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The Many Ghosts of The Langham Hotel in London

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In this luxury hotel in London, there have been talks about ghosts for many decades now. From a murderous doctor, a German Prince and even Napoleon III himself, there are many guests at the hotel who never checked out from The Langham Hotel in London. 

For over 150 years, The Langham Hotel in London has been a beacon of luxury and elegance, hosting some of the world’s most famous guests. However, behind the glamorous façade lies a darker side to the hotel’s past, one that is shrouded in mystery and intrigue. 

From unexplained sightings to eerie noises and unexplained occurrences, The Langham’s reputation as a paranormal hotspot has grown over the years, attracting thrill-seekers and ghost hunters from all corners of the world. Join us as we delve into The Langham’s mysterious past and uncover the secrets that lie within its walls. 

The History of The Langham Hotel

The Langham Hotel is an iconic hotel located in the heart of London. Built in 1865, it was the largest and most luxurious hotel in the city at the time with its Florentine palace style with over 500 rooms. 

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Haunted Hotels

The Langham Hotel was the first hotel to have hydraulic lifts, air conditioning, and hot and cold running water in every room. It was also the first hotel to offer a full-service restaurant, which quickly became one of the most popular dining spots in London.

The Langham Hotel: The old hotel in London houses some very famous ghosts, and especially the room 333 is said to be the most haunted and both guests and staff tries to avoid to stay in the room.//Source: Wikimedia

It used to be owned by the BBC after it was damaged after WW2 and many of the ghostly sightings were done by some of the broadcaster and company staff. 

Over the years, The Langham Hotel has hosted some of the world’s most famous guests, including royalty, celebrities, and politicians. However, behind the hotel’s grandeur lies a darker side to its history. The Langham Hotel has been the site of numerous paranormal incidents over the years, with many guests and staff members reporting unexplained sightings, eerie noises, and unexplained occurrences.

When the Cricket Team Fled the Hotel

It was so bad that in 2014 there were reports that the British National Cricket Team refused to stay in the rooms with their partners they were given at the hotel, because it was supposedly so haunted. As they told the Daily Mail:

“It was so hot in the room I just couldn’t sleep. All of a sudden the taps in the bathroom came on for no reason. I turned the lights on and the taps turned themselves off. Then when I turned the lights off again the taps came on. It was very weird.

It really freaked me out. I ended up asking to move rooms. Bealey (Broad’s girlfriend) was pretty spooked, too, and I know Moeen Ali’s other half won’t stay there because she’s so frightened of the ghosts.

Ben Stokes has had some problems sleeping as well. He’s on the third floor, which is where a lot of the issues are. I’m telling you, something weird is going on.” 

The Haunted Room – Room 333

Room 333 is one of the most famous rooms at The Langham Hotel, with many guests and staff members reporting unexplained occurrences in the room and is a place said people try to avoid. The room is said to be haunted by a Victorian doctor who murdered his wife before killing himself in the room.

Guests staying in Room 333 have reported hearing unexplained noises, feeling a cold breeze, and seeing ghostly figures throughout the night. Some guests have even reported waking up to find their belongings moved or the room rearranged.

The Langham Hotel has embraced the room’s haunted reputation and now offers ghost tours and paranormal investigations for guests who want to experience the room’s paranormal activities for themselves.

The Famous Paranormal Incidents at The Langham Hotel

One of the most famous paranormal incidents at The Langham Hotel occurred in 1973 when a BBC radio producer, James Alexander Gordon, was staying in Room 333. He reported seeing a ghostly figure of a man standing at the foot of his bed. The figure was wearing Victorian evening dress and had no face. According to Gordon, the figure disappeared as soon as he turned on the light.

Another famous incident occurred in 2014 when a guest staying in Room 333 reported seeing a ghostly figure standing at the foot of her bed. She described the figure as a man wearing a top hat and Victorian clothing. The guest also reported feeling a cold breeze and hearing unexplained noises throughout the night.

These are just two of the many paranormal incidents that have occurred at The Langham Hotel over the years, with guests and staff members reporting unexplained sightings and eerie noises throughout the hotel.

The Ghostly Sightings of Famous Guests

The Langham Hotel has hosted some of the world’s most famous guests over the years, including Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, and Princess Diana stayed there several times.

Napoleon III: Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte; 1808 – 1873 is said to haunt Room 312.

Dickens claimed in 1879 in his guide book that it was the most expensive hotel meal in London that charged 14/6d (or 72½p) for a bedroom, breakfast with coffee and cold meat, and dinner with soup and meat. But for large dinner parties, there was nowhere else to go.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was also one of the frequent hotel guest, and Doyle used the hotel as the setting for several Sherlock Holmes stories.

However, some of these guests have reportedly never left the hotel and are said to haunt its halls to this day.

One of the most famous ghostly sightings at The Langham Hotel is that of Emperor Napoleon III, who is said to haunt Room 312. According to legend, Napoleon III stayed at The Langham Hotel in 1870 while in exile. 

He died in 1873, but his spirit is said to have never left the hotel. Guests staying in Room 312 have reported seeing his ghostly figure standing at the foot of their bed as well as loitering down in the basement area.

The German Prince by the Window

Another high ranking ghost said to haunt the hotel is said to be of a German prince who jumped from a window on the 4th floor. 

This ghost is said to have been seen by the BBC announcer, Ray Moor. He described the ghost as a big guy with short hair and a military jacket that was buttoned up to the neck. 

This ghost is said to also be the most active ghost at Langham Hotel and is seen walking in the early morning through the doors. It is also said that he enjoys hanging out in Room 333.

The Other Ghosts Haunting

But there are not only high ranking military or royals or murderous doctors said to haunt the hotel. There are also seen a butler wandering around in the corridors wearing holey socks as well as a man with a gaping wound on his face. 

There is also said a footman in blue with a powdered wig is roaming in the halls that creates a sudden drop in temperature. 

