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Fredriksten Fortress and the White Lady of Halden

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In the border town of Sweden of Norway, Fredriksten Fortress has seen more bloodshed than many places. But who is the White Lady said to be haunting it, soaring around the clock tower in the night?

High above the town of Halden, a border town in Norway toward Sweden, where stone walls overlook the fjord and the borderlands beyond, Fredriksten Fortress rises with quiet authority. Built to defend Norway from invasion, it has stood through sieges, cannon fire, and centuries of uneasy peace. Today it is a place of museums, concerts, and summer crowds. But when night settles over the ramparts, the fortress is said to remember its dead.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Norway

Among the many legends bound to these walls, none is as enduring as that of Den Hvite Dame, the White Lady of Fredriksten.

Fredriksten Festning: The haunted fortress in Halden, Norway is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman in white, said to have been behind mysterious disappearances and strange occurrences, leaving some soldiers defeated. // Source: Kjetil Bjørnsrud

A Fortress Shaped by War

Fredriksten Fortress is one of Norway’s most important military strongholds. From the seventeenth century onward, it played a crucial role in defending the border against Swedish forces. The fortress is perhaps best known for the death of King Charles XII of Sweden, who was killed during the siege of 1718. 

There is still a debate about if it was a Norwegian who killed him, or one of his own country men who was behind the shot. Long after the final shots were fired, the weight of conflict still seems to cling to the stone.

The Woman in White

According to legend, the White Lady was once the secret mistress of the fortress commander. Some say that she was the maid of commander Johan Hubner von Holst, or some say that it was actually one of the soldiers. 

Their relationship was hidden within the walls, known only to a few, and carried out in the shadow of constant danger. During a Swedish attack on the fortress, the commander or soldier was struck and killed by a cannonball or shot by a pistol. His body was never recovered, lost to the chaos of battle.

In some versions, her grief was simply that her love was never reciprocated. Either way, overcome with grief and despair, the woman is said to have climbed the fortress white clock tower and flung herself from it. Her death bound her to the place where her life and love had ended.

Since then, her spirit has never truly left Fredriksten.

Midnight on the White Tower

The White Lady is most often reported near the clock tower now known as the White Tower, appearing close to midnight and the full moon. She is also said to be seen around the commander’s building and down in the dungeons. 

Witnesses describe a pale female figure dressed in white, silent and still, never touching the ground as she glides past. Some say she waves gently toward those who see her. Others claim she stands motionless, gazing out over the city of Halden and the dark waters of the fjord beyond.

One of the strangest details repeated in many retellings is the behavior of the fortress lights. Several people have claimed that the spotlights illuminating the walls suddenly switch off moments before the apparition appears, plunging the area into darkness just before the White Lady reveals herself.

She is not said to be violent, but her presence carries a deep sense of sorrow, as if the grief that ended her life continues to echo through the stone.

The Missing Lieutenant and The Mad Soldiers

One of the most famed stories about the ghost comes from two soldiers placed on watch by the tower in 1820. When a soldier was taking over the shift of a soldier named Tobias, he noticed how strangely he beheaved, but didn’t find out what happened. Tobias was pale and shaken, staggering down the stairs, unable to put into words what he had seen. 

When a lieutenant came to free this next soldier, he too was pale and shaken. Wanting to investigate, the lieutenant grabbed his pistol and ventured up to the clock tower. Not long after, shots were fired, and all of them went to the scene. But no one found the lieutenant, who had vanished into thin air, and was never seen again. 

Tobias turned mute after the incident, and never talked about anything after, dying a year after he was sent home. The other soldier turned mad and died at the mad house the year after as well, and no one found out what really happened that night. 

Some speculate that it was actually the woman herself who killed her lover, and that she ever since has hated men, and they should be careful walking around the clock tower at night. In 1926, a human skeleton was found under the tower, and many claim that this had to be the missing lieutenant. But what really happened that night, was never cleared. Even how true the story was, is rather uncertain. 

Eyewitnesses After the Incident

After that tragic vanishing supposedly happened, many more soldiers came forward with their own stories about those who had seen the White Lady. In a newspaper, it was published when an old soldier who used to work there told about his own encounter an August night in the 19th century: 

“Her hair was covered with a grayish, veiled fabric that fell in folds downwards and blended in with the rest of her dress. I did not notice her body, but she must have been tall and slender. Her face was very beautiful. But because of her mournful eyes it seemed ravaged and pale. For a moment she stared intently at me, then the image was blurred, and she disappeared,” Source

Another soldier saw the white lady when he returned to Fredriksten on leave. He saw a beautiful lady as she “stepped out of nowhere” and came through the heavy gates towards Place d’Armes. She followed him on the way to the house he lived in. In front of the door he turned and looked five minutes later. She was still there.

