In the ruins of the Franziskaner-Klosterkirche in Berlin, there is a legend of a murderous monk haunting the place, after he ended up murdering his own son.
The old ruins of the once great Franziskaner-Klosterkirche was a Franciscan monastery since the 1200s and was before its destruction the most important medieval building in Berlin.
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Franziskaner-Klosterkirche was bombed to ruins by the allies during the last day of the second world war in 1945. It was probably one of the oldest buildings in the city. Still today it is a part of the city landscape though, just by the Alexanderplatz in the city center of Berlin.
The Runaway Knight Roderich
But the monks of Franziskaner-Klosterkirche have been gone for years and the only ones living there now are ghosts. The most famous ghost in the ruins of the monastery was once a knight named Roderich. He became a monk when he was running away from the father of his one night stand. The father was enraged as he had dishonored his daughter and was after him.
Franziskaner-Klosterkirche: The monastery was also called Graues Kloster (The Gray Monastery) and was in use even after the reformation and used as a school. This is from a postcard around 1910.
On the run, the knight turned monk broke his leg and kept walking with a limp. From then on everyone called Roderich the limping monk, and he was not a popular one.
Because of his injury and his unfortunate circumstances isolated in the monastery, Roderich grew bitter over the long years. He didn’t get along with the other monks either and paid two criminals to murder one of the other monks in the monastery. He blamed the murder on some Knights Templar who ended up being executed for it.
The Murderous Monk in Franziskaner-Klosterkirche
Another monk was sent to the Franziskaner-Klosterkirche called Bernhard. He entered because of the grief he had of his miserable love that turned out badly. He loved and wanted to marry a woman, but as the cruel fate would have it, it turned out she was his sister, and he was unable to go on outside of the monastery.
Bernhard was a skeptical person though and had his own theory of the murder of the monk Roderich had killed in Franziskaner-Klosterkirche. When Bernard met Roderich he told him that he didn’t believe that the Knights Templar was behind the murder of their fellow monk brother.
This was the nail in the coffin for Bernhard and Roderich locked him up in a dark cellar of the monastery to cover his crime when he was found out, ending up killing him so he wouldn’t spill his secret.
The Ultimate Sin
While this is going on, the two criminals Roderich hired came clean and confessed to what really happened when they murdered the monk and it was in fact Roderich that was behind it all. The anger and rage against Roderich grew and an angry mob stormed the monastery, searching for Roderich to put things right.
The angry mob found him kneeling in the cellar next to the dead body of Bernhard. After he had killed Bernhard, Roderich went through Bernhards stuff and found a letter from Bernard’s mother. This was a woman who Roderich knew intimately and it was Roderich’s former lover telling him that Roderich in fact was the father of Bernhard.
Overcome with grief and regret he confessed at once and was killed on the spot without a trial.
Since then, Roderich has been haunting the Franziskaner-Klosterkirche, even after it all turned to ruins. He can be heard wailing in the night from the outside of the monastery, unable to atone for his sins of killing his own son in cold blood to cover his own tracks.
Delve deep into the mysteries of the castle of Dinefwr and discover its haunted ghosts. The castle grounds are said to be haunted by both a loyal butler as well as a murdered lady in white that tried to escape a loveless marriage.
Tucked away in the rolling Welsh countryside, Dinefwr Castle holds a dark secret—it is haunted by ghosts that have roamed its halls for centuries.
The castle, also known as Old Dynevor Castle is now in ruins as it overlooks the River Towy close to Llandeilo in Wales.
Llandeilo Town in Wales
Dinefwr is situated in the small town of Llandeilo in Wales. This area has always had a reputation for mythical tales, with local folklore claiming that Dinefwr Castle was once inhabited by mysterious ghosts.
The stories date back hundreds of years and each generation adds more details to the spooky tales that have become part of the culture. For example, some people believe that spirits haunt the castle grounds and are said to create flickering lights or howling noises!
The History of Dinefwr Castle
Dinefwr Castle is steeped in history and mystery and dates back to the 12th century and was the chief seat of the Dinefwr dynasty of the Kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales.
Built by Rhys ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth, it gained status as an important fortress as tensions among Welsh kingdoms rose.
His reign saw a rare period of peace and stability that led to a flowering of Welsh culture, music and poetry. The Dinefwr dynasty was mostly warlord led and constantly invaded.
Sadly, it was not to last. After Rhys’s death, conflicts over succession led to turbulent years as the Welsh princes fought amongst themselves and against the English. Dinefwr eventually fell into English control in 1287 and remained there for centuries, despite Owain Glyndŵr’s attempt to wrest it back during his uprising of 1403.
Its location on a hill overlooking the Towy Valley was strategic and also held spiritual significance to local residents. Throughout its long history, rumors of spectral residents began to take root and tales of spooky sightings have been told ever since.
The Haunting Grounds in Newton House
When talking about the hauntings around this place, many people make the mistake to think that the ghosts are roaming around the ancient ruins of the castle, but this is not entirely true. The ghosts that are now famous are supposedly haunting the country house called Newton House on the castle grounds in Dinefwr Park that was built in 1660.
Among the ghosts said to be haunting the grounds are Walter the Butler who worked in the house and is now haunting the servant’s basement. People have smelled his tobacco smoke in the room as well as hearing muffled voices as the lights are flickering on and off.
Ghosts of Dinefwr Castle
But perhaps best known is the tragic story about the White Lady that supposedly haunts the grounds as well. This is also supposed to happen in the old country house.
The White Lady of Dinefwr Castle is said to be the ghost of Lady Elinor Cavendish and her horrible end. There are even reports that people have visited and have felt as if their throats are being squeezed, the same way that she died.
