The Collective Ghost Vision
During one of these hot and humid summer nights, the people living in Po Hing Fong street were suddenly awakened by a huge commotion outside. They flocked to their window to see what was going on.
Outside were hundreds of people seen running for their lives. Truck they recognised from the war was seen passing by in the otherwise silent and deserted night. The chaos of the scene was something they had seen during the Japanese Occupation, but why now?
According to the people witnessing it all, the people in the street ran as they were fearing for their life and calling out for their loved ones, trying to get away from an unknown enemy.
This vision lasted for several minutes, the people kicking up dust, making the Po Hing Fong street almost misty. In the end both the people and the trucks all disappeared in the mist and the calm and peaceful night returned to as it had been.
The next day the neighbors met outside and asked if anyone else had experienced something strange during the night. It turned out that everyone had heard and seen the same thing. And they all speculated that it was the spirits that had died in the Second World War.
Other Tragedies on Po Hing Fong Street
The Po Hing Fong street has gone through many name changes and it used to be called Market Street.
The cul-de-sac – originally the site of Dr Sun Yat-sen’s center for anti-Qing revolutionaries and where the prominent businessman Chau Siu-ki owned property, and the future governor, Sir Cecil Clementi, lived while he was a civil servant – was the scene of a fatal accident in 1925 during a flash flood.
On July 17, just before 9am, nearly 80 people were killed when the torrent of water – after days of heavy rain – led to the collapse of a retaining wall on the corner of Caine Road and Ladder Street.
Chau and members of his family were among the dead.
Alternative History of the Mass Haunting
The story about the summer night in 1949 and the ghost of people from the Second World War is the most reposted version of the haunting in this area. There are however alternative versions, or maybe it is simply many of them.
The other version follows the same pattern on a summer night, but this was in 1948, and the ghosts are supposedly from much earlier times.
If these two stories are from the same haunting is unclear, but there are way more notices for a mass haunting in news clipping in 1948 than 1949.
Po Hing Fong Today
Many sources claim that this story was featured in local newspapers in Hong Kong, but there are yet any hard sources of this that we have found and can feature in the article.
Today the dead end street and the surrounding area of Po Hing Fong has transformed into a new hipster neighborhood and is nicknamed PoHo. It is an art district with bohemian cafes, boutiques and design studios, and little of the haunted past is visible to this day.
As day turns into night, the district comes alive with live music performances, pop-up galleries, and unique events that showcase the innovative spirit of PoHo. While the neighborhood has shed its eerie reputation, some locals whisper tales of mysterious occurrences and unexplained phenomena, adding an intriguing layer of mystique to the pulsating energy of PoHo.
The story of the ghost of Agnes Sampson, known as The Wise Wife of Keith in Scotland is a story where a simple midwife was accused of witchcraft so powerful she caused a storm trying to kill her own queen.
Agnes Sampson was a Scottish healer and a purported witch. Sampson was born in the village of Kirktoun, East Lothian in Scotland and worked as a midwife. She was believed to have healing powers long before she was accused of being a witch.
She became known as the Wise Wife of Keith and was involved in the North Berwick trials that happened during the 16th century, one of Scotland’s most notorious witchcraft trials. Agnes Sampson is also known for being one of the main accused at this trial.
There were and still are many tales about who Agnes Sampson really was. Some of them are true tales, some tall tales. She is said to have been married three times, once to William Keith with whom she had two children. She is also said to have been married to two other men and had 14 children with each man.
So how did this simple midwife become the center of a conspiracy of witches trying to sink the ships belonging to their new queen and threatening her own King? To find out we have to travel across the pond to the court in Denmark-Norway and their fear of black magic and a series of unfortunate events on the sea.
The King as the Judge: Suspected witches with Agnes Sampson kneeling before King James VI from the book Daemonologie (1597). He himself oversaw the trial and ended up sentencing many to be burnt as witches.
