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The Haunted Preventorio de Aigües in Alicante

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The former wellness hotel and sanatorium called Preventorio de Aigües is said to have healing thermal water as well as the ruins of the buildings are said to have attracted ghosts. This abandoned building close to Alicante is popular with paranormal seekers and ghosts alike. 

Among the many haunted places around the world, Haunted Hospital in Spain is known for its eerie atmosphere. The ghost that is said to linger in the hospital has been a topic of discussion for horror enthusiasts for a long time. 

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

The hospital has a dark history, and it’s not hard to imagine the spirits of those who perished there still wandering through its corridors.

The Time as a Wellbeing Hotel

This 19th century building high up in the mountains 25 kilometers from the city of Alicante in Spain was originally built as a luxury hotel in Aguas de Busot by Count de Casa de Rojas and Marquis de Bosh for the rich and wealthy. 

The hotel was known as Hotel Miramar Winter Station and was built out with many buildings, chapels, a casino, a playground and sport facilities. It was a state of luxury, and the guests were all from high society where even the King and Queen of Spain visited.

Haunted Building: the Preventorio de Aigües now abandoned is thought to be haunted by the children that used to live there when it was used as a sanatorium//Source: Jesús Alenda/wikimedia

Today the only building still standing from it is the building from 1816 designed by the architect Pedro Garcia Faria and the once glorious place is now only an abandoned shell of what it once was. And throughout the years, it truly was a lot.   

The Civil War Closed the Door of the Hotel

But the story took a sharp turn in the later years. In 1930 the luxury hotel closed its doors as a hotel and spa. According to the stories, it is said that the owner, Marquis de Bosch lost the hotel in a poker game.

At the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, Preventorio de Aguas de Busot was turned into a sanatorium for children. The idea was to take uninfected children and keep them away to prevent them from being infected as well as to accommodate orphans. 

When the disease started to die out the hospital was abandoned in the late 1960s and remains so to this day. 

The Building as a Sanatorium

A sanatorium is an old name for specialized hospitals that were made for specific ailments. They were often built in the countryside with plenty of fresh air in a healthy climate isolated from the outside world. Sanatoriums across Europe and America were very popular to treat tuberculosis until the discovery of antibiotics. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from old hospitals like Hauntingly Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital, Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital or Hauntings at the Weston State Hospital or the Trans-Allegheny Asylum

It could however also be a place for people to heal from things like alcoholism, nervous diseases like hysteria or emotional exhaustions. After medical advances the use of sanatoriums declined and many were abandoned in the mid 1900s often and has since gained a haunted reputation. 

The Healing Thermal Water

The water in the area was thought to contain healing properties all the way back to Roman times and it is also chronicled by Arabs that resided in Spain in medieval times. 

They have talked about the good water in the hot springs found in the area, making it a perfect spot for a wellbeing hotel. It is also a place perfect for where mysterious things happen.

The Haunting in the Abandoned building

Now the building is abandoned and the only visitors are those seeking out the paranormal rumors and trying to investigate if they are true or not. In 2005 they tried to install some fences around the place, but no fences have ever held the most intense people out. 

People that have visited the place say that you can find many secret tunnels from the war leading as far to the neighboring town called Campello. There is even paperwork from both the time it served as a hotel as well as a hospital where even old patient files lie scattered around in the ruins. They have also come back claiming to have seen a ghost or two. 

Inside the old hospital it is said you can hear whistles while a translucent figure is climbing the ruined stairs.

It is said the place is haunted by the children that ended their life here, even though there are not really any recordings of deaths related to tuberculosis in the building. The legend persists and there are many who claim to have seen the ghosts of children around the ruins. 

Although no one really died of tuberculosis, there were recorded deaths of fires, sunstrokes and falls. 

The Woman in White

It is also said that a woman in white is seen crying when calamities approach. According to the legend, she could be seen in the reflection in a mirror that hung by the stairs to the first floor.  If you saw her laughing and crying at the same time, it was all good. But if you saw her only sobbing it meant something bad was going to happen. 

