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10 Most Haunted Places in Paris

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A list of the ten most haunted places in Paris, from haunted houses on cobbled streets, catacombs, and marbled and golden palaces.

Haunted places in Paris are said to be, well, very French. The ghost stories we find in this city are tales of jilted lovers in romantic date sites, fleeting shadows under the canopy trees in picturesque parks to royal ghosts inside of the historic buildings close to the whole world have heard of.

But just like the pitch dark of the underground necropolis of the catacombs under the rose colored city above, the ghost stories found in this city are just as dark. This is by no way a complete list of what tales you can find in Paris, and for a more extensive list, head over to the archives of France. But for now, let’s have a look at some of the most haunted places in Paris.

No. 1 on Avenue Frochot | Quartier Saint-Georges | Paris — The cursed haunted house behind the iron fences

Most Haunted Places in Paris: Avenue Frochot, from number 1 to number 7, picture taken between 1915 and 1925.

Avenue Frochot in Paris harbors the infamous Haunted House, shrouded in mystery and dark secrets that have intrigued locals and visitors alike for centuries. This historic avenue, once home to Paris’ elite, including renowned figures like Alexandre Dumas and Victor Hugo, hides a chilling tale within its iron-fenced properties.

At the heart of this enigma is the Haunted House, where a chambermaid met a tragic end at the hands of an unknown assailant in the early 1900s. Despite her killer evading capture, her spirit is said to linger within the mansion’s walls, perpetually haunting the premises.

Eerie tales abound of ghostly footsteps echoing through the empty corridors and shadowy figures glimpsed through the windows, even in the dead of night. The house, steeped in a sinister aura, carries a curse that has plagued its occupants over the years. Theater critic Mathieu Galey met his demise within its confines, mirroring the fate of composer Victor Massé a century prior. Even renowned singer Sylvie Vartan, who acquired the property in the 1970s, hastily departed mere days after moving in, purportedly due to the spectral presence haunting the house.

Read the whole story: The Mystery of the Haunted House on Avenue Frochot

Jardin Tuileries | L’Homme Rouge | Paris — The red man haunting the garden as an omen

Most Haunted Places in Paris: Said to house the red man, the ghost of a former servant has now become a national symbol and an omen.

The Tuileries Palace, once a grand royal residence adjacent to the Louvre Palace in Paris, holds within its storied history a chilling tale of revenge from beyond the grave and is perhaps one of the most haunted places in Paris. Constructed in the 16th century by Queen Catherine de Medici, this opulent palace was tragically destroyed by fire in 1871 during the tumultuous period of the Paris Commune. However, amidst the ruins lies a lingering specter, known as The Red Man, whose vengeful spirit haunts the nearby Tuileries Gardens to this day.

Legend has it that The Red Man is the restless soul of Jean l’Ecorcheur, a loyal servant turned assassin in service to Queen Catherine. Jean, also known as Jean the Skinner, earned his grisly nickname through his dual roles as a butcher and a clandestine operative for the queen. However, his intimate knowledge of the royal family’s secrets proved to be his undoing. Fearful that he would betray her, Queen Catherine ordered his demise, resulting in a brutal murder within the confines of the Tuileries Gardens.

In death, Jean’s spirit is said to have risen from the grave, cursing all those who dwelled within the palace walls. The Red Man became a harbinger of doom, appearing before significant events that befell the French royals. From the assassination of King Henry IV to the execution of Louis XVI during the French Revolution, sightings of The Red Man preceded these tragic events like a sinister omen.

Read the whole story: The Red Man haunting the Jardin Tuileries in Paris

Notre Dame Cathedral | Île de la Cité — The haunted cathedral made by the help of the devil

Most Haunted Places in Paris: Perhaps one of the most well known buildings in Paris are also one of the most haunted?

The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris stands as an iconic symbol of Gothic architecture and spiritual significance, drawing visitors from around the globe to marvel at its breathtaking beauty and delve into its rich history. However, alongside its awe-inspiring features, the cathedral is also steeped in tales of mystery and the supernatural.

Dating back to its construction in 1163, Notre Dame has amassed a wealth of stories, some of which hint at ghostly encounters within its hallowed halls. Among these legends is the chilling tale of an ironworker named Biscornet, who purportedly struck a deal with the devil to complete the cathedral’s metalwork in time for its inauguration. Despite his successful craftsmanship, the doors he fashioned remained mysteriously sealed shut until holy water was applied, revealing a note hinting at his demonic pact.

But tales of spectral encounters don’t end there. Legends speak of two ghostly women haunting the cathedral’s roof, their ethereal figures glimpsed among the stone gargoyles and gothic sculptures. Witnesses claim to have seen these apparitions walking the roof before inexplicably vanishing into thin air or plunging to their demise.

Read the whole story: The Haunted Halls of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral 

Père Lachaise Cemetery | Boulevard de Ménilmontant — The haunted cemetery of bloody revolutions and celebrities

Most Haunted Places in Paris: Looking almost like a city itself, this graveyard houses any celebrities as their final resting place. Although, some are said to haunt the place.

The Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France, renowned for its historic significance and famous inhabitants like Jim Morrison and Marcel Proust, has long been shrouded in mystery and ghostly tales and thought to be one of the most haunted places in Paris as well. Established in 1804 by Emperor Napoleon, this sprawling necropolis covers over 110 acres and attracts visitors from around the globe.

