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The Many Ghosts of The Langham Hotel in London

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

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

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

The History of The Langham Hotel

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

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

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

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

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

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

When the Cricket Team Fled the Hotel

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

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

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

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

The Haunted Room – Room 333

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

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

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

The Famous Paranormal Incidents at The Langham Hotel

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

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

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

The Ghostly Sightings of Famous Guests

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The German Prince by the Window

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

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

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

The Other Ghosts Haunting

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

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

A Stay at the Most Haunted Hotel

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

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

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

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References:

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

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

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

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The Ghost of the Hello Kitty Murder

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The Hello Kitty Murder Case shocked Hong Kong and the world to the core when the skull of a woman was found sewn inside of a Hello Kitty Doll. One of the participant in the torture of the victim claimed that she was haunted by her and for years after the murder, the place itself was said to be haunted.

In 1999, a young girl walks into a Hong Kong police station alone, riddled with nightmares and guilt. The 14 year old teenager claims to be haunted by this dead woman for the last couple of weeks, and she truly believes she won’t be at peace until the girl confesses to what happened to the ghost that is haunting her. 

At first the police disregards her statements, thinking she is delusional and making stuff up, but when she tells them about the horrible torture and murder she witness and even took part in, the police couldn’t ignore it. 

Read More: Check out all our collection of ghost stories from China

When the police started investigating the address the girl gave, they came to find something truly shocking and horrible. The apartment had been the sight of a crime were a woman had been held imprisoned, tortured and raped for over a month before she died. The body had been mostly disposed of, but stuffed inside of a huge Hello Kitty plush doll, they found the woman’s head. Therefore the murder case was called The Hello Kitty Murder Case. 

Granville Road in 2016 in the Tsim Sha Tsui area were the gruesome Hello Kitty Murder took place.

The Harsh Life of the Kidnapped Hostess

The place of the Hello Kitty Murder was in a third-floor flat in the downtown area on No. 31 Granville Road (加連威老道) in Tsim Sha Tsui area in the Kowloon district. The inside of the apartment was filled with Hello Kitty memorabilia, including the big Hello Kitty Mermaid Plush Doll. 

Fan Man-yee: The victim of the Hello Kitty Murder Case.

The victim was the 23 year old nightclub hostess and young mother, Fan Man-yee (樊敏儀)who had been missing for a month. 

Her life had never been easy, and it ended in the most gruesome way imaginable. She had been abandoned as a child and grew up in an all girls orphanage in Hong Kong. When she got kicked out at 15 because she was too old to be there, she supported herself through sex work. 

Over the years she turned into a drug addict and barely got by. She ended up marrying one of her clients who also were a drug addict, and lived with him despite their abusive relationship. 

Then she got pregnant and had a child and decided to turn her life around. She got clean, left her husband and quit being a prostitute. Instead she started working as a nightclub hostess at the Romance Villa and hoped for a better future together with her son. 

The Murderous Pimp and Drug Dealer

Her hopes got crushed fairly quickly however as bills were piling up and her nightclub was frequented by criminals, drug dealers and addicts as well as the Chinese crime syndicate, The Triads. 

One of these seedy types she met was the 34-year old Chan Man-lok. He was both a drug dealer and a pimp and had a sexual relationship with Fan-Man. She once stole his wallet that had around $HK4,000 (roughly $500 USD) inside of it, but even if she gave it back at once Chan Man-lok realized she was the thief, he demanded more money from her that she was unable to pay. And because of this, he decided to kidnap her,  thinking he would make money out of her by pimping her out. 

A Month of Sadistic Torture

Instead he ended up rounding up his other accomplices, and ended up just torturing her in what seemed to be for no other reason than perverse and sadistic enjoyment. 

The teenage girl given the cover name Ah Fong because of her young age testified that three men Chan Man-lok, Leung Shing-cho and Leung Wai-lun, all  in their 30s and 20s abducted Fan Man-yee and tortured her until she died over the course of a month. She was the quote on quote: “girlfriend” of Chan Man-lok who also worked as a sex worker for him and she admitted that she even joined in on the beating on occasion. 