She is most often seen walking around the building at night and some claim that was  the wife of the Count of Casas Rojas, the former owner of the hotel and spas. Some of the variations of the legends says that she used to reside inside of a mirror, but when the mirror broke, she escaped and is now walking freely around.

According to the locals, the staff that used to work there used black magic in the church in the building and there are rumors that the place was also the place for a sect with ill intentions. 

The Future of the Sanatorium

Through the knocked down fences, the dark building stands looming on the hill. 

What will happen with the building is unclear, as it has been the topic of debate and in court for decades now. Some want to construct a hotel again, perhaps turn it into a museum. Some even want to tear the entire building to the ground. 

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References:


El preventorio de Aigües de Bussot – Mitos y Leyendas en la provincia de Alicante
Leyendas urbanas: fantasmas en Alicante – Hoja del Lunes
Blog escrito desde Alicante: PREVENTORIO AGUAS DE BUSOT (2ª PARTE)
El preventorio de Aigües, lugar maldito donde habita lo paranormal
El abandonado preventorio de Aigües de Busot: sanatorio de tuberculosos
El Preventorio de Aguas de Busot en Alicante | Excursiones
Preventorio de Aguas de Busot: Siniestro Levante | Traveler
Preventorio de Aguas de Busot – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre
Road trip through the gloomiest haunted houses in Spain
Visiting Spain’s Most Haunted Locations | Right Casa Estates

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Verge del Toro Hospital and the Night it Became Haunted

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One night the Spanish Civil Guard were called out to strange things happening at the old Verge del Toro Hospital in Spain. When they got there, they experienced what they claim was an extreme haunting from the ghosts of the former patients. 

On the island of Menorca there was a hospital that closed in 2007 after the New Mateu Orfila General Hospital opened on Menorca. The hospital in the city of Mahon had operated for over 60 years before closing its doors. 

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

The hospital became a well known haunted hospital after they did a segment on the place on the Cuarto Milenio program that showcases different allegedly haunted locations and ghost stories in 2012. 

The story was told of Daniel, in the civil guard from Menorca that had visited the closed hospital five years earlier.

The Night of the Haunting at the Hospital of Verge del Toro

On November 1st in 2007 the Spanish Civil Guard as well as the police got a call for someone breaking in  around half past two in the morning and they went in after a warning for the night security working in the building. 

At this time, the Verge del Toro hospital had already been abandoned for a couple of months, the windows were dark, the doors locked.

A patrol of two agents arrived shortly after and went from room to room to find the ones breaking in but found no one. When they were on the ground floor however, they heard a macabre laughter and whispers coming from the upper floors. 

When they were standing outside of the hospital they could see how the lights in the former hospital went on and off for no reason and shadows appeared and disappeared in the windows.

The guards called for backup and four Civil Guard agents as well as two from the National Police Corpse that just happened to be walking by were tasked to inspect the hospital further. 

They went in again, both by the stairs and the elevators from first to fifth floor to find those laughing and pranking in the empty hospital, but found no one. 

Daniel told the TV-program that they believed those breaking in at the Verge del Toro hospital hid and that further steps were needed to get to the bottom of the strange things happening in the abandoned hospital. 

On the third inspection when they went in full force with even police dogs with them they finally realized that not everything was as it should and the strange things happening was not the work of people that had broken in. 

When they went up to the 5th floor they had already inspected two times, they found that the heavy beds and furniture like lamps were dragged across the rooms and the doors to the cabinets were opened up. The furniture was too heavy to be moved in the ten minutes they left the room, according to Daniel. 

They tried to get the highly trained police dogs to come along with them to the top floor in the elevator. The dogs had been perfectly fine up to this point, but started crying when in the elevator and refused to go out when they reached the top floor. Not even when the owner threw their favorite toys into the corridor they managed to get the dog out. The owner claimed that usually the dog would have gone to the bottom of the sea to look for the toy. But not out in this haunted corridor. 

