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The Myths and Legends of Frankenstein Castle

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The historic building of Frankenstein Castle is now mostly in ruins, but is still a place for myths and legends to live on and inspire new horror. 

On a stoney hilltop amidst the dark forest there at the spurs of the low mountain range of Odenwald in Germany is an old medieval castle called Frankenstein Castle. 

The place itself with its narrow valleys and dark trees contains many legends and is heavy with myths of the past. The same can be said for the castle on the hilltop that has weathered many storms, legends and ghosts since it was built. 

The Frankenstein Castle or Burg Frankenstein was built sometime before 1252, the year of the first historical record, by Lord Conrad Reiz of Breuberg. Already then the place was filled with myths and stories about other older castles that had once stood there. 

The castle went through many modernisations and so did the Frankenstein family living there for over 400 years. They saw many things change during their reign as lords and knights and during the Reformation they were strong opponents to the Lutherans, being devoted Roman Catholics. 

By the 18th century the castle was used as a hospital and refuge until it fell into ruins. The two iconic towers that are seen today are nothing more than a restoration from the mid 19th century. And an inaccurate version of that. 

Myths and Legends of the Frankenstein Castle

Many strange things have happened near this place. Like in the 18th century when fortune tellers made everyone believe that a treasure was hidden close to the castle in 1763. Everyone started digging for it until local authorities had to ban people from gold digging altogether. 

Close to the castle you will also find magnetic stones on Mount Ilbes were compases don’t work properly. Many say that there is witchcraft practice at these stones on special occasions like on summer solstice. It is said that Mount Ilbes is the second most important meeting place for witches in the country after Mount Brocken, and visitors are advised to not disturb any ongoing rituals. 

Another mythical thing close to the Frankenstein Castleis the Sea of Rocks known as Felsenmeer, and believed to be a place where Siegfried the dragonslayer was murdered in the epic poem Nibelungenlied. 

This is also a place where you can see legendary creatures like water spirits that change into a fox. 

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

The Frankenstein Castle may or may not have been inspired by this historic castle when she wrote her novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus in 1818. 

The meaning behind the name is the two words, Franks, a Germanic tribe, and Stein, meaning stone. And the name itself is actually a pretty common name for castles in this region. There is also the connection to Benjamin Franklin as an inspiration, so the name itself doesn’t necessarily prove anything. 

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Whether or not she really was inspired by the castle or the legends about the place is unclear. But there are myths about a scientist creating a monster with the help of lightening within the walls of Frankenstein Castle.

There is however no mention of the castle itself in the book and many researchers doubt Shelley’s connection to the castle as she herself never went. It is possible that she heard stories about it as the legends were quite notorious when she visited Germany. 

The biggest connection is the rumors surrounding one of the alchemists living in Frankenstein castle that the rumors said he also created a monster. 

The Alchemist and the Elixir of Life

Once there was a man named Johann Konrad Dippel (1673-1734) who was born in the castle. This man would later become a professional alchemist and he created an oil said to contain the ‘Elixir of Life’ meant to grant eternal life. 

The animal oil, which is known as Dippel’s Oil is a dark, tar like liquid with a horrible smell from distillation of bones. It was used mostly as an animal and insect repellent. In World War II it was used to make wells undrinkable.  Dippel tried to buy the castle in exchange for the elixir of life, but was turned down. 

Fountain of youth: Near castle Frankenstein you will find the fountain of youth. // Source: Pascal Rehfeldt

During his stay at Frankenstein castle there were many rumors going on about the man. He supposedly sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for secret knowledge. They also said he did not only practice alchemy, but also anatomy, a practice strictly forbidden more so than the magic of alchemy.

They said he performed experiments on dead bodies he dug up and took back to the castle. The local cleric warned his parish that Dippel created a monster that he brought to life with the help of a bolt of lightning. 

Although none of these experiments have been proven there are local people claiming to this day that this happened within the castle walls.  

This is not the only connection the place has with eternal life though, as it is said the place is also where you can find the fountain of youth. According to legend, on the first full-moon night after Walpurgis Night, which is on the night of April 30. Old women from the villages closeby went to test their courage. Those who succeeded would become as young as she had been on her wedding night. 

Lord George and the Dragon

According to legend, there lived a dragon in the garden of the Frankenstein Castle near the well in the 1200s. The villagers in the neighboring village Nieder Beerbach lived in fear from this monster who snuck into the village at night to eat them and their children in their sleep. 

The Gardens of the Castle: Nature is slowly taking over the castle. According to myth, there was a dragon near the well in the Frankenstein Castle garden// Source: Frank Vincentz

One day a knight named Lord George came by and the people were desperate for his help, which he promised. 

The very next day he put on his armor and got his shield and sword. He rode up to the Frankenstein Castle gardens, straight to the well where the dragon was resting in the sun. 

The battle that ensued lasted for hours, and Lord George nearly gave up from exhaustion while the dragon spat fire and steam. But Lord George managed at last to pierce the underbelly of the dragon with his sword, giving him a killing blow. But just as the dragon was dying, he clung to the knight with his poisonous tail and stung the knight, leaving them both to die. 

