Wanderlust Sunday: Haunted Castles in Europe
From Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to Brahm Stoker's Dracula, Medieval castles are a common thread in the pages of the most enduring works of spine-tingling literature.
Why is that? I bet it's because the history of those places is more harrowing than anything fiction. In the fourth and final feature dedicated to National Book Month, let's explore some for Wanderlust Sunday. Please feel free to share in comments if you've been somewhere as creepy...
Why is that? I bet it's because the history of those places is more harrowing than anything fiction. In the fourth and final feature dedicated to National Book Month, let's explore some for Wanderlust Sunday. Please feel free to share in comments if you've been somewhere as creepy...
| Haunted Castles in Europe Alpha by Country |
| Chillingham Castle Northumberland, England  Chillingham Castle isn't named so for its chilling history, but the fact that it's described as the world's most haunted castle seems somewhat apropos. This medieval landmark is said to be haunted by several ghosts, among them John Sage. He was the official Castle Torturer circa 1200 AD. This photo of Chillingham's torture chamber was taken by Gail Johnson. What a spooky place this must be to visit. Note the chair on the right of the photo. It has wrist shackles and spikes. |
| The Tower of London London, England  Hark! Who goes there? Perhaps it's the ghost of Ann Boleyn. The wife King Henry VII had beheaded in 1536 is said to still live there. This sculpture on the side of one of the towers might have seen her. Or maybe its photographer, Rasears, just captured the castle's gruesome history as a fortress and prison personified. Located on the banks of the River Thames, The Tower of London is one of England's most visited attractions. |
| Bran (Dracula's) Castle Bran, Romania  The Bran Castle is perhaps better known as "Dracula's Castle" because it's the place believed to have inspired Bram Stoker's book. Located in the Transylvania region of Romania, these days it's a museum open for tourists to look. Tim Ellis shared this photo on Flickr. It's of a secret passageway within the castle. Can't you picture a medieval resident creeping through it with a candelabra? Gives me goosebumps to consider where it went. |
| Hunyad Castle Hunedoara, Romania  Brave enough to knock on that door for a little trick or treat? This shot, also taken by Rasears, is the entrance to Romania's Hunyad Castle. This is the former home of Vlad III, "The Impaler" Prince of Wallachia... Also known as Dracula. Yes, the book's character was inspired by a real person. He was a 15th century ruler who left a legacy of cruelty and torture. |
| Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh, Scotland  The Edinburgh Castle is said to be haunted by many restless spirits including colonial prisoners from the American Revolutionary War. Of course, its apparent role as a prison during that conflict is just a speck of its history. By the time America became a country, the Edinburgh Castle was already almost 700 years old. Laurel Fan took this photo of armor and weaponry displayed there, which I bet is quite stirring to see. I once saw ancient armor at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, and it made the hair on my arms stand on end. I can only imagine the experience of seeing these relics where actual battles took place. |
Posted by TheWordWire at 10/25/2009 7:25 AM 
Categories: Wanderlust
Tags: Frankenstein Transylvania Hunyad Castle Bran Castle Chillingham Tower of London Edinburgh Castle National Book Month Dracula
Categories: Wanderlust
Tags: Frankenstein Transylvania Hunyad Castle Bran Castle Chillingham Tower of London Edinburgh Castle National Book Month Dracula
Thanks for the hauntingly good tour. I got to travel to all those places without leaving the comfort and safety of my chair :)
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Me too! I haven't visited any of these places in person, but they're on my list. Thanks for your comment!
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What, no Hampton Court, the most haunted place of all? I guess it's not a castle. I used to love visiting castles when I lived in Europe, just to be glad I don't have to live there.
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Ooooh. I hadn't heard or read about Hampton Court Palace -- With all the history of dynasties and kings, I'm sure my Internet researched list doesn't scratch the surface of castles to explore. Europe, save for a whirlwind week when I was too young to appreciate the opportunity, is still on my travel to-see list. Hampton Court looks like a place well worth a visit, never mind the ghosts. http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/stories/ghosts.aspx
Thanks for the suggestion and for your comment.
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I always love when ghosthunter shows goes to Europe. There's something about the buildings over there that are just spookier than anything in America.
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