Despite its solemn purpose, the cemetery has witnessed its share of turmoil, including the execution of Communards during the Bloody Week of 1871. Reports of ghostly encounters abound, with visitors and cemetery workers alike recounting eerie experiences among the graves and mausoleums. Additionally, tales of restless spirits, like those of fallen soldiers from past battles, contribute to its haunted reputation.

The cemetery’s most peculiar legend revolves around Baroness Elisabeth Stroganova, whose mausoleum is rumored to hold dark secrets. According to lore, Stroganova offered a substantial inheritance to anyone who could endure spending a full year inside her tomb. Despite several attempts, no one has successfully completed the challenge, leading to speculation about the baroness’s motives and the eerie atmosphere surrounding her grave.

Read the whole story: Paris’ Haunted Père Lachaise Cemetery

Parc Montsouris | Arrondissement de l’Observatoire — The headless ghost in the park

Most Haunted Places in Paris: A good place for a picnic as well as a place to see ghosts. source

Parc Montsouris, nestled in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, stands as a lush oasis steeped in both beauty and mystery. Its verdant landscapes and serene lake belie a history fraught with tales of the supernatural, where strange occurrences and hauntings have left an indelible mark on its tranquil ambiance.

One chilling legend recounts an incident during the park’s official opening, where a tragic mistake led to the accidental draining of the artificial lake, purportedly driving the park engineer to take his own life. Although historical records confirm the lake’s sudden drainage in 1878, there is scant evidence of the alleged suicide.

Parc Montsouris also bears witness to darker chapters in history, notably serving as a testing ground for the guillotine during the French Revolution. Echoes of this gruesome past linger, with some visitors reporting eerie sensations reminiscent of the blade’s swift descent.

Among the park’s most infamous legends is the tale of Isaure de Montsouris, whose grisly murder by bandits allegedly left his restless spirit to roam the grounds.

Read the whole story: The Headless Hauntings of Parc Montsouris

Eiffel Tower | le septième — The haunted and deadly romance at the top of the most romantic place on earth

Most Haunted Places in Paris: Perhaps one of the worlds most romantic coded places in the world. Also the most haunted?

The Eiffel Tower, affectionately known as La dame de fer (the Iron Lady), stands as an iconic symbol of romance and modernity in Paris. Constructed for the 1889 World’s Fair, this architectural marvel has since become a magnet for urban legends, mysterious events, and ghostly sightings.

Despite initial criticism for its design, the tower captivated audiences with its grandeur and size, remaining the world’s tallest structure for over four decades. Today, it continues to draw millions of visitors, contributing to Paris’ reputation as a city of romance and intrigue.

Amidst marriage proposals and picturesque views, the Eiffel Tower harbors darker tales, including stories of jilted lovers and tragic endings. One legend tells of a heartbroken couple meeting at the tower in the 1920s, where a rejected proposal led to a fatal fall. Some claim to have encountered the spirit of the jilted lover or his scorned partner, perpetuating the tower’s haunted reputation and of being one of the most haunted places in Paris.

Read the whole story: Exploring the Ghost Stories on top of Paris’ Eiffel Tower

Château de Versailles | Yvelines — The time travelling ghost in the royal palace

Most Haunted Places in Paris: The Apollo Fontain outside in the gardens of Château de Versailles

Constructed under the reign of King Louis XIV, Château de Versailles began as a modest hunting lodge in 1623 before blossoming into the lavish palace known today. With its dark history and tales of ghostly apparitions, the palace has become a focal point for paranormal enthusiasts and curious visitors alike.

Among the spectral residents said to roam the palace is the ghost of Louis XIV himself, the Sun King whose undying affection for Versailles lingers beyond the grave. Witnesses claim to have glimpsed his regal figure traversing his favored chambers and garden pathways, accompanied by the phantom echoes of midnight horse gallops, evoking his funeral procession.

Marie Antoinette, the ill-fated queen of France, is another prominent specter said to wander the palace grounds, her ghostly visage often sighted near the Grand Trianon or within the palace walls. Some recount hearing her mournful sobs echoing through empty corridors, while others claim to have seen her clad in her iconic white gown, clutching a white rose as she roams the estate.

Even in the quiet of the night, whispers of unseen spirits pervade the dimly lit hallways and gardens of Château de Versailles. Visitors have reported eerie noises and chilling sensations, with some claiming to have glimpsed shadowy figures lurking in the shadows, adding to the palace’s mystique and allure as a haunted destination.

Read the whole story: The Time Travelling Ghost Haunting Château de Versailles

The Catacombs | Place Denfert-Rochereau | Paris — The mysterious underground necropolis

Most Haunted Places in Paris

Beneath the bustling streets of Paris lies a realm shrouded in darkness and mystery: the Catacombs. Originally an ancient quarry, this network of tunnels now houses the bones of millions of Parisians, relocated from overcrowded cemeteries in the late 1700s.

One infamous story revolves around Philibert Aspairt, a hospital worker who vanished in the catacombs during the French Revolution. Despite efforts to find him, his fate remained unknown until his body was discovered years later. Legend has it that his ghost still roams the labyrinthine corridors, a haunting reminder of the catacombs’ dark past.