The villagers were relieved and happy though and gave the knight an honorable burial for his sacrifice. They took him to the Church of Nieder Beerbach, in a valley east of the Frankenstein Castle, making a tomb for him. 

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The History and Hauntings of Jamaica Inn

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In the outskirts of the moors in Cornwall with a dark history of smugglers and gothic romances. The Jamaica Inn is a perfect setting for a british ghost story, and according to the legends, it has many. 

“Dead men tell no tales, Mary.”
― Daphne duMaurier, Jamaica Inn

Located in the rugged landscape of Cornwall, England, Jamaica Inn is said to be one of the most haunted places in Britain. Its walls are steeped with stories of ghosts, dust and deep secrets of smugglers and stolen goods and murdered guests – it’s a place that has enticed many looking for paranormal activity. 

The Jamaica inn is said to be haunted by small children being mischievous, old smugglers lurking in the corners, blacksmiths that burned to death but are still handsy with the female guests and mysterious Victorian women in the dark shadows. So let’s put on our tricorn hat and bring our smuggled rum for a stay at the haunted Jamaica Inn. 

History of Jamaica Inn

Jamaica Inn was built in 1750 as a coaching inn and has a long history of being a hideout for smugglers during the 19th century. It was originally known as The Jamaica Arms, but underwent many changes over time, including the addition of drunkards’ dens and clandestine accommodation for smugglers. 

Over the years, it has served several purposes, most notably a coaching inn for local travelers. But what really sets it apart is its mysterious stories of hauntings by spirits that lurk in its passageways and hidden doorways.

Jamaica Inn lies upon the ancient Bodmin Moor – a wild and untamed landscape which has held a certain allure for centuries. The moor is full of legends, myths, and stories from both ancient Britain and more recent times. It was once home to people living in remote settlements and Iron Age Hillforts, as well as a hideout for smugglers and pirates. 

Jamaica Inn The Novel

Jamaica Inn is perhaps best known for its namesake novel, written by Daphne du Maurier in 1936. She was inspired by the real Inn when she was staying there in 1930. It is also a song by Tori Amos which she wrote when she was driving along the cliffs in Cornwall and was inspired by all the legends she had heard of at the inn.  

The book is a classic example of gothic romance, and tells the story of a young woman called Mary Yellen, who moves to the Cornish inn and becomes involved in the murderous activities of its inhabitants. 

While some argue that Jamaica Inn is purely a work of fiction, many locals have cited uncanny similarities between their own experiences at the inn, and Daphne’s descriptions of unexplained events and hauntings in her novel.

The Ghosts of Jamaica Inn

Many believe that Jamaica Inn still remains haunted, with multiple unexplained occurrences taking place in the inn over the years. There have been countless investigations, even TV shows about the Inn. Especially an episode of the TV show Most Haunted in 2004 sparked a new interest in the old inn. 

Most of the ghosts and paranormal things that have been spotted have been at The Smugglers Bar, The Stable Bar, which now is a museum, in the old bedrooms upstairs as well as in the restaurant and gift shop area. 

Some claim to have seen faceless figures wandering through the corridors, while others have heard strange noises coming from empty rooms. Staff and visitors have many times heard conversations in a completely different language than English, some speculating that it could be old Cornish, meaning that these spirits can be really old as the language became extinct for a long time at the end of 18th century. 

Ghost Hunting at the Jamaica Inn

Now the Jamaica Inn has opened up for its own weekends and late nights for ghost hunting at the inn. Perhaps you as well can experience seeing the highwayman in the traditional three cornered hat often seen passing through the doors before vanishing into thin air. Or perhaps the young mother in distress with her crying baby that also has been seen. 

One thing the ghost hunters got on tape was a strange thing that happened on a Sunday on October 23rd in 2017, when the CCTV camera picked up something strange when the wall phone hanging by the bar looked like it was lifted before dropping to the floor. The staff member April was startled, and had earlier heard the bar door open without anyone entering. Nobody alive at least. 

Have a look at the footage and see for yourself. What do you think?

The Mother with her Crying Baby

As mentioned, one of many possible ghosts at the inn is the many reports about people having heard a baby crying at the inn. This has apparently mostly been close to room 3 and 7, and the baby has been heard even if it has been confirmed that no baby has been staying at the inn at the time. 

Most often this ghost is linked to the tragic story of Mary Downing. She was young and single, but had an illegitimate son. In 1934 she sued the landlord at the time, Thomas Dunn to make him recognise their son. Thomas Dunn was a married man, but the son ended up being christened Thomas Downing Dunn at Altarnun Church. 

Hannah the Child Ghost

The baby crying is not the only child haunting the inn if we are to believe the rumors. There is the ghost of a small girl that has been dubbed Hanna that is said to roam the inn barefoot. One guest that stayed in room 5 once woke up and saw her wet footprints in the carpet that led to the wardrobe where there used to be a bathroom. 

People have heard her running around their bedrooms at night and even claim that their feet have been touched in their sleep as they see her transparent figure by the side of their bed. There is a story about a service man that was so frightened that he fled his room and spent the rest of the night in his car. 

In the later years there seems to be a bigger interest for the ghost of Hannah and people have started to write her letters and send her toys. And even these toys are said to sometimes move on their own. 