Over the course of that month the men got high on drugs while they beating her with iron bars, raped her, burning her by dripping melting plastic on her, pouring chili oil on her wounds, stringing her up hanging from the ceiling for hours and other sadistic acts they came up with. She was even forced to smile and say she enjoyed the torture. If she didn’t it would only get worse. 

The Horror of the Hello Kitty Murder

Hello Kitty: The Hello Kitty Murder got its nickname after where they placed some parts of the body.//Source

After she died they dismembered her body, boiled them and disposed of it as household trash or feeding it to stray dogs. Some of her internal organs were found in the refrigerator. The head they sew in the head of the Hello Kitty doll, although their motive for this is still unclear. 

The exact cause of death is not known because of how little of her remains they found, and therefore there was also too little evidence to sentence the men for murder with intent, although it was clear she had died because of their abuse. 

“Never in Hong Kong in recent years has a court heard of such cruelty, depravity, callousness, brutality, violence and viciousness,” said Hong Kong Justice Peter Nguyen after the trial, who sentenced the defendants to life imprisonment Wednesday after they were convicted of manslaughter. “The public is entitled to protection from people such as you.”

The three men were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole for 20 years. Hong Kong does not have the death penalty, but if it had happened on mainland China, they would have likely been executed.  

The Ghost of Fan Man-yee at Court

Who really knew what would have happened to the case if the teenage girl known as Ah Fong hadn’t been convinced she was haunted by Fan Man-yee, and because of her torment and remorse, she ended up walking into the police station and at least helping to find the victim. Because of her young age and corporation she never received any punishment for her involvement in the Hello Kitty Murder case.

Many unusual events have occurred that are regarded as supernatural by the public. And rumors about something paranormal and strange going on started already during trial.

The forensic doctor in charge of the case revealed that when the evidence including the skull of the deceased, the Hello Kitty doll, and the clay pot used to cook the body were presented to the court, the entire court was filled with the smell of the corpse. No matter where the Hello Kitty doll was presented, nearby lights would flicker. The same light disturbance happened when the defense lawyer argued that the only illegal thing happened when they were disposing of the body. An observer of the trial refused this rumor though and said it only happened when the police played the defendant’s confession.

The Haunted Building

The building where the murder happened had strange things going on. A woman rented a unit on the fourth floor without knowing about the murder. Her friend often heard women crying at night, and at that time, there were no people living downstairs. It’s worth noting that this woman had suffered from sleep paralysis while sleeping.

Granville Road: The building were the horror of the Hello Kitty Murders took place in 2010. The murder occurred in Block B on the third floor, which was demolished in 2012 and rebuilt into the Soravit on Granville in 2016.

The hair salons on the first and second floors of the building had discovered Hello Kitty dolls of unknown origin when they came to work in the morning. When looking at the CCTV footage, they even saw that after the salon closed at night, there were figures walking around in the salon. The manager of the hair salon denied that unusual incidents had occurred in the store.

The wife of Hong Kong metaphysician Chen Dingbang said that in 2013, when she was relaxing in a bar on Granville Road, she saw a woman’s head staring at her from the opposite building. Later she learned that the unit was where the case took place.

The apartment building where Fan was tortured has since been demolished as no one wanted to buy or rent the infamous apartment that everyone in Hong Kong knew the backstory behind. It was empty for years and eventually, no one wanted to live in the other apartments in the building either. 

Some claimed that after the Hello Kitty Murder the building itself was haunted by Fan and there were many who claimed to have seen her haunting the area. 

In the end someone bought the empty building and demolished it in 2012. Instead they built a hotel there in 2016 named Soravit. As a memorial to what happened there, they placed three Buddha portraits in the hotel. 