But the mysteries of the catacombs extend beyond mere ghost stories. Legends speak of hidden chambers and strange creatures lurking in the shadows, making it perhaps one of the most haunted places in Paris.

Read the whole story: Scary Tales of The Catacombs of Paris

Opéra Garnier| Le Fantôme de l’Opéra | Opéra — The home and haunting of the Phantom of the Opera

Most Haunted Places in Paris

Opéra Garnier Paris, a pinnacle of French culture and architectural marvel, is steeped in a history rich with mysterious tales and eerie legends, with perhaps none more infamous than the story of the Phantom of the Opera.

Built during the Second Empire of France under the visionary architect Charles Garnier, Opéra Garnier’s labyrinthine design and grandeur have long captivated visitors. Yet, beneath its ornate façade lies a realm of secrets, from hidden passages to unexplored depths, where whispers of the supernatural echo through its hallowed halls.

Central to the opera house’s mystique is the legend of the Phantom, an enigmatic figure said to haunt its auditorium, grand staircase, and darkened corridors.

Some attribute the Phantom’s existence to the tragic tale of Ernest, a piano prodigy scarred by a fire at the Le Peletier Opera House in 1873. Seeking refuge within Opéra Garnier’s labyrinthine confines, Ernest is said to have dwelled in the underground lake beneath the building, consumed by grief and rage.

The opera’s eerie reputation is further enhanced by a series of inexplicable deaths and accidents, including the infamous incident of a falling crystal chandelier during a performance of Faust. Linked to seat number 13, this tragedy, immortalized in Gaston Leroux’s novel, adds to the aura of mystery surrounding Opéra Garnier.

Read the whole story: The Legend of the Phantom of Opéra Garnier

Rue Des Chantres | Paris — The lost children haunting the streets of Paris

Most Haunted Places in Paris

Rue des Chantres, near the Seine in Paris, is shrouded in eerie tales of forgotten tragedies and spectral encounters. This small street, close to Notre Dame, holds whispered accounts of agony, death, and haunted houses, painting a sinister picture of its history and is maybe one of the most haunted places in Paris?.

Île de la Cité, one of Paris’s oldest areas, is steeped in legends of paranormal phenomena. Once home to a convent, castle, and numerous haunted houses, this district is rumored to be inhabited by ghosts of the past. Famed figures like Heloise, from the tragic tale of Heloise and Abelard, once resided in this enigmatic locale.

The chilling legend of the Lost Children on Rue des Chantres stems from a devastating event in 1910. During a severe flood, children from a hospital, housed in the Hotel-Dieu, were trapped and drowned in their rooms. Despite efforts to conceal their bodies, many believe these souls still haunt the street, forever denied peace in death.

Since the tragic flood, witnesses have reported hearing children’s screams and laughter echoing from Rue des Chantres. Strange lights and shadowy figures have also been sighted, attributed to the Lost Children who roam the street, leaving an indelible mark on those who dare to venture into their realm.

Read the whole story: The Story of the Lost Children on Rue Des Chantres

Most Haunted Places in Paris

As mentioned, this list is only a small list of the most haunted places in Paris, but far from everyone. Head over to the France archives for more ghost stories from there.

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The Haunted Halls of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral

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Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has been a site of intrigue and mystery for centuries— its haunted halls filled with stories that spark the imagination with ghosts on the roof and an ironworker that sold his soul to the Devil.

The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has captivated visitors for centuries with its stunning architecture, stirring religious artifacts, and gripping tales of mystery. People come to hear the bells ring to remind us about the hunchback of Notre Dame and see the frightening gargoyles along the roof.

Rumors of hauntings have further cemented the cathedral’s reputation as a supernatural hot-spot, leaving its visitors to ponder whether these rumors are just urban legends or based on fact.

History of the Notre Dame Cathedral

Noted by visitors from all across the world, the Notre Dame Cathedral’s captivating architecture has inspired many throughout the ages. Built of limestone and characterized by its two towers flanking its main entrance, it has stood tall for centuries as a testament to Gothic style. Its intricate carvings, majestic details, and mesmerizing sculptures carve a path for learning about the history that lies within its walls and contributes more to the speculation of paranormal activity.

From its construction in 1163 to its destruction by fire in 2019, the iconic cathedral has served as a beacon of faith for thousands of years and amassed tales that might never be fully unraveled. 

The Devil and the Ironworker

One of the most enduring tales of hauntings in Notre Dame is that of a mysterious ironworker who sold his soul to the devil in exchange for mastery over his craft. According to legend, the best ironworker, Biscornet was commissioned by the church to create the metal for the cathedrals door at the inauguration in 1345. 

The work was too much and he was in danger of not being done in time. But at the inauguration the metal work was done, there was only one problem. No matter how hard they tried, they were unable to open the door. 

Read also: The Bell Tower Goddess of Beijing

When they went to Biscornet to ask him about it, they found him hanged with a note warning them to spay holy water on the door to make them open. 

It was then believed that the ironworker had made a pact with the devil and sold his soul to get the work done in time for the opening day. 

The Women on the Notre Dame Roof

The creepy story about the demonic front door is not the only legend about the old cathedral. According to legend, there are also spotted some ghosts as well.

Two female ghosts haunt the roof of Notre-Dame cathedral were they can be seen between the grey gargoyles and gothic carved stone. Apparently you can see them walking on the cathedrals roof before either jumping off the roof or disappearing as soon as you see them. 