The Storm of Contrary Winds
By the autumn of 1590, Scotland was deep into witch hunts, and many of those sent to trial were questioned by the King himself. Today, the city of Edinburgh and the rest of the country is riddled with the memory of those who were burnt at the stake as a witch. King James VI, the son of Mary, Queen of Scots had just returned from Denmark-Norway where he had married Anne of Denmark who was only 14 at their wedding.
Witches, dragons and ghosts, Edinburgh castle are said to have it all. The sound of bagpipe and drummers can be heard without anyone playing, and those accused for witchcraft as well as prisoners of wars are said to haunt the old castle.
The Danish court at this time was extremely wary of all things black magic and witchcraft. The fear of demons and witches had tightened the European continent and it was probably a fear that the Scottish King James adapted and brought back as well after spending time there.
The King of Scotland was impatient awaiting his bride from Denmark to cross the seas after the wedding to stay by his side, but on her voyage to Scotland the fleet experienced heavy storms and ended up starting not only one, but two major witch trials that ended in several executions.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
So how did a simple midwife like Agnes Sampson get accused of something that happened all the way over in Denmark? To this we have to go through the Danish court and the witch trials that happened there before it started in Scotland.
Peder Munk of Estvadgård was a Danish navigator, politician and ambassador and in charge of carrying the fleet of 18 ships with Anne of Denmark to Scotland to bring her to her throne by her King. They set out on their voyage in 1589 from Copenhagen and were riddled with bad fortune, taking years to reach their final destination.
First they had to stop in a port in Norway to repair a leaking ship and had to stay there for a very long time, on their way to a very impatient king. When they reached The River Forth in central Scotland a ferry boat collided with one of the vessels in a storm and all of the passengers drowned. This was all attributed to witchcraft.
Back in Denmark, the navigator Peder Munk blamed it all on witchcraft, especially on a certain woman whom he had insulted and believed to be the main witch behind the storms. This became the beginning of the Copenhagen witch trials, which ended in executing 17 people by burning.
This inspired the King to hold his own trials, and it would be known as the North Berwick Witch Trials, and Agnes SAmpson was one of the main accused.
Accused of Witchcraft
More than a hundred suspects were arrested in North Berwick, several of them confessed during torture and named other people. Agnes Sampson was accused by Gillis Duncan, another one of the accused.
Duncan was really the one that linked the other accused of causing the storms that ended up sinking the Queens ships. She worked as a servant and confessed after torture that she was a witch and there were several more. The reason she was accused herself was that she was far too skilled of a healer in her master David Seton’s mind who also thought that Duncan had been sneaking out at night.
Agnes Sampson ended up being one of the more significant accused persons, as an elderly and respected woman that had healed more than one in the local area. Many attributed their good health to her good work. Now, they all turned on her because of the rumors and her unfortunate circumstances. The fact that she was a widow with children and acted as an independent woman and educated midwife was a part of the indictment against her. She had also been accused of witchcraft and investigated before.
Witches Sabbath: According to the accusers, Agnes Keith and the rest of her witch coven had met up and created a storm to keep a ship from Denmark arriving to Scotland, carrying Anne of Denmark.
The Wise Wife of Keith was imprisoned and put to torture for a long time before saying anything. She started off refusing to confess at first, but after a long time in the dark and in pain, she as the rest of the accused gave up.
In the end she was brought before King James VI himself and a council of nobles at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Sampson denied all the charges, but they kept torturing her until she said otherwise. Her head and body hair were shaved and she was pinned to the wall of her cell with a witches bridle. This was a torture instrument with four sharp prongs pressed into the mouth, meant to humiliate as well as hurt the ones wearing them.
She was forced to stay awake with no sleep in her cell with a rope around her head, always reminded just how close to death she really was. And in the end, how freeing that prospect must have seen compared to the torture she went through.
Finally, after all that torture, Agnes Sampson confessed to whatever they asked of her in front of her own king who oversaw the trial. In all she confessed to 53 indictments against her, including attending a Sabbat she led and that she was indeed a witch with supernatural power she used to harm others with.
According to her testimony, she ended up saying she made a charm that caused a storm that ended up drowning Jane Kennedy. She sank a dead cat with parts of a dead man into the sea near Leith. The same charm she used to threaten the King and his wife on her voyage.