There are tales about the ghost of a young girl, now remembered as the White Lady of Dinefwr Castle and according to the rumours, people have seen the ghost of a woman disappearing into the cupboard.
The story goes that Lady Elinor Cavendish was forced into an unwanted marriage in the 18th century and tried to run away from the loveless marriage and her brutal husband to be. But she was not allowed to slip out of his hands and her husband followed her and when he caught up to her, he strangled her to death.
Lady Elinor Cavendish now haunts the grounds, the country house of Newton House and the ruins of DInefwr Castle, still trying to escape the life she didn’t want for herself.
At Belvelly Castle in Ireland, the ghosts haunting it, all met a tragic end. It is said that the unfortunate singer is heard singing out in the night, and the ghost of the faceless woman is said to haunt the castle after she refused a man, turned mad and died.
In the heart of the Irish countryside, near the Cork Road bridge onto Fota Island, stands a relic of another time – Belvelly Castle. Belvelly Castle’s history is woven with legend and folklore, a tapestry of stories that has endured through centuries.
It was originally built by the Anglo-Norman Hodnett family in the 1200s to connect the Great Island to the mainland of Ireland. Over the centuries the castle was in between several feuding families, wars and by the 19th century the Belvelly Castle had fallen into ruins after being abandoned.
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This 14th-century tower house that remains from the castle may appear serene under the daylight, but as night falls, an eerie aura descends upon it, invoking spine-tingling tales of restless spirits and unsettling apparitions.
The Spanish Bard and the Musical Duel
In the year 1209, off the Irish coast near Ballycotton Light, a Spanish galleon was in distress and ultimately wrecked. Among the survivors was a Spanish minstrel named Luccero Moreno. His haunting melodies and enchanting music won him a place in the big stone houses of Cobh, where troubadours were a rare sight.
Luccero’s presence reached the attention of Lady Hodnett that resided at the Belvelly Castle, who invited him to stay with her family. This marked the beginning of a rivalry between Luccero and Dion the Thrush, Ireland’s leading bard, who had been the Hodnetts’ entertainer for years.
To settle the rivalry, Lady Hodnett arranged a “duel with song” over three nights in Belvelly Castle’s great hall between the two musicians. Each contender would sing three songs of their choice, and the winner of two out of three songs over two out of three nights would be retained at the castle.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Haunted Castles around the world
Luccero won the first night, Dion the second, setting the stage for a dramatic final night. In the end though, Luccero’s performance was so moving that he was crowned the victor.
As he stood in the window, about to sing one more song, Dion, consumed by jealousy, lunged at Luccero with a dagger. In a swift and desperate move, Luccero managed to disarm Dion and fatally wound him. Before anyone could intervene, Dion died cursing Luccero.
Hodnett, infuriated by the murder of his favorite bard, imprisoned Luccero in a room beside the water gate. Eventually, a vengeful girl, who had loved Dion, poisoned Luccero’s food, leading to his agonizing death.
Luccero’s body was disposed of in the River Lee, weighted down with chains, in accordance with the customs of the time. Centuries later, fragments of a human skeleton were found in the river, believed to be Luccero’s remains.
To this day, people claim to see a ghostly figure in Belvelly Castle, a young man in black, singing strange melodies in an unknown tongue. He stands in a window overlooking the water gate, his eerie music filling listeners with unease as they gaze upon his pale, sunken eyes under the moonlight.
The Faceless Lady Margaret Hardnett
This is not the only ghost said to haunt the castle though. Lady Margaret Hodnett, who resided at Belvelly Castle in 1685 and was renowned for her beauty but also notorious for her capricious and shallow nature. She played with the affections of many suitors, including Clon Rockenby, a member of the Desmond family.
Rockenby’s infatuation with Lady Margaret endured for years, despite her tendency to reject and then recall him. In a fit of jealousy and frustration, Rockenby initiated a siege of Belvelly Castle, aiming to starve Lady Margaret and her family into submission. They blocked off the road where they would transport food, and was hoping that this would teach her.
The siege endured for three harsh winters, during which Lady Margaret’s beauty withered, and the castle’s inhabitants suffered greatly. The situation grew desperate, and Lady Margaret’s father did not intervene. Exactly why they let it continue and didn’t just give in, no one has an answer to. As the siege intensified, Lady Margaret’s reflection in a Venetian mirror began to deteriorate, mirroring her physical decline.
Upon realizing the extent of the suffering, Rockenby ordered a complete blockade of supplies. Lady Margaret was on the brink of death when the siege finally ended and they raised the white flag. She confronted Rockenby, pointing to her haggard face in the mirror and fainted.
Rockenby, horrified, destroyed the mirror, leading Lady Margaret to regain consciousness. However, a young brother of Lady Margaret, wielding a powerful bow, avenged his sister by fatally wounding Rockenby with an arrow.
As Rockenby died, he cursed Lady Margaret, wishing that she would search for mirrors but never find them. Lady Margaret survived but only partially regained her beauty. She shunned mirrors but eventually sneaked small ones into her possession. Her mind began to unravel, and she exhibited erratic behavior, including trying to dam up the River Lee and obsessively gazing into spots on the walls.
Lady Margaret died alone in Belvelly Castle, leaving behind a haunted legacy. Some witnesses claim to have seen her ghost, but her appearance remains a subject of debate. Some say she is obscured by a thick white cloth or veil, while others claim she has no face, only a sphere of pale mist where her face should be. She is said to roam the castle, rubbing the stones as if looking into invisible mirrors, leaving some stones smoother and gleaming as if glazed, reflecting blurred images of those who dare to look.