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The Mystery of the Haunted House on Avenue Frochot

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

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

Avenue Frochot, Home to Paris’ rich and famous

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

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

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

The Murdered Chambermaid

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

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

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

The Curse of Number 1

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

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

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

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

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

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The Story of the Lost Children on Rue Des Chantres

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The Lost Children on Rue Des Chantres is still remembered, and sometimes even heard and seen on what is known as the most haunted street in Paris. 

Step onto the mysterious Rue des Chantres, just a couple of meters from the Seine in Paris and you will find yourself surrounded by spine-tingling tales of forgotten tragedies, haunted houses, and long-lost children.

This narrow and small street so close to Notre Dame has a long history and there are whispered rumors about lost souls to true accounts of agony and death. Learn about the sinister side of Rue des Chantres.

The Île de la Cité District in Paris

As one of the oldest parts of Paris, Île de la Cité is a place of legends about spooky happenings. This part of the city was once home to a convent, a castle, and hundreds of haunted houses that are said to be brimming with ghosts from the past. 

Tales have been passed down for centuries about the mysterious happenings between Rue des Chantres and Île de la Cité and people like Heloise from the Romeo and Juliet tale of Heloise and Abelard used to live in this area.

Uncover the History of The Lost Children

The terrifying legend of the Lost Children on Rue des Chantres is based on a true story. In 1910, the water level in Paris rose to an all time high level and flooded the city. Apparently it rose over one and a half meters. 

The city was at the time riddled with sickness, poverty and many suffered from tuberculosis. The hospitals had to rent extra rooms, and it is said they rented them at a hotel called Hotel-Dieu where the children stayed on the first floor. 

The children were allowed to be outside and play during the day and locked up for their safety during the night in their rooms. At the night of the flood they were trapped, helpless and drowned without a chance of escaping. 

The hospital tried to remove the body of the dead children in the night so no one could see, but they were discovered and to this day, many people believe that these poor souls still haunt the street as lost spirits – never having found peace in death.

The Ghost Children on Rue Des Chantres

Ever since that tragic night of the flood, visitors and locals alike have heard the sound of children’s screams coming out of the street as well as laughter from them playing. Some also report strange lights and shadowy figures walking in and out of doorways. Many attribute these sightings to the Lost Children on Rue des Chantres – but whatever their origin, they have certainly left a lasting impression on those brave enough to witness them.

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Rue des Chantres: A Little-Known Lane on Île de la Cité | solosophie

City of Fright | Peacock Plume

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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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Scary Tales of The Catacombs of Paris

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Explore one of Paris’ most haunted destinations with this tour featuring stories and legends about the Catacombs’ chilling past. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight!

Take your flashlight and follow along with a knowledgeable tour guide on an eerie journey through the catacombs of Paris, one of the city’s most haunting and mysterious places. Hear tales of chilling ghostly encounters and uncanny moments throughout history as you venture deeper into these damp, dark corridors.

Arrête! C’est ici l’empire de la Mort

This is the sign that greets you when you are entering the catacombs. It means: Stop! This is the empire of Death. And it certainly is. 

The Catacombs of Paris, or l’Ossuaire Municipal, are an ancient network of tunnels located beneath the streets of Paris that date back to the Roman period. It used to be an underground quarry to get stone to build the city on top of it. 

Over time, the city began to outgrow its ancient cemeteries, and in the late 1780s officials began a project to move millions upon millions of bones and remains into the quarries deep beneath the streets. These bones comprise much of what is now known as “the Catacombs” in reference to the underground necropolis in Rome and represent centuries worth of Parisian history and houses now the graves of 6 million people.

Tales of Terror from Paris’s Underworld

People have been telling tales of terror from the Catacombs of Paris for centuries. From ghostly figures spotted in the shadows to strange noises and apparitions, these chilling stories of paranormal activity are sure to leave you shuddering. There’s also said to be a secret chamber deep within the catacombs that hints at an even more ominous past — although no one knows what lies beyond its entrance.

Philibert Aspairt Ghost

One of the scariest tales associated with the Catacombs is that of Philibert Aspairt, a 62 year old hospital worker at Val-de-Grâce hospital who disappeared in November of 1793 during the French Revolution. He entered the catacombs via a staircase in the hospital courtyard, but his motive for going in is unclear. 

Many say that he was going to fetch a particular liquor, was drunk himself and ended up getting lost in the maze of corridors. When his light went out it was impossible to find out from the catacombs. 

Rumor has it that his body was discovered in the Catacombs in 1804, nearly 11 years later in one of the quarry galleries where he was identified by the key ring belonging to the hospital, but the cause of death was never determined. 

The tragedy doesn’t end there as according to legend, Aspairt’s ghost continues to haunt the underground labyrinth to this day.

Legends of the Catacombs

The Catacombs of Paris are not just filled with bones, but also stories and legends that have been passed down for centuries. From tales of mysterious creatures lurking in the tunnels to sightings of the ghost of a monk and others, those brave enough to explore the Catacombs may never know what they might encounter.

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Philibert Aspairt – Wikipedia

Unresolved: The Missing Man In The Paris Catacombs – The Ghost In My Machine

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The Time Travelling Ghost Haunting Château de Versailles

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Château de Versailles in France is known for being the peak of decadence, royalty and luxury. But it is also known for being one of the more haunted places in France, and even has a potential time traveling story.