The Woman in White

It was then they saw her, on their fourth attempt to find out what was happening there. Hidden in the corner they saw the shadow of a very strange woman, almost as if covering in the shadows around 20 to 25 meters away from them. 

The agents asked her to identify herself and get out with her hands up. They get no response from the strange woman. They ask again and tell that they will draw their weapons if she disobeys and threatens them in any way. 

Then the woman is said to have just suddenly disappeared into thin air right before their eyes. This was even with the windows and the doors of the hospital blocked off and agents at all of the exits. There was simply no physical reason to disappear from the place. 

The Neighbours Spotting the Ghosts

It is said that that night was not the only night when something strange occurred in the hospital. Several months after the episode had aired on TV, the residents of the Tanques del Carme neighborhood next to the hospital experienced somethings strange as well when they noticed that again strange things were happening to the lights in the otherwise dark fromer hospital. 

After many years of controversies over what to do with the building, they decided to reform it into a socio-health center in 2019, and is still undergoing remodeling. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from old hospitals like Hauntingly Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital, Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital or Hauntings at the Weston State Hospital or the Trans-Allegheny Asylum

After the strange events at the Verge del Toro hospital right after its closing, the people that went that night still have no rational explanation for what happened. 

The 5th floor used to be reserved for people with psychiatric problems and people think that it must have been a former patient there. Did she come back after the Verge del Toro hospital closed down for some reason? Or was it so that she really came back from the dead?

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References:

Que los vecinos vieran una ventana iluminada en antiguo hospital Verge del Toro…

Este hospital está encantado según la Guardia Civil | Baleares | elmundo.es

Hospital Verge del Toro – Viquipèdia, l’enciclopèdia lliure

Road trip through the gloomiest haunted houses in Spain

¿Fenómenos paranormales en el antiguo hospital de Maó?

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The Ghosts of the White Plague Haunting the Alfaguara Sanatorium

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In the ruins of Alfaguara Sanatorium, also known as The Berta Hospital in Spain they tried as many sanatoriums did, to cure tuberculosis. It is said the victims of the white plague are still haunting the ground as well as the founder of the hospital.  

One of the smallest haunted hospitals in Spain is known for its long history of ghost sightings and paranormal activity. This hospital has been abandoned for many years and has become a popular destination for ghost hunters and thrill-seekers alike.

In Granada there was a sanatorium that was built in 1923 to help with the rising problem of tuberculosis in wartime at the beginning of the 20th century and operated as a hospital until it closed in 1940. 

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

At the hospital’s inauguration the archbishop, the military governor and representatives of the city council of Granada with a large audience helped open the hospital. The furniture was even donated by Queen Victoria Eugenia who served as the president of the Red Cross for Ladies. Later the hospital was abandoned and forgotten except for the ghosts said to roam in the ruins. 

The Old Alfaguara Sanatorium

A sanatorium is an old name for specialized hospitals that were made for specific ailments. They were often built in the countryside with plenty of fresh air in a healthy climate isolated from the outside world. Sanatoriums across Europe and America were very popular to treat tuberculosis until the discovery of antibiotics. 

Tuberculosis was one of the deadliest illnesses in Europe at the turn of the century and was often known as the white plague and is one of the oldest diseases we have proof of.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from old hospitals like Hauntingly Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital, Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital or Hauntings at the Weston State Hospital or the Trans-Allegheny Asylum

It could however also be a place for people to heal from things like alcoholism, nervous diseases like hysteria or emotional exhaustions. After medical advances the use of sanatoriums declined and many were abandoned in the mid 1900s often and has since gained a haunted reputation. 

Trying to Cure Tuberculosis

The Alfaguara Sanatorium was built with the money of a German Lady, Berta Wilhelmi, a philanthropist and was also known as the Berta Hospital. It was built in the area of what is now known as the heart of the Sierra de Huetor Natural Park in the mountain range, surrounded by Mediterranean and pine forest and fresh air in the mountains, something that was especially good for tuberculosis patients. 

