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Wessobrunn Abbey’s Ghosts

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This I found, from men, as the foremost wisdom,
That neither earth there was, nor sky above;
Nor tree, nor hill there was.
Nor stars there were; nor shone the sun.
Nor moon-light there was, nor the salty sea.
Nothing there was: neither end, nor limit.
And there was the One Almighty God,
The mildest of men; and many were with them,
Godly Ghosts: and God the Holy.
— From the Wessobrunn Prayer, the earliest known poetic works in Old High German from the 8th century.

The Benedictine Wessobrunn Abbey is steeped in history and legends. According to stories, the monastery has been haunted for centuries. From martyred monks to a disobedient nun, their ghosts still haunt the holy place. 

In 955, the Hungarians invaded part of today’s Germany and wanted to draw the German army out in the open and destroy it. 

On their way they came across the Wessobrunn Abbey and burned it all down to the ground. Three of the monks managed to flee to Andechs with their sacred relics they had kept in the Abbey. Abbot Thiente and six of his monks never got out alive though and suffered martyrdom, dying for their faith. 

After the defeat of the Hungarians on the Lechfeld, the spiritual life in Wessobrunn Abbey goes into a shadow period. Not much is known about when the first monks started coming back to the place after the sacking. 

Today there is a cross commemorating the martyrs just above Wessobrunn. Legend has it that the six dead monks have haunted the place ever since. 

The New Wessobrunn Abbey

It was not the last time the abbey was burnt down, and it was not the last time they decided to rebuild it either. Close to the site where the former Wessobrunn Abbey once stood, they built a new one, continuing the tradition of a monastery at the place. 

Wessobrunn Abbey: There have been a monastery at this place for a long time. Here a depiction of how it looked like in 1640, centuries after the ghosts started haunting the place.

The monastery of Wessobrunn, near Weilheim in Bavaria had been founded in the 8th century. From 1100 the community of male monks was joined by a sisterhood as well and it included both a community of nuns and monks. There are also legends about one of the nuns in the abbey haunting the place as a ghost. 

The Ghost of the Nun

According to this legend there was a nun in the 13th century who might have been a sister of Knight Joseph Diethalm von Wileyhin, the last Count of Weilheim. It is said she entered Wessobrunn Abbey after her brother’s death in 1211. 

But the way of the sisters is not for everyone and according to the stories, she broke one of her vows of the order. Nuns had to live by strict rules of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience. Exactly what type of vows she broke are unclear, but it scared her so that she ran off. She hid in an underground passage back at her family’s home in Göterlberg. 

Without seeing the sun ever again, she died shortly after and her remains were not found until many years had come and passed. From then on it is reported of sightseeings of a nun around the castle as well as her old abbey, crying in the hallways, still in her nuns’ habit. 

Up until the 1800s it was said that locals threw spruce cones into a hollow said to be the former corridor where the nun hid on her escape from the Wessobrunn Abbey to scare away the ghost. 

Today there are still a cluster of Benedictine nuns living after God’s words within the walls of the abbey, still seeing their long dead sister walking the halls. 

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Die spukende Nonne (Kloster… – Der Märchenonkel | Facebook

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The Mystery of the Haunted House on Avenue Frochot

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Something strange is lurking in the shadows at Avenue Frochot’s notorious Haunted House in Paris. After a Chambermaid was supposedly killed inside of the house, there have been strange things going on according to the neighbors as well as some of the owners.

Enter at your own risk, as the mysterious Haunted House on Avenue Frochot in Paris is filled with secrets and dark forces just waiting to be discovered. Prepare yourself for a spine-tingling adventure that could lead you to discover a hidden world of terror or uncover the truth about what lies deep within the walls of this haunted abode.

Avenue Frochot, Home to Paris’ rich and famous

Avenue Frochot is home to some of Paris’ most affluent and powerful citizens where they live behind the iron fences. It’s also the home of a centuries old mystery – the Haunted House on Avenue Frochot. 

Famous writers and artists of Paris’ bustling art scene have a history of passing through this beautiful avenue. The writers Alexandre Dumas and Victor Hugo lived here at one time and so did the painter Toulouse-Lautrec who had a studio at no. 15 . 