Château de Versailles, the stately French palace on the outskirts of Paris, is said to be one of the most haunted places in France. 

The Palace is a formal residence to the royal family of France that was built by King Louis XIV about 19 km west of Paris. It started out as a small hunting lodge in 1623, but it kept expanding until it was the luxurious palace we know of today. 

With Château de Versailles’ dark history and numerous reports of mysterious sightings and eerie phenomena, this magnificent building has become a haven for paranormal investigators and ghost hunters alike.

The Story of Louis XIV’s Ghost

It’s rumored that the ghost of Louis XIV, the Sun King who oversaw much of Château de Versailles’ construction, still haunts the halls. He loved this palace so much that he even moved the French Court and Government into it in 1682 from the Louvre Palace. 

Witnesses say that his specter can be seen in his favorite chambers and garden pathways, wearing a traditional robe de chambre and capotain hat. The sound of horses galloping on unseen paths have been heard too, dead silent at midnight – a ghostly reminder of Louis’ presence in the form of what some believe to be his funeral procession.

Mysterious Sightings of Marie Antoinette’s Ghost

One of the more famous ghosts in the world must be that of Marie Antoinette, who in her afterlife, also has a lot of rumors around her. She is mostly known for quoting that the people should eat cake instead as they didn’t have any bread. This is false as she never said this. It is also said she is haunting the rooms of the Versailles palace. But can this also be false?

It is widely believed that the ghostly figure of former Queen Marie Antoinette can often be spotted walking near the Grand Trianon and inside of the palace. Even more chilling, some have heard her sobs echoing throughout the empty halls in the dead of night. 

Others claim to have seen a woman wearing her famous white dress, complete with a white rose in her hand, sauntering along the grounds of Château de Versailles.

The Ghost of the Petit Trianon

The most famous haunting is of the Petit Trianon, the grounds outside the palace. Or is it really a ghost story as one of the theories is that it was actually a time slip. The story was written down and published in 1911 that fueled the rumors that a ghost was haunting the Château de Versailles. 

Two English women visited the palace as they traveled through France on a hot August day in 1901. Miss Moberly was a headmistress of St Hugh’s College for women in Oxford while Miss Jourdain was a former student of hers who was now her assistant. 

As they were having a pleasant trip through the gardens they asked for directions from two men they met dressed in green coats and three cornered hats with spades in their hands. Strange, but perhaps not too strange at an old palace. But the two women suddenly started to feel a strange sensation and growing distress as it was something they couldn’t quite pinpoint. They also passed a Chinese kiosk on their way. 

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They then encountered a woman wearing an old dress and a white hat while she was drawing in the garden. The women were overwhelmed by the experience, and they returned to Paris, agreeing that the place was definitely haunted. 

Another theory was that they had experienced some sort of time slip or time travel. One of the proofs they presented was their own ignorance over the palace and garden at their visit. But when they looked at plans for the Trianon, they found that there indeed had been a Chinese kiosk there in 1774.

Unseen Spirits in the Hallways at Night

In the darkness of the night, some visitors have reported hearing strange noises and feeling a mysterious presence when walking along the Château de Versailles dimly lit hallways. One such story is about an unseen spirit that supposedly haunts the palace’s famous Hall of Mirrors or in the gardens of Petit Trianon. Witnesses like cleaners, guides and visitors have claimed to see dark shadows lurking in the corner of their eyes or feel a chill whenever they step foot into this eerie place.

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The ghosts of Trianon | Palace of Versailles

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The Legend of the Phantom of Opéra Garnier

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Get ready for an eerie adventure through Opéra Garnier Paris where the legend of the Phantom of the Opera originated from. How much from the musical and the novel was from real life and just how haunted is the opera house today? 

“Then their ears suddenly perceive celestial harmonies, a divine voice, which they remember all their lives.”
– Phantom of the Opera, Gaston Leroux

Step inside the haunted walls of Opéra Garnier Paris that were said to be haunted by an opera ghost. Was it a living man hiding behind the walls of the opera or was it in fact a supernatural ghost haunting the building. Was the Phantom of the Opera a fact at all? 

The iconic building is full of mysterious stories and eerie legends that have been passed down throughout the centuries. Discover what makes this grand theater one of France’s most spine-tingling places, as you explore its many dark histories and ghastly tales.

The History of the Opéra Garnier

Opéra Garnier Paris, also known as The Palais Garnier, is an iconic and historic building that stands as a symbol of French culture and sophistication and is perhaps the most well known opera house that exists. Today the Opéra Garnier is mainly used for ballet.

Opéra Garnier was built in the Second Empire of France, it was designed by renowned architect Charles Garnier, as part of a massive construction project undertaken during the reign of Napoleon III. 

Since its inception, many strange and ghastly legends have surrounded the building – from tales of mysterious disappearances to reports of a deep underground lake said to be populated by fantastical creatures. Beyond these stories lies the undeniable fact that there are things about the building that remain unexplored and unknown, leaving much of its enigmatic past shrouded in mystery.

Much of Opéra Garnier Paris’s legendary aura comes from its mysterious structure and certain features of the building architecture. The architecture is a quintessential Napoleon III style with a mix of both Baroque, Palladio and Renaissance all in one building. It has a labyrinthine design, with hidden passages and secret passageways – some of which may have been used for illicit activities during the opera house’s earlier times. 