Restoration and the Haunting’s Persistence
Recent years have seen Belvelly Castle undergo a restoration process under the care of new private owners. The castle has emerged from the shadows, its ancient stone walls standing tall once more. Yet, despite the renewal, the eerie legends that have clung to it persist like the ivy on its walls.
Visitors and locals alike continue to report eerie encounters within the castle’s hallowed halls. Whispers in empty chambers, fleeting glimpses of shadowy figures, and the inexplicable sensation of being watched are all part of the ghostly tapestry woven into Belvelly’s very foundations.
The Haunted Belvelly Castle
Belvelly Castle, with its timeless beauty and tumultuous history, remains an enigmatic and haunting presence on the Irish landscape. As day turns to night, and the stars cast their pale glow upon its ancient stones, the spectral residents of this medieval tower house come to life once more. Their stories, steeped in sorrow, revenge, and lost beauty, continue to captivate the imagination of those who dare to venture into this chilling realm where legends merge with reality.
One of the more well known haunted places in the Czech Republic are the spooky ghosts sitting inside of the abandoned and decaying St. George’s Church. But for what reason did the locals make them?
For those who love exploring the supernatural and the mysterious, St. George’s Church in the Czech Republic is a must-visit destination and perhaps the most eerie and scary place in the country.
St. George’s Church, or Sv. Jiří in Czech is located in the picturesque town of Lukova, in the Czech Republic, over two hours from Prague. The small village is found in the Manětín-regionen with its deep and somewhat dark forests.
The church is over 700 years old, and it has a rich and complex history that is intertwined with the history of the town itself.
The Church of Ghosts: St. George’s Church in the small village of Lukova has been left to decay for decades after an accident. There have been not enough funds to restore it and rumours about it being haunted made people stay away from it.//Source: Zdeňka Bušková/Wikimedia
The church was originally built in the early 14th century, consecrated in 1352, and it was dedicated to St. George, the patron saint of soldiers. Over the centuries, the church underwent several renovations and restorations, and it played an important role in the religious and cultural life of the town.
The Haunted and Cursed St. George’s Church
However, tragedy struck in 1968, when the roof of the church collapsed during a funeral service. This led to the locals believing that the church was haunted or possibly cursed and started to hold mass outside of the building. The congregation was devastated, and the church was left abandoned for over 30 years.
The Praying Ghosts: The little village is today most known for being the home of many statues of ghosts as an art project. // Source: MiroRosa/Wikimedia
But it wasn’t really what was behind the haunted legends that made the church famous as it was first when they tried to raise money in a unique way that it became known as one of the most haunted places in Europe.
The 32 Ghosts in the Church
During that time, the church fell into disrepair and decay, and it became a symbol of the town’s decline. But in the early 2000s, a group of local artists decided to take matters into their own hands, and they began a restoration project that would transform the abandoned church into a hauntingly beautiful work of art.
The artist Jakub Hadrava made 32 life-sized ghost statues that are now living inside of the haunted church as part of his bachelor in art in 2012.
They are supposed to represent the Sudeten Germans, or German Bohemians, an ethnic group that lived in the area a long time ago. They were all expelled from the country after World War 2.
Raising Money for Restauration: The church installed the ghosts in part to raise money to restore their old church. Many people have visited to experience the eerie sight of the statues.// Source: MiroRosa/Wikimedia
The stunt helped to get the attention of the church, and the congregation who once didn’t have money to repair the roof, have now raised more than 600 000 koruna.
St. George’s Church is a truly unique and haunting destination, steeped in history, legend, and mystery and a place where art meet the legends and perhaps even fuels them.
The story of the ghost of Agnes Sampson, known as The Wise Wife of Keith in Scotland is a story where a simple midwife was accused of witchcraft so powerful she caused a storm trying to kill her own queen.
Agnes Sampson was a Scottish healer and a purported witch. Sampson was born in the village of Kirktoun, East Lothian in Scotland and worked as a midwife. She was believed to have healing powers long before she was accused of being a witch.
She became known as the Wise Wife of Keith and was involved in the North Berwick trials that happened during the 16th century, one of Scotland’s most notorious witchcraft trials. Agnes Sampson is also known for being one of the main accused at this trial.
There were and still are many tales about who Agnes Sampson really was. Some of them are true tales, some tall tales. She is said to have been married three times, once to William Keith with whom she had two children. She is also said to have been married to two other men and had 14 children with each man.
So how did this simple midwife become the center of a conspiracy of witches trying to sink the ships belonging to their new queen and threatening her own King? To find out we have to travel across the pond to the court in Denmark-Norway and their fear of black magic and a series of unfortunate events on the sea.
The King as the Judge: Suspected witches with Agnes Sampson kneeling before King James VI from the book Daemonologie (1597). He himself oversaw the trial and ended up sentencing many to be burnt as witches.
The Storm of Contrary Winds
By the autumn of 1590, Scotland was deep into witch hunts, and many of those sent to trial were questioned by the King himself. Today, the city of Edinburgh and the rest of the country is riddled with the memory of those who were burnt at the stake as a witch. King James VI, the son of Mary, Queen of Scots had just returned from Denmark-Norway where he had married Anne of Denmark who was only 14 at their wedding.
Witches, dragons and ghosts, Edinburgh castle are said to have it all. The sound of bagpipe and drummers can be heard without anyone playing, and those accused for witchcraft as well as prisoners of wars are said to haunt the old castle.
The Danish court at this time was extremely wary of all things black magic and witchcraft. The fear of demons and witches had tightened the European continent and it was probably a fear that the Scottish King James adapted and brought back as well after spending time there.