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References:

‘Hello Kitty’ Murder Case Horrifies Hong Kong – The Washington Post

Life for ‘Hello Kitty’ Killers – ABC News

Why the Gruesome Hello Kitty Murder Shocked Hong Kong – and Still Horrifies the World 

https://www.ranker.com/list/hello-kitty-murder-facts/cat-mcauliffe

https://filmdaily.co/news/hello-kitty-murder/

https://allthatsinteresting.com/hello-kitty-murder

Hello Kitty murder case – Wikipedia 

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The Mysterious Ghosts Newton House by Dinefwr Castle

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Delve deep into the mysteries of the castle of Dinefwr and discover its haunted ghosts. The castle grounds are said to be haunted by both a loyal butler as well as a murdered lady in white that tried to escape a loveless marriage.

Tucked away in the rolling Welsh countryside, Dinefwr Castle holds a dark secret—it is haunted by ghosts that have roamed its halls for centuries.

The castle, also known as Old Dynevor Castle is now in ruins as it overlooks the River Towy close to Llandeilo in Wales. 

Llandeilo Town in Wales

Dinefwr is situated in the small town of Llandeilo in Wales. This area has always had a reputation for mythical tales, with local folklore claiming that Dinefwr Castle was once inhabited by mysterious ghosts. 

The stories date back hundreds of years and each generation adds more details to the spooky tales that have become part of the culture. For example, some people believe that spirits haunt the castle grounds and are said to create flickering lights or howling noises!

The History of Dinefwr Castle

Dinefwr Castle is steeped in history and mystery and dates back to the 12th century and was the chief seat of the Dinefwr dynasty of the Kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales. 

Built by Rhys ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth, it gained status as an important fortress as tensions among Welsh kingdoms rose. 

His reign saw a rare period of peace and stability that led to a flowering of Welsh culture, music and poetry. The Dinefwr dynasty was mostly warlord led and constantly invaded.

Sadly, it was not to last. After Rhys’s death, conflicts over succession led to turbulent years as the Welsh princes fought amongst themselves and against the English. Dinefwr eventually fell into English control in 1287 and remained there for centuries, despite Owain Glyndŵr’s attempt to wrest it back during his uprising of 1403.

Its location on a hill overlooking the Towy Valley was strategic and also held spiritual significance to local residents.  Throughout its long history, rumors of spectral residents began to take root and tales of spooky sightings have been told ever since.

The Haunting Grounds in Newton House

When talking about the hauntings around this place, many people make the mistake to think that the ghosts are roaming around the  ancient ruins of the castle, but this is not entirely true. The ghosts that are now famous are supposedly haunting the country house called Newton House on the castle grounds in Dinefwr Park that was built in 1660. 

Among the ghosts said to be haunting the grounds are Walter the Butler who worked in the house and is now haunting the servant’s basement. People have smelled his tobacco smoke in the room as well as hearing muffled voices as the lights are flickering on and off. 

Ghosts of Dinefwr Castle

But perhaps best known is the tragic story about the White Lady that supposedly haunts the grounds as well. This is also supposed to happen in the old country house. 

The White Lady of Dinefwr Castle is said to be the ghost of Lady Elinor Cavendish and her horrible end. There are even reports that people have visited and have felt as if their throats are being squeezed, the same way that she died. 

There are tales about the ghost of a young girl, now remembered as the White Lady of Dinefwr Castle and according to the rumours, people have seen the ghost of a woman disappearing into the cupboard. 

The story goes that Lady Elinor Cavendish was forced into an unwanted marriage in the 18th century and tried to run away from the loveless marriage and her brutal husband to be. But she was not allowed to slip out of his hands and her husband followed her and when he caught up to her, he strangled her to death. 

Lady Elinor Cavendish now haunts the grounds, the country house of Newton House and the ruins of DInefwr Castle, still trying to escape the life she didn’t want for herself.

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References:

Dinefwr Castle | Cadw

Spooky stories and legends of ghosts and more this Hallowe’en | South Wales Guardian 

Newton House, Llandeilo – Wikipedia 

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The History and Hauntings of Jamaica Inn

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In the outskirts of the moors in Cornwall with a dark history of smugglers and gothic romances. The Jamaica Inn is a perfect setting for a british ghost story, and according to the legends, it has many. 