Berta Wilhelmi was a businesswoman and philanthropist who had settled in Granada in 1870 when she was a child after moving from Heilbronn, Germany after the family mill had burnt to the ground and they went to Spain to start again. 

She had a brother who was named Luis who passed away from tuberculosis when he was only 12 years old and to cure people from it was close to her heart. 

This is why she invested a huge amount of her personal fortune into building a hospital that could help prevent further death from this disease. 

The Berta Hospital

Together with some doctors they built a new hospital to help with the rise of tuberculosis in the region. Tuberculosis was a dangerous illness at this time and spread fast in the overcrowded time of the early industrialization of the world and the approaching civil war that turned it into an epidemic. 

Most patients didn’t pay for their stay as it was first and foremost a philanthropic project for Berta and those who did pay paid three pesetas for their board at the hospital. 

The small hospital of Alfaguara Sanatorium was made to house 24 patients, and they also made a preventorium to house children in addition later. They stayed in their own pavilion named after Berta’s own son that passed away in 1925. 

She was well known for this type of work, and had also founded schools and was the director for the hospital until her death in 1934. And for the believers of the paranormal, some claim that her ghost is still roaming the place and looking out for it. 

The Ruins of the Hospital

The ruins of the building of Alfaguara Sanatorium are pretty hidden away and are today mostly rubbles and ruins you have to reach by foot up the mountain. 

The rumors say the sanatorium closed down for unknown reasons. What we do know is that the Spanish Civil War was raging at the time and the hospital was very close to one of the fronts and trenches by the Toriles fort near the town of Cogollos.

At one point in 1939 the hospital had more than 60 armed soldiers inside the compound and the scars of the Civil War in Spain are still felt by the nation where thousands of people died for their ideologies.

In the postwar times it was completely abandoned, but has been protected as a part of the forest conservation program of the Natural Park where it is in. 

The Ghosts of the Alfaguara Sanatorium

Today Alfaguara Sanatorium is known as a haunted place that draws hiking ghost hunters to see the ruins for themselves and do an investigation of the place. People that have visited claim to have seen ghostly silhouettes in the ruins and heard voices of the people that used to live there. 

Who are the ghosts that are said to haunt the place? A fact is that many of the tuberculosis patients didn’t make it, and some claim that it is the spirits of the patients taken by the white plague that is haunting the place. 

Considering Alfaguara Sanatorium role in the Spanish Civil War as well, some speculate that there were victims of war that ended their days inside of the hospital.  

Could it be Berta herself who is haunting her old hospital she poured her passion and love into just to see it crumble just a couple of decades after she built it?  

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References:

Se cumplen cien años del sanatorio de la Alfaguara

SANATORIO ANTITUBERCULOSO DE ALFAGUARA – GRANADA

Sanatorio y Dispensario de la Alfaguara – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Road trip through the gloomiest haunted houses in Spain

Berta Wilhelmi y el sanatorio antituberculoso de la Alfaguara | Gomeres

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The Lady in White Haunting the Parador Sigüenza Castle

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It is said that the former castle is haunted by Doña Blanca de Borbón, a French woman who was married off to the lord of the castle in a miserable marriage for them both. She was assassinated in the end and are said to haunt the halls of Parador Sigüenza Castle

Shrouded in mystery and intrigue we find the haunted history of Parador Sigüenza Castle located in the breathtaking landscapes of Guadalajara in Spain, this ancient fortress has witnessed centuries of tumultuous events, leaving behind a trail of ghostly tales and legends. 

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

From the eerie apparitions that wander its dimly lit corridors to the bone-chilling whispers that echo through its grand halls, Parador Sigüenza Castle has become a haven for thrill-seekers and lovers of the supernatural. 

Parador Hotels in Spain

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

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

These hotels are often housed in historic buildings, such as castles, monasteries, and palaces, offering visitors a chance to experience the past in a truly immersive way. Parador Sigüenza Castle is one such remarkable property, located in the Guadalajara Province in the heart of Spain was transformed into a hotel in the 1970s. 