In the 1930s and around World War II, there were a number of incidents surrounding the white lady although it had perhaps not been reported so much in the 1900s. But there are cases in modern times where sightings of the ghost happen. 

In the early 2000s, two German campers visited the fortress and claimed to have seen a smiling female figure in the middle of the night, dressed in a thin, white cloth. The Germans had never heard the story of the white lady and wondered if someone was filming it. NRK Radio and several newspapers interviewed the couple. 

Some psychics visiting claim to have felt a thing or two, and paranormal researchers coming from all around the world, claim to have found evidence of something supernatural inside of the fortress. Although the definite truth of it all will perhaps never be revealed. 

Julius Runge: Fortress Frederiksten at Halden-Norway

The King’s Bastion

There are also those claiming that the cafe is also one of the places where supernatural occurrences happens. Those working there say that the table cloths has been ripped off the tables and sounds from the kitchen on second floor makes sounds when no one is supposed to be there. 

From the top of the King’s Bastion, the view stretches across Halden, the fjord, and into Sweden. By day, it is a place of beauty and perspective. By night, it is one of the most commonly mentioned locations in reports of unexplained sightings and sensations.

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References:

Magic Magasin – Sommernattens hvite dame 

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Mayor Rudolf Brun’s Ghost Under St Peter’s Church Tower in Zurich

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After the exhumation of the graves of one of Zurich’s mayors who died under mysterious circumstances people started talking about seeing his ghost wandering around the church tower and wall of St. Peter. Could the ghost of Rudolf Brun, who ruled during volatile times in the city have returned?

Zurich, a city renowned for its stunning landscapes and rich culture, also harbors a darker side woven into its history. Tales of ghostly encounters and restless spirits have permeated its ancient streets, attracting those intrigued by the supernatural. St. Peter’s Church in Zurich is the only baroque church in the city. The clock on the tower is the largest in Europe and the dial has a diameter of 8.7 metres. St. Peter’s parish church is the oldest church in Zurich and dates to before the year 900.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories about Switzerland

Buried just below the clock tower is Rudolf Brun, the first independent city mayor in the 14th century and leader of the Zürich guilds’ revolution of 1336. He died a terrible and mysterious death, that some attributed to poisoning.

Rudolf Brun as Zurich’s first Independent Mayor

Rudolf was the son of Jakob Brun, a member of the city council, and of Mechthild. Brun overthrew the former city council with the help of the city’s craftsmen in June 1336 to balance the power between them and the aristocracy. 

In 1349, Brun led a massacre of the Jewish community of Zurich, seizing many of the spoils for himself. The incident was caused by antisemitism in the city due to the alleged murder of the son of a Zurich man, and fueled by the subsequent accusations of well poisoning. The son of Zurich man Zur Wyden from a family of shoemakers, about four years old, was murdered, and the Jews were accused of the murder. The Zurich Jewish community numbered around 400, and most of them were killed.

Mayor Rudolf Brun for example took possession of the house of a certain Moses. This event took place in the frame of the widespread persecution of Jews during the Black Death, in which the Jews were accused of spreading the bubonic plague.

On 17 of September in 1360 he died and was buried in St. Peter’s Church together with his cook. It was believed that the cook had poisoned him, but it remained a mystery for years. 

Exhuming his Bone to get to the Bottom of the Murder Mystery

In  1972, Brun’s remains were examined and tested positive for arsenic according to the ghost walk tours that used to be in the city. But as the substance was often used in earlier times for medicinal and recreational purposes, the result was inconclusive. The bone and hair analysis gave no other signs for poisoning. 

So what really happened, and how did Bruno, who lived through a violent time in Zurich’s history, die?

None the wiser for the truth, Brun’s bones were reburied at the clock tower. If we are to believe the rumors, it was without his skull, which had mysteriously disappeared. Could this have been the incident that caused him to rise up as a ghost?