In League with the Devil: Depiction of the Devil giving magic puppets to witches, from Agnes Sampson trial and North Berwick Witch Trials where she and many others ended up being burnt as witches in 1591.
It was her last testimony that was her downfall in the King’s eyes. In it, she disclosed things he and his wife had on their wedding night in Oslo. A conversation she had no way of knowing:
“Item, the said Agnes Sampson confessed before the Kings Majesty sundry things which were so miraculous and strange, as that his Majesty said they were all extreme liars, whereat she answered, she would not wish his Majesty to suppose her words to be false, but rather to believe them, in that she would discover such matter unto him as his majesty should not any way doubt of. And thereupon taking his Majesty a little aside, she declared unto him the very words which passed between the Kings Majesty and his Queen at Oslo in Norway the first night of their marriage, with their answer each to other: whereat the Kings Majesty wondered greatly, and swore by the living God, that he believed that all the Devils in hell could not have discovered the same: acknowledging her words to be most true, and therefore gave the more credit to the rest which is before declared.”
— News from Scotland
Execution and Haunting
King James was allegedly not completely convinced of Agnes Sampson guilt until her last confession. After it however he changed his mind and sent her to be burned. On 28th of January 1591 she was taken to the scaffold on Castlehill where she was garroted before being burnt at the stake.
Although the exact numbers of the executions are hard to be certain of, it is estimated that around 1500 people were killed as witches by the state of Scotland during this time.
Agnes Sampson’s naked ghost is said to roam the castle grounds, bald headed roaming around the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The mysterious and unexplained have fascinated humankind for centuries, leading many on a ghost hunting journey. Whether it’s ghosts, UFOs, or cryptids, paranormal investigators rely on specialized equipment to capture evidence of the supernatural. Here are some of the Paranormal Investigation Gear and the theory behind how they work.
Today the ghost hunts are so special you can even get a couple of paranormal investigation kits ready for you with all sorts of specifications.
The history of paranormal investigation trying to use science to explain ghosts existence dates back to the industrial revolution in the 19th century through organizations like the Society for Psychical Research. Even today we see the same with small crews using different equipment to prove the existence of ghosts.
Although the investigators try to use science to prove ghosts, the investigators often come with a more spiritualist background, like Harry Price or Sir Arthur Donal Cone from the spiritualist movement in the 1900s, or the religious background of Ed and Lorraine Warren.
Today the crews have moved to the tv screen and youtube channels, and much of the equipment we see today has been featured or even designed especially for these types of investigations.
It is important to note though, that these types of investigation using modern technology, doesn’t mean that they have scientifically proved the existence of ghosts. Many groups have been said to ignore the scientific method with empirical research from a skeptical point and what they really are up to is some form of techno-mysticism where they use electronic devices to prove their based theory.
Although the equipment themselves is nothing magical, but purely electronics, there really isn’t any scientific explanation between ghosts, cold spots and electromagnetic fields, and are as such nothing more than a pseudoscience at this point.
So let is have a look at some of the more modern equipments the paranormal investigator may carry in their bag.
1. EMF Meters: The Electromagnetic Field Detectors
EMF (Electromagnetic Field) meters are standard tools in paranormal investigations and were originally designed to record the safe range on power lines and household appliances to check radiation levels and how safe it is in the homes and workplaces.
EMF Meter Reader
These devices measure fluctuations in electromagnetic fields, which are believed to be associated with the presence of spirits or paranormal activity. Sudden, unexplained spikes in electromagnetic energy can indicate the presence of an entity. Paranormal investigators use EMF meters to detect such fluctuations in haunted locations, especially after the Ghost Hunters TV series claimed that it was “Specially calibrated for paranormal investigators.
This is probably one of the more known equipment for ghost hunting and in our digital age, there are now also apps for your phone or tablet you can use as well. The idea is the theory that ghosts need energy and use it, something that will show up when recording the energy.