Parador Sigüenza Castle: Source: José Ibañez/wikimedia

Situated atop a hill, with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, this castle-turned-hotel captures the imagination of all who visit. But behind its picturesque facade lies a haunting history that continues to captivate guests and locals alike.

The Guadalajara Province, where Parador Sigüenza Castle is located, is known for its rugged beauty and medieval charm. This region is steeped in history, with ancient castles and fortresses dotting the landscape. 

History of Castle of the Bishops of Sigüenza

The castle of the Bishops of Sigüenza, now the Parador Sigüenza Castle, is one such prominent landmark. The Castle Palace of the Bishops of Sigüenza is so called because it was the official residence of the Bishops until the middle of the 19th century. Its origins date back to the 12th century when it was constructed as a defensive stronghold. Over the centuries, it has witnessed numerous battles, political upheavals, and personal tragedies, all of which have contributed to its reputation as a place of restless spirits and ghostly encounters.

Throughout the centuries, the castle witnessed numerous battles and sieges, with each event leaving its mark on the fortress. From the War of Spanish Succession to the Napoleonic invasion, the castle endured a series of turbulent times. These historical events have since become intertwined with the castle’s haunted reputation, as the spirits of those who perished during these conflicts are said to still wander its halls.

More than once the guests staying in the hotel have claimed to have seen ghosts. 

The Lady in White of the Castle

One of the most famous ghost stories associated with Parador Sigüenza Castle is the tale of the “Lady in White.” According to witnesses, a ghostly figure dressed in a flowing white gown has been spotted wandering the castle’s corridors late at night. Some believe this apparition to be the spirit of Doña Blanca de Borbón. 

Visitors have claimed to hear disembodied voices, whispers, and footsteps echoing through the empty halls. Some have even captured unexplained orbs and apparitions in their photographs.

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

Numerous witnesses have reported seeing the Lady in White, with some claiming to have had direct interactions with her. Visitors have also described peculiar sensations, such as sudden drops in temperature and feelings of being watched. There are also those who claim to have been woken up in their sleep of the clanking of chains coming from the corridor. 

The Tragic Life and Death of Doña Blanca de Borbón

It is believed that the ghost haunting the former castle is that of Doña Blanca de Borbón (1339-1361). She was a French noblewoman and the Queen consort of Castile. According to the tales, Pedro I of Castile incarcerated his wife Doña Blanca in the castle in 1355, to prevent her from serving to aid the nobles who wanted to overthrow him. He was later nicknamed Pedro the Cruel. 

She never wanted the marriage, but was forced by her father as well as the rest of her family to accept her faith. Her husband already had a lover and she was already a widow with no wish for another marriage to a strange man. 

Her husband also did not want to marry her because the King of France had trouble paying for her dowry. But political plots made her and they were wed and their wedding ceremony was held in Valladolid. 

The marriage failed though and she was cast aside only three days into the sham marriage. He abandoned her and fled with his lover instead.

When civil war broke out in Castile though the king ordered her to go into hiding. She decided to leave the place she was confined to and took refuge in a Cathedral to organize her followers and finance her cause in spite of her husband. They were now on opposite sides. She was then confined to the castle for years before being transferred to El Puerto de Santa Maria to prevent her being released to the Aragonese side that was fighting against the Castile. 

She was eventually assassinated by poison by the Castile side, either from the King’s personal doctor or even by an arrow to her heart by a crossbowman that had just become a new warden. She only got to live for 25 years before  being used as a plot for territory amongst two strange nations. Her last words were:  “Tell me Castilla, what have I done to you?”

There are also those thinking that she actually died in the dungeon her husband threw her down in the castle, surrounded by his knights. His method was often with a blow to the head which is also one of the theories. 

It is said that ever since, she has been haunting the castle that she was confined to for years. Sobbing as she is dragging her chains across the floors of the oh so wonderful historic hotel. 

A visit to Parador Sigüenza Castle

Parador Sigüenza Castle stands as a testament to the rich history and supernatural allure of Spain. Its haunted past, filled with tragic love stories and restless spirits, continues to captivate the imaginations of visitors and researchers alike. Her final resting place is said to be one of the towers on the premise you still can visit for a 5 euro ticket. 