A Stay at the Most Haunted Hotel

The Langham Hotel has been the site of numerous paranormal investigations over the years, with ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts flocking to the hotel to experience its haunted reputation for themselves.

The hotel has even been featured on numerous TV shows, including Most Haunted and Ghost Adventures, which have documented the hotel’s paranormal activities.

The Langham Hotel’s mysterious past and paranormal reputation add to its allure and make it one of London’s most fascinating and intriguing hotels. 

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References:

England cricketers seek change from their ‘haunted’ London hotel – The Hindu 

Room 333: The Most Haunted Hotel Room in London | HuffPost Life 

Our History | Luxury Hotel in West End | The Langham, London 

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The Haunted Dungeon at Rosenkrantz Tower

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The Rosenkrantz Tower in Bergen Norway is one of the oldest buildings still standing and was once the house for kings. Today it is used as a museum and perhaps they also have some of the oldest ghosts still lingering in the dungeon. 

On the old dock in Bergen city you mostly find old buildings dating all the way back to the middle ages when Bergen was the capital in Norway throughout the city’s time as a Hanseatic trading city. Today the fortress the Rosenkrantz Tower is a part of a museum and is considered one of the most important renaissance monuments in Norway. 

One of the old buildings is Rosenkrantz Tower, which still is one of the taller buildings in the city and was once known as “The Castle by the Sea” as it used to be a residence for kings when Bergen was the capital in Norway. 

The Kings Tower

Rosenkrantz Tower was originally built for the king Magnus Lawmender in 1270 and a lot of the original building can still be seen today. King Magnus Lawmender got his nickname after working extensively on the laws in his country, and much of today’s Norwegian constitution comes from his work. 

After the capital in Norway was moved to Oslo and Norway became a part of the Danish kingdom, the keep the tower is part of lost its importance as a royal seat, but was still used as a military keep.

Although the cannons in Rosenkrantz Tower have only been fired one day during war in 1665, the tower has seen its fair share of war. In 1944 during world war two the Rosenkrantz Tower was heavily damaged when a cargo ship with explosives exploded right outside. The upper floors collapsed, but the foundations of the tower still remained, like the dungeon in the tower. And deep down in the darkness of the dungeon in the tower, some former prisoners are said to still linger. 

The Haunted Dungeon

The dungeon in Rosenkrantz Tower was added on to the tower around 1500 and the final tower as we see it today was finalized in the 1560s by Erik Rosenkrantz who was a governor of Bergen Castle during a time when Norway was under Danish reign. He was at the time one of the wealthiest men in Denmark-Norway and work on the tower was done by Scottish builders, explaining the Scottish look from the time. 

The

The dungeon served as a prison where they kept the prisoners who were considered to be very violent and often some of the poorest. These are the prisoners that are rumored to be still haunting the dungeon. 

An architect named Peter Blix reported in 1884 that old people living at the time still remembered the last prisoner in the cell in Rosenkrantz Tower. So perhaps the dungeon was used in the early 19th century? 

You can walk inside of the tower and follow the hollowed and wobbly stairs down to the basement where you can barely stand up straight. The cells are small and the only light is from the cracks in the walls. Still to this day you can see claw marks from the prisoners that were confined into the dark small cells when it was used from the 16th to the 19th century. 

The irony of it all is that so many of the prisoners were convicted by the laws that the original builder, King Magnus Lawmender, made during his reign just a couple of floors above the dungeon they are forever kept. 

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References

Featured photo: Wikimedia/Rüdiger Stehn

The Most Haunted Places in Bergen 

Rosenkrantztårnet – Lensherrenes slott i Bergen sentrum – Bymuseet

The Bergen Map | Rosenkrantztårnet

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The Cursed Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona

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Built on supposedly cursed ground, this theater in Barcelona has faced many tragedies. After several fires trying to close the doors of Gran Teatre del Liceu, people have come to believe that the building is haunted possibly by a curse they have no idea how to break. 

Spain is known for its ancient theaters and the stories of ghosts that haunt them. Many people have reported sightings of strange figures and other paranormal activities in these theaters that just don’t want to let the past go.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

The haunted theaters in Spain are an interesting subject to explore. They offer a glimpse into the history of the country as well as a chance to explore the supernatural world. From tales of ghostly apparitions to mysterious sounds and unexplainable events, these theaters have something for everyone who is interested in exploring the unknown.

Oftentimes, the cursed places call for attention to the places history, and the street where this cursed theater is located, has a long one. 

The Bustling La Rambla in Barcelona

All the way since the middle ages La Rambla has been a center of Barcelona’s urban life with markets, festivals and sports as well as more serious and sinister things. 

The Haunted Gran Teatre del Liceu: The theater in Barcelona is thought to be built on cursed ground and have gone through many difficulties and mysterious incidents.

According to legend, this old theater in Barcelona was built upon cursed ground in 1847. During the middle ages, it is said that the place was used for executions and was therefore haunted and cursed. 

What we do know is that the gallows in La Rambla, las forca de la Rambla were placed by the entrance to La Boqueria on the same street right around the corner from where the theater is today.

Gran Teatre del Liceu – the Oldest Running Theater in Town

The Grand Theatre of the Lyceum is usually only known as El Liceu located on La Rambla and is the oldest running theater in Barcelona and from its opening  until 1989 the Liceu was the largest opera house in Europe that could seat 2 338 people.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories about haunted theaters like The Mysterious Ghost Stories of The Haunted Dock Street Theater, The Ghost of Theatre Royal Drury Lane, The Friendly Ghost Octavia at Den Nationale Scene or The Legend of the Phantom of Opéra Garnier

The theater was built in an unused Monastery and ended up being associated with the aristocracy and upper-middle class. This also drew people to the theater that wanted to end the upper class regime. 

The Killed Monks in the Ground

Long before it turned into a theater, the place was an abandoned convent. The Virgen de la Buena Monastery of the Trinitarian order was built in 1662. 