One way to use it is to hold it up towards a light that makes the EMF go off. If the light stays consonant, the cause of it is purely an electrical one. However, when asking for a sign of a presence and a shift in the light intensity occurs, it is said that it could be something more paranormal.
What can it also be: Many argue that the EFM is popular for ghost hunters because it gives so many false positive readings during the hunt. In addition to a potential ghostly guest, the EMF will pick up any fluctuations of energy, this includes those of electrical outlets, wires and electronically appliances. It is an unshielded device so your phone, radio or literally any other electrical things can set it off. Even your own body will give out natural electricity, so it is advised to hold the device away from your body and wave it around as it only works on one axis.
Like many other measurement tools, this tool is used to measure ionizing radiation, looking often at something taken from GhostBusters. This product has been around for a long time and was a classic in the Paranormal Investigation Gear, since 1928 and used to be widely used by ghost hunters until other technology got more popular.
This piece of equipment might be able to tell you if there is radiation around you and how much, but it won’t be able to tell you where it comes from.
Although many paranormal hunters’ goal is to get the million dollar shot of a ghost, recording sound is just as a common part of ghost hunting. The theory is that not all ghosts will manifest themselves visually but could be heard. It was popularized by Friedrich Jürgenson who published a book in 1967 on radio contact with the dead. He had played around with a cassette recorder in his garden, recording birds. When he played them back he was certain he heard voices from his dead father and wife that were calling his name.
The theory is that perhaps it is too low to hear until you playback the recording and crack up the volume. Perhaps it is on a frequency the human ear can’t register and some tweaking could make it out.
This could also be the fault of this technology, because where does the tweaking of the sound recording become manipulated? People fast forward, play it backwards and try to get a particular meaning out from the chaos. The skeptics will say that when you are looking for it, you will eventually hear it.
EVP Recorders: Capturing Ghostly Voices
Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) recorders are specially designed audio recording devices that paranormal investigators use to capture unexplained voices or sounds. The idea was popularized by the Latvian Carl Jung student and parapsychologist Konstantīns Raudive in the 1970s.
These recordings are often considered as potential communication with spirits or entities. Investigators will typically ask questions aloud during paranormal investigations and later review their recordings for any responses that were not audible at the time of questioning.
Spirit Boxes and Ghost Radios: Real-Time Communication
Spirit boxes and ghost radios are devices that continuously scan through radio frequencies. The idea behind these tools is that spirits can manipulate the scanning process to produce audible responses to questions. These devices are used during paranormal investigations, allowing investigators to ask questions and receive real-time responses in the form of radio snippets or white noise.
The spirit box changes between different AM frequencies and uses white noise as a filler. The box is fed with the noise it picks up and the idea is that the spirits will be able to manipulate the noise to words we can understand. The output is then played out on a speaker, allowing the investigator to communicate in real time, not only realizing the words after coming back from the investigation.
This particular equipment was designed by Frank Sumption in 2000 and today it is seen with almost every youtuber and paranormal investigator and is at least a very fun and popular thing to keep in your Paranormal Investigation Gear. It is also called Frank’s Box or Ghost Box and Sumption claims he got the design idea from the spirit world. It got especially popular when the Ghost Adventure show used it when they investigated the alleged paranormal activity at Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum on October 30, 2009.
Because it uses and generates static, it also generates random effects, and like with the EMF reader, gives off a lot of false positives, confirming an already bias for the paranormal investigator. From skeptics it is called the modern ouija board, or just a broken radio.
Together with this, a couple of headphones should also be helpful and kept in your Paranormal Investigation Gear. You would be surprised about just how much sound pollution the ear picks up, and a couple of good headphones for your sound recording would be good for playback and focusing on the area.
One of the most used ways to detect ghosts is a sudden change in temperature. You often hear about people telling about a sense of a drop in temperature and getting cold when recounting their paranormal experiences.
There are many theories as to why this is said to happen, but the most speculated one is about use of energy. According to this belief, ghosts are traces of energy, and need and use it when manifesting. Heat is a type of energy and because of this, the energy is taken from the surrounding area, making the temperature drop.