The Haunting of Rudolf Brun

Just a few weeks after the reburial of Rudolf Brun, two boys were playing football near the gravesite when they experienced something that would give the historic man a ghostly reputation. When the ball they were kicking stopped in front of  the feet of a dark figure. According to the boys, this mysterious figure before them was wearing old-fashioned clothes.

One of the boys went to get the ball, not really taking too much notice of the strange man standing at a short distance. When approaching, the figure of the man turned around and walked towards the tower wall. When reaching the wall, the figure walked right through it and disappeared. 

According to the rumors, more than one person had seen this figure around the tower. 

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References:

Ghosts haunt Zurich streets – SWI swissinfo.ch 

Rudolf Brun – Wikipedia

Zurich massacre – Wikipedia

Rudolf Brun – Wikipedia

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The 100 Ghost Stories in Dragsholm Castle in Denmark

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Said to house over a hundred ghosts, Dragsholm Castle in Denmark is said to be one of the most haunted in the country. A prison for both traitors of country and heart, there are many lingering in the now modern hotel rooms. 

Dragsholm Castle is a stunning 800-year-old fortress that has played host to royalty, nobility, and even prisoners in the picturesque Danish countryside of Zealand. But beneath its grandeur and beauty lies a dark and chilling secret. For centuries, the castle has been haunted by ghosts and spirits, with tales of mysterious apparitions and unexplained occurrences leaving visitors trembling with fear. 

From the headless ghost of a former nobleman to the restless spirits of prisoners who died in the castle’s dungeons, Dragsholm Castle is a fascinating yet terrifying place that has captured the imagination of many. 

Dragsholm Castle: An 800-year-old fortress in Denmark, surrounded by lush greenery and a serene waterway, known for its haunting history.

The Bloody History of Dragsholm Castle

Dragsholm Castle has a long and fascinating history, dating back to 1215 when it was first built as a fortification. The name Drag, comes from draugh and is the narrow strip of land  Over the years, it has been modified and expanded to become the magnificent castle that we see today. Originally, the castle was owned by the powerful Bishop of Roskilde, but it was later taken over by noble families who used it as their residence. It was actually the oldest secular building in Denmark.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from haunted castles around the world

During a war known as The Count’s Feud in the 1530’s, it was the only castle in Zealand to remain standing. It also lived through all of the wars between Sweden and Denmark

View of the Danish Countryside: A scenic view of the lush landscape surrounding Dragsholm Castle, showcasing the tranquility of the Danish countryside. // Source: Wiki

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Dragsholm Castle was used as a prison for nobility who had fallen out of favor with the Danish monarchy. Many of these prisoners were held in the castle’s dungeons, where they were subjected to horrific conditions and died from disease, starvation, and torture.

Ghost Stories From Dragsholm Castle

It is no surprise that a castle with such a dark history is believed to be haunted. There have been countless reports of ghostly sightings and unexplained phenomena at Dragsholm Castle over the years, making it one of Denmark’s most famous haunted locations.

Dragsholm Castle has turned into a hotel and restaurant today, and many of their guests experience strange things. Water taps turn on in the night, mirrors and pictures on the walls starts swinging. The castle is said to be home to over 100 ghosts, each with their own terrifying story.

The Bishop Ghost in the Tower

It is said that one of the last Bishop of Roskilde haunts one of Dragsholm Castle’s towers. According to the stories Joachim Rønnow was imprisoned in these when the castle was seized by the Danish king in the reformation. Today, they have turned into hotel rooms. 

Guests staying at the tower claim to have heard the moaning of the bishop as well as wailing sounds from the hallways on the second floor. Still haunting the place he once owned. 

Joachim Rønnow: 1500-1542 was a Danish Bishop, last of the Catholics Bishops in Roskilde. He was captured with other bishops and he died in prison. Although the legend says he died in Dragsholm Slot, it was also said he died in Københavns Castle, May 1, 1542. history claim that his first year of imprisonment was at Dragsholm, then at Københavns castle, Kronborg and in the end, Visby. In 1533, the Danish theologian Hans Tausen was convicted of blasphemy, and this caused an oproar in the Protestant city of Copenhagen. The scene shows Tausen defending Joachim Rønnow, bishop of Zealand, against the mob.

The Ghost of the Mad Squire Ejer Brockenhuus

One of the King’s confidants when alive, Brockenhuus was set for a comfortable life. In the end he blew it with the kind and ended up in prison because of his incestuous affairs. He enjoyed blowing up dynamite by setting pipes on fire and abused his servants, raped and killed his sister. He may or may not have also impregnated her and had an affair with his brother in law’s widow. In church he invited people to his funeral before he jumped out from the coffin in front of the horrified spectators.