The Trinitarian order was begun for their mission to free christian that were in captivity by muslims. This was a time with many crusades to the middle east and Spain were also overtaken several places south in Spain by muslims.

There is also a legend that it was the place where there was a convent there with Trinitarian monks that were killed during a riot that happened there. The dead monks were buried under the ground where they were killed. 

Whether this legend is true, is uncertain, but there certainly were riots happening in Barcelona that targeted religious buildings. When there was riots in Barcelona in 1835, the convent was lit on fire and burned and the monks left the place. 

The Trinitarian convent building was then rebuilt into the theater. No matter if the story of the execution grounds or the murdered monks are true, it is used as a base to explain the legend that the theater is cursed and the reason why the building has seen so many tragedies over the years.

The Many Fires in the Cursed Theater

The first major tragedy that happened was when the building was severely damaged by a fire in 1861 that started in the tailor workshop, the people blamed it all on the curse. Was perhaps it from the curse of the monks? Were they fed up by the celebration of something so pagan like the carnival? Were their graves disturbed when they built the building?

It was in the middle of the carnival celebrations and everyone wore masks and it could have been anyone. Among the smoking ruins the police found an ominous note that said: An owl I am, alone I am. If you build it again, I’ll burn it again. 

Could it just be a paper from the many plays in the building? could it be something more ominous and connected to the curse?
Despite the warnings, they quickly rebuilt the opera house and opened again on 9th of April 1861. Only the facade, the entrance hall and the foyer called Mirrors Hall remained from the old theater and the building awaited its curse to hit once again. 

The Bombing of the Anarchist

In 1893 tragedy struck again when 20 people died as they were killed by an anarchist named Santiago Salvador. He threw two Orsini bombs into the stalls and watched it all explode and the bombing shocked Barcelona and became a symbol of the turbulent time of social unrest the country was in.

The theater opened again on 18th of January in 1894, but the seats that those who were killed in the bombing were not used for many years after this. 

Could we really put this terrorist act on the supposed curse of the building? 

The Last Fire of the Theater

In 1994 the building burned to the ground because of another fire. Apparently it happened when a spark accidentally fell on the curtain during a respiration. The theater was once again being rebuilt in 1999 with new and improved facilities. 

During the almost 30 years since its last reopening the theater has had no more damaging scandals and the building has remained intact. 

Is the curse now lifted, or will the place in fact burn down once again? There is an additional legend about the place. During the riots, the nearby convent of Mount Sion shared the same fate as the Trinitarian monastery. According to the legend, the prioress had a ring that was buried in the foundations of the new theater and cast a curse upon the place. 

It is said that the danger will continue to loom over the theater until someone finds the ring of the prioress of Mount Sion in the foundations, and as of yet, there are no one that has found it.  

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References:

La maldición del Liceo

La eterna maldición del Liceu de Barcelona

Estos son los conciertos del Primavera que puede ver gratis (por streaming)

Walking the city. Barcelona as an urban experience

A Brief History of Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona

https://books.google.no/books?id=1t-sDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT195&lpg=PT195&dq=las+forca+de+la+Rambla&source=bl&ots=yhJMDSDGsQ&sig=ACfU3U0TnxC7xEwSZxH4t05q5yaXdof5Yg&hl=no&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiOzK2qkKz_AhUa6CoKHWNIAb8Q6AF6BAgfEAM

13 Barcelona Haunted Houses & Places that will creep you out

Haunted and Mysterious Places in Barcelona | 19 Local LegendsLiceu – Wikipedia

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The Murder Haunting the Teatro Eslava in Madrid

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After a gruesome murder at the Teatro Eslava in Madrid, it is said that the ghost of one of the playwrights is haunting the backstage of the theater. Strange sounds and shadows backstage together with the theater’s dark past have made people believe it has been cursed ever since. 

Spain is known for its rich culture, beautiful architecture and fascinating stories. One of the most interesting stories about Spain are the tales of haunted theaters and their ghosts. From the 16th century to modern times, these theaters have been a source of mystery and intrigue for locals and tourists alike.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

The stories of hauntings in these theaters range from mysterious lights that appear on stage to strange noises heard backstage. While some believe that these are just urban legends, others believe that there is something more to these tales than meets the eye. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, one thing is certain – haunted theaters in Spain will always be a source of fascination and mystery.

Teatro Eslava Turned into a Haunted Nightclub

Today the Teatro Eslava in Madrid, Spain is used as a nightclub as well as a concert venue that opened in 1981 as a part of the Madrid Movement. It is found between Puerta del Sol and Opera and is therefore in one of the most central spaces in the capital.
In 2020 it closed with everything else and underwent a major renovation. So when it reopened in 2022 it was ready to welcome live musicians, clubbing with dj’s and flamenco dinner shows.

The Haunted Teatro Enslava: The facade of the Teatro Enslava in Madrid, Spain. It is believed that the old theater is haunted by a former playwright that was murdered by a colleague.//Source: Luis García

The Old Theater Salon Eslava

Located on Calle del Arenal, it first opened up as a theater in 1872 and was called Salon Eslava that could house a thousand people. It became a very popular theater that experimented with different genres like Zarzuela, a Spanish musical theater form with spoken dialogue, singing and orchestra.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories about haunted theaters like The Mysterious Ghost Stories of The Haunted Dock Street Theater, The Ghost of Theatre Royal Drury Lane, The Friendly Ghost Octavia at Den Nationale Scene or The Legend of the Phantom of Opéra Garnier

In the 1920s the theater housed many of the celebrated and much discussed bohemian writers at the time. 

The Murder of the Playwright

In 1922 and 23 there were two playwrights that were fighting over their chance to get their writings on stage. One was Alfonso Vidal y Planas who was described as a bohemian and an unbalanced author. The other playwright, Luis Anton de Olmet from Bilbao came and wanted his play to premiere first. And so the first argument happened. 