The Murdered Stranger

Perhaps the most talked about ghost is the stranger that ended up murdered in the moors by the inn. His apparition around 1911 were especially noticeable as many reported about seeing someone who shouldn’t be there on the walls by the inn. 

The inn has become shrouded in myths and legends over the centuries, with tales of apparitions seen near hidden staircases and secret rooms, eerie noises coming from the old stables even though no horses were ever kept there, ghostly figures roaming the grounds at night, and strange sightings in each of its many otherworldly locations. 

One of the tales is the ghost of the murdered stranger that passed through the inn. Once a man was in the bar having an ale before someone called him to come outside. The stranger didn’t even finish his drink, but went into the night and was never seen again. 

The next morning they found his dead body in the moors, but how he died and murderer was never found. 

There have been reports of a stranger by the wall outside the Inn that neither moved or responded when people greeted him. Sometimes when the bar is closed and the inn is empty, there have been footsteps heard towards the bar, but no one reaching it, and some have speculated that it is the man returning to finish his ale.

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References:

Jamaica Inn (novel) – Wikipedia 

Jamaica Inn – Wikipedia 

Ghost Hunting Tours in Cornwall | Haunted Hotels | Jamaica Inn 

Top Ten Most Haunted Places to Visit in Cornwall 

10 biggest scares at Cornwall’s most haunted Jamaica Inn 

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The Haunted History of Prince Gong’s Mansion in Beijing

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The ghost of a woman i white has been spotted in the haunted Prince Gong’s Mansion in Beijing. It is said it is the ghost of a grieving mother that never recovered after the death of her son. 

Prince Gong’s Mansion (恭王府) is today a tourist attraction in Beijing, but it used to be a grand mansion for some of the most powerful people in China, and also the home to one of the richest ghost. 

The mansion is considered one of the most exquisite Chinese imperial mansions, representing the elegant lifestyle of Qing Dynasty royalty. 

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from China

The mansion is also known to be one of the more haunted places in the country, and there are several reports going on for centuries about a woman in white walking the grounds as a ghost, still crying and mourning the loss of her lost son. 

Prince Gong’s Mansion

Prince Gong’s Mansion is a true testament to the siheyuan-style that characterized this period in history and named after a Manchu prince, Yixin or better known as Prince Gong that was an important statesman during the 1800s. 

The Manchus are a Tungusic East Asian ethnic group from Manchuria in Northeast Asia and led the Qing Dynasty from the 1600s until the imperial rule ended in 1912.

But the haunted rumors started long before Prince Gong moved into it. 

The Richest and most Corrupt Man in China

Before the mansion was given to Prince Gong it belonged to another. Prince Gong’s Mansion was originally built in 1777 during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor for his favorite adviser, Heshen (和珅). 

As one of the most powerful court officials during the Qing Dynasty, Heshen was remembered for his lavish lifestyle and incredible influence over imperial politics. He was also remembered to be one of the most corrupt officials in Chinese history and one of the richest as well.

The Death of Feng Jiwen

He lived together with his family and loved his wife, Feng Jiwen who he loved more than anything and they had a loving relationship even before he got into all the money. It is worth noting he had around 80 concubines as well in the house, but historical writings actually say his wife even encouraged it. 

No matter how much money and gold a person has though, it isn’t enough and Feng Jiwen didn’t get to live out her loving family life until the very end though and got her heart broken to bits when her youngest son died in a battle fighting rebels. 

Heshen, who was prepared to do anything for his beloved wife, hired monks to care for his wife and was hoping to pray for her to come back to her senses and health. His efforts were in vain though and it’s said she died of a broken heart.

She certainly fell ill and Heshen even offered 500 000 silver to the one able to cure her illness. After her death he was distraught, didn’t show up to work for months and wrote 6 poems about her to mourn her. 

The Fall of Heshen

And even Heshen ended in tragedy as he was eventually apprehended when the throne got a new emperor that didn’t look at him as favorably when the Qianlong Emperor abdicated in 1796. They made him hang himself and had all of his belongings, as well as the mansion confiscated. 

After her death she stayed on in her afterlife unable to move on. She and several of former escorts for Heshen have been seen around the palace, and the guards working there have claimed to have seen a woman in white walking the premises. You can hear the cries of a mother echo through the old mansion.

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和珅- 维基百科，自由的百科全书

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The Ghost of Theatre Royal Drury Lane

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In one of the oldest theaters there are also famous ghosts for those enjoying the drama of the stage. In Theatre Royal Drury Lane those working there as well as visitors keep reporting on several ghosts, one of them being the well known Man in Grey. 

There is not only one ghost haunting the old Theatre Royal Drury Lane. From the end of the front row in the upper circle to the wall near the royal box, many have claimed to have seen the ghost of W. J. MacQueen-Pope, an English theater historian and publicist. 

Also actors are said to have been haunting the stage, like the ghost of the Irish actor Charles Macklin who is haunting the backstage and wandering the halls where he once killed a fellow actor when they argued over a wig. Macklin threw a cane into the actor named Hallam’s left eye and murdered him in what was known as ‘The Green Room’. The murder was considered back then as an accident and he went free, but since then he has been haunted by the place of his crime. 

