Although found in Sunny Brisbane, Australia, it is said to be a darkness surrounding Slaughter Falls in the Mount Coot-tha Forest. Many violent happenings occurred and many rumors of it being haunted follows.
At the foot of Queensland’s Mount Coot-tha Mountain and forest, the very name “Slaughter Falls” sends shivers down the spine for a reason. Despite it’s ominous sounding name Slaughter Falls is a very cozy looking wooden picnic area perfect for hiking leading up to a cascading waterfall on the Ithaca Creek in Brisbane through the eucalyptus forest.
Beyond its scenic facade however lies a chilling history more appropriate to its name, marked by a series of macabre events that have etched an indelible mark on this once serene hiking trail.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Australia
Slaughter Falls, named after a town clerk JC Slaughter, and not what has happened here, conceals a dark past, a grim reputation that the name nonetheless pointed to its haunted legacy. The whispers of the forest tell tales of murders, suicides, and lingering spirits, prompting one to ponder why this particular spot has become a magnet for such malevolent occurrences.
Slaughter Falls: An area of Mount Coot-tha Mountain and forest in Brisbane in Australia. After a series of bizarre and macabre events, the place has been believed to be haunted.//Source
The forest area is said to be haunted, and many paranormal seekers try to find the answer close to Slaughter Falls. One legend that is very persistent is a report about people seeing the ghost of a woman close to Slaughter Falls wandering about. So let’s have a look at some of the dark history the forest brings with it.
The Christmas Day Shooting
The ominous chronicles of Slaughter Falls date back to Christmas day in 1925, when the tranquil surroundings close to Slaughter Falls were shattered by a gunshot. A woman, walking innocently along the trail, fell victim to an assailant lurking in the bushes.
Margaret Francis Sinclaire Donald was picking flowers with her friend when she was shot, and although her friend took her to the hospital and got treated.
When apprehended wandering the streets of Toowong, the assailant, 23 year old Patrick Terrence O’Hara provided no motive, claiming an inexplicable force had seized control of him to do what he did. They had no previous relationship and according to the man, he had no plan of doing it until this feeling just came over him.
What happened that day no one could explain, but it surely was the start of the forest’s more ominous history.
The Double Suicide
A year later, in 1926, the falls bore witness to a haunting double suicide that left the reasons shrouded in mystery. Two men plunged into the abyss, leaving behind unanswered questions that continue to echo through time.
The two men were both working for the same company but were found separate and no one really knew if the two deaths were connected or more like a horrible coincidence.
The Murder Suicide at Slaughter Falls
The following year, 1927, unfolded a chilling murder-suicide saga at the falls. A seemingly romantic walk took a ghastly turn when a man, seemingly possessed by a malevolent force, shot his girlfriend before attempting to end his own life with poison. Cecilia Josephine Miller was only 20 years old.
The boyfriend survived, but his subsequent survival offered no solace, as he professed a disturbing lack of recollection. He said it was like darkness just consumed him, a cloud that took over and the next thing he remembered was staring at the dead body of his girlfriend. The locals all thought highly of him, and couldn’t believe that he would do something like this.
Cecilia’s sister however, claimed she had heard him threaten to kill her if she ever left him. The truth of the matter however was never uncovered as the boyfriend was sent to an asylum and kept claiming that he couldn’t remember it at all.
The Ghost from the Transmitting Towers
Another ghost said to be haunting Mount Coot-tha is a former workman that worked on the television transmitting towers west of the city. Apparently he fell to his death when the towers were being built.
A technician that worked on Channel Seven claimed to have seen the workman in overalls walking on the tower in the 1970s, but not many stories about this ghost are reported about in the later years.
Brisbane Transmitting Towers: Another haunted location on Mount Coot-tha.//Photo by: Angus Veitch/Flickr
Ghost Hole Mine
Also around the old mine that was closed in 1959, you will find ghost stories. The stories are not specific, but are as the rest of the legends, filled with darkness and paranormal experiences like hearing voices and seeing shadows.
Satanic Rituals
Speculations abound that Slaughter Falls harbored the echoes of Satanic rituals, casting an even darker pall over its reputation. Although as with most whispers of satanism and witchcraft, unsubstantiated.
Whatever the true reason behind these meaningless acts of violence, the area is now thought to be haunted by its victims. Could it truly be a darkness that possesses people to do these things? Or is the fact that they are so close together in time a sign about how inspiring and contagious it can be to try and blame it on something like a vague darkness and memory loss?
Slaughter Falls has a dark and disturbing past, but in daylight it is a beautiful and popular place to hike and enjoy nature. But as daylight fades and shadows dance upon the trail, those who venture into the heart of Slaughter Falls may find themselves entangled in the enigma of its haunting secrets, where the past continues to cast a spectral veil over the present.
In the castle belonging to the Black Baron, it is said ghosts are haunting both the Ross Castleas well as the lake close to it. According to the legend, it is the ghost of the Baron and his daughter that lingers, both of them filled with regret and tragedy after the daughters doomed love.
In the heart of County Meath, Ireland, where the emerald landscape conceals ancient tales and timeless legends, stands Ross Castle built on ancient Celtic land close to the Hill of Tara, where the High Kings of Ireland were crowned.
Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland
This historic building has long been known for its picturesque charm overlooking Lough Sheelin, one of Ireland’s midland lakes, welcoming guests from near and far as a popular Bed & Breakfast. Yet, beyond its inviting facade, Ross Castle harbors chilling stories of love, betrayal, and lingering spirits.
Ross Castle and Lough Sheelin: The castle looms over the lake and houses more than one spirit that are said to haunt the area.
A Castle Born of Controversy
The castle was constructed in 1536 under the patronage of Richard Nugent, the 12th Lord of Delvin, infamously known as the “Black Baron” because of his dark reputation. Nugent was a man of stern disposition, and his cruelty earned him the dread of locals who lived in fear of his wrath.
Read More: Check out all of the Haunted Castles from around the world
One story says he killed an innocent beggar, because he had heard someone had stolen a loaf of bread in the village. There was no trial, and he acted as both the judge and executioner. When the truth of the matter was revealed after the man had been hanged at the gallows, they erected a cross where he died.
Forbidden Love: Sabrina and Orwin
Within the castle’s walls resided Richard Nugent’s daughter, Sabrina. Far from the tyrannical figure her father cut, Sabrina was beloved by those she encountered during her rare ventures beyond the castle’s confines. She was of poor health, but had a curious mind and was beloved by the Irish villagers even though she was the daughter of an English lord that had a horrible reputation and was feared.
In one of these escapades where she escaped her governess on her walks, Sabrina’s path intertwined with that of Orwin, the son of an O’Reilly Chieftain and a sworn enemy of her father.
Away from their family feud and alone, they fell in love and met up in secret away from their parents and dreamed of a life where they could finally be together.