Alfonso Vidal y Planas was the first to premiere though, but his play was a failure. He was sure that Luis Anton de Olmet had something to do with that and had sabotaged it somehow. So when the play by Luis Anton de Olmet was about to premiere, Alfonso Vidal y Planas showed up to the Teatro Eslava for revenge. 

Not only did they argue about the work, they also argued about a woman they were rivals over. Allegedly  Luis Anton de Olmet had an affair with Catalina, the wife of Alfonso Vidal y Planas.

The Theater Ghost: Luis Anton de Olmet pictured in 1909. He was murdered inside of the Teatro Enslava and is thought to haunt the theater.

According to Alfonso Vidal y Planas he was trying to defend himself when Luis Anton de Olmet was strangling him, and he pulled out his gun and shot him. 

Luis Anton de Olmet died of his injuries and Alfonso Vidal y Planas were sentenced to 12 years in prison. He only served three years and continued his writing career until he died in Tijuana, Mexico.  

After the murder the theater entered the dark period and didn’t see much success until a few years later when the Argentine star Celia Gamez, one of Spain’s most popular stars in the first half of the 20th century, came and gave the theater new life.

Ever since the murder though, even though the Teatro Eslava continued to host stage performances, it has been considered cursed and it is said that the ghost of has been said the ghost of Luis Anton de Olmet is haunting the place to this day. 

The Haunting of the old Teatro Eslava

It is said that today, his ghost is haunting the upper part of the building and isn’t often seen in the club. He is most seen during the theatrical performances and concerts that remind him of the old times at the Teatro Eslava, the light flickering on and off to show his presence. 

The cleaning staff cleaning up after a show and the security by the doors talk about hearing a sad wailing and seeing a shadow passing through the empty and dark corridors. 

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References:

Un fantasma en Teatro Eslava

Teatro Eslava – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Teatro Eslava | Official tourism website

The 10 most famous haunted houses in Spain — idealista

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The Hauntings The Waldniel Hostert School

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At the The Waldniel Hostert School, a former school and Nazi Institute bears a tragic story and the ghosts of so many of the mentally disabled children that were murdered during the War. 

Kent School, or as it was known back in the day, The Waldniel Institute was a school with a tragic backstory and is said to have left a haunted expression on the building. 

When The Waldniel Hostert School was operating as a secondary school for children of military personnel it was a boarding school as well as a day school. The school was open from 1963 to 1986 and one of several schools operated by the Service Children’s Education organization, catering to the children of the British Armed Forces. 

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

At its peak The Waldniel Hostert School housed over 6000 students at one point. The gothic appearance of the school made the British nicknamed Colditz after the war camp in East Germany. 

From the students there were rumors about what had happened here before, as it was the site where the Nazis murdered countless of mentally disabled children as a part of their racial purification program. 

And among the rumors, they started talking about seeing and hearing those unfortunate children in the form of ghosts, still lingering within the compound of their old school.

The Horror School

Before The Waldniel Hostert School was a school it was a monastery operated by monks since the 14th century. 

The school was first a Franciscan priory called St. Josefsheim was built in 1913 by the Order of the Franciscans of the Holy Cross. Here they housed mentally handicapped children and around 600 mentally and physically disabled people lived in the monastery. 

In 1937, it closed its doors and the last of the brothers left the house on 23rd May, and it would no longer be the safe haven for the disabled as it had been up to then.

From then on the The Waldniel Hostert School was operated by the Nazis. They called it The Waldniel Institute. The nationalists had a different philosophy about whose life was worth anything than the Franciscan monks had, and the mentally handicapped were far down on that list. 

In 1939 there was a law that every disabled newborn had to be reported to the government. And during the war they put a race purification program to rid themselves of these children. The program ended up killing more than 200 000 people and St Josefsheim, now The Waldniel Institute, was not spared.

The Waldniel Institute was a place that was part of their child euthanasia programme and at least 30 children were murdered within its walls, and more than 500 patients were reported dying. The rest of the over 1000 people living there were transported to other institutions where many of them met their death as well.  

After the war, the building was given back to the brotherhood, but they sold it to the Allies as they no longer could operate as they had used to. 

The Waldniel Hostert School After the War

The Allies took over the country and The Waldniel Institute where these horrific crimes had been committed. They removed the traces of the program and turned it into a secondary school for their children that would end up being Kent School. 

While they renovated the school they uncovered human remains of the patients who had died and were killed when the Nazis ran their institute. 

There are many stories about the haunted stuff happening at the school. They say the children are heard weeping from the corridors where they wander restlessly, fearful of the horrendous end they met with. 

At the end of the Cold War The Waldniel Hostert School closed its door for good in 1993 and handed the building back to the German authorities.

Today The Waldniel Hostert School is privately owned, but abandoned. 

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Featured Picture: Christian Stol/wikimedia

Kent School St. Josefsheim – Abandoned and Lost Places

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Margarida Xirgu Haunting the Teatre Romea

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In the luxurious theater in Barcelona it is said that the former actress, Margarida Xirgu, that performed at the stage of Teatre Romea is haunting the place. Moving objects around in the lobby and being seen as strange shadows backstage, this actress has yet to have her last performance.

In 2018 there was a production of a show called La Familia Coleman at Teatre Romea in Barcelona, Spain. The company director came with her family in the early afternoon to visit the theater. They were in the sitting area and looking at the first floor when the daughter asked who the lady on the stage was. The company director looked up to the stage, but there was no one there. It was another incident of the ghost haunting the old theater. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

Spain has a long history of storytelling and theatrical performances, and the country is home to many haunted theaters. These theaters are said to be haunted by the ghosts of actors who have performed on their stages. This is the case of Teatre Romea, said to be haunted by the ghost of an actress that was sent in exile but returned after her death to the stage.

The Teatre Romea in Barcelona

Teatre Romea: The facade of the theatre from the street.