“Dead men tell no tales, Mary.”
― Daphne duMaurier, Jamaica Inn

Located in the rugged landscape of Cornwall, England, Jamaica Inn is said to be one of the most haunted places in Britain. Its walls are steeped with stories of ghosts, dust and deep secrets of smugglers and stolen goods and murdered guests – it’s a place that has enticed many looking for paranormal activity. 

The Jamaica inn is said to be haunted by small children being mischievous, old smugglers lurking in the corners, blacksmiths that burned to death but are still handsy with the female guests and mysterious Victorian women in the dark shadows. So let’s put on our tricorn hat and bring our smuggled rum for a stay at the haunted Jamaica Inn. 

History of Jamaica Inn

Jamaica Inn was built in 1750 as a coaching inn and has a long history of being a hideout for smugglers during the 19th century. It was originally known as The Jamaica Arms, but underwent many changes over time, including the addition of drunkards’ dens and clandestine accommodation for smugglers. 

Over the years, it has served several purposes, most notably a coaching inn for local travelers. But what really sets it apart is its mysterious stories of hauntings by spirits that lurk in its passageways and hidden doorways.

Jamaica Inn lies upon the ancient Bodmin Moor – a wild and untamed landscape which has held a certain allure for centuries. The moor is full of legends, myths, and stories from both ancient Britain and more recent times. It was once home to people living in remote settlements and Iron Age Hillforts, as well as a hideout for smugglers and pirates. 

Jamaica Inn The Novel

Jamaica Inn is perhaps best known for its namesake novel, written by Daphne du Maurier in 1936. She was inspired by the real Inn when she was staying there in 1930. It is also a song by Tori Amos which she wrote when she was driving along the cliffs in Cornwall and was inspired by all the legends she had heard of at the inn.  

The book is a classic example of gothic romance, and tells the story of a young woman called Mary Yellen, who moves to the Cornish inn and becomes involved in the murderous activities of its inhabitants. 

While some argue that Jamaica Inn is purely a work of fiction, many locals have cited uncanny similarities between their own experiences at the inn, and Daphne’s descriptions of unexplained events and hauntings in her novel.

The Ghosts of Jamaica Inn

Many believe that Jamaica Inn still remains haunted, with multiple unexplained occurrences taking place in the inn over the years. There have been countless investigations, even TV shows about the Inn. Especially an episode of the TV show Most Haunted in 2004 sparked a new interest in the old inn. 

Most of the ghosts and paranormal things that have been spotted have been at The Smugglers Bar, The Stable Bar, which now is a museum, in the old bedrooms upstairs as well as in the restaurant and gift shop area. 

Some claim to have seen faceless figures wandering through the corridors, while others have heard strange noises coming from empty rooms. Staff and visitors have many times heard conversations in a completely different language than English, some speculating that it could be old Cornish, meaning that these spirits can be really old as the language became extinct for a long time at the end of 18th century. 

Ghost Hunting at the Jamaica Inn

Now the Jamaica Inn has opened up for its own weekends and late nights for ghost hunting at the inn. Perhaps you as well can experience seeing the highwayman in the traditional three cornered hat often seen passing through the doors before vanishing into thin air. Or perhaps the young mother in distress with her crying baby that also has been seen. 

One thing the ghost hunters got on tape was a strange thing that happened on a Sunday on October 23rd in 2017, when the CCTV camera picked up something strange when the wall phone hanging by the bar looked like it was lifted before dropping to the floor. The staff member April was startled, and had earlier heard the bar door open without anyone entering. Nobody alive at least. 

Have a look at the footage and see for yourself. What do you think?

The Mother with her Crying Baby

As mentioned, one of many possible ghosts at the inn is the many reports about people having heard a baby crying at the inn. This has apparently mostly been close to room 3 and 7, and the baby has been heard even if it has been confirmed that no baby has been staying at the inn at the time. 

Most often this ghost is linked to the tragic story of Mary Downing. She was young and single, but had an illegitimate son. In 1934 she sued the landlord at the time, Thomas Dunn to make him recognise their son. Thomas Dunn was a married man, but the son ended up being christened Thomas Downing Dunn at Altarnun Church. 