A Tragic Escape and Lake Sheelin’s Wrath
The young lovers could bear the weight of their secret love no longer and decided to elope to be together. One fateful day, they commandeered a rowing boat and set off across the turbulent waters of Lough Sheelin. On their way over the dark waters their boat capsized, casting them into the dark depths.
The Doomed Love: To finally be together, Sabrina and Owen tried to escape on a boat over Lough Sheelin, away from Ross Castle and their families. It ended in tragedy. Painting: Lovers by Arthur Georg von Ramberg
Sabrina was the lucky one and was plucked from the water by a guard her father had dispatched upon learning of her escape. She was rescued, but her beloved Orwin met a watery grave as he drowned and was not looked for by her father. Several days later, his lifeless body was recovered from the lake when it washed ashore.
A Haunting Love Story
The tragedy left Sabrina bereft and consumed by grief. She locked herself in the castle’s tower, refusing sustenance until she, too, succumbed to her sorrow and starved herself to death.
It is said that Sabrina’s tormented spirit lingers within the castle’s ancient walls, endlessly roaming its corridors, forever seeking her lost love she never got the chance to be with.
Eerie Encounters
Sabrina is not alone in haunting the castle though; her father, the Black Baron, is also condemned to wander, haunted by the cruelty he inflicted upon others and the grief he felt after losing his daughter in that manner.
While many guests at Ross Castle enjoy peaceful slumber, others report unsettling experiences. A pervasive feeling of being watched, glimpses of an ominous male presence, and sudden, inexplicable drops in temperature have all been documented.
Disembodied voices, thunderous banging noises from empty upper floors, and doors that mysteriously swing open and slam shut unnerve those who stay within its historic walls from the ghost of the father and daughter haunting the castle.
Frozen in Time: The Lake’s Tragic Tale
The spectral activity extends beyond the castle’s interior. Guests staying in the castle tower may witness a recurring tragedy from centuries past. Legend speaks of the lake freezing during winters, enabling carriages to traverse the icy expanse to reach a nearby island and its church.
One chilling tale recounts the ice giving way, plunging a funeral procession into the frigid waters. The the priest of the funeral was the sole survivor as the rest of the procession died in the lake, following the person they were on their way to bury.
This haunting event is said to replay every hundred years, a ghostly echo of the past. It is not specified when it is happening though, but if you look out the window and see shadows trying to pass the frozen lake, you might be witnessing their ghosts.
Funeral Proceccion: A group of people was walking over the lake as it was frozen on their way to a funeral. It is said that the entire procession is now haunting the lake. Paining from Jack B. Yeats (Irish, 1871-1957) from 1918
Ross Castle: Where History and the Supernatural Collide
Standing on the shore of Lough Sheelin, beneath the shadow of Ross Castle, one can’t help but feel the weight of the tragic love story that unfolded within its ancient walls. As the wind whispers through the trees and the waves break against the rocks, the ghosts of the Black Baron and his daughter, Sabrina, continue to haunt the castle and the lake.
Over the years, countless visitors have been drawn to the ethereal beauty and historical significance of Ross Castle. Some come in search of supernatural encounters, while others seek to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Irish history. Regardless of their reasons for visiting, all leave with a sense of the lingering presence that pervades the castle.
Sabrina’s spirit, forever yearning for her lost love, wanders the corridors and staircases, hoping to reunite with Orwin, the love she was tragically torn apart from. The Black Baron, burdened by his past deeds and the sorrow he feels for the loss of his daughter, roams the castle in perpetual torment.
Ross Castle stands as a testament to Ireland’s captivating history, where tales of love, betrayal, and tragedy intertwine. Whether you visit as a curious traveler or an avid ghost hunter, the stories of Ross Castle will leave an indelible mark on your soul. As you depart its mysterious halls, the echoes of the past will linger, whispering in the winds, forever entwined with the haunting beauty of Ross Castle on the shores of Lough Sheelin.
From modern urban legends to old ghost stories from the ancient buildings and palaces, here is a list of some of the most haunted places in China.
Confucius once said: “Respect the ghosts and gods, but keep away from them.” This seems to be the standpoint of haunted ghost stories in China to this day as well and people can go far to avoid the mere rumor of a ghost. Apartments thought to be haunted are avoided, haunted buildings are torn down and people pay good money to have places cleansed for any lingering spirit.
Although ghosts are thought to be avoided there are no shortage of haunted places or ghost stories from China. From the old and ancient palaces to the urban high risers, they all have stories to tell.
If you are interested in the full list of articles written about ghost stories and haunted places in China, head over here.
Here is a closer look at the most haunted places in China.
Fengdu Ghost City | 丰都鬼城 | Chongqing — The Necropolis tourist attraction in the mountains
Along the Yangtzee river In the Chongqing region in China, lies Fengdu Ghost City in the mist covered mountains, a realm where the veil between the living and the dead grows thin. Fengdu Ghost city is more of an amusement park than a city and is steeped in centuries of myth and legend, beckons travelers from far and wide to its ghostly embrace from the lord of the underworld himself carved into Ming Mountain.
The story of Fengdu Ghost City goes back for nearly 2000 years and makes it on the list of Most Haunted Places in China, not only because of its haunting origin story, but how it can help us understand the rest of the list of haunted places. Here, the whispers of the past echo through time, as tales of restless spirits and otherworldly encounters abound. From the haunting sculptures that adorn its pathways to the shadowy corridors of its temples, every corner of Fengdu teems with spectral energy, inviting intrepid souls to uncover its secrets of how to successfully overcome the Buddhist trials in the afterlife.
Chaonei No. 81 | 朝内81号 | Beijing — The horror house in the former church
Most Haunted Places in China
Amidst the bustling streets and ancient alleyways of Beijing, looms Chaonei No. 81, a place whispered in hushed tones as the “Beijing Horror House.” Within its walls, shadowy figures are said to dance behind curtained windows, their ghostly forms flickering in and out of view like phantoms in the night.
According to the most commonly told legend, it is to a woman that once resided in Chaonei No. 81. The woman is said to have been a wife or maybe a lover of an officer of the Kuomintang (KMT, or the nationalist party of China) that fought against the communist party during the Chinese civil war in the 1940s. The nationalist lost, and fled to Taiwan as the communists came into power. The woman was allegedly left behind by her officer man who fled with the army to Taiwan, and she is said to have hung herself from the rafters of the house.
Even on the hottest summer days, an icy chill hangs heavy in the air, sending shivers down the spines of all who dare to approach one of the most haunted places in China.
The mansion is considered one of the most exquisite Chinese imperial mansions, representing the elegant lifestyle of Qing Dynasty royalty as well as being one of the most haunted places in China.
