Travel the World in Search of Ghosts
Just in time for Halloween, I've had the opportunity to review the revised edition of Jeff Belanger's Encyclopedia of Haunted Places: Ghostly Locales from Around the World.
Belanger, the founder of Ghostvillage.com, the largest supernatural community on the web, has been studying and writing about the supernatural since 1997, and has authored ten books including The World's Most Haunted Places and The Ghost Files.
I haven't decided yet exactly how I feel about ghosts. Do they exist? I don't know. But I'm open to the idea. There are a few things for sure, though. I love visiting haunted castles and inns on my travels, I think ghost stories are entertaining, and I thoroughly enjoy ghost tours.
It's easy to find ghostly tales and destinations in the Encyclopedia of Haunted Places. The directory is packed with detailed information and intriguing stories that Belanger compiled about haunts around the world.
In this book you'll find stories about:
- Dracula's castle, once the residence of Prince Vlad Tepes, aka "Vlad the Impaler" in Bran, Romania
- The Catacomb Museum in Paris, where more than 6 million bodies are housed
- The White House, where the ghost of Abraham Lincoln is said to appear
- And so much more
Wawel Castle, Krakow, Poland
Just for fun, I selected three haunted places I've visited recently to see if I could learn more about them from the book than I learned while at the sites themselves.
First I looked up Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow, Poland. Seat of the Polish kings for half a milenium, this castle is not only the home to the spirits of the royals who were laid to rest in the vaults under the cathedral, but to Smocza Jama, a dragon who lived in the 200-foot-long cave on the hillside.
I knew this story from having toured the castle and cave, but I didn't know that King Kazimir, who ruled in the 11th century, is said to have found a glowing stone in one of the tunnels that feeds and protects Krakow. Nor did I know that King Sigismund I the Old's jester, Stancyk, supposedly appears on the castle battlements whenever Poland is in danger. Interesting.
Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic
Next, I took a look at Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic. I'd heard stories that this gothic bridge which crosses the Vltava was built by mixing egg yolks with mortar to make the bridge stronger. I know it's used as a footbridge for tourists and that local artists display their wares along the bridge. But I didn't know this site has it share of ghosts!
In the Encyclopedia of Haunted Places, it explains that during the Middle Ages, when people were executed, their heads (and other body parts) were posted along the bridge as a warning.
Apparently ten of these decapitated lords walk the bridge at night singing sad songs. And worse... a water goblin is said to live beneath it, devouring the souls of anyone who is unfortunate enough to fall -- or jump -- off the bridge.
I'm glad I didn't decide to jump. Or walk the bridge at night, for that matter.
Glamis Castle, Angus, Scotland
When I visited beautiful Glamis castle I was intrigued to learn a story about the Earl of Crawford, who loved to play cards so much that one Sunday, when he couldn't find anyone willing to gamble with him on the Church's day of rest, he exclaimed that he'd play cards with the devil himself.
Suddenly, a tall man in black appeared at the door. They shut themselves in the room to play cards. When a servant tried to peek through the keyhole, he was blinded by fire and bright shooting light. A few years later the Earl died.
The room had such an evil aura that it was sealed off, but the family and staff report hearing footsteps and shouts from inside the room.
I enjoyed learning about this tale again in the the Encyclopedia of Haunted Places. I also learned a few new stories. I had no idea there was talk of a Glamis Castle vampire, said to be a servant woman sealed in a secret room. Nor did I know about the "monster" of Glamis, which I will leave for you to discover in the book.
It just goes to show you how much a little pre-trip research can add to the experience. This book would be a great place to begin.
My only hope is that they add more international destinations in the future. There are a good number of them, but the book is much heavier on United States haunts.
A few ghostly haunts that I recommend:
The above drawings are in the public domain.
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