Hannah the Child Ghost

The baby crying is not the only child haunting the inn if we are to believe the rumors. There is the ghost of a small girl that has been dubbed Hanna that is said to roam the inn barefoot. One guest that stayed in room 5 once woke up and saw her wet footprints in the carpet that led to the wardrobe where there used to be a bathroom. 

People have heard her running around their bedrooms at night and even claim that their feet have been touched in their sleep as they see her transparent figure by the side of their bed. There is a story about a service man that was so frightened that he fled his room and spent the rest of the night in his car. 

In the later years there seems to be a bigger interest for the ghost of Hannah and people have started to write her letters and send her toys. And even these toys are said to sometimes move on their own. 

The Murdered Stranger

Perhaps the most talked about ghost is the stranger that ended up murdered in the moors by the inn. His apparition around 1911 were especially noticeable as many reported about seeing someone who shouldn’t be there on the walls by the inn. 

The inn has become shrouded in myths and legends over the centuries, with tales of apparitions seen near hidden staircases and secret rooms, eerie noises coming from the old stables even though no horses were ever kept there, ghostly figures roaming the grounds at night, and strange sightings in each of its many otherworldly locations. 

One of the tales is the ghost of the murdered stranger that passed through the inn. Once a man was in the bar having an ale before someone called him to come outside. The stranger didn’t even finish his drink, but went into the night and was never seen again. 

The next morning they found his dead body in the moors, but how he died and murderer was never found. 

There have been reports of a stranger by the wall outside the Inn that neither moved or responded when people greeted him. Sometimes when the bar is closed and the inn is empty, there have been footsteps heard towards the bar, but no one reaching it, and some have speculated that it is the man returning to finish his ale.

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References:

Jamaica Inn (novel) – Wikipedia 

Jamaica Inn – Wikipedia 

Ghost Hunting Tours in Cornwall | Haunted Hotels | Jamaica Inn 

Top Ten Most Haunted Places to Visit in Cornwall 

10 biggest scares at Cornwall’s most haunted Jamaica Inn 

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The Murder on The Archbishop on the Haunted Calle de Montcada

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In the supposed haunted street in Barcelona, Calle de Montcada, people still talk about the ghost of the Archbishop who was killed there centuries ago and his murderer who is haunting the street to this day. 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk the streets of Spain in the dead of night? You may be surprised to learn that there are stories of hauntings on many of its ancient streets. From dark secrets about lost loves to ghost sightings, these mysterious stories have captivated locals and visitors alike.

With its cobblestone pathways and well-preserved medieval buildings, the enchanting calle de Montcada, or Carrer de Montcada in catalan, takes you on a journey through centuries of Catalan history. As you stroll along Carrer de Montcada, you’ll discover a treasure trove of cultural landmarks, including the renowned Picasso Museum, housed in a majestic Gothic palace. 

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

Lose yourself in the vibrant art scene that thrives in the numerous art galleries and studios that line the street, showcasing the works of both established and emerging artists. Indulge your senses with the tantalizing aromas of traditional Catalan cuisine wafting from the charming restaurants and tapas bars that dot the Calle de Montcada. From hidden courtyards to quaint artisan shops, Carrer de Montcada offers a glimpse into Barcelona’s medieval past while celebrating its vibrant present. 

Historical Significance of Carrer de Montcada

Carrer de Montcada has played a significant role in the history of Barcelona, dating back to the medieval period in the 12th century. Originally known as the “Street of the Nobles,” it was home to the city’s wealthiest and most influential families. The street’s architecture reflects the grandeur of its past, with well-preserved Gothic palaces that once belonged to nobles and merchants. These palaces, with their ornate facades and intricate details, provide a glimpse into the opulence and power of Barcelona’s elite.

One of the most notable landmarks on Carrer de Montcada is the Picasso Museum. Housed in the stunning Palau Aguilar, a Gothic mansion dating back to the 13th century, the museum showcases an extensive collection of works by the legendary artist. Another historical gem on Carrer de Montcada is the Palau Dalmases, a Baroque palace that dates back to the 17th century. This architectural marvel now serves as a venue for flamenco performances, transporting visitors to the vibrant world of traditional Spanish dance and music. 