Whether you believe in the paranormal or simply appreciate the mystique of ancient castles, a visit to Parador Sigüenza Castle is sure to leave you with a sense of wonder and a newfound appreciation for the enduring power of legends. So, step through its gates, wander its haunted halls, and uncover the secrets that lie within. Just remember, you may not be the only one exploring the castle’s past.

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References:

Dormir con un fantasma en parador de Sigüenza | Guía Repsol

SIGÜENZA | NOCHE EN EL PARADOR, HISTORIA E ITINERARIO PROPUESTO – Donde Finaliza el Norte

El castillo de Guadalajara donde el huésped comparte habitación con un fantasma

Visit Castle of Sigüenza | TCLM

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

Castillo de Sigüenza – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Blanca de Borbón – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

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The Navarran Prince Haunting the Parador de Olite in Pamplona

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

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

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

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

Part of the Haunted Historic Hotel Chain

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

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

The Rise and Fall of the Kingdom of Navarre

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

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

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

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

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

The Ghost of the Prince in the Portrait

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Other Ghosts of the Parador de Olite

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

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

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

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

The Dona Blanca of the Castle

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

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

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

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References:

Navarrese Civil War (1451–1455) – Wikipedia

Charles, Prince of Viana – Wikipedia

Olite Castle – Castles, Palaces and Fortresses

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

Palace of the Kings of Navarre of Olite – Wikipedia

Parador de Olite

Haunted Hotels in Spain

Paradores: Dormir con un fantasma en Olite | Guía Repsol

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

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

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

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

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

The Arabic Castle

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

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

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

The Haunted Historic Hotel

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

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

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

The Broken Hearted Woman in Room 22

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

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

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

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

The Muslim Mistress that was too Powerful

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

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

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

The Ghost of the Lovers

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

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

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

The Paranormal Investigation in Castillo de Santa Catalina

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

Lagarto Terrible Haunting the Dungeons

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

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References:

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

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

Parador de Jaén: un hotel de lujo con fantasma

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

Spooky Spain: Paradores’ Haunted Hotels

The 5 most Haunted Places in Spain

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El Parador de Cardona Castle Haunted Hotel

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

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

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

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

The Haunted Historic Hotel

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

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

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

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

The Girl in the White Dress in El Parador de Cardona

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

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

The Tragic Love Story of Prince Abdala and Adales

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Haunted Room 712 in Cardona Castle

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

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

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

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

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References:

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

Spooky Spain: Paradores’ Haunted Hotels

Mysterious and Haunted Places in Spain

Visiting Spain’s Most Haunted Locations | Right Casa Estates

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The Romantic Ghost Haunting the Castle of Buen Amor

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

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

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History and Background of the Castle of Good Love

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

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

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

The Love Nest of the Bishop and his Mistress

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

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

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

Castle of Buen Amor Made into a Hotel for Romantic Getaways

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

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

The Lady in White Haunting the Castle

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

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

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

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

The Enduring Allure of the Castle of Buen Amor

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

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Castillo del Buen Amor

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

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The Haunted Torre Salvana in Barcelona from Hell

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

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

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

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

The Castle from Hell

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

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

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

Paranormal Experiences of Torre Salvana

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

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

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

The Dark Smoke Covering the Place

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

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

The Girl with the Bulletwound in her Head

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

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

The Castle from Hell Trying to Grab Hold of You

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

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

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Castillo Torre Salvana

13 Barcelona Haunted Houses & Places that will creep you out

Haunted and Mysterious Places in Barcelona | 19 Local Legends

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The Ghost of the Little Girl in Palacio de Linares

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Marquise of Linares in the Palace

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

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

The Dark Legend of the The Marquise of Linares

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Truth to the Rumors

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

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

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References:

José de Murga y Reolid – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Palacio de Linares – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Road trip through the gloomiest haunted houses in Spain