One of the most haunting phenomena reported is the apparition of a woman cloaked in white, her ethereal presence lingering in the corridors and shadowy corners of the mansion. Legend has it that she is the ghost of a grieving mother, Feng Jiwen , forever trapped in a state of sorrow and anguish after the untimely loss of her beloved son when he died in a battle fighting rebels.
It is said she died of a broken heart soon after. She and several former escorts have been seen around the palace, and the guards working there have claimed to have seen a woman in white walking the premises. Her mournful wails are said to echo through the halls, sending shivers down the spines of all who dare to venture within.
The Great Wall of China | 萬里長城/万里长城 | Northern China — Sounds of ghostly battle cries seeping through the mist
Most Haunted Places in China
Shrouded in mist and mystery, the Great Wall of China reveals its darker secrets to those who dare to listen. The Great Wall of China is the longest man-made structure in the world and stretches for 8,850 km and it is said that it is also a haunted place, perhaps one of the most haunted places in China even?
Tourists and visitors claim to have seen soldiers patrolling the wall as well as hearing the sound of marching footsteps belonging to no one. The worst stories are those claiming to be overcome with a sudden nausea and dizziness that must have been something else than the steep steps of the wall. Many who traverse its ancient pathways speak of spectral apparitions, phantom warriors condemned to eternal vigilance along the rugged terrain.
The Forbidden City | 紫禁城 | Beijing — Ghost of Concubines and curses at one of the most haunted places in China
Most Haunted Places in China
Built in the early 1400s, Beijing’s Forbidden City, or Zijin Cheng in Chinese (紫禁城), literally means the purple forbidden city and is a complex of majestic buildings and grounds that bears witness to the rise and fall of China’s powerful emperors and countless of people that lived and worked inside of the imperial walls. It is also perhaps one of the most haunted places in China
Legends speak of curses woven into the very fabric of these Imperial Palaces, warning those who dare to tread where mortals are forbidden. It is not just a singular haunted spot, but a plethora of them, perhaps is it the most haunted places in China? There were also said to be a well outside Jinghe Gate where a group of female ghosts live. Fortunately there was an iron plate on Jinghe Gate to suppress them, otherwise they would come out every day. In the middle of Sanhai On the Jin’ao Jade Bridge it was said that every three years a person walking over it would be pulled down by a ghost under the bridge.”
One story that keeps being repeated is that of the crying women, and in the Forbidden City, there were plenty of them throughout the years. Many speculate it is the ghost of one or more concubines as the crying woman is often seen in or around the quarter for the imperial concubines.
Fengmen Village | 封門村 | Henan Province — The curse of bad feng shui coming back to haunt
Most Haunted Places in China
Tucked away in the remote mountains of China lies the desolate Fengmen Village, a place where time seems to stand still and the whispers of the past linger in the air like restless spirits. Legends shroud this abandoned hamlet with its strange customs and tales of souls trapped within its borders, unable to find peace even in death. Could this be one of the most haunted places in China?
Some of the suspicion and eeriness to the village is their complete disregard for the Feng Shui of the buildings. According to legends, most of the houses face east-west, the complete opposite of Feng Shui, leading some people to think this is the reason why the place is so off and strange stuff is happening here.
Over the years as the Fengmen Village population dwindled and hiking became more popular, many hikers decided to make their destination this strange and remote village. Some hikers have claimed to have called out their names into the dark night as they were camped outside the now abandoned village, and to their surprise, something called their names back.
Travelers faint or feverish when they step into the village and wake up with scratches all over their body they have no idea where it came from. People that choose to travel to this far away place come back and tell of unusual noises and shouts can be heard and there is no phone reception to call for help when needing it.
Qiu Mansion | 查公館 | Shanghai — The strange disappearances and ghostly animals
Most Haunted Places in China
Once the opulent abode of the enigmatic Qiu brothers, its grandeur now lies in ruin, shrouded in the chilling whispers of its haunting past. Legends abound of the brothers’ sudden disappearance, leaving behind a mansion cloaked in darkness and despair.
At the height of their fame and notoriety, the Qiu brothers mysteriously disappeared as their paint industry started to decline in the wake of the wars raging. Their mansions started to decay and their once great gardens withered. The animals disappeared one by one, many just straight up killed to get rid off or eaten.
Rumors emerged of strange occurrences such as objects moving by themselves or shadows appearing in the abandoned mansion and eerie noises could be heard in the night. Yet, no one has been able to prove the legends.
Just across the street there is a Four Seasons Hotel facing the former Qiu Mansion. From there, many visitors as well as staff have reported hearing and seeing strange animals roaming around the abandoned site. Construction workers from the restoration have sometimes sought hospital treatment for strange bites they believe come from animals, even though no one knows where and how they got injured, making people speculate that this mansion had to be one of the most haunted places in China.
The gruesome discovery of a woman’s skull concealed within the innocent facade of a Hello Kitty doll sent shockwaves rippling through the community, revealing the depths of human depravity in 1999. A young woman named Ah Fong, had fallen victim to a brutal and sadistic torture session orchestrated by a group of individuals involved in the criminal underworld.
Ah Fong had been held imprisoned in the apartment, tortured in the most barbaric and vicious ways as well as raped over and over for over a month before she died. But as the perpetrators faced justice for their heinous crime, whispers began to circulate of a darker force at play.
Many unusual events have occurred that are regarded as supernatural by the public. And rumors about something paranormal and strange going on started already during trial with the light flickering when the culprits tried to defend themselves.
The building where the murder happened had strange things going on as well and has made the list of more than one list of Most Haunted Places in China. A woman rented a unit on the fourth floor without knowing about the murder. Her friend often heard women crying at night, and at that time, there were no people living downstairs. There have also been reports about seeing the ghost of a young woman wandering in the building.
In the end the building itself was torn down. No one wanted anything to do with it as it was tainted and haunted in their eyes. But even when a new building was built there, a memorial was put in place just in case it could help stop with the haunting.
As dusk descends upon the bustling streets of Beijing, an eerie tale whispers through the city’s alleys and avenues, shrouded in mystery and dread. There are many public transportation systems with haunted lore attached to them like, the Haunted Subway in Beijing or The Haunted Metro Stations on Hong Kong MTR’s Island Line that could have made the list of Most Haunted Places in China. But the most told ghost story though, comes from the buses.
The legend of the Last Bus to Fragrant Hill, also known as Bus 330, haunts the minds of those who dare to venture into the realm of urban folklore. On a fateful November night in 1995, passengers board the No. 330 (many different numbers in different variations of the legend) bus departing from Yuanmingyuan main station bound for Fragrant Hill in Beijing. Among them are a young couple, an old woman, and the bus driver and conductor.
As the bus traverses the darkened streets, it encounters two peculiar passengers dressed in Qing Dynasty attire, accompanied by a seemingly unconscious man. Despite the oddity of their appearance, the passengers pay little attention, assuming them to be part of a film crew. However, the atmosphere takes a sinister twist when the old woman accuses one of the Qing Dynasty-clad men of theft, claiming he stole her wallet.