The King of Scotland was impatient awaiting his bride from Denmark to cross the seas after the wedding to stay by his side, but on her voyage to Scotland the fleet experienced heavy storms and ended up starting not only one, but two major witch trials that ended in several executions.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
So how did a simple midwife like Agnes Sampson get accused of something that happened all the way over in Denmark? To this we have to go through the Danish court and the witch trials that happened there before it started in Scotland.
Peder Munk of Estvadgård was a Danish navigator, politician and ambassador and in charge of carrying the fleet of 18 ships with Anne of Denmark to Scotland to bring her to her throne by her King. They set out on their voyage in 1589 from Copenhagen and were riddled with bad fortune, taking years to reach their final destination.
First they had to stop in a port in Norway to repair a leaking ship and had to stay there for a very long time, on their way to a very impatient king. When they reached The River Forth in central Scotland a ferry boat collided with one of the vessels in a storm and all of the passengers drowned. This was all attributed to witchcraft.
Back in Denmark, the navigator Peder Munk blamed it all on witchcraft, especially on a certain woman whom he had insulted and believed to be the main witch behind the storms. This became the beginning of the Copenhagen witch trials, which ended in executing 17 people by burning.
This inspired the King to hold his own trials, and it would be known as the North Berwick Witch Trials, and Agnes SAmpson was one of the main accused.
Accused of Witchcraft
More than a hundred suspects were arrested in North Berwick, several of them confessed during torture and named other people. Agnes Sampson was accused by Gillis Duncan, another one of the accused.
Duncan was really the one that linked the other accused of causing the storms that ended up sinking the Queens ships. She worked as a servant and confessed after torture that she was a witch and there were several more. The reason she was accused herself was that she was far too skilled of a healer in her master David Seton’s mind who also thought that Duncan had been sneaking out at night.
Agnes Sampson ended up being one of the more significant accused persons, as an elderly and respected woman that had healed more than one in the local area. Many attributed their good health to her good work. Now, they all turned on her because of the rumors and her unfortunate circumstances. The fact that she was a widow with children and acted as an independent woman and educated midwife was a part of the indictment against her. She had also been accused of witchcraft and investigated before.
Witches Sabbath: According to the accusers, Agnes Keith and the rest of her witch coven had met up and created a storm to keep a ship from Denmark arriving to Scotland, carrying Anne of Denmark.
The Wise Wife of Keith was imprisoned and put to torture for a long time before saying anything. She started off refusing to confess at first, but after a long time in the dark and in pain, she as the rest of the accused gave up.
In the end she was brought before King James VI himself and a council of nobles at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Sampson denied all the charges, but they kept torturing her until she said otherwise. Her head and body hair were shaved and she was pinned to the wall of her cell with a witches bridle. This was a torture instrument with four sharp prongs pressed into the mouth, meant to humiliate as well as hurt the ones wearing them.
She was forced to stay awake with no sleep in her cell with a rope around her head, always reminded just how close to death she really was. And in the end, how freeing that prospect must have seen compared to the torture she went through.
Finally, after all that torture, Agnes Sampson confessed to whatever they asked of her in front of her own king who oversaw the trial. In all she confessed to 53 indictments against her, including attending a Sabbat she led and that she was indeed a witch with supernatural power she used to harm others with.
According to her testimony, she ended up saying she made a charm that caused a storm that ended up drowning Jane Kennedy. She sank a dead cat with parts of a dead man into the sea near Leith. The same charm she used to threaten the King and his wife on her voyage.
In League with the Devil: Depiction of the Devil giving magic puppets to witches, from Agnes Sampson trial and North Berwick Witch Trials where she and many others ended up being burnt as witches in 1591.
It was her last testimony that was her downfall in the King’s eyes. In it, she disclosed things he and his wife had on their wedding night in Oslo. A conversation she had no way of knowing:
“Item, the said Agnes Sampson confessed before the Kings Majesty sundry things which were so miraculous and strange, as that his Majesty said they were all extreme liars, whereat she answered, she would not wish his Majesty to suppose her words to be false, but rather to believe them, in that she would discover such matter unto him as his majesty should not any way doubt of. And thereupon taking his Majesty a little aside, she declared unto him the very words which passed between the Kings Majesty and his Queen at Oslo in Norway the first night of their marriage, with their answer each to other: whereat the Kings Majesty wondered greatly, and swore by the living God, that he believed that all the Devils in hell could not have discovered the same: acknowledging her words to be most true, and therefore gave the more credit to the rest which is before declared.”
— News from Scotland
Execution and Haunting
King James was allegedly not completely convinced of Agnes Sampson guilt until her last confession. After it however he changed his mind and sent her to be burned. On 28th of January 1591 she was taken to the scaffold on Castlehill where she was garroted before being burnt at the stake.
Although the exact numbers of the executions are hard to be certain of, it is estimated that around 1500 people were killed as witches by the state of Scotland during this time.
Agnes Sampson’s naked ghost is said to roam the castle grounds, bald headed roaming around the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Step into an ancient castle filled with darkness and stories that will send shivers up your spine of murder and ghosts. Inside the old Château de Châteaubriant there are tales of ghost processions on October 16.
Step into the eerie and mysterious Château de Châteaubriant, a magnificent 15th century castle and one of France’s most haunted sites. Enter its dark and imposing halls originally constructed as a defense against Anjou and the Kingdom of France, laden with dark secrets, to experience an unforgettable journey through time. Learn about its chilling legends, hidden secrets, and unsettling specters that linger in the shadows.
History of the Château de Châteaubriant
The Château de Châteaubriant was first constructed in the 11th century, but was heavily modified during the Renaissance which the architecture bears marks of.
It was taken over by the French during the Mad War after a siege. Over the centuries, it changed hands many times – from its aristocratic owners, to prisoners of war during the revolution, and back again.