The Haunted Calle de Montcada Street

Carrer de Montcada is not only known for its rich history and architectural wonders but also for its haunting tales and legends. One of the most famous stories is that of the murder of Berenguer de Vilademuls. 

The murder happened In 1194 when the Calle de Montcada first opened by the Montcada family who owned it. Berenguer de Vilademuls who was the Archbishop of Tarragona was killed by the Count of Montcada. It was actually a relative as Guillem Ramon I de Montcada was his niece’s husband. 

The argument between the two was an ongoing dispute that had Catalan divided into two sides. A popular poet and troubadour called Guilhem de Berguedan had written several diss songs against the king as well as the archbishop that offended them greatly. The troubadour accused the king for not accepting him into the company to please the archbishop. 

This seemingly petty fight escalated and the whole kingdom and more got involved, eventually, even the archbishop’s own relatives, who were not siding with him at all. The absolute clear case has never been relieved, but there were also probably some personal factors as well going on between the two as well as economical ones. 

The murder happened on February 16th in 1194 in the Matabous meadow close to the Montcada Castle. was so gruesome and horrible because he was a man of the cloth and even the Pope condemned his crimes calling it especially heinous. 

Although it was condemned, he was left at his own devices for ten months after the murder, except for being paraded and mocked in Tarragona before being publicly flogged by a priest. But then the murderer went into exile. He did once go to Roma to ask for absolution for his crimes, but according to the cardinals dealing with his case, they gave him a strict penance. There are also rumors that he went to the Holy Lands as a pilgrim or took refuge in the Court in England.  

After the Count passed away he appeared at the scene of the crime and his ghost was damned to wander the same street for eternity. The echoes of this tragic event are said to still linger on the Calle de Montcada, and some claim to have witnessed ghostly apparitions and eerie sounds.

Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, the story adds an intriguing layer to the already fascinating history of Carrer de Montcada. It serves as a reminder that beneath the surface of its charming façade, this street holds secrets and tales of a bygone era.

Walking down the Haunted History of the Street

From its historical significance to its architectural marvels and haunted tales, Carrer de Montcada offers a captivating experience for those who seek to unravel the layers of Barcelona’s past. As you explore this vibrant street, take a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship of the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque eras, and immerse yourself in the vibrant art scene that thrives within its walls.

So, lace up your shoes, embrace the past, and embark on a journey through Carrer de Montcada, a street that captures the essence of Barcelona’s rich history and celebrates its timeless beauty. You never know what hidden gems and captivating stories await you as you step into the footsteps of the past.

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References:

Guillem Ramon I de Bearn i de Montcada – Viquipèdia, l’enciclopèdia lliure
Guilhem de Berguedan – Wikipedia
Berenguer de Vilademuls – Wikipedia
Berenguer de Vilademuls – Wikipedia
Calle Montcada – Visit Barcelona
Barcelona’s most haunted places – Coffee and Caminos

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The Mystery of the Haunted House on Avenue Frochot

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

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

Avenue Frochot, Home to Paris’ rich and famous

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

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

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

The Murdered Chambermaid

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

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

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

The Curse of Number 1

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

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

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

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References

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

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

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Casino degli Spiriti — The House of Souls

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

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

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

The Ghost of Pietro Luzzo da Feltre

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Murder House

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

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

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

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

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

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Haunted Venice – Legends, Mysteries and Stories

The Casino of the Spirits — ArtCurious 

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The Headless Hauntings of Parc Montsouris

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

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

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

Legends and Hauntings

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

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

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

The History of the Guillotine

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

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

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

The Murder of Isaure de Montsouris

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

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

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

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

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The Lady in Green Haunting Château de Brissac

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The tragic story of Château de Brissac and the murder of Charlotte de Brézé is a haunting one, but not a rare one as it houses the ghost of a woman murdered by her own husband and is forced to remain as a ghost.