Sensing danger, the old woman persuades another passenger to get off with her, revealing that the strange men are legless ghosts from the Qing Dynasty. The bus mysteriously vanishes without a trace. Days later, the bus is discovered submerged in Miyun Reservoir, its interior bearing signs of a grisly demise: three bloodied corpses in advanced stages of decomposition.
In the bustling streets of Hong Kong, whispers of a ghostly phenomenon have long haunted the city’s residents. The tale of the Takeout Ordering Ghost, a spectral entity that summons food deliveries from beyond the grave, has become a chilling legend passed down through generations. Some believe that the origins of this eerie story can be traced back to a real incident, shrouded in mystery and superstition.
The story goes that after a restaurant receives an order by phone, the delivery boy heads to a nearby condo on Leighton Road, where he encounters a hand emerging from the door gap to pay him. Upon returning to the restaurant, however, he discovers that the money has transformed into ghostly joss paper, unsettling the owner and casting suspicion on the employee.
As the eerie incidents repeat themselves, with the money consistently morphing into ghost currency, the restaurant owner grows increasingly alarmed. Determined to uncover the truth, he decides to personally deliver the next order to the condo. What he discovers inside shocks him to the core: four decomposing bodies seated around a Mahjong table, with remnants of the restaurant’s food containers nearby.
Police investigations reveal that the deceased succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning, indicating that they had been dead for some time, although the neighbors had all heard them playing and partying.
These are only some of the Most Haunted Places in China, but far from every haunted place or ghost story from China. For more articles about this, head over to the entire archive of ghost stories from the country for more of the most haunted places in China.
The former wellness hotel and sanatorium called Preventorio de Aigües is said to have healing thermal water as well as the ruins of the buildings are said to have attracted ghosts. This abandoned building close to Alicante is popular with paranormal seekers and ghosts alike.
Among the many haunted places around the world, Haunted Hospital in Spain is known for its eerie atmosphere. The ghost that is said to linger in the hospital has been a topic of discussion for horror enthusiasts for a long time.
Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain
The hospital has a dark history, and it’s not hard to imagine the spirits of those who perished there still wandering through its corridors.
The Time as a Wellbeing Hotel
This 19th century building high up in the mountains 25 kilometers from the city of Alicante in Spain was originally built as a luxury hotel in Aguas de Busot by Count de Casa de Rojas and Marquis de Bosh for the rich and wealthy.
The hotel was known as Hotel Miramar Winter Station and was built out with many buildings, chapels, a casino, a playground and sport facilities. It was a state of luxury, and the guests were all from high society where even the King and Queen of Spain visited.
Haunted Building: the Preventorio de Aigües now abandoned is thought to be haunted by the children that used to live there when it was used as a sanatorium//Source: Jesús Alenda/wikimedia
Today the only building still standing from it is the building from 1816 designed by the architect Pedro Garcia Faria and the once glorious place is now only an abandoned shell of what it once was. And throughout the years, it truly was a lot.
The Civil War Closed the Door of the Hotel
But the story took a sharp turn in the later years. In 1930 the luxury hotel closed its doors as a hotel and spa. According to the stories, it is said that the owner, Marquis de Bosch lost the hotel in a poker game.
At the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, Preventorio de Aguas de Busot was turned into a sanatorium for children. The idea was to take uninfected children and keep them away to prevent them from being infected as well as to accommodate orphans.
When the disease started to die out the hospital was abandoned in the late 1960s and remains so to this day.
The Building as a Sanatorium
A sanatorium is an old name for specialized hospitals that were made for specific ailments. They were often built in the countryside with plenty of fresh air in a healthy climate isolated from the outside world. Sanatoriums across Europe and America were very popular to treat tuberculosis until the discovery of antibiotics.
It could however also be a place for people to heal from things like alcoholism, nervous diseases like hysteria or emotional exhaustions. After medical advances the use of sanatoriums declined and many were abandoned in the mid 1900s often and has since gained a haunted reputation.
The Healing Thermal Water
The water in the area was thought to contain healing properties all the way back to Roman times and it is also chronicled by Arabs that resided in Spain in medieval times.
They have talked about the good water in the hot springs found in the area, making it a perfect spot for a wellbeing hotel. It is also a place perfect for where mysterious things happen.
The Haunting in the Abandoned building
Now the building is abandoned and the only visitors are those seeking out the paranormal rumors and trying to investigate if they are true or not. In 2005 they tried to install some fences around the place, but no fences have ever held the most intense people out.
People that have visited the place say that you can find many secret tunnels from the war leading as far to the neighboring town called Campello. There is even paperwork from both the time it served as a hotel as well as a hospital where even old patient files lie scattered around in the ruins. They have also come back claiming to have seen a ghost or two.
Inside the old hospital it is said you can hear whistles while a translucent figure is climbing the ruined stairs.
It is said the place is haunted by the children that ended their life here, even though there are not really any recordings of deaths related to tuberculosis in the building. The legend persists and there are many who claim to have seen the ghosts of children around the ruins.
Although no one really died of tuberculosis, there were recorded deaths of fires, sunstrokes and falls.
The Woman in White
It is also said that a woman in white is seen crying when calamities approach. According to the legend, she could be seen in the reflection in a mirror that hung by the stairs to the first floor. If you saw her laughing and crying at the same time, it was all good. But if you saw her only sobbing it meant something bad was going to happen.
She is most often seen walking around the building at night and some claim that was the wife of the Count of Casas Rojas, the former owner of the hotel and spas. Some of the variations of the legends says that she used to reside inside of a mirror, but when the mirror broke, she escaped and is now walking freely around.
According to the locals, the staff that used to work there used black magic in the church in the building and there are rumors that the place was also the place for a sect with ill intentions.
The Future of the Sanatorium
Through the knocked down fences, the dark building stands looming on the hill.
What will happen with the building is unclear, as it has been the topic of debate and in court for decades now. Some want to construct a hotel again, perhaps turn it into a museum. Some even want to tear the entire building to the ground.
When the Gaelic Celts first set their foot on the emerald isle, they brought with them their ancient rites and magic. And in Ballyboley Forest in Antrim in Northern Ireland, it is said that something from this time still lingers within the woods.
By the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Ballyboley Forest unveils a scenic trail that winds through meadows and woodlands to the serene Kilylane Reservoir.
While the trail promises a breathtaking journey through Antrim’s beautiful landscape, it also carries with it spooky legends and ghostly tales that have woven themselves into the fabric of this Northern Irish landscape, and the story of the haunted Ballyboley Forest have topped various lists of Top Haunted Places.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Haunted Forests around the world
The current forest was planted in 1957, but the ghost stories and local legends go much further back than that, with a forest area like Ballyboley Forest going as far back to 300 BC, to ancient druid and celtic times. But just how many of these legends can we believe?