How cold it needs to be to indicate a ghost though varies a lot. Some claim that it is everything from below 13 degrees celsius to almost zero.
There is also a theory that the spirit creates a dimensional gateway that will create a difference in the air pressure. This is a way of trying to explain it in more tangible terms when mediums are talking about vortexes and portals.
Digital thermometer can give you all sorts of specifications on the readings. Make sure not only to get something that would measure the surface temperature, but also the ambient temperature.
An old classic thermometer that is not digital or electronic could also be an idea to keep in your Paranormal Investigation Gear as there would be no electrical interference from it or could run out of battery.
What measurements could also mean: Even though you have located a drop in temperature, does it mean you have located a ghost? No! Things like metal or windows will give off a colder temperature than the ambient temperature elsewhere in the room.
A camera is both used as paranormal investigation gear for detection as well as proof. The relationship between the camera and ghosts goes as far back as the invention of the camera.
With the progression of cameras its usage during ghost hunting has also become more versetail. First and foremost it is used as surveillance equipment, interviewing witnesses and research.
Today most of us have a pretty good camera on our phone, but there are some things that some cameras do better than others.
Camcorders for Documentation
We have all seen footage of the ghost hunter crew running around with a camera in an old abandoned building in search of ghosts. In some instances they claim that the photos picked up more than what they saw with their naked eye.
The Panasonic X2000 4K Professional Camcorder
How many cameras you really need in your Paranormal Investigation Gearis up for debate, and many have their different uses. The standard though is a camcorder to record the process that you can take with you.
There is also the theory that the camera will pick up things that the naked eye won’t like flashes of illumination that could hint to ghosts. As well as perhaps giving you an idea where you are walking in complete darkness.
Infrared cameras, often referred to as IR cameras or Thermographic cameras, are said to be essential for capturing images and videos in complete darkness. They work by detecting thermal radiation (heat) and converting it into visible monochrome images with a data called thermography. Paranormal investigators use IR cameras to capture potential apparitions or anomalies that may not be visible to the naked eye.
It was originally developed for military use during the Korean War, but today the use of the camera has expanded. In the world firefighters use it to detect humans when the smoke is hindering vision, locating overheating parts of power lines, looking for fever in humans and animals and in telescopes. For ghost hunters, they are used to detect the rumored cold spots.
With these types of cameras the idea is that you will be able to detect so-called “Hot Spots” and cold spots that are invisible to the naked eye as the infrared cameras are sensitive to wavelengths that normal cameras are not.
Thermal Imaging Cameras: Spotting Cold Spots and Anomalies
Thermal imaging cameras detect variations in temperature by capturing the infrared radiation emitted by objects. Paranormal investigators use these devices to identify cold spots (sudden drops in temperature) and other anomalies that may indicate the presence of spirits or entities.
The theory is that paranormal energy can affect the temperature of the surroundings and with a camera you will be able to visualize this effect, not only recording it with a thermometer. This used to be one of the biggest pieces of evidence you could get as a paranormal investigator.
What could it also mean: With the many different products, there will also be bad ones. Especially smartphones apps, where the thermal reading is often nothing more than a faked filter.
But what is the difference between active IR and thermal imaging? The IR uses wavelength infrared light, which is then reflected back and creates an image. Thermal imaging is when you use mid- or long wavelengths of the IR energy. This makes them passive and the only difference you can see in black and white, cold and hot. They don’t see reflected light either so are better at penetrating headlights, smoke or other haze.
Full-Spectrum Cameras: Beyond the Visible Spectrum
Full-spectrum cameras are adapted to capture a broader range of light, including ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) wavelengths in addition to normal photos. More specific, there is no such thing as a “full spectrum” camera although there are “multispectral” cameras made at very high cost for the fine Paranormal Investigation Gear.
The idea is that with the extra sensitivity to light will also create better, clearer and cleaner images. The idea is that paranormal entities may manifest in these wavelengths, and using a full-spectrum camera increases the chances of capturing evidence that is not visible to humans under normal circumstances.
