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Famous Haunted Castles

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Castles - Beautiful, Mysterious & Haunted

Castle comes from the Latin word castellum, which basically means "fortified place". Castles were built primarily as places of protection from an invading enemy. During the Middle Ages, castles were usually built for territorial expansion and regional control. A castle was a stronghold from which a lord could control surrounding territory. Eventually, castles started to become more often residences for the monarch or lord who built them, rather than fortresses.

With all the wars, battles, tragedies, and bloodshed that has occured in these beautiful buildings, it's no wonder so many of them are haunted.

I've added a few haunted castles below, and I'll continue to update as time goes on.

Windsor Castle

England

Windsor Castle was built in the 11th century. English royalty throughout the years have reported having encounters with ghosts for centuries.

Princess Margartet reported having encounters with Queen Elizabeth I, who die in 1603 and Charles I, who was beheaded in 1649.

King George III, who was in charge during the American Revolution, was said to have gone mad during his reign. He has reportedly been sighted numerous times in the castle library. He is said to be studying ancient books, and seems to mutter "what, what" over and over.

Calvados Castle - Normandy, France

The Calvados Castle Poltergeist

Calvados Castle was built in 1835, in Normandy France, directly on top of the ruins of an unidentified building. From October 12, 1875 to January 30, 1876, the inhabitants of Calvados Castle endured one of the most prolonged and terrifying occurances of poltergeist phenomena ever recorded.

That first night, things began flying around the rooms, rappings echoed through the walls, and thunderous booms were heard throughout the castle. The master and servants searched the castle but no one was found. These loud bangs on walls and door continued throughout the night almost every night for the next 3 months.

Culzean Castle

Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland

The original castle was built in 1165, but was remodeled and expanded in 1777. The Kennedys, a well-known Scottish family, were the first inhabitants of the castle in 1759 and lived there for the next 800 years.

Visitors and staff have reported a ghostly piper playing on the grounds, especially before a kennedy family wedding and on stormy nights. There have also been reports of a beautifuldark haired girl in an evening gown who approaches people in an otherwise empty corridoor. One report actually says the witness felt a cold chill in his entire right side as she passed "through" him. No one seems to know who this mysterious lady is.

There are several other ghosts reported in or around the castle, including one who is thought to be the ghost of a princess who was killed in the Green Room whopresents herself as a "misty shape", and the spirit of Sir John Cathcart who abducted May Kennedy and planned to kill her but luckily for May, she managed to push him off a cliff in the area and make her escape.

Haunted Castle Books & More

Fantastic Lenses About Castles

Haunted Castle Photos

Cool Sites About Haunted Castles

Haunted Castles and Ancient Ghosts: Haunted Castles of Scotland. This is a fabulous annotated list of Scotland's most famous and not-so-famous haunted castles and mansions. ...
Haunted Castles and Hotels: Remember sitting terrified in the dark with nothing but a flashlight lit, shining into one of your friends faces,? while?they told the story about the? old house down the street where someone was murdered and the ghost that haunted it was so horrifying no one had set foot on the prope
Atypical Events ? Blog Archive ? World's Most Haunted Castles: Steeped in myth and legend, castles have always been popular destinations for lovers of history and architecture. Anyone who has ...
Castles with Ghosts: Castles With Ghosts. Castle studies on history, architecture, design, and preservation.
Haunted Castles: If you are seeking a uniquely chilling expierence! Then some of Europe's most Haunted Castles await YOU!
Castles.org "Castles of the World": Reference for castles, palaces and monasteries including: castle tours, medieval architecture, hotels, travel, plans, weddings, castles for sale, souvenirs, books, directory, site of the week, and history of castles.

New YouTube vids

The Haunted Castle 1896 George Melies Silent Film: by silentfilmhouse | video info

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What The Bloggers Are Saying...

The magic of Ireland comes to life through its golf courses and castles: A haunted castle gives the Galgorm Castle Golf Club and the nearby Galgorm Resort & Spa some spooky charm. Galgorm Castle, built in 1618 in County Antrim in Northern Ireland, overlooks the 10th green of this picturesque 6736-yard course.
Enjoy an eggcellent Easter in Shakespeare Country: Stratford's notorious tour guide Dashing Jack will lead his Pub Ghost Tour around Stratford taking in the most haunted places as well as three haunted pubs. The tour costs £17.50 per person including 3 drinks. Every Saturday join Shakespeare for a tour ...
Susan Hill: haunted by the Woman in Black: Haunted places, especially a house. Weather ? mists, a thin, moaning wind. The hour, particularly that disturbing time, dusk. Ancient churches and graveyards are among the traditional settings, though I drew a line at monastic ruins, castles and ...

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KidsBeeHappy Jul 27, 2011 @ 11:25 am | delete

I've been to Culzean many times and haven't yet seen the ghosts. However, all those lego men must get moved around somehow........ But the piper, then that one I have definitely heard people mention. My sister is working there at the moment, so i'll get an update of what unearthly beings have been around this summer. Great lens!!

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dc64 May 24, 2011 @ 3:07 pm | delete

A castle alone is great, but a haunted castle is fantastic! I've never heard of the Calvados Castle haunting until I happened here, thanks! Also, I am surprised and deeply honored that you have linked to some of my castle lenses. Lensrolled!

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crystalbeds Nov 16, 2010 @ 8:57 am | delete

Do not forget the Schochwitz Castle in East Germany! It was used to burn witches and torture prisoners and was owned by Ludolf-Hermann von Alvensleben. Today it is haunted by several ghosts! Good article by the way.

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WendyKrick Nov 8, 2010 @ 6:53 pm | delete

I love castles as well. Great Lens.

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natnickeep Oct 20, 2009 @ 3:15 pm | delete

I love castles too. It is so interesting to learn about their history. I would love to live in my own castle one day. Great lens! 5* for sure.
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