Source: Albert Bridge / Ballyboley forest near Larne (8) / CC BY-SA 2.0
Ancient Druid Meeting Place
The Ballyboley Forest, it is said, carries an ancient energy, having served as an ancient meeting place for druids. Artifacts discovered over the years hint at the rituals and gatherings that once transpired beneath its leafy canopy.
It is said that you can find circular trenches and stone formations in the north east part of the forest that are now grown over, but can still be seen. These megalithic structures are only claimed through rumors though and no archeological overview shows any particular monuments from Gaelic times inside of the forest.
If there really were druids in the area is unclear though the coastal area close to it like in Larne is thought to be one of the earliest inhabited areas of Ireland, when people came over from Scotland. But did they really venture over to what became Ballyboley Forest, or did these stories first come after the current forest was planted?
Haunted Histories from Ballyboley Forest
Let’s have a look at the haunted stories coming from the forest. It is said local legends speak of haunting occurrences within its depths—plumes of black smoke rising above the trees, and echoes of ghostly screams that linger in the twilight.
Throughout the 15t, 16th as well as the 17th century, there have supposedly been many strange disappearances of the local people that went to the area. Some sources claim it is as many as thirty different cases of the missing people.
There are according to local lore, strange paths going through a gateway to The Otherworld of Celtic mythology.
The Stories Sources
These stories about smoke in the Ballyboley Forest and screams come from a couple of sources. First is a story supposedly relayed from a young couple that were hiking in the area and they were scared of the screams and the cloud-like black smoke that appeared. They quickly left the forest when this happened, and what really went down then, we don’t know. And who this couple was, there really isn’t a trail of either.
In a news report from 1997, in an unknown newspaper, there were two men in the Ballyboley Forest that heard the sound of something flapping. After a while they heard the sound of a woman like she was in pain and tried to find the source of the lady as she could be in need of help.
Instead they left the tracks and stumbled upon a place where the trees were smeared with something that looked eerily like blood. They turned to get out of the place, but four human shaped figures were standing still behind them. All were dressed in brown rags and their heads were covered.
Most of the accounts of the strange things people have experienced in the forest though, seems to be repostings from online forums from anonymous posters without any clear sources. Also the newspaper clippings that supposedly the stories were retold in, are missing.
This is the case with the alleged experiences of a poster on Reddit as well from 2005 that also claimed to have seen the four rag clad figures holding torches and hearing the screeching sound of unknown animals.
Although this was supposed to have happened in 2005 and the poster read the post made on The Shadowlands, seemingly the earliest posts about this hauntings online, the information has been out online since the late 90s on the page.
Conclusion About the Haunting of the Forest
Ballyboley Forest, with its picturesque trails and hidden mysteries, invites adventurers to delve into a realm where beauty and the supernatural intertwine. But are the local legends really local, or are they merely a figment of the rapid copy paste culture of the internet?
As the wind rustles through the ancient trees, it carries with it the tales of plumes of black smoke, blood-stained trees, and the ethereal screams that have become part of the forest’s haunted legacy. The trail, though outwardly serene, unravels a tapestry of legends that adds a dark layer to the Northern Irish landscape.
In the ruins of an old Abbey in Ireland, the locals claim they can still hear the dying screams of a woman that was buried alive, as well as feel the dark forces from the Black Hag that were practicing dark magic in the St. Katherine’s Abbey.
In the picturesque landscapes of County Limerick, Ireland, amidst the serene countryside, lies a silent witness to centuries of history, both sacred and macabre — St. Katherine’s Abbey as it is officially consecrated as.
The ruins of the once Augustinian abbey are known under many names though like Monasternagalliaghduff or Mainistir na gCailleach Dubh. It is also called the Abbey of St Catherine de O’Conyl or simply Old Abbey.
Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland
There are several legends from this place and it is said to be haunted to this day as the dark magic that once were cast still lingers.
The Timeless Convent of Monasternagalliaghduff
Dating back to the 13th century, the Abbey of the Black Hag is a weathered and abandoned convent that has witnessed the passage of time, preserving within its ancient stones the stories of the faithful, the echoes of prayer, and the secrets of its enigmatic past.
St. Katherine’s Abbey is one of the earliest recorded nunneries in Ireland and was probably in operation until the 1500s until the Dissolution of the Monasteries during the Reformation in Ireland, or perhaps before this.
Monasternagalliaghduff: Only the few ruins are left fro the old abbey in the open field, now covered in grass. Many legends are tied to this place, and some claim St. Katherine’s Abbeyis still haunted by them. //Source: JohnArmagh/wikimedia
The Countess Buried Alive in St. Katherine’s Abbey
But it is not the passage of time or the hallowed echoes of devotion that have etched St. Katherine’s Abbey into the annals of Irish folklore. Instead, it is the eerie legends and ghosts said to haunt the abbey, casting an ominous shadow over the abbey’s ruins no matter how much the sun is shining.
One of the legends comes from Countess Fitzgerald. She was the wife of The Earl of Desmond that had a bloody feud against the Butler family that was the Earls of Ormond during the 15th century.
The Fitzgeral were attacked and the Earl was going to get his wife to safety. She was shot in the thigh by an arrow and throughout the night, she lost so much blood and the Earl thought she had died when they reached the abbey.
She was buried underneath the altar of the abbey before he quickly rode on. But the nuns started to hear terrible screams coming from the grave during the night. In the end they chose to open the grave, but it was too late and they found the Countess dead, but with broken fingers and torn out nails. She had been buried alive and she had tried to claw her way out.
It is believed that she never found peace through and that she is still waiting for her husband to save her, still trying to claw her way out from her grave.
The Tale of the Black Hag St. Katherine’s Abbey
As local lore has it, the last head nun or abbess of St. Katherine’s Abbey possessed knowledge of the dark arts and wielded them with terrifying skill. The Black Hag or the Black Nun as she was known as was actually a witch and Satanist according to the legends.
Her mastery of these forbidden arts cast a long shadow of fear over the locals. Whispers of her malevolent practices spread like wildfire, shrouding the abbey in a sinister reputation.
Read More: Check out all of the stories about Witches at the MoonMausoleum.
According to the legends, the Black Nun wanted power, and to get it she sold her soul to get it. She was said to look gaunt with a skeletal figure wearing her all black robes. Even her face was said to darken, either from ashes or her dark magic.
The Black Hag’s Cell
In the present day, the room within the abbey’s south end that once served as the abbess’s quarters has become infamous as the Black Hag’s Cell. It is in this chamber that the alleged witch’s spirit is said to linger, her spectral presence a chilling reminder of the darker chapters of the abbey’s history.