The thing about having a full spectrum camera is that it will hopefully cancel out some of the “Blurry Evidence” people catch on camera of strange interferences like light flares, shadows and so on.
Motion detectors and trigger objects are used to engage with entities. Motion detectors can sense movement in an area and trigger alarms or lights when something moves and is also found in an Paranormal Investigation Gear. Trigger objects are personal items placed in a location, often with the intention of inviting spirits to interact with them.
One can start to speculate, why would ghosts trigger something like a motion detector when they supposedly can glide through walls without any problems? In this scenario, the ghosts would at least have some sort of mass in the real world for it.
There are countless stories of ghosts leaving handprints on a person, pushing the living and having this sort of vague presence we don’t really know the scope of.
Some have experienced that a security camera started recording even though nothing was there. Could it be a ghost? Could something like a spirit really trigger something like this? Or is it simply a malfunction and any triggering of motion detectors should be investigated as something alive was around?
The REM pod as Paranormal Investigation Gear
Some claim that a REM pod is some of the best things to use to detect ghostly movings. The Radiating Electro Magneticity has been used on many ghost hunts, and the small device has an antenna with its own electromagnetic field that reacts when something gets near it.
Laser Grids and Shadow Detectors: Visualizing Entity Movement
Laser grids project a grid of laser beams into a room and has also been widely used in ghost hunters Paranormal Investigation Gear. Investigators observe the grid to detect disruptions or the movement of shadows that could indicate paranormal activity. Shadow detectors are devices designed to detect and track shadows, which are believed to be associated with spirits.
Some sort of night-vision device like Night vision goggles or monoculars allow investigators to see in low-light conditions. These devices use available ambient light or infrared illumination to create visible images. They are particularly useful in navigating dark and potentially haunted locations.
It is different from thermal imaging as it utilizes a different section of the infrared spectrum. They were developed in World War II, but became widely used during the Vietnam War.
The use of this equipment is mostly to help you see where you are going in darkness. And who knows, perhaps you see something in the dark you wouldn’t have otherwise. Pair it up with a flashlight with red light to not interfere with the night vision.
In many haunted houses studies, one of the scientific ways to debunk a haunting is to measure levels of gasses, in particular carbon monoxide gasses. This gas has been proven to cause hallucinations and after being exposed for this gas without knowing, people have claimed that they are haunted.
This was the case of the report on the Haunted H House in America in the 1870s. The use of gas in lights and heating was widely used at this time and was dangerous, as not only could it cause hallucination, but in worse case, death.
This is why you should always keep an Air Quality Monitor in your Paranormal Investigation Gear.
Something so obvious like a good and trusted Flashlight is good to grab in your Paranormal Investigation Gear, even if you have lights both from phones and cameras. Also a headlight would be a good idea
Extra Batteries is also perhaps obvious, but necessary. Not only because the paranormal investigation could go on forever and you could drain your batteries. There are also those investigating strange claims that it drains fully charged devices like phones, cameras and so on.
Some sort of a two way communication like a walkie talkie is a good idea. If you are ghost hunting with others, be sure to be aware of each other’s present. One thing is the danger of losing each other, but you should also be careful to deem your paranormal investigation partner as a ghost in the darkness and mistake their sound for something else.
Keep a watch on to note down the exact time things are happening, and how the watch is behaving. Is there some disturbance? Is time behaving differently than usual? Many that claim to have experienced something paranormal come back and tell about how time seemed to stop, or perhaps move differently. Compare timestamps after and have an analogue clock or something to double check.
These are just some of the many equipments used in paranormal investigations and in ghost hunters gear kit. Whether these equipment will be what gets the final proof for ghosts remains to see.
Step into an ancient castle filled with darkness and stories that will send shivers up your spine of murder and ghosts. Inside the old Château de Châteaubriant there are tales of ghost processions on October 16.
Step into the eerie and mysterious Château de Châteaubriant, a magnificent 15th century castle and one of France’s most haunted sites. Enter its dark and imposing halls originally constructed as a defense against Anjou and the Kingdom of France, laden with dark secrets, to experience an unforgettable journey through time. Learn about its chilling legends, hidden secrets, and unsettling specters that linger in the shadows.