It’s no secret that the Château de Brissac holds centuries of ghostly secrets in the Loire Valley. As one of the highest, grandest and oldest castles in France, it has been home to some of the most mysterious occurrences in all of Europe, including that of the Lady in Green. Unearth the tales about its ghosts, spirits and supernatural activity inside!

Discover the History of Château de Brissac

Château de Brissac has a long, colorful history that provides a backdrop for its resident spirits. Built in the 11th century by the Counts of Anjou but renovated in the 16th century, it stands as an impressive monument to France’s past. Its past inhabitants have left behind a tale of murder and misfortune – one that still haunts the castle today.

Rebuilt in 1611 after the French Wars of Religion, the architecture of the Château de Brissac is unlike any other in France. It features a unique combination of early Renaissance and classic Renaissance styles. It’s surrounded by seven towers and many turrets, windows, and balconies. 

Its main reception hall is one of the largest in Europe, measuring an impressive 80 feet long by 30 feet wide. The walls are actually double-walled to prevent fires and its design includes a mezzanine for extra storage space. Even its natural environment acts as a defensive wall against intruders since it’s located deep in dark forests!

The Ghost of the Green Lady or La Dame Verte

Many ghosts in French ghost story lore are said to be Dame Blanches or Ladies in White. And although the ghost of the Château de Brissac follows in the same pattern, the ghost is remembered and rumored to be a Lady in Green or La Dame Verte. 

The spirits of Château de Brissac are said to still linger in its walls, though sightings of them have become rarer over the years. 

Legends of La Dame Verte, the Green Lady, are some of the most popular tales told about the Château de Brissac. It is said that she was murdered by her own husband and now wanders the halls in search of vengeance. Some believe these stories are real, while others think they’re far-fetched. 

The Murder of Charlotte de Brézé

One of the reasons why Château de Brissac is so famously haunted is due to a tragic event that took place there. Charlotte de Brézé, the wife of Jacques de Breze and mistress of the castle, was mysteriously murdered inside one of its rooms. 

She was the illegitimate daughter of King Charles VII and his mistress, Agnes Sorel. She married Jacques de Breze, the lord of Château de Brissac in 1462 and had 5 children with him. The match was not a success however and Charlotte found the boring country life too much. 

Jacques de Breze suspected her of having an affair with another man, one of his huntsmen, Pierre de Lavergne. On the night of May 31 in 1477 she was murdered by her husband when he ran his sword through her as well as her lover because of his jealousy. 

She is said to haunt the tower room of the chapel of Château de Brissac, wearing her green dress and it is said that Jacques de Breze had to move out from the castle as he was tormented by her ghost. Years later, visitors still report hearing cries in the night at Château de Brissac, perhaps forever labeling it as one of France’s most haunted places!

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Charlotte de Brézé – Wikipedia

Château de Brissac – Wikipedia

The Ghost of the Green Lady Haunts this Spectacular French Chateau

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The Infamous Haunted Lizzie Borden House

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The infamous Lizzie Borden House is said to be one of New England’s most haunted homes after a brutal ax murder happened inside. After the murders, there are tales that ghosts are still haunting it. 

Lizzie Borden took an ax
and gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.

Step back in time to the home of one of America’s most notorious unsolved crimes – the Lizzie Borden House on Second Street in Fall River. Experience its creepy atmosphere and listen to its spine-tingling tales as you explore this legendary haunted house full of secrets and the occasional supernatural surprise!

Grab a candle, journey upstairs and learn the history of the infamous New England home. Find out how in 1892 Andrew and Abby Borden were discovered brutally murdered in this very house, passing down stories for generations to come. 

Who was Lizzie Borden?

Lizzie Andrew Borden was born in 1860 in Fall River Massachusetts and was given the name Andrew as well because her father so wanted a son. She grew up in an affluent family in what would later be known as the Lizzie Borden House. Although a rich family, her father was well known for being frugal and they had a complicated relationship to say the least. 