People like Théodore Chassériau was neighbors to Gustave Moreau and movie director Jean Renoir and jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt also spent time in the avenue. There were also people like the composer Victor Masse, who died inside number 1, and this place are now remembered to be very haunted. 

The Murdered Chambermaid

Although the whole avenue can look a little haunted with their glass stained windows, gargoyles on the front, there is one that is remembered as the most haunted mansion in Paris. 

But it isn’t one of the powerful, rich and famous men that owned the houses that are said to be haunting it. The ghost is said to be the ghost of a chambermaid who was brutally murdered inside of the house at the beginning of the 1900s. While she was working for the director of the Folies Bergère. One day, she was walking up the stairs when she was stabbed with a poker. Her killer was never caught, and she is haunting the place now even after death. 

It’s rumored that in the dead of night, eerie footsteps can be heard echoing off the walls of the Haunted House, even when it’s supposed to stand vacant. Some claim to have seen shadowy figures moving through the windows or even heard disembodied voices coming from within the walls. 

The Curse of Number 1

From then on, there is said to be a curse of the house that was built in 1839. Mathieu Galey was a theater critic that died in the house, paralyzed on his bed, the same place and same position that the composer Victor Massé was a hundred years before. 

Sylvie Vartan bought it in the 1970s, but fled from the house only a few days after moving in. Why? Well, many say it was because of the ghost haunting it. 

Today, there is a professor of medicine living there, refusing any paranormal claims the house has. So perhaps, the curse somehow got broken, and the chambermaid finally moved on. 

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https://www.pariszigzag.fr/insolite/histoire-insolite-paris/avenue-frochot-privee-hantee

La maison maléfique de Paris – Paris ZigZag | Insolite & Secret

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Casino degli Spiriti — The House of Souls

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By the Venetian lagoon there is a house so cursed not even fishermen will fish near it. Many dark legends surround the Casino degli Spiriti, or The House of Souls, from black magic to the ghost of a heartbroken painter.  

Right by the water there is a decaying of a once grand palace that is haunted by its own legends. The house of Casino degli Spiriti or the House of Souls was once a very beautiful building in Fondamenta Gasparo Contarini, overlooking the famous Murano island just across the lagoon. 

The house of souls is actually part of the Palazzo Contarini dal Zaffo, and the house is an annex which are more commonly known for its legends of ghosts, murder and spiritism. Today, there are so many versions of the legend as to just why it is so cursed. 

The Ghost of Pietro Luzzo da Feltre

One of the most famous legends of Casino degli Spiriti is that of Pietro Luzzo da Feltre, a painter who lived in the 16th century, together with famous artists like Titan. This is at least the painter most associated with the legend, although we have proof that he actually died in war, not over unrequited love as this legend would have it as.  

Casino degli Spiriti: The house, overlooking the Venetian Lagoon.

Anyway, this was at the height of the Renaissance and Italy was a culture center. The Palazzo Contarini dal Zaffo was back then known for a meeting place for Venetian philosophers, artists and learned men. 

Not a lot is known about Pietro Luzzo da Feltre’s life and not many of his works are preserved to this day. We do now know a couple of curious facts about him though. For one, one of his many nicknames was Morto da Feltre, where Morto means ‘dead’ or ‘dead one’. There are a couple of reasons why this was his nickname. It could be because of his joyless temperament, the fact that he looked ghostly or his peculiar hobby of exploring crypts and burial grounds. 

Pietro Luzzo da Feltre’s legacy though is his demise because of an unrequited love rather than his art. The woman was known as La Bella Cecilia and it was said she had a cherub face and was also a singer. She however was Giorgione’s lover and model, another painter during that time and rejected Pietro Luzzo da Feltre when he fell for her.

According to some variations of the legend, he simply disappeared one day. It is believed that he killed himself in the annex he lived in that would be known as Casino degli Spiriti, unable to go on. 

It is said that once, his artist friends saw him through the window a few days after his disappearance, and they hurried over to talk with him. But when they entered the room they thought they saw him in, it was empty. 

Strange noises were heard at night after the place was abandoned. Could it be the ghost of Luzzo? Or perhaps it was religious cults gathering to invoke demons and do magic. According to legend his ghost is still in that house, still pining for the woman he could never have.  