The pantomime actor from the Regency Era Joseph Grimaldi is seen as ‘the father of the modern clown’, and is also said to be a helpful ghost that guides nervous actors on the stage. 

There is also the ghost of Dan Leno that you can notice by the smell of lavender, a scent he often wore when alive. He can be mostly heard clog dancing in empty dressing rooms, still practicing without anyone to see. 

The Man in Grey

But perhaps the most famous ghost in the theater is the most mysterious one. The Man in Grey is a ghost that appears dressed as a nobleman in 18th century style of clothes. He has powdered his hair, wearing a tricorn hat, with riding boots and a sword. Who this man is, his name and what he does in the theater, no one knows for sure. 

Even before they built this theater in this place in 1812, there was another one before and is one of the oldest places for theater in continuous use and was even the place where the first version of the national anthem was sung. Several buildings burned down all the way back to when the original Theatre Royal Drury Lane was built already in 1663.

So its not so strange that ghost stories like about the Man in Grey started being told in the old and murky hallways when the stage light was low and there are no laughter from the audience or lively drama from the stage. And all the legends thinks the ghost of the Man in Grey is the haunting of the skeleton they found bricked up in the walls of the glorious theater. 

The Ghost on Fourth Row

In 1848 they did some renovations on the building and according to the legend, they discovered the skeleton of a man who appeared to have been stabbed inside. Builders are said to have broken into a secret room behind the wall that the ghost were always seen disappearing into. 

The Ghost: The Grey Man haunting the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. From the Hamlyn Book of Ghosts.

Many have reported about strange things happening in the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, mostly between 10 am to 6 pm. People hear doors being slammed when they are alone in the building. Seeing a fleeting image of a gray man before he disappears into the walls. 

The entire cast of The Dancing Years reported seeing him in 1939. One time a cleaner came in and saw him sitting in the fourth row in the Upper Circle and she thought he was an actor. She tried to speak with him, but then he vanished. When she looked around she could see him disappearing into the wall, the same wall where his skeleton was found. 

Actor Clive Carter told about a paranormal experience he had in the changing room were the TV kept changing the channel without anyone touching it. It first started when they talked about the Drury Lane Ghost, as if something was being summoned or could hear them very well. 

The Good Omen

Who was this man found inside the walls of Theatre Royal Drury Lane though? Only legends live on and many of them tell that the Man in Grey was killed because of a love affair with one of the actresses. He was once called to their usual meeting spot, but on one particular night it was his love rival who waited for him and killed him when he showed up. The murderer later walled up the alcove to cover up his crime. 

In contrast to many other ghosts out in the world, seeing the Man in Gray in the Theatre Royal Drury Lane is considered a good omen as sightings of the ghost have been seen before successful theater productions like The King and I, Oklahoma and Miss Saigon. 

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Inside the world’s most haunted theatre

About The Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Is the ghost at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane a good omen? 

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Scary Tales of The Catacombs of Paris

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Explore one of Paris’ most haunted destinations with this tour featuring stories and legends about the Catacombs’ chilling past. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight!

Take your flashlight and follow along with a knowledgeable tour guide on an eerie journey through the catacombs of Paris, one of the city’s most haunting and mysterious places. Hear tales of chilling ghostly encounters and uncanny moments throughout history as you venture deeper into these damp, dark corridors.

Arrête! C’est ici l’empire de la Mort

This is the sign that greets you when you are entering the catacombs. It means: Stop! This is the empire of Death. And it certainly is. 

The Catacombs of Paris, or l’Ossuaire Municipal, are an ancient network of tunnels located beneath the streets of Paris that date back to the Roman period. It used to be an underground quarry to get stone to build the city on top of it. 

Over time, the city began to outgrow its ancient cemeteries, and in the late 1780s officials began a project to move millions upon millions of bones and remains into the quarries deep beneath the streets. These bones comprise much of what is now known as “the Catacombs” in reference to the underground necropolis in Rome and represent centuries worth of Parisian history and houses now the graves of 6 million people.

Tales of Terror from Paris’s Underworld

People have been telling tales of terror from the Catacombs of Paris for centuries. From ghostly figures spotted in the shadows to strange noises and apparitions, these chilling stories of paranormal activity are sure to leave you shuddering. There’s also said to be a secret chamber deep within the catacombs that hints at an even more ominous past — although no one knows what lies beyond its entrance.

Philibert Aspairt Ghost

One of the scariest tales associated with the Catacombs is that of Philibert Aspairt, a 62 year old hospital worker at Val-de-Grâce hospital who disappeared in November of 1793 during the French Revolution. He entered the catacombs via a staircase in the hospital courtyard, but his motive for going in is unclear. 

Many say that he was going to fetch a particular liquor, was drunk himself and ended up getting lost in the maze of corridors. When his light went out it was impossible to find out from the catacombs. 

Rumor has it that his body was discovered in the Catacombs in 1804, nearly 11 years later in one of the quarry galleries where he was identified by the key ring belonging to the hospital, but the cause of death was never determined. 

The tragedy doesn’t end there as according to legend, Aspairt’s ghost continues to haunt the underground labyrinth to this day.