The Noble Broockenhuus Family Crest

He is known as the Mad Squire because he went mad as time went by in the prison. In the end he was only able to cry out bitter and hurtful words and held his own council and dialog no one could follow. Still to this day it is said you can hear him rambling in the corridors close to where his cell used to be. 

The Mummified Ghost of the Earl of Bothwell

Another ghost said to haunt the castle is James Hepburn, also known as the 4th Earl of Bothwell and perhaps best known as the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. 

In his lifetime, he was engaged to a Danish-Norwegian woman called Anne Rustung. When he went back to Scotland though, he was planning to marry Mary, Queen of Scots, but brought Anne’s dowry with him. He was accused of murdering Lord Darnley, the second husband of the Scottish Queen and captured in Bergen port in Norway, then a Danish territory. The humiliation was big for Anne and her father tracked the Earl down and punished him by imprisoning him. He was chained to a pillar and left to die and died at 44 years old. 

His mummified body is kept close by at Faarevejle Church and is believed to haunt the castle. He is also seen entering the castle in a horse drawn carriage through the courtyard, although there hasn’t been horses on the site in years. 

The White Lady of Dragsholm Castle

One of the most famous ghosts at Dragsholm Castle is the White Lady and no European castle is complete without its own version. Legend has it that she was a beautiful noblewoman who fell in love with a commoner who worked at the castle, although she was betrothed to another noble family. Most English sources would have you think her name was Celina Bolves for some reason, but there are no Bolves nobles in Denmark.

Her name was actually Celestine Mariann de Bayonne Gyldenstierne, daughter of Mogens Gyldenstierne. She had fell in love with a man working in the stables and fell pregnant around 1550. She was already promised to another noble family and her father was furious when he found out. He told her to go to Slesvig to have the child in secret and threw her a going away party. This was the last time anyone saw her.

She never went to Slesvig. Her father drugged her wine with opium and locked her away in one of the castle’s towers. She was never seen again, and it is believed that she died of starvation and despair as it is said they built a wall around her and chained to the wall, she was left to starve. 

But is the story true? Mogens Gyldenstierne was certainly a real man, and is said to have around 20 kids, although this daughter is not really mentioned anywhere, and neither is it said she entombed someone either.

Can the lady in white then be Magurite Dåe as some sources claim? She was a noble woman in the 1600 and fell in love with Count Maurice Lejonhuvud who was weak of syphilis. Her father forbade her to marry him. Defiant, she threw herself into a dance at a ball at Dragsholm Castle they attended in 1641. The dance was so intense, her tuberculosis lungs couldn’t handle and she fell dead on the floor. Now she is said to seek out young men that look like her count.

This story became popular in 1912 when the plumbing of the castle got an upgrade. They were adding a toilet in the room and removed some of the bricks. Behind the wall a skeleton was discovered. No matter who the Lady in White is said to be, there truly was a skeleton of a real human hidden in the castle walls.

Her ghosts are said to wander the castle’s halls, wearing a white dress and carrying a candle. Many visitors claim to have seen her ghostly figure, and some have even reported feeling a cold breeze or hearing her soft footsteps. When the castle turned into a hotel, many men woke up in their room to find the ghost of the lady in white looking at them at the end of their bed.

The Grey Lady of Dragsholm Castle

Another famous ghost at Dragsholm Castle is the Grey Lady. There are some conflicting stories about who she was, especially when looking at English sources and Danish sources. Many English sources tell that she was a former maid said to be very beautiful who worked at the castle during the 19th century. According to legend, had a toothache and got help from the master of the castle. He did relieve her pain for a while, but the infection caused her death. When she died a little later, she came back as the castle’s protector and is seen at night, guarding the castle, still cheerful as she was in life. 

However when looking at the Danish sources, they tell a different story. Here she gets a name, Louise Katrine Jensdatter. She was from a poor family and started as a maid at the castle. She was caught stealing silver and thought she would be punished. The Housekeeper took pity on the poor girl and gave her a new chance and responsibility. Louise rose to the occasion and worked hard at the castle for many years.