The grand stairway is nothing short of breathtaking and there are unique implications to this powerful piece of architecture. These days, it serves as an inspiring backdrop for any number of theatrical performances.

Discover the Phantom of the Opera’s Terrible Curse

Legend has it that the spirit of an unknown figure lives in the auditorium, where he haunts theatrical performances with a terrible curse, walks the grand staircase of the opera and hides in the basement. 

His name is often Erik or Ernest from the legends, but we perhaps know him best from the Gaston Leroux novel, the Phantom of the Opera published in 1910. Today it is perhaps the best known opera house in the world thanks to this novel and the 1986 musical with the same name. But was there a legend that inspired this work, and was the legend true?

Those who are brave enough to enter may feel a presence they can’t explain or even hear mysterious and chilling music! No one knows what this masked phantom looks like or why he cursed the theater – but those brave enough to try might just find out!

The Strange Deaths in the Opéra Garnier

“Oh, to-night I gave you my soul, and I am dead!”
– Phantom of the Opera, Gaston Leroux

Stories of the Phantom are not new–theater-goers, performers and staff have been experiencing eerie encounters in Opéra Garnier Paris since its opening in 1875 where a series of unexplained deaths took place and it is said that the writer Gaston Leroux were inspired from these legends when he wrote his novel.

Very soon after the opening a stagehand was found hanged. Then in 1896 during a performance of Faust an enormous crystal chandelier fell from the ceiling and struck a spectator or a concierge who died instantly. Garnier said of the chandelier: 

“What else could fill the theatre with such joyous life? What else could offer the variety of forms that we have in the pattern of the flames, in these groups and tiers of points of light, these wild hues of gold flecked with bright spots, and these crystalline highlights?”

Now the incident was one of the highlights of the novel by Gaston Leroux and so many legends came from this incident. Rumour has it that the person who died sat on seat number 13. 

The Phantom of the Opera

All of the accidents and more were attributed to Ernest. He was supposedly a young piano prodigy that worked in the Le Peletier Opera House that was before Opéra Garnier. On October 28th 1873, a terrible fire broke out there and burned his face terribly. His fiance, a young ballerina, died. 

Filled with pain, sorrow and anger, the pianist took refuge in the maze-like building of the new opera house that was being built and wanted to finish his grand masterpiece. He is said to have lived in the underground lake under the building and only eaten the fish he caught there. 

Did Ernest really exist? There have been many speculations and too many legends to separate false from facts. There is not a natural lake underneath the opera house, but there really is an enormous cistern that firefighters use to practice swimming in the dark. 

There has also been an unidentified body discovered in the basement of the opera building. Could it be that the Phantom of the Opera was real?

The Unsolved Legend of the Phantom of the Opera

From strange noises to magical music that suddenly appears out of nowhere, there’s no doubt that something supernatural is at work here. Whatever it is, it terrifies audiences and mesmerizes those brave enough to enter the palatial halls of Opéra Garnier Paris. 

The mystery of the Phantom of the Opera remains unsolved – yet one thing is certain: the legend has been passed down through generations and will remain chilling for centuries to come.

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Un fantôme hante-t-il toujours les souterrains de l’opéra Garnier?

Palais Garnier – Wikipedia

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Paris’ Haunted Père Lachaise Cemetery

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The mysterious grounds of Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris is the final resting place for many celebrities and if we are to believe the rumors, ghosts! Walk among the strange haunted graves of Jim Morrison and Marcel Proust as well as graves may or may not belonging to a vampire.

Have you heard about the mysterious tales of hauntings at Père Lachaise Cemetery? Located in Paris in France, this historic cemetery has been a popular tourist attraction for centuries and is the largest one in the city. 

Famous people like Jim Morrison and Marcel Proust are buried there and if we are to believe the legends, there is a ghostly tale or two that have become part of its history.

Read Also: All our ghost stories from France

The History of Père Lachaise Cemetery

The Père Lachaise Cemetery was established in 1804 by the French Emperor Napoleon as the first cemetery of its kind. Throughout the centuries, it has grown to become a vast necropolis that covers more than 110 acres of land. 

Here, you’ll find graves and monuments of notable public figures such as Oscar Wilde and Édith Piaf — among many others. The history of this site certainly adds to its mysterious allure, and is part of what draws tourists from around the world to experience it first-hand.

Read also: More ghost stories from haunted cemeteries from all around the world: Here

The holy cemetery was also the location of a battle and the fallen soldiers are said to still linger.

Ghosts of the Père Lachaise Cemetery

There is not only one ghost that are talked about at the Père Lachaise Cemetery. Tourists have reported being chased away or startled by mysterious figures among the graves and mausoleums — like the former prime minister of France, Adolphe Thiers, who doesn’t seem to get any rest around his tomb. People working in the cemetery have also ghost stories to tell about multiple of the souls resting here. 

There are also peculiar tales behind some of the graves you can find in Père Lachaise Cemetery, like the Polish composer Chopin who was buried without a heart because he was scared he would end up being buried alive. 

The Cemetery as a Battle and Execution Ground

Although the idea of a cemetery is that it is supposed to be a place of eternal rest, living life often comes in conflict with it. 