Legends of the Catacombs

The Catacombs of Paris are not just filled with bones, but also stories and legends that have been passed down for centuries. From tales of mysterious creatures lurking in the tunnels to sightings of the ghost of a monk and others, those brave enough to explore the Catacombs may never know what they might encounter.

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Philibert Aspairt – Wikipedia

Unresolved: The Missing Man In The Paris Catacombs – The Ghost In My Machine

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The Time Travelling Ghost Haunting Château de Versailles

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Château de Versailles in France is known for being the peak of decadence, royalty and luxury. But it is also known for being one of the more haunted places in France, and even has a potential time traveling story.

Château de Versailles, the stately French palace on the outskirts of Paris, is said to be one of the most haunted places in France. 

The Palace is a formal residence to the royal family of France that was built by King Louis XIV about 19 km west of Paris. It started out as a small hunting lodge in 1623, but it kept expanding until it was the luxurious palace we know of today. 

With Château de Versailles’ dark history and numerous reports of mysterious sightings and eerie phenomena, this magnificent building has become a haven for paranormal investigators and ghost hunters alike.

The Story of Louis XIV’s Ghost

It’s rumored that the ghost of Louis XIV, the Sun King who oversaw much of Château de Versailles’ construction, still haunts the halls. He loved this palace so much that he even moved the French Court and Government into it in 1682 from the Louvre Palace. 

Witnesses say that his specter can be seen in his favorite chambers and garden pathways, wearing a traditional robe de chambre and capotain hat. The sound of horses galloping on unseen paths have been heard too, dead silent at midnight – a ghostly reminder of Louis’ presence in the form of what some believe to be his funeral procession.

Mysterious Sightings of Marie Antoinette’s Ghost

One of the more famous ghosts in the world must be that of Marie Antoinette, who in her afterlife, also has a lot of rumors around her. She is mostly known for quoting that the people should eat cake instead as they didn’t have any bread. This is false as she never said this. It is also said she is haunting the rooms of the Versailles palace. But can this also be false?

It is widely believed that the ghostly figure of former Queen Marie Antoinette can often be spotted walking near the Grand Trianon and inside of the palace. Even more chilling, some have heard her sobs echoing throughout the empty halls in the dead of night. 

Others claim to have seen a woman wearing her famous white dress, complete with a white rose in her hand, sauntering along the grounds of Château de Versailles.

The Ghost of the Petit Trianon

The most famous haunting is of the Petit Trianon, the grounds outside the palace. Or is it really a ghost story as one of the theories is that it was actually a time slip. The story was written down and published in 1911 that fueled the rumors that a ghost was haunting the Château de Versailles. 

Two English women visited the palace as they traveled through France on a hot August day in 1901. Miss Moberly was a headmistress of St Hugh’s College for women in Oxford while Miss Jourdain was a former student of hers who was now her assistant. 

As they were having a pleasant trip through the gardens they asked for directions from two men they met dressed in green coats and three cornered hats with spades in their hands. Strange, but perhaps not too strange at an old palace. But the two women suddenly started to feel a strange sensation and growing distress as it was something they couldn’t quite pinpoint. They also passed a Chinese kiosk on their way. 

Photo by Leah Kelley on Pexels.com

They then encountered a woman wearing an old dress and a white hat while she was drawing in the garden. The women were overwhelmed by the experience, and they returned to Paris, agreeing that the place was definitely haunted. 

Another theory was that they had experienced some sort of time slip or time travel. One of the proofs they presented was their own ignorance over the palace and garden at their visit. But when they looked at plans for the Trianon, they found that there indeed had been a Chinese kiosk there in 1774.

Unseen Spirits in the Hallways at Night

In the darkness of the night, some visitors have reported hearing strange noises and feeling a mysterious presence when walking along the Château de Versailles dimly lit hallways. One such story is about an unseen spirit that supposedly haunts the palace’s famous Hall of Mirrors or in the gardens of Petit Trianon. Witnesses like cleaners, guides and visitors have claimed to see dark shadows lurking in the corner of their eyes or feel a chill whenever they step foot into this eerie place.

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The ghosts of Trianon | Palace of Versailles

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The Buried Alive Ghosts of Château de Trécesson in the Enchanted Forest

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Château de Trécesson, the ancient castle in Brittany has more than one ghost haunting the place. Perhaps it’s not too strange to be haunted by the mysterious Dames Blanches when the location of the castle is in an enchanted forest.

Château de Trécesson is an ancient castle tucked away in the French countryside that has been the source of fascination and speculation among locals for centuries. 

The castle in Brittany has a mysterious past and its origin is lost in the mists of time, replete with tales of hauntings and supernatural phenomena, has attracted visitors far and wide hoping to get a glimpse into its paranormal secrets.

History of Château de Trécesson?

Château de Trécesson is an ancient castle situated in the French countryside, and it dates all the way back to 810 AD. The castle is built on the foot of the Buttes de Tiot and has stood for more than two millennia and endured the passing of time, but its rich history and ghostly lore still remain a mystery.

It’s rumored to be haunted by ghosts, and visitors have reported having odd experiences while visiting the castle grounds.

Legends and Ghost stories of Château de Trécesson?

There are many rumors and tales about Château de Trécesson that have been passed down through generations. One of them is of several guests at the castle that have seen a group of ghosts playing cards. Who the winner will be in the eternal game they are playing or what game of cards they have been on for ages are uncertain. 