The Murder House

Later, after the artist of the Renaissance had left and the grandieu of the place started decaying overtime, it was used for various purposes. Casino degli Spiriti was the place venetian died from the plague as the house was used as a hospital. It was also used as an anatomical theater where they did autopsies. So a lot of souls came and left in this building. 

In 1929, four people were found dead in the house: a priest, two brothers and a gondolier. There was no explanation of this random gathering of people or what had happened. They were apparently all missing their heads and their right hands, but they never got the ones that did it. 

In recent years, the house is still not rid of its ghosts and gruesome history. Linda Civetta lived in Belluno and managed her family’s bar. She went to Venice in 1947 to resell cigarettes on the black market which was big business after the second world war.  She was never able to return home. She was killed, cut up and thrown into the lagoon in a trunk. She was found right in front of this cursed building two weeks after her murder by a local fisherman. 

Apparently she was carrying large amount of money and this was the motive behind her murder. The murderer was Bartolomeo Toma, a gambler and a gondolier named Luigi Sardi. 

Even to this day, the local Venetian fishermen don’t go near that place to fish. 

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Haunted Venice – Legends, Mysteries and Stories

The Casino of the Spirits — ArtCurious 

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Rennes-le-Château’s Mysterious Hidden Treasures of the Occult

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Immerse yourself in the story of Rennes-le-Château filled with legends about Merovingian Bloodlines, hidden treasures from the Knight Templars and why this mysterious commune in France keeps attracting occultists and other treasure hunters.

Hidden amongst the picturesque rolling hills of the Languedoc region in France lies the mysterious commune of Rennes-le-Château where in 2018 there lived 91 people. Shrouded in mystery and intrigue for decades, this enigmatic hilltop village has captivated the imaginations of many for centuries with its array of puzzling relics, symbols and legends. 

As the stories of Rennes-le-Château have continued to develop, so too has the connections to corrupt influences from beyond. Various occultist figures have been linked with the tales of the hidden riches at Rennes-le-Château. Rumors about former members of secret societies who may have found some special knowledge of the holy grail.

History of Rennes-le-Château

The small village of Rennes-le-Château has a complex and fascinating history. It is believed to have been founded by the Visigoths during the 5th century, although there is evidence that it may have been inhabited since pre- Roman times due to its strategic positioning.

During the Middle Ages, it was part of the Cathar movement and was subject to much conflict between Catholics and Cathars until it eventually came under French rule in 1659. The castle was built around 1002.

The Mystery Surrounding the Commune

Today it is a well known place, but it wasn’t always so. Tucked away in rural France, no one payed much attention to the place until the legendary rumors started circulating. And it is much more recent than we like to think. 

Rennes-le-Château and its mysteries have captivated the minds of historians, conspiracy theorists, and curious adventurers alike. Legends such as the Priory of Sion, hidden treasure located beneath Notre Dame de Marceille church, ancestral connections to Jesus Christ, and even theories related to extraterrestrial life have all been linked to the commune. 

Although some have been debunked as myths over time, it still leaves a lingering sense of mystery that draws people from all around the world seeking answers.

Bérenger Saunière and The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail

One of the most mysterious characters associated with Rennes-le-Château is surely Bérenger Saunière, the former priest in charge of the local parish that is said to start the hunt for the hidden secrets in the place. He started to renovate the castle in the 19th century and it sparked conversation of where he got the money for that, and what he found when he renovated the old church.

Bérenger Saunière was in the midst of several controversies, about his wealth, beliefs and the spending of the church’s money. He was a peculiar priest and was even tried for trafficking masses of which he was found guilty of later. Still, people couldn’t make the math match of how much he spent and how much he made.  

He is most known for being at the center of several conspiracy theories about the place that eventually led to inspiring books like Holy Blood, Holy Grail and The Da Vinci Code among other tales about The Holy Grail, Knights Templars and the continuation of Jesus’s blood lineage. 

The Treasure of Blanche Castile

One theory was that he had found documents connected to the treasure of Blanche of Castile while he was renovating and it led him to a treasure of pure gold. 

She was a regent twice in her life as Queen of France during her son, Louis IX reign in the 1200s. She supposedly stacked a treasure in Rennes-le-Château that is said to still be there, at least parts of it. It was supposed to be a ransom to pay for Saint Louis, her son as he was a prisoner of the Saracens. 