The Black Hag: Was she a witch? Did she practice dark arts? Or perhaps she was just the victim of terrible rumours? Was she real at all? One of the enduring legends from the former abbey is that of the Black Nun, or Black Hag, that were said to be the abbess of the abbey and a practitioner of the black arts.
It was in this cell that she performed Black Magic and worshiped Satan. Other nuns fled from the abbey according to legend when they found out what their abbess was up to, and she was left in the darkness. What happened to this supposed witch is uncertain.
The darkest rumor about the Black Nun is that she also sacrificed children during her dark rituals, taken from the nearby villagers, and there actually have been found bones of children on the grounds.
A Wicked End of the Black Hag
Where these legends come from though is uncertain. There certainly came some stories to justify the dissolutions of the nunneries in Ireland when the old Catholicism was seen as something filled with superstition and possible dark magic.
Also, tales about single women living secluded have always had a trail of witch rumors following them. Because what in the world are unmarried single women up to if not worshiping Satan?
Haunting Echoes coming from the Old Abbey Ruins
Locals who live in the vicinity of St. Katherine’s Abbey speak in hushed tones of nights disturbed by blood-curdling screams that pierce the darkness. These ghostly wails, they claim, are the anguished cries of the Black Hag herself, echoing through the lonely hours of the night.
Or perhaps it is from the ghost of Countess Fitzgerald, who is still trying to let people know that she is alive, replaying her final hours trapped in the coffin.
The Ruins of St. Katherine’s Abbey
As the moon cast an ethereal glow upon the ancient ruins of St. Katherine’s Abbey, the whispers of the past faded into the night. The haunting echoes of the Black Hag’s chilling cries and the anguished screams of Countess Fitzgerald began to dissipate, carried away by the gentle breeze.
And the Black Hag, a figure shrouded in mystery and fear, gradually faded into the realm of folklore. Her malevolence became a distant memory, forever entwined with the legends of the abbey.
The ruins of St. Katherine’s Abbey, now bathed in the light of a new day visitors wandered through the weathered stones, admiring the beauty of the landscape and contemplating the rich history that had unfolded within those crumbling walls.
As the sun set on St. Katherine’s Abbey, casting a golden hue over the landscape, a sense of tranquility and closure settled upon the abbey grounds. The tales of the Black Hag and the buried Countess became mere echoes, floating in the winds of time. Or do they?
One night the Spanish Civil Guard were called out to strange things happening at the old Verge del Toro Hospital in Spain. When they got there, they experienced what they claim was an extreme haunting from the ghosts of the former patients.
On the island of Menorca there was a hospital that closed in 2007 after the New Mateu Orfila General Hospital opened on Menorca. The hospital in the city of Mahon had operated for over 60 years before closing its doors.
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The hospital became a well known haunted hospital after they did a segment on the place on the Cuarto Milenio program that showcases different allegedly haunted locations and ghost stories in 2012.
The story was told of Daniel, in the civil guard from Menorca that had visited the closed hospital five years earlier.
The Night of the Haunting at the Hospital of Verge del Toro
On November 1st in 2007 the Spanish Civil Guard as well as the police got a call for someone breaking in around half past two in the morning and they went in after a warning for the night security working in the building.
At this time, the Verge del Toro hospital had already been abandoned for a couple of months, the windows were dark, the doors locked.
A patrol of two agents arrived shortly after and went from room to room to find the ones breaking in but found no one. When they were on the ground floor however, they heard a macabre laughter and whispers coming from the upper floors.
When they were standing outside of the hospital they could see how the lights in the former hospital went on and off for no reason and shadows appeared and disappeared in the windows.
The guards called for backup and four Civil Guard agents as well as two from the National Police Corpse that just happened to be walking by were tasked to inspect the hospital further.
They went in again, both by the stairs and the elevators from first to fifth floor to find those laughing and pranking in the empty hospital, but found no one.
Daniel told the TV-program that they believed those breaking in at the Verge del Toro hospital hid and that further steps were needed to get to the bottom of the strange things happening in the abandoned hospital.
On the third inspection when they went in full force with even police dogs with them they finally realized that not everything was as it should and the strange things happening was not the work of people that had broken in.
When they went up to the 5th floor they had already inspected two times, they found that the heavy beds and furniture like lamps were dragged across the rooms and the doors to the cabinets were opened up. The furniture was too heavy to be moved in the ten minutes they left the room, according to Daniel.
They tried to get the highly trained police dogs to come along with them to the top floor in the elevator. The dogs had been perfectly fine up to this point, but started crying when in the elevator and refused to go out when they reached the top floor. Not even when the owner threw their favorite toys into the corridor they managed to get the dog out. The owner claimed that usually the dog would have gone to the bottom of the sea to look for the toy. But not out in this haunted corridor.
The Woman in White
It was then they saw her, on their fourth attempt to find out what was happening there. Hidden in the corner they saw the shadow of a very strange woman, almost as if covering in the shadows around 20 to 25 meters away from them.
The agents asked her to identify herself and get out with her hands up. They get no response from the strange woman. They ask again and tell that they will draw their weapons if she disobeys and threatens them in any way.
Then the woman is said to have just suddenly disappeared into thin air right before their eyes. This was even with the windows and the doors of the hospital blocked off and agents at all of the exits. There was simply no physical reason to disappear from the place.
The Neighbours Spotting the Ghosts
It is said that that night was not the only night when something strange occurred in the hospital. Several months after the episode had aired on TV, the residents of the Tanques del Carme neighborhood next to the hospital experienced somethings strange as well when they noticed that again strange things were happening to the lights in the otherwise dark fromer hospital.
After many years of controversies over what to do with the building, they decided to reform it into a socio-health center in 2019, and is still undergoing remodeling.
After the strange events at the Verge del Toro hospital right after its closing, the people that went that night still have no rational explanation for what happened.
The 5th floor used to be reserved for people with psychiatric problems and people think that it must have been a former patient there. Did she come back after the Verge del Toro hospital closed down for some reason? Or was it so that she really came back from the dead?
Close to Smolensk in Russia, the Katyn Forest hides horrible war atrocities known as the Katyn Massacre. The horrible smudge on the beautiful forest has made some think that this could be one of the more haunted forests there is.
The Katyn Forest in Russia is found around 20 kilometers west of Smolensk, one of the oldest cities in Russia. Although the true name is the Katyn Forest, it is often called Smolensk Forest instead.
This rural forest area conceals the painful memories of one of World War II’s darkest chapters—the Katyn Massacre. In 1940, thousands of Polish prisoners of war, including military officers, intellectuals, and cultural figures, were systematically executed by Soviet forces under Joseph Stalin’s orders together with Voroshilov Mikoyan and Molotov.