Within Père Lachaise Cemetery you will find the Communards’ Wall or Mur des Fédérés. This is the site of a bloody murder as 147 of the Communards were executed by the French army in what would be called The Bloody Week. 

A place for execution: Once a group of rebel soldiers were lined up and shot to death inside the cemetery. The wall they used for the executions of the revolutionaries are now called the Communard’ ‘Wall.

The semaine sanglante or the Bloody Week was a weeklong battle in Paris from 21 to 28 May 1871, when the French Army recaptured the city from the Paris Commune. The Paris Commune was a French revolutionary government that seized power in Paris from 18 March to 28 May 1871.

Read Also: This is not the only haunting connected to the Paris Commune: The Red Man haunting the Jardin Tuileries in Paris

One of the last remaining strong points of the National Guard was the cemetery of Père-Lachaise that was defended by about 200 men. In the army used cannon to demolish the gates and stormed the cemetery. There was a bloody and savage fight around the tombs until nightfall, when the last Communards were taken prisoner.

The prisoners were taken to the wall of the cemetery and shot and then buried with them in a common grave. This group include one woman, the only recorded execution of a woman by the army during the Bloody Week. The wall is now called the Communards’ Wall, and is the site of annual commemorations of the Commune.

This was the final battle of the Paris Commune and it is believed that in that one week between 10 and 15 thousand people died.

The Ghost of Jim Morrison by his Protected Grave

One of the more famous ghosts said to haunt the cemetery is Jim Morrison. He was the lead singer of the Doors until his death in 1971 when he was only 27 years old. Still today the exact cause of his death is unclear, however, many speculate that it was drug-related. 

He had moved to Paris not long before his death to focus on his poetry writing after making hits like Light My Fire, Riders on the Storm and People are Strange.

His grave is covered in graffiti in Père Lachaise Cemetery as he is still a legend to many and the bust was even stolen in 1988, and ever since, a security guard protecting the grave. But during the night, people claim to have seen his ghost wander around the cemetery. 

The Ghost of the Writer Marcel Proust Looking for his Lover

The French novelist remains a legend in literature, and so many students struggle through his heavy books before finding solace in his genius writings when they finally understand its meaning. Many reading fans leave chestnuts in his honor at his grave today.

Perhaps fine way to have the afterlife, surrounded by fans still reading his works. But according to legend, this is one of the graves that are alledgedly haunted and people claim to have seen his ghosts wandering the cemetery today.

Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust: Marcel Proust (10 July 1871 – 18 November 1922) was a French novelist who wrote the monumental novel In Search of Lost Time (À la recherche du temps perdu).

Apparently, he is still distraught that no one listened to his dying wish. Proust spent the last three years of his life mostly confined to his bedroom of his apartment 44 rue Hamelin in Chaillot, sleeping during the day and working at night to complete his novel. He died of pneumonia and a pulmonary abscess in 1922.

Alive he had a final wish of being buried next to his lover, composer Reynaldo Hahn. 

However, he was a homosexual in a time when same sex love wasn’t considered true love, so when he died at 51 of pneumonia his wish wasn’t granted and he was buried alone. 

It is said he rises from his grave in Père Lachaise Cemetery every night to search for his lover who he dearly wanted to be buried next to. 

The Spiritualist Allan Kardec Granting Wishes from Beyond his Grave

A peculiar grave in Père Lachaise Cemetery is that of Allan Kardec, born Hippolyte Rivail from Lyon. He is seen as the founder of spiritism that took the world by storm in the 1800s and a medium with wealthy and famous clients like Victor Hugo and Sir Conan Doyle. 

On his monument it is written Naitre, mourir, renaitre encore et progresser sans cesse, telle est la loi . This means To be born, to die, to be reborn again and keep progressing, that is the law.

This is not exactly a ghost story per se, but there is definitive something mysterious stuff going on with it. According to the legends, Allan Kardec said that after his death you should put your hand on the neck of his bust on his grave and make a wish. If the wish was granted, you should come back with flowers. 

There are according to rumors, almost always fresh flowers by his grave.

A Years Stay at Elisabeth Stroganovas’ Mausoleum

Baronne Elisabeth Alexandrovna Stroganoff: painted by Robert Lefèvre.

The strangest grave though found at Père Lachaise Cemetery must be that of Baroness Elizaveta Alexandrovna Demidova (Елизавета Александровна Строганова) a wealthy Russian aristocrat from the Stroganov family who resided in Paris in her final years. When Elisabeth Stroganova died at 40 in 1818 she gave a strange clause in her will with a huge cash prize. 

Anyone who dared to spend a full year, 365 days and 366 nights inside of Elisabeth Stroganova’s mausoleum would inherit a big chunk of her inheritance. Why this was a clause is unclear. Her sense of humor? Maybe a fear of being alone? Something else?

There were at least 3 people who tried to the insane clause to try to get their hands on her inheritance. The brave, or desperate depending on how you look at it, had food served to them through a bucket, and on their own they were to stay there for a full year.

To this day there is still no one who managed to endure the challenge. People went crazy and they started seeing and hearing things. Perhaps worst of all was the retelling of how they claimed to feel the very lifeforce were sucked out of them. Could this be the ghost of Elisabeth Stroganova still being there, not wanting to be alone for eternity?