This theater is located in the El Raval neighborhood in Barcelona, Spain. The Teatre Romea was built in 1863 to represent productions in Catalan, one of the official languages spoken in Catalonia. 

Performing in Catalan was actually forbidden from 1939 to 1945 during the Franco regime after the Spanish Civil War and the language that has declined over the years has been something the Catalonians have been fighting for. Today the language is something the people of Catalonia is especially proud of.

The Teatre Romea was made to be a luxury theater of high art and catered to the upper class with over 600 people can be seated to watch the performance on the brightly lit stage from the dark chairs. Many famous actors, actresses and playwrights got their moments on the stage, and some have thought to linger in the old theater even after their death.

The Ghost Haunting the Theater

People that have visited Teatre Romea have sometimes claimed to have seen shadows when no people are there, or even found electrical equipment messed with even though they knew very well they were plugged in. 

On several occasions when they were about to film something, like when they tried to film the theater with a drone, the battery drained immediately twice, even if nothing was wrong with it. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories about haunted theaters like The Mysterious Ghost Stories of The Haunted Dock Street Theater, The Ghost of Theatre Royal Drury Lane, The Friendly Ghost Octavia at Den Nationale Scene or The Legend of the Phantom of Opéra Garnier

They also tried to shoot a report of the backstage production in 2012 where the same thing happened, also twice. When they watched the interviews they managed to get on tape a series of noises and interferences that no one had heard while filming. 

Strange Shadows Backstage

According to stage managers and the people working in the bar, there were strange noises that could be heard in the theater in the dead of night as well as these strange shadows in the empty corridors backstage. A piano is playing by itself when the theater is empty in the morning except from the administration as well as voices singing in the empty hallway, almost as if rehearsing for an oncoming play.

The Teatre Romea: The stage of The Teatre Romea in 1914. The stage itself as well as the backstage is thought to be haunted by the ghost of a former actress working there.

On All Saints Eve the safety staff refused to work during a time when the paranormal activity was at an all time high. 
Heavy palm trees in pots were seen moving by themselves in the theater lobby and in 2012 when the batteries were drained during the interview there was also a wastebasket that moved by itself up and down that was witnessed by two technicians. 

The Ghost of a Famous Actress

One day in 1995 the child of one of the people working there claimed to have seen something strange in her bedroom. The three year old said there was a lady in a white dress and pink bow in her bedroom. Earlier that evening, the parents had made the rounds of the theater before going on and had felt chills after leaving the stage and felt something wasn’t right. 

So when the daughter told about the lady, the next day working in the theater the parent didn’t feel at ease. When flipping through photographs of the stage famed actress Margarida Xirgu she posed in a white dress with a pink bow. Problem was, she had already been dead for decades. 

The most popular theory is that the theater is haunted by someone who was close to the theater and many have speculated that the ghost haunting the place could be Margarida Xirgu. She was a famous actress in the early 1900s and used to perform at this theater as well as stages nationwide and in Latin America. 

The Life and Death of Margarida Xirgu

She was born in 1888 and moved to Barcelona in 1896. She played her first character Blanca in the play Mar i Cel at this very theater and ended up being quite a successful actress after making an appearance on Teatre Romea numerous times.

During Franco’s dictatorship in Spain, she was forced into exile and had to live in America. She died in Maldonado in Uruguay in 1969. However in 1988 the Catalan government retrieved her remains and brought her back to bury her in Molins de Rei outside of Barcelona, were she was born. 

Could it be that the once famous actress chose to return to the stage where she got her start in the afterlife, as she was banned from returning to her country in life? It is said she didn’t get to act as much as she wanted on this stage before being sent away, and many believe she returned to get more time on the stage. Now however, time is all she has.

Those believing that the theater is haunted feels like they don’t need further proof. What they now want is to prove that the ghost really is Margarita Xirgu and that she is still on stage on the Teatre Romea. 

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References:

La dimensión Desconocida: Los fantasmas del Romea

77. El fantasma de la Xirgu en el teatro Romea

Margarita Xirgu – Wikipedia

Teatro Romea (Barcelona) – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

13 Barcelona Haunted Houses & Places that will creep you out

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The November Ghost in Château de Bonaguil

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Explore the breathtaking Château de Bonaguil in south-western France. Take a journey through history as you uncover this majestic 12th century fortified castle where a Woman in White is said to haunt the castle every November. 

Marvel at the majestic 12th-century fortress of Château de Bonaguil in Saint-Front-sur-Lémance in south-western France! Located near the Lot and Dordogne rivers, this spectacular castle is filled with tales and secrets of centuries past. 

The name comes from bonne aiguille (good needle), referring to the pointy rock it is built upon. From its impressive architecture to the stunning views of its surrounding landscape, Château de Bonaguil offers an unforgettable adventure into history and culture.

Read about more Haunted Châteaus in France.

A Brief History of the Château de Bonaguil

Château de Bonaguil was first built in the 12th century by knight Arnaud de la Tour of Fumel, who later became Lord of Bonaguil. During the Hundred Years War, the Lords of Bonaguil sided with the English and was a location that saw a lot of battle as the castle was taken and retaken by the fighting sides. 

The castle underwent renovations and reconstructions throughout its rich history – most notably, in the late 15th century by the House of Bérenger de Roquefeuil family, it was modified to become an impressive fortress with formidable defenses and it is one of the last fortified castles in France from the Middle Ages. 

Over the last century, the castle’s many towers and bastions have been restored and reinforced, giving visitors a chance to experience the castle’s fascinating heritage firsthand.

Paranormal Investigation of the Haunted Castle

The castle is old, has a bloody history as well as being riddled in centuries of ghost stories and legends. Haunted rumors were so many that a paranormal team once went to do a thorough investigation. People have reported about a burning sensation as well as pressures on their shoulders and temperature drops. 

They have also reported strange sounds around the castle grounds as well as there are photographs people mean captured the ghost on camera. Who can it be that is haunting the old castle?