Legends of Buried Treasures

But where did these rumors first start? We can mostly trace many of them back to the 50s and 60s from a local restaurant owner in Rennes-le-Château called Noël Corbu. A local newspaper printed a series of interviews of him where he claimed that the priest had discovered part of the treasure of Blanche of Castile. 

He had told the story so many times to his guests at the restaurant after failing himself to find the treasure that he allegedly heard about from the priest’s housekeeper, Marie Denarnaud.

Why he did this is difficult to say as he died in a car collision in 1968, but it brought big business to the area however and to this day the small place receives more tourists than locals each year. Over the years he did change his story more than one time over the years. 

The Mystical Place in France

Mystical Ley Lines, Occult treasures from the Visigoths or the Knights Templars, and sacred geometry as well as a classical UFO story, this place is like the French version of Roswell, Atlantis and the Bermuda Triangle, all in one. 

People found their metal detectors, mediums tried to sense their way and hypnotists found their pendulums to search the rest of the treasure. Even archeologists found their spades to excavate just in case. However to this day, not a gold piece has been found, let alone the Holy Grail.

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Bérenger Saunière – Wikipedia

Noël Corbu – Wikipedia 

Blanche of Castile – Wikipedia

Rennes-le-Château – Wikipedia

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The Headless Hauntings of Parc Montsouris

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Explore the mysterious history of Parc Montsouris. This beautiful park looks nice during the day, but at night it is said the park is haunted by a headless ghost. 

Take a stroll through the lush greenery in Parc Montsouris, one of the most beautiful parks in Paris and follow the Meridian line of Paris that is passing through the park. Rumor has it that strange events and hauntings seemed to bring life to this place, and explore the stories and legends behind some of its most bizarre occurrences.

Parc Montsouris is located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris and has a rich history spanning centuries. It is one of the four large urban public parks in Paris and has wide sloping lawns, a lake and even a meteorology station. When they started building the park, they had to remove over 800 from the tunnels as the area was a part of the catacombs of Paris. 

Legends and Hauntings

Parc Montsouris is an eerily beautiful park that boasts a variety of interesting legends, tales, and spooky stories. People claim to have heard strange sounds and seen unusual shadows, while other visitors may have even seen the ghosts of long-deceased inhabitants in their midst among the trees. Furthermore, it is said that the occasional apparition can be seen lurking in the shadows of nearby buildings or at night near the lake. Whatever you believe, one thing is undeniable: Parc Montsouris is certainly a park with a mysterious history worth uncovering.

One legend that is told about the place was that on the official opening day, there was one working there who messed up and accidentally drained the artificial lake in a single day. The park engineer was so distraught that he committed suicide. 

Althogh we have written proof that the lake indeed was drained one day in 1878, there is not really a record of a suicide. 

The History of the Guillotine

Perhaps the most notorious piece of Parc Montsouris’ history is the guillotine, which was most known to be the preferred way to execute criminals during the French Revolution. According to a legend, this was the place that they first started testing the murder weapon and supposedly the victims of the guillotine are said to return to this place.   

It is said that some visitors have heard eerie echoes that bring to mind the sound of a blade slicing through air – a reminder of what happened here over two centuries ago. 

Some paranormal enthusiasts even claim that one can still feel the presence of lingering spirits in certain areas throughout the park, either due to residual haunting or because those powerful executions are remembered and honored by their ghostly forms.

The Murder of Isaure de Montsouris

The victims of the guillotine are not the only headless ghosts said to walk the park at night. One of the most infamous stories connected to the park revolves around a certain Isaure de Montsouris that conveniently shares the name with the park. Which is odd as the park is named after moquesouris, mouse mocker as the area was overrun by mice because of a mill that used to stand there. 

In any case, named or not, this man was, according to legend, attacked and murdered in the park by a group of bandits close to where the Bardo Palace was going to be built and burned down in the 90s. Apparently they decapitated him for good measure as well and it is said the body was ambling around before dying. 

Another version of the story was that he was a brigand living in the 9th century and was the one terrorizing travelers. In the end he was beheaded by William of Aquitaine

However, he kept close to the park in the afterlife as well, and is said to haunt the grounds to this day. 