The very name, Katyn could be of the Belarusian and Ukrainian word, Kat, meaning executioner and even in historical writings, Katyn forest was a place for executions. For how far back is unknown. The atrocity left an indelible mark on the landscape, and many believe that the spirits of those who perished continue to linger, haunting the depths of the Smolensk Forest.
Katyn Forest. The forest is often called the Smolensk Forest and is by many thought to be haunted. This is from Katyn Memorial (including Polish War Cementery)//Source
The Katyn Massacre
The Katyn Massacre, named after the Katyn Forest near Smolensk, was a brutal act of political repression executed by the Soviet NKVD. More than 4443 Polish army officers were found in the Smolensk Forest in 1943, found by the Germans that occupied the area from 1941.
The rest of the 11000 Polish officers that were taken prisoners by the Soviets, were never heard of again. Presumably they too suffered a deadly fate and were buried in mass graves in another killing field like the one in Smolensk Forest.
The Katyn Massacre: Thousands of Polish military officers, intelligentsia, and civilian prisoners were executed by the Soviet Union’s in the spring of 1940. The massacre took place in the Katyn Forest and other Soviet prison sites. The Soviet Union blamed Nazi Germany for the atrocity. The truth about the Katyn Massacre remained hidden for decades due to Soviet propaganda, and it strained Polish-Soviet relations for many years.
The victims were shot in the back of the head and hastily buried in mass graves. For years, the Soviet Union denied responsibility, blaming the Nazis for the massacre. It wasn’t until 1990 that the Russian government by Mikhail Gorbachev officially acknowledged Soviet guilt, marking a crucial step toward historical truth and reconciliation.
In addition to the Polish prisoners, there are some soviet sources claiming that around 500 bolsheviks were killed in these woods by the nazi Germans as well as it having being found graves of people most likely killed by the soviets in the 1920s and 30s.
Haunted Legends of the Smolensk Forest
The Katyn Forest is shrouded in a melancholic atmosphere, and has become a site of eerie tales and ghostly encounters. You will also find the forest, often called the Smolensk Forest on lists of top haunted forests and the likes, although not many Russian and more local sources write much about hauntings.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Haunted Forests around the world.
But some claim that the forest is haunted after the tragedy and harrowing things that happened inside it. Perhaps it even was haunted long before the second world war? They say that you can hear whispers in the wind, mournful cries, and phantom footsteps, suggesting a lingering unrest in the aftermath of the tragedy. Some describe apparitions dressed in tattered military uniforms, wandering through the trees as if searching for justice or closure.
The Memorial Complex
In 2000, a memorial complex dedicated to the victims of the Katyn Massacre was erected in the Smolensk Forest. The site features symbolic sculptures, commemorative plaques, and an atmosphere of solemn remembrance. Visitors report feeling an overwhelming sense of sorrow and reverence, as if the spirits of the fallen are still present, seeking acknowledgment and remembrance.
The Katyn Massacre was not the last Polish tragedy that happened in this area though. In 2010 a Polish plane with the Polish president Lech Kaczynski was flying to visit this memorial in honor of the 70 year anniversary for the massacre. The plane went down close to Smolensk and he died.
The Haunted Katyn Forest by Smolensk
The Katyn Forest stands as a poignant testament to the profound impact of war and human suffering. The Katyn Massacre’s haunting legacy, intertwined with the forest’s history as a place of executions and mass graves, serves as a reminder of the importance of historical truth and collective remembrance.
As visitors explore this somber landscape, they are confronted not only by the echoes of tragedy but also by the enduring spirits that beckon for acknowledgment, urging the world never to forget the atrocities committed in the heart of the Katyn Forest.
Some ghosts have one residential ghost, others have several. This is the case with Malahide Castle in Ireland that houses at least five different ghosts, each with their own tragic story and end.
Malahide Castle, or Caisleán Mhullach Íde, is a medieval marvel situated just nine miles north of Dublin’s bustling city center, has been a bastion of the Talbot family for nearly eight centuries.
Today you can visit the castle on guided tours, and walk in the gardens that have turned into parks, a cricket field and a concert venue.
Yet, beneath its centuries-old walls and majestic turrets lies a darker, ghostly history, making it one of Ireland’s most renowned haunted castles with at least five known residential ghosts.
Malahide Castle History
The castle’s storied history is as fascinating as its spectral residents. Originally granted to Richard Talbot in 1185, the castle’s oldest section dates back to the 12th century. It remained in the possession of the Talbot family for almost eight centuries, with various additions made during the reign of Edward IV, including the addition of two impressive towers.
The castle has witnessed its share of grimm episodes, such as the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, where fourteen family members gathered for breakfast only to meet their tragic end by dinnertime after they died in the battle.
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After the passing of Lord Milo Talbot in 1973, the castle’s ownership was transferred to his sister, Rose, who eventually sold it to the Irish state in 1975 to offset taxes. While many of the castle’s contents were dispersed to the public, some were recovered, preserving the rich history of Malahide Castle for generations to come.
Malahide Castle stands as a testament to both the grandeur of Ireland’s medieval past and the enduring allure of its supernatural mysteries, making it an essential destination for history enthusiasts and ghost hunters alike.
Malahide Castle Ghosts
The castle’s rich and often turbulent 800-year history has given rise to many spectral inhabitants that are said to still linger within the walls. Among them, at least five ghostly apparitions are said to roam the castle’s hallowed halls.
Lady Maud Plunkett
Lady Maud Plunkett is one of the ghostly presences in Malahide Castle. Her spirit reenacts the day of her marriage to a Lord Chief Justice, chasing her husband’s ghost through the castle’s labyrinthine corridors. He was her third husband and it is said that Maud was a very possessive woman then, some even say she was abusive.
She was the daughter of the Baron of Killeen. She fell in love with a young soldier named Walter Hussey who was Lord Galtrim. On their wedding day Lord Galtrim was attacked when he was on his way to the wedding by a rival and was stabbed to death.
Another version of the legend is that they were wed on the morning of Whit Monday in 1429. Only a few hours later he was killed in battle.
After this it is said that Lord Galtrim is also haunting the castle, because he is bitter that Maud wed his rival right after his death that she is still chasing to this day.
The Ghost of Puck
Puck, the ghost of a jester with dwarfism that also was a watchman that lived in one of the towers of the castle. Puck fell in love with Lady Elenora Fitzgerald, who was held captive at the castle by Henry VIII for inciting rebellions.
Some say he hanged himself after he failed to do his duties, or because he was rejected. But most claim that the jester was murdered.
One snowy December night, Puck was found lifeless, stabbed in the heart, still adorned in his jester’s attire. Before his death, he vowed to haunt the castle until a master from the common people married into the Talbot family. Astonishingly, he swore not to harm any male Talbot sleeping within the castle’s walls.
It is said that his ghosts act as a more protective spirit though, and he was known for appearing a lot in the 1970s, when a lot of the things inside the castle were sold.