She grew up with her sister, Emma Lenora Borden and was involved in church activities such as Sunday school, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union as well as the Ladies’ Fruit and Flower Mission.

Two years after her mother died, her father remarried. They didn’t get along and Lizzie believed she had married her father for his wealth. Their live in maid, Sullivan claimed that both Emma and Lizzie rarely ate meals together with their father and stepmother.

Before the murders, tension grew in the family inside of the Lizzie Borden House. Her father kept gifting real estate to her stepmother’s family. Days before the murders the whole family was violently ill, and her stepmother feared poison as her husband was not really a popular man. 

Her father had also killed pigeons in the barn with hatches that Lizzie was upset about. She had built a roost for them and after a family argument, she was even sent away to New Bedford and didn’t return until a week before the murders. 

The Ax Murders in the Borden House

On August 4, 1892, her stepmother and father were found murdered by an ax in their home in broad daylight. When they questioned Lizzie Borden she made answers that were both strange and contradictory. 

The police investigation were later criticized for their lack of diligence as they did not even check her for bloodstains, only search her room superficially and let them stay in the house the following night after the murder. They also had a hatchet they thought could be the murder weapon, but never bothered to take fingerprints even though it was a method the police had started with elsewhere. 

Abby Borden: Lizzie Borden’s stepmother, Abby was found upstairs and had suffered 17 hits on the back of her head.
Andrew Borden: Her father, Andrew were found in the couch in the downstair sitting room murdered after being hit 10 or 11 times with a hatchet like weapon.

Lizzie Borden was arrested and put on trial that received a lot of media coverage nationwide. During the trial there was also another ax  murder that looked so similar to the Borden house, and many started to take Lizzie Bordens side and claim her innocence. 

In the end Lizzie Borden was acquitted on all charges and let off after many had come to her defense, including her maid, her sister and neighbors all testified that she never could have done it. 

Life After the Murder Trial

After she was acquitted from the trial of the murders she moved into a house with her sister and they stayed in Fall River. When coming out from the courthouse she said she was ‘The happiest woman in the world.’ 

But for the remainder of her days, she was an outcast in the Fall River society. Even if she by trial was found innocent, the fact that they never found the killer and the strange rumors about her continued and fuelled the idea that she might have done it after all. Even her maid, Sullivan confessed on her death bed allegedly that she had lied on the stand to protect Lizzie Borden. 

No one was ever arrested for the murders, but Lizzie Bordens guilt and motive has ever since been debated without any answers being found. 

The Hauntings in the Lizzie Borden House

After the gruesome murders in the Lizzie Borden House, the house itself has drawn attention to itself of being a haunted house where a lot of paranormal activity is going on. The house is preserved as it was and is hosting tours to continue to speculate what really happened that fateful and hot August day. 

It is said that the ghost of Lizzie Borden’s father and stepmother, Abby and Andrew is haunting the Lizzie Borden House, still trying to get the truth about their murder out. 

One long time guide though has another explanation for the strange sounds many attributes to ghosts. After they put air conditioning in the house, the sound travels in a strange manner as Lizzie Borden House is filled with holes and cracks.  

The Lizzie Borden House: The busy street were the murder happened on 92 Second St, Fall River, MA, the home of Lizzie Borden at the time of the murders as it appeared in 1892.

Another haunting that is said to be going on is the death next door of a mother that murdered her children. A woman named Eliza Darling Borden had three children. She murdered two of them before taking her own life in 1848. One of the theories is that she killed herself in the house that would eventually become Andrew Borden’s in 1872. 

Even Lizzie herself is rumored to haunt the place. It is not only in the Lizzie Borden House she is said to haunt tough as she is also said to haunt the place known as Maplecroft, the home she lived in on French Street after the trial. For what is she haunting the place for though? Is it because of the grief and trauma after the horrible murders that happened. Or is it perhaps guilt as she herself really was the killer?

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References

Murder in the Well – Lizzie Borden

https://eu.heraldnews.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2021/10/26/lizzie-borden-house-fall-river-best-haunted-hotel-ghost-paranormal/8546497002/

https://lizzie-borden.com/history/