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Haunting in Hardtkapelle Wielenbach

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A haunted chapel known as Hardtkapelle Wielenbach can be found in the darkness of the Bavarian forest, surrounded by black hellhounds and a woman in white. This place is of the more unholy sorts. 

Forests in Germany are where the darkness creeps in and where stories about ghosts and ghouls take form. 

In this particular Bavarian forest in the city of Weilheim in Wielenbach, perhaps a mere hour away from Munich, there is a small but still frightening chapel according to the legends that is said to be particularly dark and where the devil himself appeared.

The Haunted Hardtkapelle Wielenbach

The building from the outside of the Hardtkapelle Wielenbach looks innocent enough as the white walls and church tower looks like any other little chapel in these parts. 

Still, there are many young and hopeful visitors who visit each year to get a taste of the haunted place, not necessarily of the godly kind, but perhaps many of them get a little more than they bargained for. Because according to those visiting, they report about being nauseous and being dizzy, some even suffering a panic attack after spending enough time in that place.  

It is said that the Hardtkapelle Wielenbach is surrounded by huge black hellhounds as the dark forces have been plentiful around these parts for centuries. One can wonder if the chapel is really what keeps the evil inside, or if it attracts it all together. You can hear the hellhounds growling in the background between the trees. 

The Haunted Hardtkapelle Wielenbach: The chapel look cozy and innocent at day among the green trees, but when the sun goes down and the trees grows darker, the ghosts come out to play. Gras-Ober/wikimedia

At night a light is always burning at the small chapel when no one is there to light it up. Sometimes a woman in white is suddenly appearing at night close to the chapel. Who she is, friend or foe, is difficult to say. 

The chapel we see today was built as a pilgrimage church in 1865 with the Patroness being Saint Anne, the mother of Mary. It was built on the grounds of a chapel that used to be there but was demolished back in 1250. 

The Devil’s Kick

There have been many reports about this strange place and one of the legends dates back to the time before there ever was a Hardtkapelle Wielenbach there. When this was is unclear as not much of Germany’s history dates back in written form before the 1200s.  

But according to this legend there was a huge fight among the neighboring villagers. Citizens of the town of Weilheim and Haunshofen fought about grazing rights for their animals in the surrounding area and the arguments were getting heated with harsh words being thrown back and forth. 

A man stepped out from the crowd and they say he was the devil in the form of a shepherd who had come to join them. He put a big stone on the ground and yelled out 

“When I kick this stone, this belongs to Haunshofen”

Then he kicked his foot into the ground, creating a hoof-like hole that he disappeared into. 

This stopped the argument and the Hardtkapelle Wielenbach was built around the stone with the hoofprint to protect the evil from it to come out again.

If they really were successful remains to be seen. 

The Devil’s Hole: At the altar at the Hardtkapelle Wielenbach in Bavaria, Germany, you can see the hole the chapel was built around. // Source: Henning Schlottmann//wikimedia

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https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hardtkapelle-wielenbach

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The Secrets of The Ancient Carnac Stones

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Often called France’s Stonehenge, The Carnac Stones in Brittany have puzzled people for millennials as to why they were built. Some ancient burial rites? Perhaps it’s like the legends say and are soldiers turned into stone? 

The Carnac Stones, or Steudadoù Karnag as they are called in Breton, are mysterious and imposing structures located in the small town of Carnac, Brittany in France that no one really knows the purpose of for certain. 

These stone structures that are often referred to as France’s Stonehenge have stood for centuries, forming an impressive landscape that has piqued the interest of many throughout history. What were they built for? Some form of pagan worship? Astronomical device? Perhaps even an enormous earthquake detector?

Perhaps it is like in the legends, and they really were created by Merlin as he turned an entire legion of Romans into these perfectly lined stones?

The Carnac Stones – a Forest of Stones

The Carnac Stones are believed to have been created approximately 7000 years ago with the local stones from the region. These stones were erected by the pre-celtic people living in Brittany in the Neolithic period, centuries before the Romans arrived, the celts lived and before France became France. 

The Carnac Stones are made up of over 3,000 prehistoric megaliths that cover an area of over 4 km in the village of Carnac. The single standing stones are called menhirs, meaning long stones in Breton language.