Château de Châteaubriant: drawn by artist Victor Petit in 1871. Already at this point the history of Château de Châteaubriant was old and steeped in legend . It is also said that ghost are walking the halls of the castle every year on October 16th.
Sybille the Shocked Ghost
One of the most famous legends behind the Château de Châteaubriant’s rumored hauntings is that of Sybille, wife of Geoffroy IV.
Geoffroy IV of Châteaubriant went on crusade to the holy land in the 1250s with King Saint Louis where he was jailed in Egypt after the battle of Mansourah and the entire French army was destroyed by the plague. His death was announced to the Châteaubriant and his wife.
Sybille, often named Sibylle de la Guerche de Candé started to mourn the death of her dead husband. He wasn’t dead however, and was released from prison and returned to his home and wife a couple of months later. When Sybille saw him again, she fell into his arms and died of the shock.
She is said to haunt the Château de Châteaubriant at times, but the real haunting is said to be done by the infamous Françoise de Foix, the main mistress of the King of France that did not bear the same loyalty to her husband as Sybille.
The Ghost of Françoise de Foix
In addition to Sybille and other ghosts that are said to haunt Châteaubriant, many also believe in the spirit of Françoise de Foix. She was a tall and dark haired woman that spoke both Latin and Italian as well as writing her own poetry. All of her attributes made her a well sought after woman, and even the King wanted her.
She was engaged to Jean de Laval, count of Châteaubriant in 1505 with support of the king and queen Anne de Bretagne and Louis XII. They formally married in 1509 and lived at Château de Châteaubriant.There was a shift in the royals and the new king, Francis I, summoned Jean de Laval to court for his help in 1516.
Françoise de Foix followed him and became the lady in waiting for Queen Claude de France as well as becoming the chief mistress to King Francis I. At official events she was placed near to the royal princesses, signifying that she was La mye du roi, or the Sweetheart of the King to the rest of the court.
Jean de Laval was sent to fight in the Italian Wars and became Governor of Brittany in 1531. He was aware of the affair but seemed unaffected by it all when his wife remained the King’s mistress for over a decade.
Françoise de Foix was rejected from court in 1525 when the young and blonde Anne de Pisseleu d’Heilly caught the King’s attention and affection. Because of this, she returned to Châteaubriant to live with her husband.
Killed by her husband Jean de Laval
She died on 16th of October in 1537, most likely of sickness are we to believe some. There is however a different theory. It is said that her husband killed her.
Read also: This is not the only story of a ghost haunting a French castle after a woman was killed by her husband: The Prisoner of Château de Puymartin
Jean de Laval, also known as John III of Laval-Châteaubriant was according to legend, an incredibly bloodthirsty baron who killed anyone who opposed him and ruthlessly tortured his enemies.
It is said that he shut his wife in a dark and padded cell and had her killed because of her relationship with the king or something else entirely. Some even think that he locked her up and poisoned her or bled her to death slowly.
The Assassination of Françoise de Foix: The legend of her death are widespread and depicted in art. Here from a book from 1816 by Augustine Gottis.
Ghost Procession at Midnight
Some say they can still hear her weeping within the walls of Châteaubriant and others have even seen her standing near windows or atop towers in traditional 16th-century dress, but perhaps she is best known to appear in the ghost procession on her death anniversary.
Ever since then, there have been a ghost procession in the Château de Châteaubriant in honor of her death on October 16 of monks and knights slowly ascending the main stairs before vanishing. Her ghost is said to come back for this night as the procession begins at the stroke of midnight.
An old gentleman’s club became the center of satanic gossip and tales of animal and human sacrifices. The old lodge on Montpelier Hill is now mostly known for being the meeting place for the infamous Hellfire Club.
For centuries, the Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill in Dublin has remained one of Ireland’s most haunted destinations, shrouded in mystery and surrounded by legends. This infamous hunting lodge, perched atop the Dublin Mountains, has been the site of countless tales of ghostly apparitions, satanic rituals, and otherworldly encounters.
Despite its dark past, the Hellfire Club continues to draw in visitors from all over the world, curious to explore its eerie corridors and uncover the secrets hidden within its walls. From the notorious tales of the devil himself appearing in the guise of a nobleman to the chilling accounts of ghostly voices and unexplained noises, the Hellfire Club is a place that has fascinated and terrified people for generations.
The Ancient Cairn of Standing Stones
The Hellfire Club is a ruined hunting lodge located on the summit of Montpelier Hill in the Dublin Mountains. Built in 1725, it was originally used as a hunting lodge by William Conolly, a wealthy politician and landowner. However, its association with the Irish Hellfire Club, a notorious secret society of wealthy and influential men, has given it a dark and sinister reputation.
It used to be an ancient grave with a cairn of stones on the top of the Montpelier Hill. When Conolly built his hunting lodge there it is said he destroyed the cairn and used one of the standing stones as the lintel for his fireplace.
Later the roof of the lodge was blown off during a storm and the locals were sure it was because of the destruction of the cairn. They believed that it had angered the spirits and they were seeking revenge. This was only the start of the many legends and tales that were told about the place.
Introducing Hellfire Club
After Conolly died the lodge was sold and said to be the meeting place for the much talked about Irish Hellfire Club. One of these clubs was founded in 1735 by Richard Parson who was known for dabbling in black magic.
The Hellfire Club Members: The Hellfire Club were originally a gentlemens club of the rich and powerful, and many thought they also dabbled in dark magic. Here are the Dublin club in 1735 ca. with Henry Barry, Col. Henry Clements, Col. Henry Ponsonby, Col. Richard St. George and Simon Luttrel.