She was working as the Housekeeper at the castle when the Swedish attacked in 1659. She had to watch the Swedish soldier kill her little children and husband in the courtyard after raping her. She is said to have died soon after, either from fright or in the fire that consumed the castle after the attack.

People working in the castle can still feel her presence, especially when something goes wrong and she is there to remind the staff the proper way to take care of the castle.

Paranormal Activity at Dragsholm Castle

Despite its age and the many ghost stories associated with it, Dragsholm Castle remains a popular tourist destination. It is to this day the Bøtteger family who owns it and uses it as a luxury hotel. 

Source: Wiki

Visitors come from all over the world to experience the castle’s haunting atmosphere and to try and catch a glimpse of its ghostly inhabitants. Over the years, there have been many reports of paranormal activity at the castle, including strange noises, unexplained movements of objects, and even sightings of ghostly figures. Many paranormal investigators have visited the castle to try and capture evidence of these ghostly occurrences, and some believe that the castle is one of the most haunted locations in Europe.

Read More: Check out all haunted hotels around the world

Dragsholm Castle is a fascinating and terrifying place that has captured the imagination of many. Its haunting beauty and dark history make it one of Denmark’s most famous landmarks, and its ghostly legends continue to intrigue and terrify visitors to this day. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there is no denying the eerie atmosphere that permeates the castle’s walls.

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References:

Norske slott er fulle av spøkelser | historienet.no

I seng med spøkelser

Mogens Gyldenstierne – Wikipedia, den frie encyklopædihttps://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2014-12-01-dragsholms-dramatiske-historie-hjemsoegt-besat-og-braendt

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The Haunted Corvin Castle: A Journey Through Romania’s Dark History

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Is Corvin Castle in Romania haunted by something? Perhaps the ghost of Vlad the Impaler? As one of the biggest castles in Europe it also houses a whole load of ghost stories. Who is hiding in the shadows?

Are you ready to embark on a spine-chilling journey through Romania’s dark history? Join me as we explore the haunted Corvin Castle, a place that has been the subject of countless legends, myths, and tales of horror. Built in the 15th century and considered as one of the Seven Wonders of Romania, this Gothic fortress has witnessed centuries of bloodshed, torture, and tragedy. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Romania

But the ghosts of the past still linger within its walls and as one of Europe’s biggest and old castles overlooking the Ziasti River, it’s bound to have a ghost story or two. 

Corvin Castle: The majestic Corvin Castle, a Gothic fortress steeped in history and legends, located in Hunedoara, Romania. Holding back the Ottoman army for years, it is filled with ghosts and the castle is believed to be some of the most haunted places in Romania. And that is saying something.

History of Corvin Castle

Corvin Castle, also known as Hunyadi Castle, is a Gothic-Renaissance fortress located in the town of Hunedoara, Romania. It was built on top of an old Roman camp in 1446 by John Hunyadi, a Hungarian military leader, and served as a strategic stronghold against the Ottoman Empire. He was a Voivode of Transylvania, the highest ranking official during the 12th and 16th century. Back then, it was a part of the Kingdom of Hungary, a monarchy that existed for nearly a millennium. Over the centuries, the castle has been expanded and renovated by various owners, including the Corvin family, who gave it its current name.

Read More: Check out all haunted castles in the world

Despite its impressive architecture and historical significance, the castle is best known for its dark and twisted past. It has been the site of numerous battles, sieges, and executions, and has been home to some of the most infamous figures in history. 

On 13 April 1854, Corvin Castle was struck by lightning, severely damaged and abandoned until 1869.

The Legend of the Raven: Some historians think John Hunyadi was the illegitimate son of King Sigimund of Luxemburg and an Elizabeth. To protect everyone, this was kept secret. Sigimund gave Elizabeth a gold ring for their son. When John grew up, Elizabeth gave him the ring. One day at lunch, John took off the ring, and a raven tried to steal it. John killed the raven with a bow and arrow and got the ring back. Later, he told the king (possibly his father) this story. Impressed, the king chose a raven with a gold ring for the Hunyadi family crest. The family liked this symbol, which stood for wisdom and longevity, and adopted the name Corvin, from the Latin word “Corvus” meaning Raven. It’s also said that Elizabeth used a raven to send a letter to Matthias when he and his brother were imprisoned, which is why the raven was the symbol of the Hungarian postal service for over a hundred years. The family also had a property called Raven’s Rock.