Dame Blanche of Bonaguil

Château de Bonaguil is said to have its own unsettling paranormal story, in the form of the White Lady or the Dame Blanche in french. It is claimed that a ghostly figure appears both around the grounds of the castle, as well as wandering along its courts and galleries. 

The story of Dame Blanche is plentiful in French folklore and as a sight in old castles especially. In French mythology or folklore, Dames Blanches were female spirits or supernatural beings, comparable to the Weiße Frauen of both Dutch and German mythology.

November Hauntings

Legend has it that there’s a mysterious white lady haunting the Château de Bonaguil known as the Dame Blanch or Dame de Bonaguil. She is thought to be the ghost of Marguerite de Fumel who spent much time in the Château de Bonaguil to fix it up and keep it. 

Dame Blanche de Château de Bonaguil: Local scholar Max Pons has entrusted a photo of his wedding to the Chateau de Bonaguil and claims that a ghost appeared (outlined in red) at the time the photo was developed. © Photo credit: source

For unknown reasons she is said to return in the middle of the night during November month to haunt the castle. Can it be that the castle she spent so much time on were looted and robbed during the French Revolution?   

The Legend of Marguerite de Fumel

It is said that Dame Blanche once was a noble lady and daughter of Béranger de Roquefeuil, a cruel and vicious man that took great pleasure in executing people during the peasant rebellion. 

Marguerite de Fumel was sick of her tyrant father and wished to run away with her lover. But her father set her up for marriage with a wealthy and old count. The legend goes that she fled tearfully from the castle never to be seen alive again, only as the ghost haunting the grounds. 

We do know however that Marguerite de Fumel died in Paris after years of marriage in 1699. But the ghost story about the White Lady haunting the castle in November continues to persist. 

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References

Featured Image: Josep Renalias

Château de Bonaguil – Wikipedia 

Lot-et-Garonne. En novembre, la Dame blanche revient hanter le château de Bonaguil

Lot-et-Garonne : France 2 consacre un sujet sur les mystères du château de Bonaguil

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The haunted History of the Former San Ramón School in Agost

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The now abandoned school of San Ramón School in Agost has been left since the 90s and it is believed that it is haunted by its former students, eager to play with those that visits.

In the last years of the Franco regime, there was a school built on the outskirts of Agost in 1967, for mentally handicapped children and with disabilities of various degrees. It could accommodate between 250 to 300 children and was seemingly a wonderful place. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

It had all the latest technology and techniques in education and had professional assistance, its own gym, theater, swimming pool, garden amongst other things. But for some reason it was closed down quickly and people started to wonder why. 

The San Ramón School in Agost was in operation for a few years, and in the 90s it was abandoned, due to the new law that dictated the right of integration in education for students. That was how it was totally abandoned.

Currently the San Ramón School in Agost is in ruins and has become a frightening place, and a regular searching area for cacophonies and other paranormal phenomena. To this is added that it has a dark past of ill-treatment and deaths in strange circumstances. The most narrated is the one of a student who tried to escape from the school in search of her parents, and when running down the access road to Agost, she was accidentally hit by a car.

Another story that seems to be more legend than reality is that of another student who was locked in the basement during a fire, could not escape the flames and died. For all this past, there are those who say that their spirits still remain in the place.

Haunted legends and stories surrounding the San Ramón School

Now in ruins, the San Ramón School has gained a reputation as a fearsome place, attracting thrill-seekers and paranormal enthusiasts alike. Its eerie atmosphere, combined with its dark history of ill-treatment and deaths under mysterious circumstances, has spawned numerous chilling tales. 

Read More: Check out the haunted legends from schools all over the world like Madam Koi Koi and The School Hauntings in Nigeria and The Kong Kong Ghost

One of the most commonly recounted stories involves a student who attempted to runway from the San Ramón School in Agost to search for her parents that sent her there. When she reached the road though, she was struck by a passing car and died. According to this legend, this was the real reason the school had to shut down so abruptly. 

Another haunting legend, though more likely to be fiction than fact, revolves around a student who was supposedly locked in the basement during a fire, unable to escape the engulfing flames, resulting in a tragic demise. These haunting tales have led many to believe that the spirits of those who suffered within the school’s walls still linger in the abandoned halls.

Playful Ghosts Haunting the Grounds

The haunted reputation of the San Ramón School has garnered attention from visitors and locals alike. Many have shared their testimonials, recounting spine-chilling encounters and the palpable sense of unease they experienced within the school’s dilapidated walls. 

Some visitors have reported capturing strange anomalies in their photographs taken at San Ramón School in Agost, such as orbs or unexplained lights, further fueling the belief in the presence of supernatural entities. 

Once a group of people came for a game of soft gun, when they suddenly encountered a person that wasn’t from his team, nor was he from the opponents. It was like the play drew out the spirits that lingered there, still ready to play. 

There are also those that claim that they have heard children laughing and a voice whispering “Do you want to play?”

The enduring mystery of the former San Ramón School in Agost

The former San Ramón School in Agost remains shrouded in an enduring mystery. Its haunting history, combined with its dilapidated state, has created an atmosphere of intrigue and fear. Whether you believe in the supernatural or seek to uncover rational explanations, a visit to this forsaken place is sure to leave an indelible impression. 

As preservation efforts continue and restoration plans take shape, the future of the San Ramón School holds the promise of both preserving its haunted past and embracing its potential for new beginnings.

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Los fantasmas de Agost

Most Terrifying Places around Alicante | Haunted Halloween 2022

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The Ghost of the Mongolian Princess in Venice

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Following her husband Marco Polo back to Venice from the Mongolian court, the princess never felt at home in this strange land. And today it is said the Mongolian Princess is still haunting the place, wishing for home.

Many of the places in Venice have rememberancing to their hero and legend, the merchant Marco Polo. He is most known for his travels to the silk route to the east where he released the book ‘The Travels of Marco Polo’. There he spent time at court at the powerful Kublai-Khan of Mongolia and Northern China in the late 1200s. 