The Hellfire Club is said to have been the site of many debauched and sacrilegious activities, including black masses, orgies, and even human sacrifice. It is also rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of those who died during these rituals, as well as the spirits of those who suffered at the hands of the Hellfire Club’s members.
The History of Hellfire Club
The history of the Hellfire Club is a murky one, shrouded in myth and legend. According to some accounts, the club was founded in the early 18th century by a group of wealthy and influential men who were interested in the occult and other taboo subjects. They are said to have held secret meetings and conducted bizarre rituals at the Hellfire Club, which was then known as the Montpelier Lodge.
There were several clubs like these across England and Ireland, and many well known names throughout time have been connected to it. Whether it was merely a club for drinking and gambling or a satanic cult with hellish rituals is uncertain, but it certainly was an exclusive men’s club for the rich and privileged with too much time on their hands.
One true story is when one of the members, Baron Barry of Santry, set one of his servants on fire by pouring brandy on him and lighting him on fire. He was used to pay people for their silence, but this case was taken to trial and convicted of this and stabbing another servant to death. He was protected by his powerful friends though and spent the rest of his life in England. The secret club ended up in the public eye though, and none of the stories were good ones.
Legends and myths surrounding Montpelier Hill
The Hellfire Club is steeped in legend and myth, with many tales of supernatural occurrences and otherworldly encounters. One of the most famous legends concerns the appearance of the devil himself at the club.
Montpelier Hill: Here from the hunting lodge at Montpelier Hill in Dublin, were the Hellfire Club had meetings and many of the stories of dark rituals and the likes comes from. //Source: Joe King/Wikimedia
According to this story, the devil appeared at the club in the guise of a nobleman and was invited to play cards with the members. During the game, one of the players dropped a card on the floor and, when he went to retrieve it, saw that the devil had cloven hooves instead of feet. This tale has become one of the most enduring legends associated with the Hellfire Club.
This legend follows the same plot as the haunted ghost story from Loftus Hall, another of Ireland’s most haunted places.
The Farmer Witnessing the Dark Rituals
Many of the legends are about what happens when the locals and the lower class witnesses what they are up to in the lodge. It never ends in anything but misery for those who seeks them out.
One time, a young farmer was said to be curious about what went on in the club and decided to climb up Montepelier Hill to uncover their secrets. He was invited in by the members and the next day he was found terrified and trembling.
For the rest of his life the unfortunate farmer was unable to speak, wouldn’t tell what he saw at the Hellfire Club and couldn’t even remember his own name.
The Black Cat Sacrifice
Another story goes that a young man was found dead after he tried to uncover what went on in the club. His local priest and the young man’s host believed he was murdered and decided to investigate the matter.
When they arrived at the lodge, they saw a huge banquet and a huge cat in the room with its ears shaped like horns. The priest carried a bottle of holy water and tried to perform an exorcism on the creature.
Why the cat was there is not certain. In some versions, it was some sort of beast, in other versions, the cat was going to become a sacrifice in one of The Hellfire Clubs satanic rituals.
He managed to kill the beast with holy water, but outside was the host laying dead on the ground, his face and neck scratched by claws.
This particular legend is also connected to the Dower House that is further down the hill. The Hellfire Club is said to have started to hold meetings there after a fire damaged the original hunting lodge.
The Fire and Decline of the Hellfire Club
During a certain period, the building in question suffered damage from a fire, and there are various stories associated with this event. One account suggests that the club deliberately set fire to the building when William Conolly’s son declined to renew the lodge’s lease. Another tale proposes that the club members ignited the fire to create a sinister and eerie appearance for the building.
Additionally, there are some that claim that the house was damaged when the servant was set fire to. This allegedly happened during a black mass where a footman accidentally spilled a drink on “Burn-Chapel” Whaley’s coat. In retaliation, Whaley doused the man with brandy, causing him to catch fire. The fire subsequently spread throughout the building, resulting in the deaths of several members. Following the fire, the club moved to a new location, the Killakee Dower House further down the hill. Nevertheless, the club’s activities dwindled after this incident.
The Endurance of The Legends of the Hellfire Club
The Hellfire Club remains one of Ireland’s most haunted destinations, steeped in mystery and surrounded by legends. Despite its dark past, it continues to draw in visitors from all over the world, curious to explore its eerie ruins and uncover the secrets hidden within its walls.
Sagrada Familia Church is perhaps the most well known landmark in Barcelona, Spain. It was designed by the renowned architect Gaudi and strange things started to happen after his death. It is still unfinished and people have talked about the peculiar church and the strange things that seems to go on there ever since.
Spain is known for its rich history of architecture and fascinating landmarks. Among these landmarks is a haunted church that catches the attention of many tourists. The church is known for its dark history and the fact that it is haunted by a ghost that has been lingering there for many years. The eerie stories about this church have fascinated many people around the world, making it a popular spot for thrill-seekers and paranormal enthusiasts.
Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain
The strange church with gothic and art nouveau curves, eccentric spires and attracts huge numbers of tourists every year. The design of the church is a controversial one and keeps inviting strange legends and mysteries.
The Unfinished Sagrada Familia Church
The Sagrada Familia is perhaps the most iconic sight in Barcelona, Spain, but did you know it is still not completed? The full name is The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família and is a church designed by Antoni Gaudi, a famous Barcelona architect, at least, he took over from another architect and put his mark on it. Now it is time for future architects to do the same. The Sagrada Familia is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world as Gaudi never got the chance to see the church as he had envisioned it. When it’s completed it will be the world’s tallest church. That is if it ever gets completed.
Gaudi died in 1926 after being run over by a tram at the intersection of Barcelona’s Carrer de Bailén and the Gran Via. Taxi drivers refused to take a man they mistook for a beggar to the city hospital. He was badly hurt after the collision and brought to a hospital for poor people in El Raval as the locals mistook him for a beggar. There he passed away three days later and the project was less than a quarter completed.