There is also talk of an unknown monk wandering nearby close to the meadow by the castle and on the roadside leading up to it. He is sometimes described as headless. Perhaps not so surprising as the Château de Trécesson is built in the The Enchanted Forest of Brocéliande, a place of wonder and supernatural in every tree stem.

The Enchanted Forest of Brocéliande

The Castle is close to a part of the mythological forest known as Brocéliande. The real forest connected to this is the The Paimpont Forest. It is located around the village of Paimpont in Brittany. 

It contains the castles Château de Comper and Château de Trécesson as well as the Forges of Paimpont, a national historic site. It has been associated with the forest of Brocéliande and many locations from Arthurian legend, including the Val sans retour, the tomb of Merlin, and the fountain of Barenton as well as The Lady of the Lake. 

Dames Blanches French Folklore

There’s also a long-standing local legend involving the castle’s ‘Dames Blanches’, or ‘White Ladies’. According to folklore, these female ghosts are said to inhabit the castle and torment its inhabitants with misfortune, calamity, and sometimes even death in many stories in French folklore.

This castle has also been said to have one of these Lady’s in white or Dames Blanches in residence from the time the castle was in the hands of Monsieur de Trécesson. 

People tell stories of hearing strange whispers in the walls, feeling cold chills running through the rooms, and seeing shadowy figures of beautiful women in a muddy white dress with a flower crown roaming around in the night air.

It is said it was her brothers who murdered her in 1750 that buried her alive on her wedding day as they felt they had accepted a wedding that dishonored the family. 

The whole event was spotted by a couple of poachers that saw the carriage with the woman was out in the woods and the men started digging the grave they sealed her in before driving away. Why they didn’t have the decency to kill her before burying her is unclear. 

The poachers found the courage to tell the people in the nearby village about it, and they came for her rescue. They were too late and she died, but didn’t really leave. It is said she is seen close to the castle, and floating on the waters still wearing her wedding dress. 

Her name or where she came from was never discovered. 

The Heartbroken Lovers

Another popular tale tells of two lovers being separated due to their families’ objections. The man was forced by his father to go fight in the crusade of 1249. He was killed in battle and his young wife died of grief only a few months after the news reached her. 

The spirit of the two lovers have been spotted replaying their final farewell scene close to the castle’s gateway. 

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Brittany’s Most Haunted Castles

The Castle of Trécesson – Tourist Office of Brocéliande (Brittany, France)

Château de Trécesson – Broceliande Castle

Château de Trécesson – Wikipedia 

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Ghost of Nan Tuck Haunting the English Countryside

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The Ghost of Nan Tuck is the haunted legend about an accused witch from England still haunting the woods; she, according to legend, was killed by the villagers chasing her down. Now she is haunting the place she was killed on.

The parish of Buxted in southeast England looks quaint and peaceful enough today if you don’t know its bloody history. The rural parish is green with farmland and woodlands stretching out to the coast. But between the green trees, there is a haunted legend from darker times still haunting the woods.

Nan Tuck is a ghost that is said to haunt the village of Rotherfield in Buxted, England. The story goes that she was a woman who lived in the 17th or possibly 18th century and was accused of poisoning her husband.

The Witch Hunting in England

Nan Tuck was sentenced to death by hanging as the punishment for murder as well as witchcraft was in England. But before she could be executed, she escaped and fled into the woods to escape punishment. Whether she actually did murdered her husband or not is never really discussed or how the trial was. In any case, she was guilty in the public eye and fair game to all.

Read more about witches like: The Legend of the Witch Moll Dyer or The Witches of the Black Diamond Mines

The public not only believed she was a murderer, but a witch on top of it. This was a time were the fear of witches was at an all time high in Europe and it is estimated that as many as 30 000 – 60 000 people were executed between the 13th to 18th century. In England there is estimated that around 500 were convicted as witches, 90 percent of them women. In England they didn’t burn the witches, but they hanged them.

Many of these deaths had no records of them, and we can see this with this story, that has no written records of it whatsoever, and solely relays on oral tales throughout times. This is what the legend of the Ghost of Nan Tuck tells us.

Nan Tuck’s Escape Into the Woods

Nan Tucks Lane: Heading through Solomon’s Wood. Named after the Ghost of Nan Tuck who was chased down this lane by the irate villagers of Buxted who believed she was a witch. // source

The whole village rallied and started to chase the wicked witch and murderer down in the woods. For days Nan Tuck evaded them by hiding in haystacks, climbing hedges and sneaking around in the woods to escape certain death.

Read More: Haunted Forests across the world

It is said that she was attempting to take sanctuary in Buxted Parish Church known as St Margaret’s Church– according to the right of asylum, fugitives were allowed to escape punishment by touching the altar of a church if they were able to reach it – when local officials who were in pursuit forced her into the woods, and she never reached sanctuary.

Nan Tuck disappeared that night and was never seen again – alive. According to some versions of the tale she was caught up by the angry villagers and it was them who murdered her. In some versions she was killed in the woods, in others, she was taken back and they held a trial by water.