History of the Château de Châteaubriant
The Château de Châteaubriant was first constructed in the 11th century, but was heavily modified during the Renaissance which the architecture bears marks of.
It was taken over by the French during the Mad War after a siege. Over the centuries, it changed hands many times – from its aristocratic owners, to prisoners of war during the revolution, and back again.
Château de Châteaubriant: drawn by artist Victor Petit in 1871. Already at this point the history of Château de Châteaubriant was old and steeped in legend . It is also said that ghost are walking the halls of the castle every year on October 16th.
Sybille the Shocked Ghost
One of the most famous legends behind the Château de Châteaubriant’s rumored hauntings is that of Sybille, wife of Geoffroy IV.
Geoffroy IV of Châteaubriant went on crusade to the holy land in the 1250s with King Saint Louis where he was jailed in Egypt after the battle of Mansourah and the entire French army was destroyed by the plague. His death was announced to the Châteaubriant and his wife.
Sybille, often named Sibylle de la Guerche de Candé started to mourn the death of her dead husband. He wasn’t dead however, and was released from prison and returned to his home and wife a couple of months later. When Sybille saw him again, she fell into his arms and died of the shock.
She is said to haunt the Château de Châteaubriant at times, but the real haunting is said to be done by the infamous Françoise de Foix, the main mistress of the King of France that did not bear the same loyalty to her husband as Sybille.
The Ghost of Françoise de Foix
In addition to Sybille and other ghosts that are said to haunt Châteaubriant, many also believe in the spirit of Françoise de Foix. She was a tall and dark haired woman that spoke both Latin and Italian as well as writing her own poetry. All of her attributes made her a well sought after woman, and even the King wanted her.
She was engaged to Jean de Laval, count of Châteaubriant in 1505 with support of the king and queen Anne de Bretagne and Louis XII. They formally married in 1509 and lived at Château de Châteaubriant.There was a shift in the royals and the new king, Francis I, summoned Jean de Laval to court for his help in 1516.
Françoise de Foix followed him and became the lady in waiting for Queen Claude de France as well as becoming the chief mistress to King Francis I. At official events she was placed near to the royal princesses, signifying that she was La mye du roi, or the Sweetheart of the King to the rest of the court.
Jean de Laval was sent to fight in the Italian Wars and became Governor of Brittany in 1531. He was aware of the affair but seemed unaffected by it all when his wife remained the King’s mistress for over a decade.
Françoise de Foix was rejected from court in 1525 when the young and blonde Anne de Pisseleu d’Heilly caught the King’s attention and affection. Because of this, she returned to Châteaubriant to live with her husband.
Killed by her husband Jean de Laval
She died on 16th of October in 1537, most likely of sickness are we to believe some. There is however a different theory. It is said that her husband killed her.
Read also: This is not the only story of a ghost haunting a French castle after a woman was killed by her husband: The Prisoner of Château de Puymartin
Jean de Laval, also known as John III of Laval-Châteaubriant was according to legend, an incredibly bloodthirsty baron who killed anyone who opposed him and ruthlessly tortured his enemies.
It is said that he shut his wife in a dark and padded cell and had her killed because of her relationship with the king or something else entirely. Some even think that he locked her up and poisoned her or bled her to death slowly.
The Assassination of Françoise de Foix: The legend of her death are widespread and depicted in art. Here from a book from 1816 by Augustine Gottis.
Ghost Procession at Midnight
Some say they can still hear her weeping within the walls of Châteaubriant and others have even seen her standing near windows or atop towers in traditional 16th-century dress, but perhaps she is best known to appear in the ghost procession on her death anniversary.
Ever since then, there have been a ghost procession in the Château de Châteaubriant in honor of her death on October 16 of monks and knights slowly ascending the main stairs before vanishing. Her ghost is said to come back for this night as the procession begins at the stroke of midnight.
An online magazine about the paranormal, haunted and macabre. We collect the ghost stories from all around the world as well as review horror and gothic media.