Sagrada Familia: Today the unfinished church is a popular tourist attraction for those visiting Barcelona that wants to see the remarkable work left behind by Gaudi and those who picked up the work after him. But perhaps not everyone knows about the strange lights above the church, or the things that happened in the crypt were the architect were buried.
For his funeral, he was buried in the crypt of Sagrada Familia and thousands of people stood in line in the streets for his funeral. and they tried to progress with his plans, but the universe was set in halting the massive project. And as Gaudi himself said: My client is in no hurry, as he thought God would be patient.
Only a decade after his death strange things started to happen.
The Scars of the Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War started and the project was once again stopped. In 1936 a group of anarchists from the FAI attacked the building and set fire to the former workshop of Gaudi where he had kept his materials.
After setting fire to his workroom they headed for the crypts where he was buried. Together in the crypt, Gaudi’s patron, Josep Maria Bocabella was also laid to rest. His tomb was desecrated by the anarchists, but Gaudi’s tomb was left untouched.
After the civil war the project, Gaudi and his art startet to be forgotten, looked down on and it wasn’t until the 1950s that they really started to pick up the pace and see the value of this very controversial church.
The Blue Lights Above the Church
After this desecration of the crypt there were several reports about strange blue lights on the Sagrada Familia towers and the rest of the building in the night.
The police were even called, but couldn’t find a reason or cause of the mysterious blue lights. What was it? A reminder from the crypt about the project that needed to be completed?
The Blue Lights Above the Church: Churches have always been a place where strange things are said to have happened. Some of the things that are said to happen is strange blue lights lingering over the church after Gaudi’s crypt were disturbed.
This caused people to speculate that it could be the spirit of Mr. Bocabella whose tomb had been disturbed. Or it could even be Gaudi himself haunting the place because of the attack on his masterpiece as an architect?
The Ghost of Gaudi
This church is not the only place the rumors of Gaudi’s ghosts are being passed around. It is also said he is haunting the Hospital de la Santa Creu where he passed away.
Antoni Gaudí i Cornet: Gaudi (25 June 1852 – 10 June 1926) was a Catalan Spanish architect and designer from Catalonia, known as the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernism that adorns his hometown Barcelona especially.
Through the rest of the century, people have constantly tried to finish the work, and lately the construction has sped up. By 2010, they were midway through their plans although some of the greatest building challenges remained.
They were hoping that by 2026 they would present the complete church as the architect had envisioned it, but after the production halt during Covid, they must once again postpone the completion.
In a cute medieval town in Germany, there is a dark and haunted cemetery. The cemetery in Bernkastel-Kues is said to be haunted by a woman in white. And this particular woman in white is also said to be deadly dangerous.
The city of Bernkastel-Kues is a quaint little town in the Moselle valley known for its sweet Riesling wine, a state recognized health resort and a medieval marketplace. But just outside the city, where the graves and the dead reside, a Woman in White is said to haunt the place.
There are more stories about haunted cemeteries to dive into in the Moonmausoleum. Read them here: Haunted Cemeteries
The Lady In White
At Bernkastel-Kues Cemetery there are several stories floating around. The biggest one is of the White Lady og Bernkastel-Kues, a Lady in White that is often told about in German ghost stories.
The woman in white of this cemetery is said to be wearing a long flowy white dress as she is floating from one grave to another. Many reports tell about her crying.
The Haunted Hunter
One story involving the Lady in White was when a hunter encountered her, possibly at Bernkastel-Kues Cemetery. He was terrified of seeing her and fell ill. The very next day he was taken to Koblenz, which was a military hospital.
When he was put into the hospital he had swollen legs and a high fever, but he didn’t make any sense to the people around him. He kept on rambling about a woman in white that had attacked him. He died after his injuries, and no one ever found out what really happened there.
Stirling Castle keeps the dramatic events of Scotland’s history as it stands firmly on the castle hill. Just beware of seeing ghosts in all colors, whether it is the Lady in Green, the Pink Ghost Lady or The Woman in Black.
Stirling Castle sits atop a dramatic hill in the heart of Scotland and has been a witness to centuries of battles and royal drama as it stands on an important crossroad through Scotland and has been attacked no less than 16 times.
The castle has also seen many kings and queens come and go and has been a place of crowning them, including Mary, Queen of Scots who held her coronation there in 1542.
Black, green, pink and white, the ghosts of Stirling Castle come in them all, each of them bearing a different story and meaning if you spot them in the old castle. Beyond tales of human history, the castle is shrouded in ghostly legends of mysterious figures that have been seen during dark nights.
The History Of Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle is an ancient royal fortress located in the city of Stirling, Central Scotland. Built within a dramatic volcanic plug commanding the route north into the Scottish Highlands, the castle was once an impenetrable stronghold of power and influence for Scotland’s monarchs.
Stirling Castle is a unique and grand castle, boasting an impressive history dating back to the 12th century. Castle Hill as it is built on has had some type of fort built on it since Roman times, perhaps settled even earlier, as far back as the 600s.
Stirling Castle: Is the old castle in Scotland really haunted? According to the rumours, it is more than one ghost said to wander the haunted castle even today.
The architecture of the castle reflects its changing history; striking evidence of its evolution can be seen in the stone walls and turrets that surround it. Visitors to the castle can explore four levels of magnificent stonework designed by Robert Adam, from a Great Hall and Chapel Royal to guard towers and residential quarters.
Is Stirling Castle Really Haunted?