Dark Tales and Legends of Corvin Castle

The legends surrounding Corvin Castle are as numerous as they are chilling. One of the most famous tales involves Vlad the Impaler, who was imprisoned in the castle’s dungeon for seven years by John Hunyadi. According to legend, Vlad was kept in a small, dark cell and tortured mercilessly by his captors. This is what inspired him to impale his enemies, as it was what he did to the rats he ate alive in his cell. Some say that his ghost still haunts the castle’s halls to this day, seeking revenge against those who wronged him.

Vlad the Impaler: A historical depiction of Vlad the Impaler’s brutal methods of torture and execution, reflecting the dark history of Corvin Castle. Woodcut from the title page of a 1499 pamphlet published by Markus Ayrer in Nuremberg. It depicts Vlad III “the Impaler” (identified as Dracole wayde = Draculea voivode) dining among the impaled corpses of his victims.

If he really was is uncertain and most likely it’s a tall tale, but many of the tour guides of the castle show his holding cell they say he stayed in. Many say that he was imprisoned in 1462, but seeing that John Hunyadi was already dead by then, it carves a dent in the truth of the story. What has been said though, is that Bram Stoker was inspired by the castle, although he apparently had no idea about the Vlad the Impaler connection when he wrote Dracula. 

Haunted sightings and experiences at in the Capistrano Tower

Over the years, there have been numerous reports of paranormal activity at Corvin Castle. Visitors have reported seeing ghostly apparitions, hearing strange noises, and feeling cold spots throughout the castle. Some have even claimed to have been physically touched or pushed by unseen forces.

One such legend talks about a monk haunting the Capistrano Tower. The Capistrano Tower, one of the most significant parts of the construction, was a circular tower and this was used as a prison like many of the other towers of Corvin castle, named of the Franciscan monk, John of Capistrano.

The Towers of Corvin Castle: The towers of the castle was known to be used as prison cells. This is also what fuels the haunted rumors about something not being quite right in one of them. Could the ghost of a monk be haunting one of the towers?

He was said to have been sentenced to death because he was spying on a nobleman in the council room. As punishment he was entombed alive in the brick wall of the tower and slowly died of starvation. To this day it is said his ghost is there, spying on those venturing into his tower. 

Exploring the castle’s architecture and hidden rooms

Despite its dark history, Corvin Castle is a marvel of Gothic architecture and design. From its towering walls and turrets to its ornate carvings and frescoes, the castle is a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of its builders.

One of the most interesting features of the castle is its hidden rooms and secret passages. These were often used by the castle’s inhabitants to escape during times of siege or to hide valuable treasures. Some of the most famous hidden rooms include the Knight’s Hall, which was used to store weapons and armor, and the secret room of John Hunyadi, which was used as a private study and meditation space.

One time though, some tourists got locked in the Corbin Castle after it closed for the day. Some say that they bribed the security guard to let them stay overnight. When the castle opened the next day, they were found, bruised, beaten and terrified. They were unable to explain what had happened to them, but claimed that some unseen force had tortured them throughout the night. 

The torture chamber and its gruesome history

One of the most chilling places in Corvin Castle is the torture chamber, where prisoners were subjected to horrific acts of violence and torture. The chamber is located in the castle’s basement and features a variety of torture devices, including the rack designed to tear a victim in half, the iron maiden that was a spiked iron chamber the prisoner had to sit in, and the Spanish Donkey were the victim was places on a triangle with pointed edges between the legs where the prisoner eventually split in half.

There was also a bear pit that prisoners were thrown into alive to be eaten by the creatures residing there. No wonder that the castle is filled with ghosts. 

The Bottomless Well

Another famous tale involves the castle’s well, which is said to be bottomless and connected to the underworld. Legend has it that the well was dug by three Turkish prisoners who were promised their freedom if they could complete the task of digging after water. However, once they finished digging after ten to fifteen hard labored years, they were thrown into the well and left to die. 

The Well: What will you find at the bottom of the well? The gateway to hell or the skulls of some Turkish prisoners? Source: Stanisław Ludwiński/Flickr

Some say that he held them there, laughed in their face and kept them in the basement until they died. Some think that it was Hunyadi who promised them their freedom, but died while they were working. The one telling them to get back into their cell was his wife, Elizabeth. One of the prisoners allegedly wrote on the wall: You now have water, but no soul/heart. With this, he cursed the castle forever. 

