Haunted Castles of Europe

Hampton Court Palace, England - via Wikipedia

From movies like The Shining and Poltergeist to The Sixth Sense, many of us love tales of a haunting but would we actually enjoy experiencing the haunting ourselves?

Take a look at these reportedly haunted European castles and ask yourself, would you spend the night at one of these spooky locations?

Hampton Court Palace, England

We are all aware of England’s Tudor King Henry VIII’s favored method for disposing of the wives he no longer needed; a swift beheading. One of his unfortunate queens is said to frequent the aptly named ‘Haunted Gallery’ at Hampton Court Palace -Catherine Howard, executed at just 21 years of age. When accused of adultery, Queen Catherine tried to reach Henry to plead her innocence. She was dragged kicking and screaming back to her apartments and it is claimed that her ghost can still be seen to this very day.

Chateau de Brissac  (Brissac Castle), France

Chateau de Brissac (Brissac Castle), France - via Wikipedia

Nestling in the picturesque Loire Valley with its soaring gothic towers, Brissac Castle is the tallest castle in France. Owned by nobleman Jacques de Breze and his unfaithful wife Charlotte in the late 15^th century, the castle is said to be haunted. Apparently Charlotte was so indiscreet with her infidelity that on discovering her transgression Jacques murdered both her and her lover. It didn’t end there. Driven mad by the moaning of the lovers’ ghosts Jacques soon sold the castle and fled. Legend has it that the two lovers can still be heard moaning as they roam the castle towers.

Bran Castle, Romania

Probably one of the most famous (or infamous) castles of Europe, Bran Castle is often referred to as Dracula’s castle as it was briefly home to Vlad III also known as Vlad Tepes which means Vlad the Impaler. Constructed in the early 13^th century by the Knights of the Teutonic Order, it passed through the royal family of the Princes of Wallachia.  Vlad himself was the last of the line in the 15^th century. He was renowned for his tendency to impale his victims and leave them to die, whether young or old.  Today Bran Castle serves as a museum, although it’s believed that the original castle lies in ruins close by. The ruthless Vlad the Impaler’s ghost is reported to haunt the castle today.  Count Dracula himself seems relatively tame in comparison.

Dragsholm Castle, Denmark - via Wikipedia

Dragsholm Castle, Denmark

Built in Denmark in the 12^th century by Bishop Roskilde, Dragsholm Castle is now a respected hotel and allegedly home to over one hundred ghosts through the centuries.  The most frequent ghostly visitors are a grey lady, a white lady and the Earl of Bothwell who sweeps through the courtyard on a horse drawn carriage. It is believed that the white lady was a young girl who fell in love with one of her father’s workers. On discovering the forbidden romance, her father imprisoned the girl in her room and she was never seen again. During 20^th century renovations, a skeleton wearing a white dress was discovered in a small recess, believed to be that of the white lady herself.

Shivers down the spine anyone?

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