Many believe that the strange apparitions and ominous sounds are signs that Stirling Castle is truly haunted and not only by one ghost, but by many. Over the years, numerous visitors have encountered mysterious sightings or felt a presence of some kind while visiting this ancient monument.
Read More: Check out more Haunted Castles from all over the world.
Whether or not these accounts can be trusted is up for debate, but there’s no denying the castle’s long and formidable history makes it a perfect place for paranormal activity.
The Green Lady at her Queen’s Service
Legends of Stirling Castle tell tales of many spooky specters haunting its walls. One of them is referred to as the Green Lady with many stories trying to name her. She is thought to be the daughter of a Commander of the fortress that threw herself from the Elphinstone Tower because her father separated her from her lover, a common soldier and shot him dead.
The most retold legend though is that the Lady in Green could be one of the servants to Mary Queen of Scots who worked there when Mary returned to Scotland in 1562 after spending two decades in France after her husband Francis died.
A Highlander girl was sent to serve her, and many claim she was gifted with the Second Sight and could foretell the future. The servant girl had seen something in her dreams and stayed with the Queen and had a bad feeling that something wasn’t right.
When the Queen was sleeping in her chambers her bed curtains went up in flames because of a candle on her bedside. This part is an actual event that happened. According to the legend though, the servant went straight for the flames and lost her life when saving the Queen.
Still Fortelling Tragic Events
There have been countless sightings of her over the years, both by visitors and staff that have stayed in the Castle. When she has appeared, she has frightened the people stiff, as not only is seeing a ghost a scary thing, but her sightings are also said to be a bad omen.
The Lady in Green: Although there are many variants to the legend, the most told one is that the ghost is that of a former servant that died in the flames while protecting her queen. It is thought that seeing her is a bad omen.
One evening the chef was preparing dinner at the garrison in the Officer’s Mess when he felt like someone was watching him. He turned around and saw a see through green shape in front of him and he fainted from fear.
Usually seeing the Green Lady is a bad omen and often she has been seen right before things like a fire or deaths on the castle has occurred, just like how she perished.
The Pink Lady in the Kirkyard
The ghost of the pink lady can be seen outside of the castle as she is walking to the church next door in her flowing pink dress. The Church of the Holy Rude at Ladie’s Rock was a place court ladies went to watch the knights in jousting tournaments.
People have speculated that the Pink Lady is actually the ghost og the only survivor after the castle became under siege in 1304 by Edward I. She escaped the siege and returned to the castle after only to find her husband who starved to death.
The Lady in Pink: Who could this mysterious woman in pink be, and why is she still haunting the castle?
It has also been speculated that it could be Mary Queen of Scots herself that is said to haunt the castle.
A third option of who this pink lady can be is the Widow Witherspoon. She was an old townswoman who died in 1823 and her corpse was robbed from her grave by the Resurrection Men to be sold to surgeons for further studies.
The Steps on the Battlements
In the 1820s there used to be castle sentries that made their rounds on the battlements around the Governor’s Block. When they were walking they reported about hearing mystic sounds and seeing unexplainable things.
One night a sentry was making his way to start his shift when he saw the guard he was replacing dead on his post. His mouth was wide open and his eyes had the look of pure fear and shock. Some say that he ended up meeting the gaze of the woman in green, something legend tells can be deadly.
Ever since then, even after the guards stopped patrolling on the battlements you could still hear footsteps from it as if the sentry was still making his rounds.
The Lady in Black on the Back Walk
The Lady in Black is a mysterious figure that is seen roaming on the Back Walk that circles the Holy Rude graveyard. She is thought to perhaps be the ghost of a nun that is looking to reunite with her secret lover, a priest as the legend goes.
Because of her mortal sin, her ghost is thought to be dangerous and said to bring death if you meet her gaze.
The Ghost in the Kilt
Can you see the man in kilt?
There have also been spotted a male ghost wearing a traditional Highland kilt. Many have mistaken him for a tour guide working at Stirling Castle and are shocked when he just turns and passes through the wall.
The ghost of the man in the kilt is often seen walking around the corner and disappearing through the wall near a dungeon of Stirling Castle. Back in the day, there used to be a door there, but today it is bricked up and just a solid wall.
The ghost has been talked about in the more modern times as it was allegedly caught in a photograph. In 1935 the Highland ghost is said to have been pictured by an architect, when he was planning for some upcoming building work of the castle.
It must be said that many of the people that owned the picture of the supposed ghost that they claimed could be seen in the picture and passed it around as a ghost picture, was known to be fond of practical jokes.
Still, the mystery and intrigue of the picture has kept the story of the lonely man in kilt alive at Stirling Castle.
Watch out for the Harbinger of Misfortune
As centuries passed and the castle stood as a symbol of Scotland’s resilience, the ghosts came to understand the importance of their presence. The Lady in Green, the Pink Ghost Lady, The Woman in Black, and the other spectral figures were not simply omens of tragedy, but reminders of the castle’s enduring spirit.
Through their ethereal presence, the ghosts sought to protect the castle from any harm that may befall it. They would appear before devastating fires, revealing themselves as a warning and allowing enough time for the flames to be extinguished. The tragic stories of their origins served as cautionary tales, ensuring that history would not be repeated.
Over time, the castle staff and visitors learned to respect and honor the ghosts, recognizing their role as custodians of Stirling Castle. Instead of fear and superstition, they felt a sense of gratitude for the protection and connection to the past that the apparitions provided.
So, if you happen to visit Stirling Castle and catch a glimpse of a ghostly figure in black, green, or pink, remember to show respect and gratitude. For they are not harbingers of misfortune, but eternally loyal guardians of Scotland’s past, ensuring that the legacy of Stirling Castle lives on for generations to come.
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.