The trial by water was a highly deadly method of finding out whether or not someone was a witch by dunking them in water to see if they floated or sank. And with so many other women accused of witchcraft, she drowned during the trial, which ironically meant she was not a witch as the holy water didn’t repel her, causing her to float like a witch.

The Ghost of Nan Tucks Lane

The legend of Nan Tuck is one that has been told ever since. Sometimes the Ghost of Nan Tuck is depicted as a young woman, sometimes as an old one. It is said that her ghost can be seen wandering the woods near Rotherfield at night.

Legend holds that a circular patch of land in the woods near Nan Tucks Lane, were she supposedly tried to escape through, stays infertile and no vegetation will grow there. And the question if the Ghost of Nan Tuck really was a witch, still remains to this day.

Read more about: Haunted Roads across the world

So if you are walking down Nan Tucks Lane late at night and meet someone, perhaps hide and duck as it might very well be the Ghost of Nan Tuck coming for you.

The Nan Tucks Lane poem by Roy Carnon

Whether there really was a woman behind the legend is also a bit uncertain. But the legend of the Ghost of Nan Tuck haunting the woods has made into songs and poems, like this by Roy Carnon:

The new moon older by a memory threw this sinuous line down and round Poundsley way.
Following feet that trod the centuries across the weald – deepening contoured tracks unknowing.
The way imprinted to Hadlow, Framfield, Buxted, – on to Blackboys, cruciform neeting, pointing the fingerpost of death.
Following feet – feet following years crushed harsh in grass; tearing the flowers wond – gaping raped petals laid cold on the lane.
Congealing tar concealing blood, the shape of your agony lays still on bruised grass still on earth maimed by you fall. Tear-blurred, memory retreats beneath track-patterned clay but a Sussex lane remembers.

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Buxted – Wikipedia 

Nan Tucks Lane – The story of the Ghost

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The Haunted Restaurant Bryggen Tracteursted

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The Medieval buildings on the old harbour in Bergen, there is a restaurant that has continued with the old tradition. And on Bryggen Tracteursted, it is said that a ghost still lingers.

Behind Bryggen in Bergen, Norway there are small restaurants and shops in the old Hanseatic wooden buildings that are an old fusion of German and Norwegian culture. Bryggen Tracteursted was one of the schøtstuene or an assembly room that people gathered to eat, originally built way back in 1708. 

Today Bryggen Tracteursted is a fancy restaurant serving traditional food in the UNESCO world heritage place as it has done since medieval times when the schøtstuene started to be a thing. But although the restaurant has been modernized, there are still some ghosts from the past still clinging to the old buildings.  

The Ghost in the Kitchen

Of course this old building filled with history is allegedly haunted, and many of the guests as well as the staff working at Bryggen Tracteursted have a story or two to tell. 

A chef was working one night while he played some music to keep him going. Suddenly, all the pans on the shelves came flying up. As the chef was all alone in the kitchen, he was sure that there had to be something supernatural afoot. 

Why was this particular place haunted? According to the legends, it is by one of the former apprentices that worked there that died. They had a rather peculiar hazing ritual for the newcomers. 

The Hazed Apprentice

On Bryggen in the 1700s they had a particular punishment towards the apprentices that misbehaved or did something wrong. They gathered a lot of trash and lit a pyre in the outhouse with a fireplace where they processed food. The apprentice was placed over the fire and had to hang there for half a day. If you lived you were considered to be a true hanseater and forgiven. 

Unfortunately not everyone survived the trials and it is said that more than one of the apprentices diede and are now haunting the place. Because the place they were hazed today is located where the kitchen of the Bryggen Tracteursted restaurant now is. 

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Her finner du spøkelser i Bergen – Let’s get lost 

Schøtstuene – del av hanseatenes Bryggen

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The Jersey Devil in the Pine Barrens New Jersey

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Enter into centuries-old folklore of the legendary Jersey Devil from the Pine Barrens in New Jersey. Uncover its sinister past, how it has been remembered, and why so many theories persist today.

The New Jersey Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands or simply the Pines, is a place in New Jersey in the USA. The place is shrouded in mystery and steeped in more than one legend, the most famous one being that of the Jersey Devil who has been a source of fascination for centuries. 

Dating back to the 18th century New Jersey folktale, the Jersey Devil has inspired a multitude of theories — some plausible, and some outlandish. Learn more about this legendary creature and its continued cultural significance today.

The Origins of the Jersey Devil

According to local legend, the Jersey Devil, sometimes known as the Leeds Devil, often described as a flying biped with hooves. The Jersey Devil was born in 1735 in Estellville, New Jersey. The story goes that a woman named Deborah Leeds, known as Mother Leeds gave birth to a child cursed with the form of a dragon or other fantastical beast. 

She already had twelve children, and when she found out she was pregnant with the 13th one, she cursed the child in her womb, calling the child the devil himself. Mother Leeds gave birth on a stormy night, and the child was born as a monster. 

In some variations of the legend, Mother Leeds was a witch herself and the father of the Jersey Devil was the Devil himself. 

The Jersey Devil: Here are several depictions of the creature known as the Jersey Devil or the Devil of Leeds throughout the years.