After several decades on his travels, he finally returned home to Venice where he was from. However, he didn’t return alone. One of the houses in Corte del Milion used to belong to him and he lived there with his wife he brought back from the east. 

The Mongolian Princess Wife

According to the legend, Marco Polo married the daughter of Kublai-Khan’s and she followed her husband back to Venice, but never felt that the Venetians embraced her as their own.

Marco Polo’s wife was alone in a foreign country with a foreign customs and language. And then her husband disappeared as well when he was imprisoned. 

The Mongolian Princess: Did Marco Polo marry one of the Khan’s daughters? According to the legend she followed him back to Venice, although she suffered a tragic fate and is supposedly haunting their former mansion.

In 1298, Marco Polo was imprisoned in Genoa for a period of time. He returned to Venice in 1295 with his wealth converted into gemstones. Venice was at war with the Republic of Genoa at that time. Marco Polo joined the war by equipping a galley with a trebuchet.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Italy

He spent several months in prison dictating his travels to a fellow inmate named Rustichello da Pisa. The detailed account, which included tales from China, was spread throughout Europe in manuscript form and became known as “The Travels of Marco Polo”. Marco Polo was released from captivity in August 1299 and returned to Venice, where his family had purchased a large palace.

According to this legend, the Mongolian Princess sister in law was jealous of her and lied to the princess and told that Marco Polo had died in prison. This was the last straw for Marco Polo’s wife as she was both alone and homesick and she ended up committing suicide. Some say she set her clothes on fire and jumped into the canal.

They say that she was a good singer, and to this day, you can sometimes hear a soft and sweet song, singing in her native language. If you pass through the Milion courtyard where Polo’s houses stood you may even spot a ghostly figure holding a small candle, looking back to her homeland in the east she never returned to. 

Marco Polo’s Real Venetian Wife

If the legend is true or not is difficult to say, as little of his life is known or how much of his writings were actually true, and we know even less about his supposed Mongolian Princess wife from the east. Did she even exist?

We actually have documented that Marco Polo married a Venetian lady named Donata Badoer. They married after he got out from prison in 1300 and together they had three daughters together and were married for 24 years. 

The Real Princess Kököchin Khatun

So where did the rumor about the Mongolian princess come from then? It is true that Marco Polo’s father and uncle were given a last mission before returning to Venice to escort the 17-year old Mongolian princess called Kököchin Khatun (阔阔真). They were chosen as escorts for her to her wedding where the Mongolian Princess was marrying a Persian ruler in the Mongol Empire.

In some version of the story, she had died when they arrived, and from there rumors about Marco Polo marrying her started. Did she even die though? They did set out from what is today Beijing in 1291, and started travelling. Most accounts tell about the Polo’s leaving her at the wedding in 1293 before continuing on their way back to Venice. In the meantime her would be husband had died though, and she married his son instead and died herself in 1296.

The Ghost of the Mongolian Princess in Venice

As the sun set over the picturesque canals of Venice, a soft breeze rustled through the ancient alleyways. In the heart of the city, the ghostly figure of the Mongolian Princess still roamed, her luminous presence illuminating the darkness. And so, as the Venetians ventured through the Milion courtyard, they would occasionally catch a glimpse of the spectral figure.

A huge theater was built on top of the old family house and is today known as Malibran Theatre. There has been excavation done that uncovered pieces of information about the time Marco Polo and his family lived there. If that included something relating to an Mongolian princess is unclear though. 

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Featured Image: Erik Törner/Flickr

Legend Marco Polo Chinese Wife in Venice | Milion courtyard

19 Facts About Marco Polo’s Wife That Are Surprising! | Kidadl

Kököchin – Wikipedia 

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The Ghosts of The Ancient Ram Inn: Exploring a Haunted History

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The Ancient Ram Inn in England is said to be one of the most haunted places in the country as well as a quaint little resting place for travellers dating back centuries. Located in Gloucestershire, it is said to house the restless spirits of both witches, demons, ghosts and ghouls all gathered under the same roof. 

The Ancient Ram Inn is a notoriously haunted building located in the small village of Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire. Dating back to 1145 to house the workers and slaves building the church nearby, this centuries old inn and former pub has been the focus of hauntings, poltergeists and strange occurrences throughout its mysterious history.

There are many stories told about why the place is so haunted, is it because it is built at the intersection of 2 Ley Lines? Because it is built on a Pagan burial ground? After all this time it is difficult to pinpoint to just one thing, but the haunted rumors and ghosts roaming inside of the walls keep piling up as the history of the building just keeps getting longer. 

The History of the Ancient Ram Inn

The Ancient Ram Inn has a long history that dates back to 1145, and it is believed that the building was originally constructed on the site of a pagan burial ground according to the legends. 

Read Also: Check out more ghost stories from Haunted Hotels around the world

During its 600 year lifespan, this inn has been home to several owners and been frequented by travelers, locals and untold numbers of supernatural beings. Once serving as a monastery and later as a pub, this building has seen much tragedy in its time.

Ancient Ram Inn: The old and historic building is said to house more than just travelling guests. People that have stayed there, visited when it was a pub as well as the owners claim that as many as 20 ghosts is haunting the building. //Source: Brian Robert Marshall / Ram Inn, Potters Pond, Wotton under Edge / CC BY-SA 2.0

Wotton-under-Edge, in Gloucestershire UK, is an ancient market town and one of the primary locations in which The Ancient Ram Inn still stands even after most of it is built anew. As part of the Cotswolds, Wotton-under-Edge has a long and storied history – having been mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086! 

Pagan Burial Ground and Ley Lines through the Ancient Ram Inn

Over the years many strange occurrences have occurred at The Ancient Ram Inn, stories of haunting and screaming in the night. Visitors have reported hearing children playing on the stairs while others have seen eerie shadows lurking in the corners. The room called the Men’s Kitchen is said to have been built on top of the pagan burial ground and the staircase is a place where people have claimed to have felt a push.