Some say that they were beheaded and hteir skulls thrown into the well, still there to this day. It’s said that their ghosts can still be heard crying out for help from the depths of the well.

Is Corvin Castle really haunted?

While there’s no scientific proof that Corvin Castle is haunted, there’s no denying the countless reports of paranormal activity and ghostly sightings that have been recorded over the years. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there’s no denying the eerie feeling that permeates the castle’s walls.

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Exploring the Ghost Stories on top of Paris’ Eiffel Tower

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Take a journey through the haunted legends and myths surrounding Paris’ Eiffel Tower, thought to be haunted by the ghosts of a romance gone wrong in the city of love. 

Step into the world of mysticism and supernatural entities surrounding the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris locally nicknamed La dame de fer, or Iron Lady. This popular sign of romance has many urban legends and tall tales surrounding it, everything from secret rooms, the meaning behind its shape and the history of its construction. It also has a ghost story or two.  

The rumored ghostly sightings, mysterious events, and local folklore paint an intriguing picture of this famous landmark. To this day, visitors swear they’ve encountered spirits surrounding the Eiffel Tower, perpetuating its reputation as one of Paris’ most haunted sites and a full stop on the ghost tours.

The Origin of the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower was built from 1887 to 1889 as the centerpiece to the 1889 World’s Fair to showcase a certain level of grandness and modernity. Because of its design and size it saw a lot of criticism by writers and artists in France for the design at the time and for a long time it was seen as an eyesore to the critics. But after the construction, people were amazed at the sight of the enormous tower. 

For 41 years it was the tallest human made structure in the world until 1930 when the Chrysler Building in New York was made. It was only meant to stay up a few years and it was designed to be dismantled after 20 years, but it is still standing today.   

Paris, the City of Love

“City of swarming, city full of dreams
Where ghosts in daylight tug the stroller’s sleeve!”
– Charles Baudelaire, ‘The Seven Old Men’, Part: ‘Parisian Scenes’, ‘The Flowers Of Evil

As the most visited city in the world, Paris has a mysterious air all around it. With its cobbled-stone streets and magical architecture, the city evokes romance and intrigue despite the very same picturesque cobbled stone streets that have been drenched in blood over wars, revolution and dark times. 

It’s no wonder that it’s considered to be one of the most haunted cities in Europe, complete with stories and legends abounding regarding unexplained activities occurring around iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower.

At the Eiffel Tower’s restaurants it is said they get at least two proposals a day from people that seek out the romance of the place. But it is not only romance and happy proposals at the Eiffel Tower as it is also a place where many people choose to take their own lives. And sometimes there are stories about how pure love turned dark pretty quick:

The Jilted Lover at the Eiffel Tower

Of course the ghost story at the Eiffel Tower must contain romance, passion and heartache. And contrary to the dreamy and whimsical notion of the romantic city where love is true and everlasting, it tells what happens when love goes wrong and not returned. When the color red turns to eternal black. 

According to local legend of the ghost story in the tower, a jilted lover who was heartbroken years ago still wanders around on the upper floors. In some versions, it is the heartbroken man who haunts the place. In other versions it is the woman who went to the tower with him to break up that is now trapped at this romantic landmark forever. 

The story goes that a couple agreed to meet at the top of the Eiffel Tower sometimes in the 1920s, when the tower was younger, but already the symbol of love and Paris. The man went down on his knees and asked his beloved to marry him in front of the famous monument, but she refused. 

She was there to break up with him and the shock of her rejection broke his heart and sent him into a fit of rage. He pushed his girlfriend over the railing and she fell to her death. In some versions she backed away, either in shock or pure disgust and fell over herself. 

The man was never seen alive again afterward, leading some people to believe that his spirit remains behind and continues to wander the grounds of where his hopes for love perished. What happened to him? Did he also end his life then at the tower? Or did the spirit return to the place long after as he never forgot?

The story has turned into an urban legend of both the Eiffel Tower and Paris and it is hard to track down a specific time or person. Some believe that this story can be traced back to the 1920s, and many claim to have seen a woman in clothes from that area wandering up in the tower before she suddenly vanishes. Some even say you can hear her nervous giggles as she is rejecting the proposal before her horrified screams at the anniversary of her death. 

The Haunted love

So there you have it, the dark side of romance and love in the heart of Paris. A reminder that not every love story has a happy ending and not all types of love are true love. And with that said, Happy Valentine. 

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