It is believed that these monuments were erected sometime between 4500 BC and 2000 BC, making them some of the oldest structures still standing in Europe and therefore an important historical place. Many theories have been raised as to their purpose and origin, but no one knows for sure how they came to be or why they were created.

The Mystery of the Stones

Although the exact purpose and meaning of the Carnac Stones is still a mystery today, historians have theorized that they were built for some type of spiritual or religious worship. Maybe even burial rituals as there are several dolmen which are burial chambers close to the lined up standing rocks. 

Burial Chambers: Among the free standing stones known as menhirs, there are also larger cluster of stones known as dolmens. Often referred to as burial chambers and has influenced how we look at the collection of standing stones.

Until not very long ago, there was a Breton tradition to visit one of the menhir called La Vaisseau in Carnac. Young married couple met up at midnight with their parents watching as they ran naked around the stone as a fertility ritual. 

However, since much of our understanding about this period remains unclear, their true role is likely to remain an enigma. Over time, various myths and legends have developed around these megaliths that add to their mystery and allure.

Legends of the Carnac Stones

Legends of the Carnac Stones span centuries, stretching all the way back to when they were originally constructed. In the middle ages they looked at the stones as the work of demons as well as sorcerers or giants that walked the earth before the flood. 

They tell of goblin-like creatures called Korrigans that are said to haunt the megaliths and living in the hollow rocks and dolmens, or stone soldiers that are often said to be protecting some sort of hidden treasure or guarding a great secret.

Another modern myth is that the stones were created when pagan soldiers came after Pope Cornelius in the 200s and he turned them into stone. Some even say that the stones are that of a Roman legion marching on the grounds that were turned to stone by Merlin from the Arthurian legends. 

Despite their mysterious origins, these ancient megaliths continue to fascinate millions of visitors each year.

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Carnac stones – Wikipedia

Carnac Stones: 3,000 Mysterious Pillars of France 

The Mysterious Stones of Carnac

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The Ghost of Theatre Royal Drury Lane

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

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

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

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

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

The Man in Grey

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

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

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

The Ghost on Fourth Row

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

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

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

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

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

The Good Omen

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

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

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Inside the world’s most haunted theatre

About The Theatre Royal Drury Lane

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

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The Mysterious Gouffre de Padirac Caves

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Step into the unknown and explore the mysterious Gouffre de Padirac Cave in France. From stunning rock formations to underground rivers there are many dark stories that have been told about this place.

Prepare to be amazed as you explore the mysterious Padirac Chasm in France, or as it is called in France, Gouffre de Padirac. It is an enormous cave in Lot in the Occitanie Region in Southern France.

With its stunning rock formations and underground rivers, this natural wonder is sure to leave an impression. Along with the sights, the cave also comes with some eerie tales of ghosts that have been told over its many years in existence.

The History of Gouffre de Padirac

The Gouffre de Padirac was discovered, or at least throughout explored in 1889 by Frenchman, Edouard-Alfred Martel, who explored its almost 100m deep abyss. 

The chasm itself was made in an unknown point in time however when the roof of the cave collapsed and opened the abyss. We do know though that the cavern existed all the way back in the 3rd century. In the 1400s and 1500s it was even inhabited. 

The Chasm to Hell: The big hole going down, supposedly all the way down to hell has been speculated about among the locals for centuries. //Source/ wikimedia/Sail over

During the Hundred Years War and the Wars of Religion, the locals used the intricate cave system of Gouffre de Padirac as a shelter from the raging battles. 

Today over 400 000 tourists come to explore the caves, and as you explore the place, you can imagine the intrigue that greeted this fascinating discovery. Along with its stalagmites, underground rivers and rock formations, Padirac Cave will take your breath away.

The Features of Gouffre de Padirac

As you descend the 33m wide, 10m high entrance of Padirac Cave, you will be immediately amazed at the incredible rock formations that line the walls of limestone. Some are painted in colors like red and yellow while others look like shimmering ice-sculpted mounds. 

A Boat Ride Underground: Another legend told about this underground tunnells full of secrets is that there is a hidden treasure protected by fire. //Source/wikimedia/Tim Tim (VD fr)

An underground river flows through the depths of the cave and can be seen and heard snaking through as you approach its 77m deep abyss. The galleries were hollowed out around one or two million years ago. The river also creates a mesmerizing misty spray which adds a mystical atmosphere to your tour.

Chasms Made by Lucifer Himself

It’s no wonder that Gouffre de Padirac is believed by many to be the work of Lucifer himself. The long winding paths, deep crevices and dark abyss have become home to many legends and mysteries

It is said that Saint Martin, a man traveling to spread the word of God to the locals, was passing by and suddenly Lucifer stood before him with a number of souls of peasants condemned to hell he was leading them into. Lucifer made the Gouffre with a swipe of a talon and challenged Saint Martin. 

He had to cross the Gouffre de Padirac, the entire abyss, the very way to hell to save the souls condemned for hell. To win this challenge, Saint Martin jumped with his mule over it all. The mule left the imprint of his hoof when he landed, and it is said you can still see it to this day.  

Hidden Treasures Protected by Fire

One of the more persistent legends about this abyss and a hole in the earth is that there is a hidden treasure hidden in the depths of Gouffre de Padirac.

There are still tales about flames coming from the caves. Popular belief is that it is to protect a treasure that the English hid away during the Hundred Years War when the end was near and they knew they had lost. 

Mysterious and Magical Cave

Since the late 1600s, countless visitors have reported a range of mysterious phenomena that appear to make this French cave amazing. From spooky glow-in-the-dark creatures dotted throughout the walls and ceilings to haunting whispers late at night when all other sounds go silent, there is certainly no lack of wonder or enchantment that can be found here. 

Stories of lost adventurers never escaped their explorations and tales of long forgotten relics awaken ancient legends amongst curious visitors.

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References

Padirac Cave – Gouffre de Padirac – Quercy

The geological history | Gouffre de Padirac

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Nazi Soldiers Haunting Château Lagorce in France

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Travel back in time and explore the history of Château Lagorce, a beautiful castle located in France. Learn about its fascinating past and uncover the secrets behind its walls!  

Nestled among the rolling French countryside lies Château Lagorce, a magnificent castle with centuries of history of wine-filled Bordeaux. 

But even though the wine party never ends in the beautiful French countryside, there are also those that claim that the place is a haunted one. And this particular Château is said to be haunted by the Nazi soldier that took camp in the Château during World War II. So sip the fresh wine and let’s have a look at this haunted castle.

The History of Château Lagorce

The story of the former castle turned Château is riddled with wars and blood and the history remembers. During the 14th, 15th as well as the 16th century it was embroiled in feudal wars of who the castle belonged to and it traded families and names constantly. 

The building used to be more prepared for war with tall and thick towers and a protective moat surrounding it. 

The structure of Château Lagorce has changed many times as it was destroyed many times before being rebuilt. After the French Revolution the property was in a very bad shape and sold to a wine producer and produced red wine and Sauvignon Blanc. 

In 2003 a thorough restoration of the castle began by the Holmes family to get back to its once great glory. They now run it as a hotel.

Sauvignon Blanc Wine Country

Château Lagorce is located in the historic wine making region of Sauvignon Blanc, renowned for its production of the world’s finest white wines. As far back as the 15th century, this magnificent location has been celebrated for producing high quality wines. 

Records show that the sauvignon blanc vineyards surrounding Château Lagorce have produced exceptional vintages every year since 1409 and this is the reason why people now seek out this place. But during World War II however, the Germans occupied the castle and it is said that their ghosts are still haunting the castle.

Ghosts of Soldiers from World War II

One of the most haunting stories related to Château Lagorce is the legend of the spirits of soldiers from World War II who perished in battle nearby. During World War II the Germans occupied the building and made it into a Nazi post where they housed mostly prominent generals.

People claim to have heard voices screaming “Fight!” and locals say that these ghostly figures haunt the chateau’s winding paths, appearing at dusk and disappearing as quickly as they appeared. 

When ghost hunters visited the place they experienced a lot of disturbances with their gear and one of the investigators even experienced the feeling of being pinned down to her bed, something that more than one guest has claimed. 

Also words like “This is mine”, “Get out” and the name “Pierre” have been called out in the dark belonging to no one. 

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References

Château Lagorce – Wikipedia

Haunted Chateaux – bordeaux-undiscovered.co.uk