The White Lady or Vampire of Père Lachaise Cemetery

The clause in the will and challenging people to stay inside her mausoleum is strange in and of itself, but the rumors surrounding this grave doesn’t stop there. One of the so-called Lady in White ghosts that roams among the dark graves of the Père Lachaise Cemetery is most often attributed to Elisabeth Stroganova. But there are also rumors of her being something much more sinister.

Some also claim she is a vampire because of the date of her death with the number 8 being the number linked to vampires as well as wolfs head ornaments on her mausoleum, also symbolizing vampirism. Perhaps that is stretching for many, but the reasoning of keeping alive people in her mausoleum and their feeling of their lifeforce being sucked out of them has also contributed to rumours of her being a vampire.

Read Also: Another place rumoured to be haunted by vampires: Poveglia Island — The Most Haunted Place in the World

Well, that and the legend that says her body didn’t decompose as it should have. Keen to try her challenge?

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Featured Images: Jeanne Menjoulet/wikimedia

Elizaveta Alexandrovna Stroganova – Wikipedia

The ghosts of Pere Lachaise – le paris de Patrick

Élisabeth Alexandrovna de Demidoff | The Tombstone Tourist 

Allan Kardec – Wikipedia

Père Lachaise Cemetery – Wikipedia

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The Legend of the Ghost in the Louvre Museum

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Find out about the Red Man haunting the gardens that has reportedly been seen by visitors to Louvre Museum since before its opening and many strange and haunting rumors started to unfold from this world famous museum. But how many of them are actually rooted in other than fiction and fear?

Since its opening as a museum in 1793, Louvre Museum has had a mysterious supernatural entity lurking within its walls even before they started to bring all the historical artifacts inside. It is the most visited museum in the world and around 15 000 people visit this museum each day, many of them claiming to have seen a ghost or two. 

It is said if you spend 30 seconds looking at each piece of art without any sleep or breaks it takes 100 days to see all the artwork they display to this day inside of the Louvre. The museum is covered in urban legends, everything that Mary Magdalene is buried underneath, That the Mona Lisa is bigger than she is and that the pyramid in the courtyard contains 666 panes of glass like the mark of the beast. 

Read about more Haunted Museums across the world: Here

The History of the Louvre Palace in Paris

The building that Louvre in Paris is in has been a part of French history since 1190 when it was built as a fortress against the vikings by King Philippe Auguste. From the 1300s it worked as the official royal residence and was known as Palais du Louvre and saw kings and queens come and go for centuries. 

Read about more Haunted Castles from the world

The Louvre palace in Paris was the palace where the royal family resided and held court until the sun king Ludvig XIV had built the Chateau de Versailles and moved there in 1682. 

Too much Art from all over the World to See in one Lifetime

Putting all this culture and history into the same building kicks off the dust of the haunting these artifacts bring with them, and many of the haunted rumors in the Louvre come from stories about haunted objects or paintings or cursed artifacts from the ancient world. 

One of the most iconic features of the Louvre Museum is its vast collection of famous paintings, including Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and The Wedding at Cana by Paolo Veronese. 

Read Also: Cursed and Haunted Paintings

In addition to these celebrated works, visitors can also explore the museum’s numerous galleries filled with masterpieces from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome; 18th century French art; and many more. Despite being known for its wealth of artworks, the Louvre also holds its place in history as one of Europe’s most haunted buildings.

Reports of visitors experiencing supernatural occurrences have been documented since the museum’s opening in 1793 after the French Revolution and the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture decided this was where they would show the masterpieces the nation had to offer. 

Belphegor, Phantom of the Louvre – The Mummy Haunting the Museum

One famous story comes from fiction, just like the pyramid actually contains 673 panes, not 666. It is true that the Louvre Museum has a mummy inside, but the haunted legend that is about the spirit of a mummy at the Louvre comes from fiction. 

Stories about mummies coming back to haunt or leaving curses at those who disturb their graves are plentiful, and the Louvre has one of them. Belphegor was a 1927 crime novel by the French writer Arthur Bernede and was made into a tv-series as well as a film later. 

The Louvre museum actually does have a mummy embalmed and it is the only mummy there is in the Louvre. Throughout the years there have been more mummies displayed at the Louvre, but today this is the only one.  

It is a man who lived in the Ptolemaic Period (305 BCE). The mummy is called the Mummy of Pacheri and has been at the Louvre since 1826. His name is either Pacheri or Nenu as the writing is hard to make out and his face is covered with a mask and many attribute the supposed hauntings to the mummy. 

This story has made people actually think that the Louvre is haunted by a vengeful mummy. Or was it the haunting that inspired the novel?

Read the Khonsuemheb and the Ghost of Theban Necropolis for an actual Egyptian ghost story.

The Red Man Haunting the Gardens

Another supposed ghost that is often talked about in connection to the  Louvre is the Red Man of the Tuilerie gardens that are adjacent to the museum. According to this legend there was a henchman of Catherine de Medici who was assassinated because he knew too many of the dark secrets of the royal family. 

After his death he came back to curse the entire royal family and the people living there in the palaces that existed, including those living in the Louvre Palace. 

Read the full story of The Red Man haunting the Jardin Tuileries in Paris

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12 things you should know about Louvre: A haunting history | Arts Culture – Gulf News

The Guardian of Egyptian Art

momie d’homme ; garniture de momie – Louvre Collections 

Mummy of Pacheri – Egypt Museum