The creature soon escaped and began terrorizing the locals, swooping down from the sky and stealing farm animals, destroying crops, and even reportedly attacking some people. To this day, it remains an enduring element of local folklore — as well as a source of mystery and enchantment for many.

Sightings and Reports Throughout History

Since its first sighting in 1735, the Jersey Devil has been reported to have been seen in various forms and places in and around New Jersey. Before the 1900s, it was mostly referred to as the Leeds Devil or the Devil of Leeds, either because of the family name of Leeds or because of the New Jersey town called Leeds Point. 

Sightings of the legendary creature have been reported throughout the centuries, most often as a winged demonic creature that walks on two legs and is able to fly. According to these sightings, it was blamed for killing many livestocks, and even Napoleon Bonaparte was said to have seen the Jersey Devil when he was out hunting in 1820.  

Reports of its presence grew after a wave of sightings occurred near Camden between 1909 and 1910, leading to widespread newspaper coverage when the Jersey Devil allegedly attacked a trolley cart as well as livestock and the police themselves supposedly opened fire at the creature. 

People reported footprints in the snow looking like the Jersey Devil as far as Delaware and Maryland. According to the writer Gordon Stein in his book Encyclopedia of Hoaxes, a man came forward as the culprit behind the mysterious footprints. 

Nevertheless, there were organized manhunts and in the woods and people were advised to stay in their homes. Although these reports tapered off over time, tales of its exploits continue to be told among local residents today.

The Blue Hole

But where does the Jersey Devil really live? The Pine Barrens is a large area, but there is one particular place that is talked about more than others. In the middle of a dense forest there is a lake with a very unusual color that is often connected to the Jersey Devil called the Blue Hole.

As well as being a popular party spot, it also contains countless legends. For instance it is supposedly bottomless with powerful currents. In real life the Blue Hole really has some cold spots, but the legend tells that the water is freezing cold all year-round. It is around these parts that the Jersey Devil is most active.  

Modern Theories and Beliefs About the Jersey Devil.

There are various theories and beliefs about the Jersey Devil that have been held throughout history. These range from mythological explanations such as the creature being the Thirteenth Child of Mother Leeds to more scientific concepts like a rare species of mammal surviving in an area where it is not known to exist. 

More down to earth explanations have also been put forward saying the Jersey Devil is nothing more than the figment of imagination that came from the fear of the isolated place the Pine Barrens was at the time. It was considered dangerous and inhospitable with highwayman, fugitives, and outcasts like poor farmers, Native Americans and runaway slaves. 

Some people believe that the Jersey Devil is actually an alien or interdimensional being, while others speculate that it may be a form of cryptid capable of shape-shifting. Regardless, speculation and legends surrounding the Jersey Devil continue to this day.

Captain Kidd

One of the other legends from the Pine Barrens is that of Captain Kidd. His real name was William Kidd and was a Scottish sea captain who turned into a pirate. He was executed in London in 1701 for both murder as well as piracy. 

According to legend he buried a treasure that has yet to be found. It is not only in the Pine Barrens, but also in Nova Scotia, Connecticut and Long Island that have legends and myths about there being buried treasure around those parts. 

According to legend from Pine Barrens though it is around Barnegat Bay that CAptain Kidd is haunting as a ghost, often reported about being a headless ghost. 

Captain Kidd is often seen in company with the Jersey Devil himself, walking along the beach. 

The Black Doctor of the Pines

The ghost of the Black Doctor is said to be the spirit of a man known as James Still. Still was said to be forbidden from practicing medicine due to his race, and he went to the Pine Barrens to practice medicine in the isolated communities of the Barrens. 

There he studied medicine from textbooks and according to some legends, learned herbal medicine from the Native Amercans as well. 

How he died is still debated. Some say the locals in the Pine Barrens tells the story of how he was lynched when they found out he practised medicine. 

Others tell the story about how he was a hero in the isolated community and died of a heart attack, which is the true story of how James Still died. 

He is said to be a helping ghost and is said to still come to the aid of lost or injured travelers in the Pine Barrens woods. 

The Girl With the Golden Hair

Another ghost that haunts these parts is said to be a woman dressed in white found by the seaside, staring out into the sea as she is still mourning her lover she lost out there. 

Her ghost stories are often mixed with the Jersey Devil as well, as he is said to sit next to her. 

The White Stag

Something less menacing than the Jersey Devil is the spirit of a white deer that is said to show up when lost travelers need aid in the Pine Barrens. It is also said that the spirit is a warning of danger ahead. 

This comes after a story where a stagecoach nearly fell into the Batsto River. The coaches reached Quaker Bridge and the horses refused to move and go over it. When the driver investigated further, he saw the white stag on the road before it disappeared before his eyes. 

A closer inspection showed that the bridge was destroyed and since then it is said to mean good luck if you ever spot it. 

The Black Dog

Another animal spirit around these parts is that of the Black Dog. Most often, seeing a Black Dog is a bad omen in European mythology, but in this instance, it is a good luck charm. It roams on the beaches and forests from Absecon Island to Barnegat Bay and is considered a harmless spirit. 

It is said to be the ghost of a dog that was on board a ship that was attacked by pirates on Absecon Island. They killed the crew on the ship and among the killed were the cabin boy as well as hin trusted black dog. 

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