© Copyright Ray Bird

As with many haunted buildings in the UK, there are also talk about the Ancient Ram Inn being built on top of 2 ley lines, one of them coming directly from Stonehenge and the other from Glastonbury Tor. These types of lines are drawn between sites of spiritual importance like churches, burial grounds and the likes. Ley lines are thought by spiritualist to fuel paranormal sites like this one with some sort of energy.

The Owner Looking for Demonic Energy

One of the owners, John Humphries, who bought The Ancient Ram Inn in the late 1960s to save it from demolition after it closed down as a pub in 1968. Humphries was very interested in the haunted history of the Inn, or he certainly became a believer after staying there for many years. Already at the first day at his new home he claimed to have been thrown out from the bed by an unseen force.

This didn’t deter him from his mission though, and even when his wife and daughter left the place, he stayed on to preserve his life work.

He claimed to have found evidence that some were worshiping the Devil. He owned and lived in the building until his death in 2017 and many of the ghost stories comes from him when he run it as a guesthouse. Once he found the skeletal remains of children under the staircase he believed to have been stabbed with daggers and that they were actually ritual sacrifices. 

The current owner, his daughter Caroline Humphries says that the place is now a haunting ground for paranormal investigators and that there is as many as 20 ghosts lingering in the little inn. With such a lengthy history, it’s no surprise that this mysterious inn continues to be surrounded by ghostly tales.

The Witch’s Room

One popular legend about The Ancient Ram Inn is the story about the supposed witch that was burned at the stake in the 1500s. The witch panic had taken England  and she was fleeing from the mob that were after her to have her killed because of it.

Read more: Check out all of our stories concerning Witches

Many believe that it is the spirit of the woman that is haunting the place and people have claimed to have seen the ghost of a girl in the window, waving to the people passing by. According to the legend she was hiding in one of the rooms at the inn before getting caught and killed. Today the room is known as The Witch’s Room.

© Copyright Ray Bird

One detail about this legend though is that witches weren’t actually burned in England, they were hanged. So if there really was an alleged witch fleeing prosecution at the inn, her death would have been hanging, not burning. 

There is also said that there is a black cat haunting the room, said to be the spirit of a 500 year old mummified cat John Humphries found in the wall. It is said they put animals in the walls as a sort of good luck charm.

The Incubus and Succubus at the Ancient Ram Inn

Although with a long story as an inn or a guesthouse, it seems to be a problem with the rooms and how private it is. People seem to not have a great night sleep and complain about succubus and incubus in several of the rooms at the Inn.

The latin word of Incubus means a nightmare induced by a demon. This is a female and male demon often said to seducing people in their sleep, disturbing them. There are parallels of this type of demon found in every religion and culture across the world. Today we often explain this type of demon as night terrors, or simply a disturbing erotic dream.

Humphries is said to have shared his bedroom at The Ancient Ram Inn with this type of demon until his death. This bedroom was called the Bishop’s Room and said to be one of the most haunted places in the inn.

The Incubus: In Mesopotamian history, dating back to 2400 BC, demons with incubus-like qualities were mentioned, such as Lilu, who disturbed and seduced women in their sleep. In Western Christian literature, Incubi were believed to engage in sexual relations with women to father children, as seen in the legend of Merlin, making it one of the earliest examples of demonic parentage. The Incubus is said to have been inspired by the feeling of sleep paralysis. Some authors speculate that rapists may have attributed the rapes of sleeping men and women to demons to escape punishment. // Source: The dream of Countess Marguerite of Flanders. Illustration after the ballet pantomime “Riccardo Cuor di Leone” by Salvatore Viganò.

The Bishop’s Inn

The room where most guests complained about in The Ancient Ram Inn something paranormal happening in there was in a room on the first floor called The Bishop’s Inn where as many as 9 ghosts are said to reside in. Even a roman centurion has been spotted riding his horse through the walls by some plumbers doing their work.

According to one story there once was a medium investigating the place and opened up the door. The medium was lifted off the floor and flung across the hallway, giving only bad energy from inside. 

It is said that a ghost of a monk or in some versions, two, is haunting the place and that the ghost has scared more than one guest that fled in the night after being woken up.

By the door there have been more than one guests claiming to have seen a man that look like a shepherd with a dog. There have also been heard screams from a man that was murdered by someone casting his head into the fire. 

Ghost Stories: The owners of the Inn has never shied away from the haunted rumours of the building. Here from the inside of the Ancient Ram Inn. There are several newspaper cuttings to be seen, mostly focusing on the various ghosts that reportedly inhabit the place. The owner was, it has been stated, yanked out of bed on his first night in residence by one of the incumbents wishing to make his or her presence known.//Source: Brian Robert Marshall / Ram Inn interior, Potter’s Pond, Wotton under Edge / CC BY-SA 2.0

The Innkeeper’s Daughter in the Attic

If you make your way up to the attic of The Ancient Ram Inn, it is said the room is filled with an intense feeling of sadness lingering in the old room that has become so unstable you can almost not walk all the way to the back because of the dangerous floor. 

In the early 1500s, the innkeeper had a daughter working there with him at the inn. One night, she was lured up to the attic where she was killed. People that have been directly under the room have said to have heard the sound of something heavy being dragged over the floor. 

There is also said to be a murdered woman named Elizabeth that were buried underneath the bar. She is often seen wandering the house together with all of her fellow spirits of the house.

The Ancient Ram Today

Today as the many years the Ancient Ram Inn has been operating, the Inn will house its ghosts for many years to come as well. After her father died, Caroline Humphries picked up her father’s legacy and continue to keep the old building standing and taking care of its spirits.

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References:

Ancient Ram Inn – Wikipedia 

Ancient Ram Inn Ghost Hunts, Wotton under Edge, Gloucestershire | Haunted Rooms®

The Ancient Ram Inn – Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire.