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The Navarran Prince Haunting the Parador de Olite in Pamplona

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In the former Navarra Kingdom in Spain, there is a former castle that is said to be haunted. The Parador de Olite in Pamplona is said to have a portrait of a prince that is said to be haunted. But it is certainly not the only ghost said to haunt the rooms of the hotel. 

Spain is a country steeped in history and mystery, and what better way to experience it than to stay in a haunted hotel? If you’re a fan of the supernatural, then you’ll want to check out these haunted hotels in Spain. Not only do they offer comfortable lodging and great amenities, but they also come with a bonus: ghosts!

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

A haunted hotel is in a former castle close to Pamplona and is there to fulfill a Navarran medieval fantasy for those wanting to stay at something really old and spectacular.

Part of the Haunted Historic Hotel Chain

This former castle is now a part of the National Parador Hotel chain that takes historic sites and turns them into hotels you can stay in and experience the rich history of the building. Spain is renowned for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and unique cultural heritage. Among the many treasures that the country holds, Parador Hotels stand out as true gems. 

These hotels are often housed in historic buildings, such as castles, monasteries, and palaces, offering visitors a chance to experience the past in a truly immersive way.

The Rise and Fall of the Kingdom of Navarre

The hotel is found in a small town called Olite in a former castle to the Kings of Navarre from the late middle ages. It was the seat of the kingdom from the reign of Charles 3rd the Noble from 1387 until the conquest by Castille in 1512. 

The Kingdom of Navarre was a disputed Basque kingdom on both sides of the western Pyrenees between present day Spain and France. 

After the Kingdom became a part of Castile the palace started to deteriorate and was neglected for years. It also had several damaging fires over the years that took out some of the towers and its interior. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Castles and Fortresses

It wasn’t until 1937 when they started to rehabilitate the castle back to its former glory. But although there are some documents telling how it once used to be, some of the rich history of the castle seems to be lost forever. 

The Ghost of the Prince in the Portrait

Inside of the building there hangs a portrait of the prince and it is said that the light bulb above it is lit at all times, even when the lights in the rest of the castle is turned off. This is the portrait of Carlos de Viana and he is said to be one of the ghosts haunting the place. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Hotels

The supposed portrait of the prince hangs in the main hall of the Parador. His face looks tortured and depicts his inner turmoil that his life was as he was sent into exile by his own father. 

Prince Carlos was a Navarran prince living in the castle from 1421 to 1461. He was a man of culture and loved music and literature, translating Aristoteles into Aragonese and wrote the chronicles of the Kings of Navarre by himself. 

Because of his interests, he often found himself at odds with his father, John II of Aragon. They were also political enemies and a civil war broke out in 1451 between the father and son because of disputes about who was the rightful heir to the throne as his father had remarried and favored his stepson to take the throne. The son lost the war but it ended in them reconciling and Charles being appointed as the heir to the Navarre Kingdom. 

Although it looked like it ended in peace, Carlos died soon after in Barcelona and many believed that it was his father’s henchmen or even his stepmother who had poisoned him. It is also possible that he died of tuberculosis as he was known to be a sickly man and prone to depression 

The Other Ghosts of the Parador de Olite

There is also a wing in the castle that is said to be haunted by a strange melody. It is said that sad laments and old melodies can  be heard from the ghosts of the castle, still roaming around. It is especially heard in the towers. 

Many believe it is Carlos III the noble who in his afterlife is taking a walk through the castle with his favorite lion named Marzot. He was the grandfather of the prince in the portrait and similar in many ways about how peculiar they were.

It was under his rule that Olite entered a golden age as a city when they built their castle here and took their seat there as ruler when he built what is known as The New Palace. This new royal seat was built on top of the Roman fortification and the Old Palace from the 12th century. 

The ghost and the strange music from the time of the king can also be seen and heard in Galeria del Rey or the Golden Gallery. It is a gallery next to the King’s chamber overlooking the Patio de las Mereras courtyard enclosed by its gothic tracery. 
The strange music that is sometimes heard was copper sheets that hung from chains in the ceiling and vibrated in the wind. 

The Dona Blanca of the Castle

This former castle is also said to have a Women in White ghost that are said to haunt the Parador de Olite by showing herself in the windows. 

In 1866 a Gustavo Adolfo Becquer visited the castle and saw something he thought had to be a ghost. In one of the Gothic windows in the palace he saw a white figure he guessed to be Doña Leonor de Trastámara haunting the place. 

When the sun shines and outlines the battlements with gold, it still seems that the banners can be seen fluttering and the steely helmets throw sparks of fire; when twilight bathes the ruins in a violet and mysterious tint, it still seems that the afternoon breeze murmurs a song moaning between the angles of the minstrels’ tower, and in some gothic window, on whose sill it sways in the breath of air the blue bell of a wild vine, it is believed to see a white and light shape appear for an instant and disappear. 
– Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, about the Castle of Olite in: Notes from a trip through Navarre.

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References:

Navarrese Civil War (1451–1455) – Wikipedia

Charles, Prince of Viana – Wikipedia

Olite Castle – Castles, Palaces and Fortresses

Olite: Su palacio, su fantasma. Pinceladas de su historia – Pontevedra Viva

Palace of the Kings of Navarre of Olite – Wikipedia

Parador de Olite

Haunted Hotels in Spain

Paradores: Dormir con un fantasma en Olite | Guía Repsol

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The Dark History and Mysterious Hauntings of Bhangarh Fort

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If you’re a fan of ghost stories and haunted places, you might have heard the supernatural tales of Bhangarh Fort. Often deemed to be the most well known haunted place in India, the fort and surrounding village is said to have been cursed to doom. 

Bhangarh Fort in the Alwar district in Rajasthan, India is known as one of the most haunted places in the world and there are even government signs warning people to stay away from the place after dark.

Read more: Check out all of the ghost stories from India

Bhangarh Fort, or भानगढ़ दुर्ग as it is in Hindi was built in 1573 century by Raja Bhagwant Das, a ruler of the Kachwaha Rajput dynasty when the surrounding town also was established and is today well preserved and frequented by tourists. 

Legend of the Hermit Curse

According to the legend, the fort has been cursed for a long time. A hermit or sadhu named Guru Balu Nath used this place for meditation and had a house there. King Raja Bhagwant Das pleaded with the sage and wanted to build the fort there. The guru agreed on one condition: the shadow of the fort would not reach him and no house should be taller than his own. 

Although King Raja Bhagwant Das agreed to this term, it wasn’t upheld and the meditation spot for the sage fell into shadow when the columns that were added later of the fort were built too high. 

Royal Palace Bhangarh: A fortress wit an entire city and palace inside although most of it is in ruins today, the Bhangarh Fort is thought to be one of India’s most haunted places in the country. //Source: Chainwit /WIkimedia

So the hermit cursed the fort and the entire Bhangarh village ended up being destroyed as seen by how there are no roofs. Before 1720 there used to live over 10 000 people in the village until the population started to dwindle and today the village is just a ghost town.

Legend of the Black Magician

This is not the only legend, and not even the only curse that is said to linger at the Bhangarh Fort. Legend has it that a sorcerer and necromancer named Singhia fell in love with the princess of Bhangarh, Ratnavati much later. 

She is often said to have been the daughter of Chatr Singh, who was the grandson of Raja Bhagwant Das. She was said to be quite beautiful and Singhia fell in love with her. He tried to use black magic to make her fall in love with him by using sorcery on the oil she used for massages. Often it is said that they met in the market place and he tried to sell it to her. But Princess Ratnavati discovered his plan and threw the oil onto a huge stone that cracked, revealing its magical powers. 

Read more: Check out all of the Haunted Castles around the world

The stone rolled on top and crushed the magician to death. Before he died, Singhia cursed the fort and all who lived there, saying that the city would be destroyed and no one would be able to live within its walls. 

The curse came true when the fort was attacked and destroyed by the Mughal army as it was annexed by force in 1720, and it has remained close to abandoned ever since compared to its former glory.

How it turned out for the princess is uncertain, but it is said that she is haunting the Bhangarh Fort, and at night you can hear her together with the people of Bhangarh, cursed to forever be trapped in limbo as one of the spirits that comes out after sundown. 

The Supernatural Experiences Reported by Visitors and Locals

Visitors and locals alike have reported a variety of supernatural experiences at Bhangarh Fort. Some have claimed to see ghostly apparitions, while others have reported hearing strange noises and feeling a sense of unease or fear and paranoia when taking a trip around the fort. 

There have also been reports of people feeling as though they were being touched or pushed by an unseen force on the ground of the fort. 

The Archeological Survey of India has put up signs everywhere around Bhangarh Fort of not coming here after dark and before sunrise. Despite the ban on visiting the fort after dark, some still venture there in search of a supernatural thrill. According to the legends, those who do, will never return.

Although the fort is supposedly haunted, it can also be dangerous because of the dark. Something that three friends experienced when they stayed after sundown and one of them fell into a well. Although rescued from the well on the way to the hospital, they got into a road accident and died. 

The Explanation Behind the Roofless Village

There are some things that legends claim that a more natural explanation tries to debunk. When talking about the roofless village, it is said by the locals that the way they are structured, are not meant to have roofs, and if built, it would collapse. They also claim that many have died because of this. It used to be a flourishing village, but today it is deserted.

The Abandoned Ghost City: Ruins of the Royal Palace in Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan. //Radha Joshi/Wikimedia

As for why it is close to deserted today with only 1250 people remaining in 2001 in a village outside the old city limits, is a bit uncertain. After the death of Chatr Singh in 1630, it is said that it was the start of Bhangar’s slow decline. 

The deserting of the village and the fort might have something to do with the famine in 1783 that pretty quickly either drove the inhabitants away, or killed them off. 

The Current State of Bhangarh Fort

Despite its reputation as one of the most haunted places in India, Bhangarh Fort has become a popular tourist destination in recent years. The government has invested in the preservation and restoration of the fort, and visitors can now explore the ruins and learn about its history through guided tours. 

Although if you are a foreigner, you need a special permit to get into the Bhangarh Fort, a step the government took because of their disregard for the rules in the area. But do you really want to visit?

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References:

Bhangarh Fort – Wikipedia 

5 mysterious facts about Bhangarh that will scare you to bits | Times of India Travel 

12 Things to Know About Bhangarh Fort, The Most Haunted Place in India 

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Parador of Jaen Luxury Hotel in the Haunted Castillo de Santa Catalina

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This haunted Parador of Jaen Luxury Hotel is said to be haunted by more than one ghost. A broken hearted woman haunts the rooms, the ghost of two lovers haunts the ground as well as a fable of a so-called Terrible Lizard man that starved to death haunting the dungeons of the former Castillo de Santa Catalina. 

Spain is a country that is known for its rich history and vibrant culture. It’s also known for its haunted hotels. If you are a fan of paranormal activity, staying at a haunted hotel in Spain may be just the thing for you. These hotels have been around for many years and are believed to be haunted by ghosts of the past. In this blog post, we will explore some of the most haunted hotels in Spain that you can stay in and the ghosts that are said to be lingering inside the rooms. Are you brave enough to spend a night in one of these haunted hotels?

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

This particular haunted hotel can be found in the olive oil producing center of Spain, sitting on the Cerro de Santa Catalina looking over the Spanish city of Jaen. 

The Arabic Castle

The Castillo de Santa Catalina was first built in the 8th century as a Moorish castle, they have a long history with bloody battles as well as a tragic ghost story of a woman with a broken heart.

Overlooking the Andalusian landscape and serving local food like the ajoblanco in the distinctive architecture of the province that remains a mix of the arabic, catholic and napoleon architecture of those who were the owners of the castle throughout time. The hotel is also known to serve up some spooky ghost stories.  

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Castles and Fortresses

Now the former Castillo de Santa Catalina and fortress has been reworked to a hotel next to the castle in 1965 where more than one ghost resides inside of the fine hotel rooms and most of the staff working there have a couple of anecdotes about the supposed hauntings that are said to go on. 

The Haunted Historic Hotel

This former castle is now a part of the National Parador Hotel chain that takes historic sites and turns them into hotels you can stay in and experience the rich history of the building. Spain is renowned for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and unique cultural heritage. Among the many treasures that the country holds, Parador Hotels stand out as true gems. 

The Haunted Hotel and Castle: Castillo de Santa Catalina, Tarifa, Cádiz in Spain.// Source: Diego Delso, delso.photo, License CC-BY-SA

These hotels are often housed in historic buildings, such as castles, monasteries, and palaces, offering visitors a chance to experience the past in a truly immersive way.

The Broken Hearted Woman in Room 22

One of the rooms of this hotel is said to be Room 22 that turned to room 401 after the hotel had some renovations done. People that have stayed here and local lore claim that this room is haunted by a woman that had her heart broken and ended her life here. 

The room is located in one of the towers in the Castillo de Santa Catalina. When this  haunting was supposed to have happened or started though it is a bit unclear. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Hotels

One story about her ghosts goes that one night, a guest was staying in the room and claimed to be woken up by someone banging on the door and the sound of a woman crying. He went to the hotel to complain, but no one could really give an answer except for that it might have been a ghost.

Others tell about a strange presence in room 22 and sometimes also Room 23 that are said to disturb in the night and sliding the furniture around, opening suitcases as well as a drop in the temperature and shadows wandering in the room. 

The Muslim Mistress that was too Powerful

Another variation of the legend is that the woman haunting the room is actually the muslim mistress to the lord of the castle, constable of Castile, Miguel Lucas de Iranzo. She is sometimes known as Jasmina It is said she had too big of an influence on the constable and that because of this he was neglecting his duties to the kingdom. It was because of this that King Enrique IV ordered her dead. 

She is now forever haunting the Castillo de Santa Catalina where she was cruelly murdered after a group of men stormed the castle and set her on fire, burning her to death, some claim that she was pregnant.

People have also said to have seen a woman dressed in old Arab clothes in the room and the hallways outside. 

The Ghost of the Lovers

Another ghost story told is the one about the Governor Omar and his wife Zoraida when the castle belonged to the muslims. 
One night, Omar was summoned to town to solve an issue, but didn’t return. His wife went out looking for him that night because she was worried and right outside she found him stabbed to death. 

She hugged him, crying for her lost lover. When his soldier found them, they tried to separate them, but found that the wife had also died, although her tears continued to run down as a stream. The tears eventually formed what is now Caño Quebrado fountain. 

In the local town it is said that on February nights their ghosts have been seen returning together to the castle arm in arm. 

The Paranormal Investigation in Castillo de Santa Catalina

The place was investigated by paranormal psychiatrists in 1984 and found the spirit of the ghost that haunted the room. 
There has also been a well known TV program about ghosts that dedicated an episode to the hotel in 2015. 

Lagarto Terrible Haunting the Dungeons

The heartbroken woman, the Arab mistress and the two lovers are not the only spirits that are said to haunt the hotel. 
In the prison below the Castillo de Santa Catalina there is also a particular ghost that is said to haunt the place. This is the ghost of Lagarto Terrible, or Terrible Lizard, a man who died of starvation when he was imprisoned and is now haunting the place, harmless, but spookily wandering the halls and temporarily possessing guests not paying attention.

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References:

El misterioso parador construido sobre un castillo: un fantasma vaga por la habitación 401

Dormir con un fantasma en Jaén – Castillo de Santa Catalina | Guía Repsol

Parador de Jaén: un hotel de lujo con fantasma

Castillo de Santa Catalina (Jaén) – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Spooky Spain: Paradores’ Haunted Hotels

The 5 most Haunted Places in Spain

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Leamaneh Castle and the Ghost of Red Mary

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In the 1600s, the red-headed mistress of Leamaneh Castle in Ireland was run with an iron fist. Red Mary and her dark reign still looms over the area and it is said she is haunting the place after her horrible death. 

Smack in the heart of County Clare, Ireland, Leamaneh Castle stands looming in both the splendor and the sinister secrets of its past. Among the myriad of haunted castles that dot the Irish landscape, Leamaneh Castle has earned a reputation as a place steeped in notoriety and ghostly lore. 

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

Today only the ruins of the 15th century tower house turned into a 17th century mansion still stand. The castle name “Leamaneh” is believed to be derived from the Irish léim an éich meaning “the horse’s leap” or léim an fheidh  that means “the deer’s leap“.

Red Mary and her Dark Reign

At the center of the legends of the castle is the infamous figure of Red Mary—a name both aptly descriptive and ominous foreboding. The red-headed Mary was born in 1615 or 1616 came into a substantial amount of wealth after her husband died. 

Her real name was Máire Rua O’Brien and known for her fiery locks that matched the tempestuous spirit, Red Mary wielded authority over Leamaneh Castle with an iron fist, her reign drenched in darkness and cruelty according to legends. Her presence still lingers, like a ghostly echo, within the castle’s ancient walls.

Leamaneh Castle: Today there are only ruins of the Leamaneh Castle amidst the green in County Clare in Ireland. It is believed that the castle is haunted by its former mistress, the Red Mary. //Source: Jerzy Strzelecki/Wikimedia

The tales that surround Red Mary are steeped in the kind of brutality that chills the soul—stories of servant girls hanging from the castle’s windows by their own hair, their lives taken at the whim of their merciless mistress for petty mistakes. 

She also had a stallion in her stable according to the legends that she challenged visitors to ride on. Once released, the stallion would run towards the Cliffs of Moher where the poor victims would be thrown off and into their death. 

The Marriages of Red Mary

Remarkably, Red Mary found herself married an astounding twenty-five times, each union a testament to the fleeting and treacherous nature of her affections. That is according to legend though, but fact tells us she was at least married three times. 

Red Mary is said to have joined her second husband, Conor O’Brien, on raids against English settlers together with the Royalists, but when he died in a rebellion against them, she flipped sides. Fearing that she would lose her estate, she married a Cromwellian soldier to keep it. 

Máire Rua O’Brien: The Irish noblewoman, Máire Rua O’Brien, more known as Red Mary is perhaps known more for her legends than her actual life. According to legend, she married countless times, was a merciless killer and was brutally murdered by her enemies. But how much of it was really true? The remaining legend about her is that she is haunted her castle ruins.

Her husbands met fates as grim as her reputation; legend has it that one unfortunate spouse met his untimely demise at her own hands. The Cromwellian officer, Cornet John Cooper, her third husband once made a comment about her ex-husband and she was so furious she jumped from her bed and kicked him in the stomach, which he died from. 

Whether this is true or not is up for dispute, as sources claim they were married to her death in 1686, although it was said they lived apart. 

Starved to Death

Unsurprisingly, Red Mary’s trail of brutality left a trail of enemies in its wake. The many lives she had ruined and the blood she had spilled eventually caught up with her. In a twist of fate, her adversaries succeeded in capturing the ruthless widow, imprisoning her within the hollowed-out confines of a tree. 

In her captivity inside of the hollow tree, Red Mary suffered the cruelest fate of all, slowly wasting away as she succumbed to starvation. It is said that the tree was at the avenue of Carnelly Forest. 

Other legends claim that she was flung from a horse into a forked branch of a tree where she choked, or hung by her own hair from a tree. But was this really the case, as her death was recorded in 1686, when she was in her 70s?

Records show that she died of natural causes though as she was in poor health in her final years where she died comfortably in Dromoland Castle where her son moved the family. 

The Ghost of Red Mary

Leamaneh Castle stands as a haunting reminder of Red Mary’s dark legacy no matter how she died. The ruins of this once-mighty fortress bear the weight of her tormented spirit, with echoes of her anguished screams reverberating through the ages. 

Read More: Check out all of the Haunted Castle’s from around the world

She is said to appear in two different places. The first is close to her castle, the other one is at the Druid’s Altar that is near Clare Castle, and as we don’t have the exact location of where she is buried, some place it around those parts. Some say she is buried in Ennis Abbey, next to her first husband she always loved according to legend.  

The Haunted Ruins of a Leamaneh Castle

Leamaneh Castle, County Clare’s enigmatic relic, invites those who dare to explore its haunted halls to uncover the truth behind Red Mary’s reign of terror. No one is tending to this castle anymore and it is slowly crumbling as time passes as the son of Red Mary abandoned the castle in 1686. 

After a series of occupying the castle though after Red Mary’s reign, it was completely abandoned at the end of the 18th century and left to ruin. 

Her lingering presence serves as a grim reminder that even the most beautiful castles can conceal the darkest of secrets, and the past is never truly buried beneath the sands of time.

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References:

History of The Burren: Leamaneh Castle 

Leamaneh Castle, County Clare, Ireland 

Leamaneh Castle – Wikipedia 

Red Mary – The Ghost of Leamaneh Castle – The Irish Place 

Leamaneh Castle – Manoir du Burren • Go to Ireland.com 

Visiting Leamaneh Castle in County Clare, Ireland 

History of The Burren: Leamaneh Castle 

Máire Rua O’Brien – Wikipedia 

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El Parador de Cardona Castle Haunted Hotel

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In a former castle turned hotel in Catalonia, Spain, it is said that more than one of the rooms are haunted. Most haunted is room 712 in El Parador de Cardona Castle where the duke’s daughter died in the tower because of her love for the wrong man. 

Parador hotels are a type of state funded hotels that are found in old and historic buildings such as castles, former hospitals, fortresses and mansions. Spain has some of the most beautiful and historic hotels in the world, but some of them come with a spooky twist. If you’re looking for an eerie adventure, consider staying in one of Spain’s haunted hotels.

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

El Parador de Cardona in Catalonia is said to be a haunted hotel that used to be an old fortress with a 11th century Romanesque church and the first construction on the hill was built by Wilfred the Hairy in 886. 

From the 14th century it was the fortress of the dukes of Cordona that was the most important family in the Kingdom of Aragon and often called Kings without Crowns as they owned a lot of property and had a lot of power. 

The Haunted Historic Hotel

This former castle is now a part of the National Parador Hotel chain that takes historic sites and turns them into hotels you can stay in and experience the rich history of the building. Spain is renowned for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and unique cultural heritage. Among the many treasures that the country holds, Parador Hotels stand out as true gems. 

These hotels are often housed in historic buildings, such as castles, monasteries, and palaces, offering visitors a chance to experience the past in a truly immersive way. Now, the former fortress is turned into a huge historic hotel a 100 kilometers outside of Barcelona with a view to the Cardener Rivers as well as the Saline Valley. 

In the Middle Ages the Cardona Castle was used as a prison and torture place, and it is said that the former prisoners are haunting the halls still. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Hotels

It is also said that the place is haunted, and the backstory for these ghosts haunting the now historic hotel is a tragic love story that happened centuries ago. 

The Girl in the White Dress in El Parador de Cardona

Some claim to have seen the ghost of a girl wearing a white dress walking around the El Parador de Cardona hallways in the night. Who could this ghost of Cardona Castle be?

According to the legend, people think that this could be Adales, the daughter of Viscount Raimon Folch that died tragically in the Cardona Castle a long time ago. 

The Tragic Love Story of Prince Abdala and Adales

Many centuries ago the Duke of Cardona invited the Berber prince Abdala to a party at Cardona Castle and the muslim prince went. 

During the party, the duke’s daughter, Adales, was walking in the castle gardens where she met the prince. They fell in love and swore they would be together no matter what. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Castles and Fortresses

They started to meet up in secret, because they knew her Catholic parents would never approve of them being together and that the two towns would go to war if their secret was discovered. But of course they were discovered and her father didn’t take it well at all. 

She planned an escape, but her father was planning her engagement with another nobleman. But the rumors of the young girl’s affair with the boy spread and her fiance broke their engagement off. 

With the breaking of the engagement, they also broke off their support for the viscount, and he was furious. He decided to teach his daughter a lesson and imprisoned her inside one of the towers in Cardona Castle. While being imprisoned in Torre Minona she was only given bread and water for weeks as they tried to break her spirit. The servant that brought her the food was also blind and mute so that she wouldn’t be able to talk with anyone while she was serving her time in the tower. 

Even with this torture, she never once asked for forgiveness for her love, even though her prince was forbidden to ever entering Cordona ever again and according to the legend, she died inside of the tower. 

According to the legend, you can see Abdaka roaming outside of the tower of Cardona Castle on horseback, as he came back in his afterlife to look for his eternal love Adales. 

The Haunted Room 712 in Cardona Castle

Back at the El Parador de Cardona hotel, even some of the rooms are said to be haunted. Especially room 712 is said to have the most paranormal activity in the hotel. 

Because of all the troubles the El Parador de Cardona has had with this room, they decided to never rent out the room except if the visitors are there for the ghosts and specifically asks for it. And it looks like there have been more than enough curious guests that have asked for this room. 

It is said that it is the ghost of Adele that is haunting the room. It is believed that this was her room back in the day.  
The room had a rumor that the furniture would move by itself and for many years the furniture were pulled and ended up in the center of the room each night. 

Today the ghost in room 712 in Cardona Castle seems a bit more relaxed though as it has been a long time since there have been reports of any unofficial remodeling of the room. 

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References:

Torre de la ‘Minyona’ – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Spooky Spain: Paradores’ Haunted Hotels

Mysterious and Haunted Places in Spain

Visiting Spain’s Most Haunted Locations | Right Casa Estates

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The Romantic Ghost Haunting the Castle of Buen Amor

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In Salamanca in Spain we find the Castle of Buen Amor or the Castle of Good Love. It used to be the love nest of a Bishop and his mistress, and according to the legend her ghost is haunting the place that now is a hotel perfect for romantic getaways, just as intended. 

In the heart of the Castilian countryside in Spain, this enigmatic fortress has stood the test of time, captivating locals and visitors alike with its romantic, yet tragic history. From ghostly apparitions to inexplicable phenomena, the Castle of Buen Amor is shrouded in mystery with an aura of eternal love. 

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

History and Background of the Castle of Good Love

In Salamanca province, there is a castle dubbed, the Castle of Good Love. It is a reference of the romance between the Bishop, Alonso de Fonseca Quijada and Teresa de las Cuevas. Their love ended in tragedy though as well as it became a ghost story. To this day, people claim to have seen their ghosts.  

The Castle of Good Love: Castillo de Buen Amor is said to be haunted by the lady in white, the woman the castle was built for.//Source: El Pantera/ wikimedia

The Castle of Buen Amor, also known as the Castle of Good Love, has a rich and fascinating history that dates back centuries. Originally built as a defensive fortress in the 11th century, it served as a stronghold for various noble families throughout the years.

The Love Nest of the Bishop and his Mistress

Legend has it that the Bishop, Alonso de Fonseca Quijada, infatuated with Teresa de las Cuevas, commissioned the construction of the castle as a gift to her. He couldn’t give himself away as her husband, but he could give her a home. He bought the fortress in the 15th century and remade it to their love nest with more care for the architectural details to be a home for them rather for military defense. 

Together they lived in this castle away from the talk of the town, trying to hide their unforbidden love. Although talk traveled fast and everybody knew of this affair, and so the castle was dubbed the Castle of Good Love. 

The castle became a symbol of their love, and their story continues to be told to this day. It is said that their spirits still roam the halls of the castle, forever bound to each other and to the place they called home.

Castle of Buen Amor Made into a Hotel for Romantic Getaways

In the 1950s, the abandoned castle was bought by the family that now owns it. They spent the next decades restoring it to its former glory as it had been used as a warehouse until then. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Hotels

In 2003 they opened their doors and offered the castle as a location for weddings and a stay for honeymooners and people at a romantic getaway. Again it became a castle for romance and love. 

The Lady in White Haunting the Castle

One of the most enduring legends associated with the Castle of Buen Amor is that of the Lady in White. Countless visitors and mediums have reported seeing ghosts in this fairytale romance castle. 

More often than not they see a spectral figure dressed in flowing white robes, wandering the corridors of the castle. Some claim to have heard her soft footsteps and the rustling of her gown, while others have caught glimpses of her ethereal form disappearing into the shadows.

Read more: Check out more ghost stories about Ladies in White like: The White Lady In Freihung, The Lady in White in Zitadelle Spandau or The Buried Alive Ghosts of Château de Trécesson in the Enchanted Forest

The identity of the Lady in White remains a mystery, but many believe she is the ghost of Teresa de las Cuevas, forever searching for her love, wandering within the walls they used to call their home. 

The Enduring Allure of the Castle of Buen Amor

The Castle of Buen Amor continues to captivate the imaginations of all who dare to explore its haunted halls. It beckons you to uncover its secrets, to embrace the unknown, and to experience the romance of the paranormal. 

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Castillo del Buen Amor

The 10 haunted castles in Spain you must visit – Tourtravel & More

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The Haunted Torre Salvana in Barcelona from Hell

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The so-called Castle of Hell or Torre Salvana outside of Barcelona is a rumored haunted castle. A dark mysterious smoke from nowhere, eerie whispers in the dark and the sighting of a girl with a bullet wound in her forehead, these ruins cast a long shadow.

Spain is a country with a rich history and culture, and one of the places where that history is most evident is in its architecture. There are many castles in Spain, each with its own unique story. But none are quite as fascinating as the haunted Spanish castle. This castle is known for being one of the most haunted places in Spain, with a ghost that has been said to linger inside for centuries. 

This Catalonian abandoned castle dates back to the 10th century with the earliest documentation from 992, but now it is abandoned in ruins and the gates have opened for people to come and go as they please. Although according to the talks, it is also forgotten, even by the locals living in Barcelona who are unaware of its existence. 

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The castle has been abandoned for centuries and  In 1715 the castle was abandoned in very poor condition due to the war between Jaime I and Joan II. The castle has also a rumor going on these days that the place is haunted, perhaps by the devil himself. 

The Castle from Hell

The castle is located close to the famous Barcelona architect Gaudi church, Colonia Guell in Santa Coloma de Cervello. It is a village built for the workers near the textile mill and is seemingly the only ones remembering it as they pass it by, making it a meeting spot for parties or ghost hauntings. 

The place has become famous for being a haunted place and is often called Castilo del Infierno or the Castle of Hell. 

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The reason for this is because of the people gathering in the place for seemingly mysterious rituals and to experience something paranormal, perhaps even by summoning it. 

Paranormal Experiences of Torre Salvana

As an open area to people to come and go as they please, there have over the years developed many legends about this place. Some have been created for the scary atmosphere, some of them, perhaps created it. 

Many paranormal activities like psychophone have been recorded here. There are also strange sightings and hearings that have been reported on and many people claim to have heard the voices of women crying and asking for help. 

Strange noises seemingly from the middle ages like cannon shots or the sound of metal clinking like in a sword battle has been heard. Could it be an echo of the many battles that were fought on these grounds on this very place?

The Dark Smoke Covering the Place

Some of the more strange things that have been seen around the castle grounds are the thing about the black smoke that seemingly comes out from nowhere. 

Strange dark smoke has been seen coming out from the watchtower and has spread around the castle grounds, although nothing in the tower was set on fire. It comes through a window and disappears into the walls only seconds after. Some even claim to have had the smoke come flying over their heads. 

The Girl with the Bulletwound in her Head

There are even tales about seeing a little child, most often told to be a little girl with long black hair and wearing a white nightgown. She is often seen wandering the courtyard. 

At first glance it perhaps looks like one of the local kids that have come there to play among the ruins. There is only one thing that is wrong on a closer inspection. If you look closely you can see that this child ghost is always seen with a bullet wound on her forehead. 

The Castle from Hell Trying to Grab Hold of You

One of the most told stories about this place except for the eerily tone and atmosphere every castle ruin would give you, is the stories about people being touched or physically grabbed. 

People have walked around the grounds, up the stairs and into the remaining rooms, seemingly alone with no one within reach. They have then felt someone or something grabbing their arm or leg, pulling them towards something. Toward what is unclear, but the dark legends about the castle will surely give you some ideas.

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Castillo Torre Salvana

13 Barcelona Haunted Houses & Places that will creep you out

Haunted and Mysterious Places in Barcelona | 19 Local Legends

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The Haunted Castle Durrow and the Ghosts in the Forest

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In the woodlands outside of Castle Durrow in Ireland it is said that the ghost of a highwayman is still guarding his treasure. Inside of the old castle turned hotel, it is said friendly ghosts are haunting. 

The regal Castle Durrow stands today as an elegant four-star hotel, exuding timeless charm and a storied history that stretches back to the 18th century. Castle Durrow overlooks the River Erkina in County Laois with over 30 acres of forest and gardens to explore. 

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

This magnificent fortress of pre-Palladian design built from 1712 was once the abode of esteemed barons and viscounts, echoing with the grandeur of bygone eras and the whispers of ghostly secrets.

The village of Durrow takes from the Irish Darmhagh Ua nDuach, meaning ‘the oak plain’, and there is in these woods the ghost of a highwayman guarding his treasure.

The Ruthless Highwayman

Behind the opulent facade of Castle Durrow lies a tale veiled in darkness. Ruthless thieves terrorized the local community in the early years of the 19th century in the dense forest of Durrow. The highwaymen was led by none other than the notorious highwayman, Captain Jeremiah Grant as he was called and his thieving gang left a trail of fear in their wake.

Read also: The Highwayman Robbed of his Life

Captain Grant’s gang was a relentless force of malevolence, robbing carriages, and striking fear into the hearts of all who crossed their path. 

However, as fate would have it, the reign of terror orchestrated by Captain Grant and his gang would ultimately meet its end. Justice prevailed, and the nefarious highwaymen were apprehended, their fate sealed by the hangman’s noose in 1816. But before facing their final judgment, they harbored a secret—a stolen treasure, buried deep within the ancient forests surrounding Durrow and Dunmore Wood.

The specters of Captain Grant and his malevolent gang are rumored to still haunt the woods, their spectral presence serving as an ominous warning to would-be treasure seekers, still guarding it all these years later.

Read also: Check out all of our Haunted Forests from around the world

Although with this reputation, it is also said that Jeremiah Grant was kind to animals and hurt no man as he robbed them. When looking into history, an orphaned boy that was evicted from his farm from a greedy landlord, one can wonder if it really is more of a tragic story about what poverty can do to a man rather than greed for endless treasures. This gives a stark contrast to the luxury within the huge castle. 

The Friendly Ghosts

The ruthless highwaymen protecting their treasure is not the only ghost said to reside around the old castle. After Castle Durrow opened as a hotel in the 1990s, there have been stories about friendly ghosts that haunt the hotel and are more of a help than anything. 

Read More: Check out all of the Haunted Castle’s from around the world

There is also a legend about a woman that died when she fell off her horse close to the castle and is said to be haunting her place of death. This spot is marked with an obelisk in a field near the hotel and many claim to have seen her ghost around the spot. 

The Haunted Castle Durrow

The chilling tales of Castle Durrow and its spectral guardians serve as a haunting reminder that history’s echoes are not always confined to the pages of time. Even amidst the elegance and refinement of a four-star hotel, the ghostly whispers of the past persist, weaving an intricate tapestry of intrigue and trepidation.

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Featured Image: A.-K. D./Wikimedia

Castle Durrow | Haunted Laois, Ireland | Spirited Isle 

Jeremiah Grant of Tipperary, Highwayman 

Haunted Ireland… Any Time Of Year 

https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/ireland/walk-of-the-week-dunmore-loop-durrow-co-laois/26834190.html

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The Ghost of the Little Girl in Palacio de Linares

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The luxurious Palacio de Linares in Madrid is a splendid palace with a dark legend hanging over it. According to the ghost stories about this place there is the ghost of a small girl haunting the place after her parents murdered her to avoid a scandal to their reputation. 

Castles have always been a fascinating subject and have been an integral part of many cultures throughout the world. Some of them are famous for their beauty, while others are renowned for their history. Amongst them, the Spanish castle is one of the most talked-about places. The story of this place is filled with tales of ghosts and mysterious happenings that have kept people interested and afraid at the same time.

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

In the heart of Madrid there is a grand mansion built between 1877 and 1900 at the Cibeles Square. Today it is the headquarters of La Casa America, but it used to belong to Jose de Murga y Reolid and Raimunda, who were the Marquises of Linares and some of the wealthiest people in Spain. 

The palace used to be known as the Murga Palace in its earlier days and was a luxurious place with only the finest things for the finest folk. Then the Spanish Civil War hit in the 1930s and as with many of the grand old houses, it became abandoned and had no one to take care of it.  

It was closed for almost a century and left almost to its own devices to decay and crumble under its own heavy history. It wasn’t until 1992 it opened again after a long and hard restoration job. 

The Marquise of Linares in the Palace

The Marquises of Linares got married and moved into the house in 1884 in their lavish home. The main staircase of Carrara marble and the ceilings decorated with gold and mythological paintings. There is exotic wood on the floors and French lamps lighting up, Chinese silk and art by famous painters. All this luxury, the gold and the glamor couldn’t hide the dark secret that would ruin them though. 

There was nothing that would suggest that this was nothing more than perfection. And the couple that made it together seemed to be the most in love, far from many of the other marriages that existed at that time. There was only one thought that no gold could save. According to the legend, they were in fact half-siblings and the truth of it made them mad. 

The Dark Legend of the The Marquise of Linares

Joseph of Murga and Reolid was the owner of the palace and he fell in love with Raimunda Osorio who was the daughter of a cigarette maker from Lavapies. That is what the legend says, but the truth is that the father of her is actually not that certain. It really could be anyone, even the one mentioned in the legend. 

Joseph’s father was the wealthy businessman Mateo Murga y Michelena and their family had gained a massive fortune from their businesses in Cuba and because of the railways that was all the rage and where the money could be made. He was an educated man and by his height the richest man in Spain with a bright life ahead of him.  

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Castles and Fortresses

When his son told about his love, the father was horrified for some reason. Was it her simple status? Her personality or family background? Something else? Without further explanation Joseph was sent to London to study to remove him from the woman. His father hoped that time would make him forget his first love and come back a changed man with a changed heart. 

Joseph never forgot about her though and married her in 1858, and if the legend holds any truth, they are lucky his father wasn’t alice. His father passed away the year before and among his things, there was a letter that told the truth about why he had been so against the two. Apparently He had an affair with Raimunda’s mother and that she was in fact his daughter, and Joseph’s sister. 

When the two newlyweds finally knew the truth, their dreams of a happy marriage came crashing down as there was no way they could ignore this bit of information. They knew that they couldn’t be parted though, as one, they still loved each other, and two, there was no way out, they were already married.  

Because of this predicament they found themselves in, they decided to ask Pope Pius IX for a papal bull called Casti Conviere. That document would legitimize them living together in the eyes of God and the catholic church despite the truth, although they were supposed to live in chastity. 

Their love had gone too far though, and according to the legend, they gave birth to a daughter. To avoid further scandal, they had her murdered in silence without anyone knowing of her existence and her body is said to be somewhere inside of the palace. 

The wife was the first to go in 1976 and he died only five months later. Gossip say that he shot himself although the official chronicles says it was a serious lung condition. 

Although their final testament claims they died without any children, the legend says otherwise. According to tumors there is a dollhouse inside of the palace, and it is said it belonged to their daughter. 

It is said that the daughter, often called Raimunda, is haunting the fine palace to this day. She can be seen walking the halls of the palace as she sings nursery rhymes, almost like living through her childhood she never got to have. She is also heard calling out for her parents that cast her aside. 

The Truth to the Rumors

Were they in fact siblings? Did they have a daughter they ended up murdering? There have been no evidence and many that have tried to refute the rumors, there are also those that keep the legend alive. 

Especially the part where the palace is haunted to this day by their daughter they got rid of to escape scandal. The palace is mentioned on most haunted houses lists in Spain all the same, whatever the truth really is.

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José de Murga y Reolid – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Palacio de Linares – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Road trip through the gloomiest haunted houses in Spain

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The Haunting Legacy of Kilkenny Castle

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Kilkenny Castle is a haunted building in an equally haunted village. The Lady in White is haunting the castle to this day, and at night when the castle is empty, the electronic visitor counter has counted over a hundred people. 

In Kilkenny city in Ireland medieval whispers still linger in the air of the cobble stoned streets. The centuries-old Kilkenny Castle reigns as a fortress of both historical grandeur and eerie ghostly tales. Travel+ Leisure even called Kilkenny city, nicknamed the Marble City, one of the most haunted cities in the world. 

With a lineage dating back to 1195, the castle standing there now was built in 1260, and the storied site has witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties, the echoes of battles and witch hunts, and the secrets of centuries gone by, making it a prime breeding ground for otherworldly apparitions.

The Haunted Kilkenny City

Throughout the ages, the noble Butler family called Kilkenny Castle, or Caisleán Chill Chainnigh, their home. For generations, they ruled these hallowed halls, leaving an indelible mark on its storied history. However, within these ancient walls, the dark echoes of the infamous witch trials that condemned Dame Alice Kyteler still reverberate as Ireland’s first official witch trial. 

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

Yet, it’s not just the historical record that haunts Kilkenny Castle; it’s the spectral entities that continue to roam its corridors and gardens, invoking a shiver down the spine of those who dare to tread in their ethereal presence as it is said that the castle itself houses up to 41 ghosts.

Kilkenny City: The Irish name of Kilkenny is Cill Chainnigh, meaning ‘church of Cainnech. It is a city in County Kilkenny, Ireland in the South-East Region and in the province of Leinster. It is built on both banks of the River Nore and a very old city. No wonder it is also called the most haunted city in the world.

The Many Ghosts of Kilkenny Castle

Within the gray stone walls, there are mostly mysterious and vague descriptions of ghosts haunting the halls, seeing mystical shadows when there is no one there, and hearing strange noises that come from nowhere. 

Read More: Check out all of the Haunted Castle’s from around the world

The Parade Tower in the castle is now used as a conference venue. It has an electronic counter that counts visitors when they visit, and has counted up to a hundred visitors, but the strange thing is when: According to the staff, they have counted so many in the dark hours when the castle is closed and there is no one inside. 

The dungeon is also a place where strange happenings people think must be paranormal are said to take place. This was where many souls were imprisoned before passing away, as well as being the place where the infamous witch trials of Dame Alice Kuteler took place. 

The White Lady of Kilkenny Castle

One of the most prominent phantoms that graces Kilkenny Castle with her presence is the enigmatic “White Lady.” This ghostly figure is a constant source of speculation among the locals, each harboring their own interpretation of her tragic identity. Many believe that she is the spirit of Lady Margaret Butler, born within the castle’s formidable walls during the mid-15th century.

Lady Margaret Butler’s lineage weaves her into the tapestry of history in a remarkable way. She was born in the castle in 1454, or perhaps 1465 and was the paternal grandmother of Anne Boleyn, the ill-fated second wife of King Henry VIII of England. It is said that after her death, her spirit returned to her birthplace.

The legend of the White Lady tells of a restless soul, forever wandering the castle’s labyrinthine corridors. Lost and lonely, she drifts through the castle’s verdant gardens, her ethereal footsteps creating a ghostly echo that resonates through the stillness of the night.

The Haunted Kilkenny Castle

As day turns to night and the castle’s stones absorb the stories of centuries, the legacy of Kilkenny Castle endures, blending history with the supernatural. With each passing generation, the enigmatic White Lady continues her timeless journey, a spectral reminder of a bygone era, where love, loss, and longing are eternally intertwined in the haunted halls of Kilkenny Castle.

Kilkenny Castle: An old photo of Kilkenny Castle from 1890 or 1900.

Today, you can visit the castle that now belongs to the Irish State and continue to try to have it remain the grand castle it was built to be. As the last Lord Ormonde that owned it said when he sold it for £50: “The people of Kilkenny, as well as myself and my family, feel a great pride in the Castle, and we have not liked to see this deterioration. We determined that it should not be allowed to fall into ruins. There are already too many ruins in Ireland.”

 

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Ghost Stories ~ Sacred Sites of Ireland 

The Ghosts of Kilkenny 

Kilkenny Castle – Wikipedia