Visitors have claimed to capture his eerie visage in photographs taken within the castle. Even the famous singer Lizzo claimed that Puck was the one that took her phone when she visited the castle.
The White Lady
What castle is complete without its ghost of the Lady in White, and Malahide Castle is no exception. The enigmatic White Lady, depicted in a captivating portrait hanging in the Great Wall of the castle, is another famous specter of Malahide Castle.
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This beautiful yet unknown lady is said to step out of her painting and wander through the castle grounds, particularly during the moonlit hours clad in all white. Her ethereal presence has been witnessed by countless visitors over the years.
The Ghost of Miles Corbett
Lastly, the ghost of Miles Corbett adds a haunting dimension to Malahide Castle’s history. Oliver Cromwell granted Corbett ownership of the castle and its surrounding lands from 1649 to 1660, following the conquest of Ireland.
However, upon Cromwell’s death, Corbett was tried and hanged for his deeds during his tenure at the castle and during Cromwell’s reign in April in 1662. He was used as an example for what happened to those conspiring against the throne and after being hanged he was quartered. He was one of those that signed for King Charles I death warrant.
His ghost is said to appear on his death anniversary. He is often seen as a complete soldier in armor before disintegrating into four pieces.
The Haunting Malahide Castle
In conclusion, the legends and ghostly tales surrounding Malahide Castle in Ireland have captivated visitors for centuries. This medieval fortress, steeped in history and tragedy, stands as a testament to the enduring allure of the supernatural.
As visitors explore the castle’s halls, they may encounter the ghostly presence of Lady Maud Plunkett, reliving her ill-fated wedding day or the mysterious White Lady, stepping out of her portrait to wander the moonlit grounds. The jester Puck, with his tragic love story, continues to make his mischievous presence known, while Miles Corbett’s ghost reminds us of the turbulent times during Oliver Cromwell’s reign.
These spectral residents add an extra layer of intrigue and mystique to the castle’s already rich history. Their stories and apparitions serve as a reminder of the castle’s past, with its battles, tragedies, and royal connections. It is an enchanting destination that both history enthusiasts and ghost hunters find irresistible.
So, if you dare to venture into the hallowed halls of Malahide Castle, keep your eyes peeled and your senses alert. The spirits of the past may just reveal themselves, whispering stories of long ago, reminding us that history and the supernatural can intertwine in the most fascinating of ways.
In the ruins of Alfaguara Sanatorium, also known as The Berta Hospital in Spain they tried as many sanatoriums did, to cure tuberculosis. It is said the victims of the white plague are still haunting the ground as well as the founder of the hospital.
One of the smallest haunted hospitals in Spain is known for its long history of ghost sightings and paranormal activity. This hospital has been abandoned for many years and has become a popular destination for ghost hunters and thrill-seekers alike.
In Granada there was a sanatorium that was built in 1923 to help with the rising problem of tuberculosis in wartime at the beginning of the 20th century and operated as a hospital until it closed in 1940.
Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain
At the hospital’s inauguration the archbishop, the military governor and representatives of the city council of Granada with a large audience helped open the hospital. The furniture was even donated by Queen Victoria Eugenia who served as the president of the Red Cross for Ladies. Later the hospital was abandoned and forgotten except for the ghosts said to roam in the ruins.
The Old Alfaguara Sanatorium
A sanatorium is an old name for specialized hospitals that were made for specific ailments. They were often built in the countryside with plenty of fresh air in a healthy climate isolated from the outside world. Sanatoriums across Europe and America were very popular to treat tuberculosis until the discovery of antibiotics.
Tuberculosis was one of the deadliest illnesses in Europe at the turn of the century and was often known as the white plague and is one of the oldest diseases we have proof of.
It could however also be a place for people to heal from things like alcoholism, nervous diseases like hysteria or emotional exhaustions. After medical advances the use of sanatoriums declined and many were abandoned in the mid 1900s often and has since gained a haunted reputation.
Trying to Cure Tuberculosis
The Alfaguara Sanatorium was built with the money of a German Lady, Berta Wilhelmi, a philanthropist and was also known as the Berta Hospital. It was built in the area of what is now known as the heart of the Sierra de Huetor Natural Park in the mountain range, surrounded by Mediterranean and pine forest and fresh air in the mountains, something that was especially good for tuberculosis patients.
Berta Wilhelmi was a businesswoman and philanthropist who had settled in Granada in 1870 when she was a child after moving from Heilbronn, Germany after the family mill had burnt to the ground and they went to Spain to start again.
She had a brother who was named Luis who passed away from tuberculosis when he was only 12 years old and to cure people from it was close to her heart.
This is why she invested a huge amount of her personal fortune into building a hospital that could help prevent further death from this disease.
The Berta Hospital
Together with some doctors they built a new hospital to help with the rise of tuberculosis in the region. Tuberculosis was a dangerous illness at this time and spread fast in the overcrowded time of the early industrialization of the world and the approaching civil war that turned it into an epidemic.
Most patients didn’t pay for their stay as it was first and foremost a philanthropic project for Berta and those who did pay paid three pesetas for their board at the hospital.
The small hospital of Alfaguara Sanatorium was made to house 24 patients, and they also made a preventorium to house children in addition later. They stayed in their own pavilion named after Berta’s own son that passed away in 1925.
She was well known for this type of work, and had also founded schools and was the director for the hospital until her death in 1934. And for the believers of the paranormal, some claim that her ghost is still roaming the place and looking out for it.
The Ruins of the Hospital
The ruins of the building of Alfaguara Sanatorium are pretty hidden away and are today mostly rubbles and ruins you have to reach by foot up the mountain.
The rumors say the sanatorium closed down for unknown reasons. What we do know is that the Spanish Civil War was raging at the time and the hospital was very close to one of the fronts and trenches by the Toriles fort near the town of Cogollos.
At one point in 1939 the hospital had more than 60 armed soldiers inside the compound and the scars of the Civil War in Spain are still felt by the nation where thousands of people died for their ideologies.
In the postwar times it was completely abandoned, but has been protected as a part of the forest conservation program of the Natural Park where it is in.
The Ghosts of the Alfaguara Sanatorium
Today Alfaguara Sanatorium is known as a haunted place that draws hiking ghost hunters to see the ruins for themselves and do an investigation of the place. People that have visited claim to have seen ghostly silhouettes in the ruins and heard voices of the people that used to live there.
Who are the ghosts that are said to haunt the place? A fact is that many of the tuberculosis patients didn’t make it, and some claim that it is the spirits of the patients taken by the white plague that is haunting the place.
Considering Alfaguara Sanatorium role in the Spanish Civil War as well, some speculate that there were victims of war that ended their days inside of the hospital.
Could it be Berta herself who is haunting her old hospital she poured her passion and love into just to see it crumble just a couple of decades after she built it?
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.
