Whether you are a believer or a sceptic, you have to admit that ghost stories can be a lot of fun. Imagine returning home from a holiday and thrilling family and friends with a true or perhaps slightly exaggerated tale of a creepy encounter with the supernatural. Where would one go for such spine tingling vacations you might ask? Well, the somewhat unsettling answer is that ghosts apparently exist in almost every corner of the planet!
United Kingdom
Some of the world’s most famous ghosts and haunted places can be found in the UK. This is hardly a surprise since English history is awash with stories of tyrannical kings, murderous aristocrats, and various tragic figures – many of whom quite aptly lived and died in some of the darkest and gloomiest castles ever built.
The Tower of London has stood for over 900 years and is known as the most haunted building in England. The past has seen many unfortunate souls disappear behind the Tower’s imposing walls having been doomed with imprisonment, torture and even execution. Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, was imprisoned and beheaded here on the allegation of adultery – a charge that was never quite proven. It is said that the ghost of the wronged queen can often be seen d rifting through the grounds of the Tower with her head tucked under her arm. Over the years, Anne and various ghosts of the Tower’s other famous prisoners have been known to send many nervous night watchmen scurrying for safety.
The appropriately named Chillingham Castle in Northern England has experienced a great number of haunted sightings. Historically, its location near the Scottish border proved useful to the English in their bloody battles with the Scots. The castle is famous for its medieval dungeons and sinister torture chamber where no one, not even the tour guide, dares to enter after dark. Winding passages and hidden staircases simply add to the spooky atmosphere.
Incidentally, Chillingham is owned by the Grey family, of Earls Grey tea fame, who have restored the castle with rooms available for stay. Spend a night if you dare and perhaps you’ll meet a little boy all dressed in blue and surrounded by a halo of light. No need to run screaming from this ghostly apparition however, as he is supposed to be quite friendly.
Visitors to London are all familiar with the city’s underground subway known as the Tube. What some may not be aware of is that the deep snaking tunnels of the world’s oldest underground railway are built right next to mass graves holding hundreds of victims of the Bubonic Plague which devastated London in 1665.
Late at night when the trains have stopped running and the stations are empty, more than a few members of the railway staff have reported hearing strange noises which sound like running footsteps or children’s cries. Transparent figures have also been spotted disappearing down train tunnels or wandering aimlessly on the platforms. Perhaps the Tube’s famous automated warning “mind the gap”, which rings out repeatedly every time a train’s doors open, should have the additional phrase “because you never know what may be lurking beneath…”
Continental Europe
Travel to central Romania and you will discover a region that has become synonymous with vampires and the legend of Count Dracula. Transylvania is a land where it appears as though time has stood still. Well-preserved medieval towns and villages dot the mountainous landscape. Presiding over the village of Bran, the sombre towers of Bran Castle present the perfect setting for any Gothic horror.
Historians have disputed whether Prince Vlad Dracul, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, ever set foot in Bran Castle. However the villagers of Bran as well as many fans of the classic novel have long pronounced it to be Dracula’s castle. So if you are headed this way don’t forget to pack some bulbs of garlic and a wooden stake, just in case.
In France, the ghosts of Marie Antoinette and certain members of her royal court are believed to haunt the Palace of Versailles. Tourists exploring the palace gardens have reported several sightings of the opulently dressed French Queen, who was arrested and executed during the French Revolution.
The Coliseum in Rome, Italy, was where the Ancient Romans enjoyed watching events that included gladiators fighting to the death and hungry lions being unleashed on ill-fated prisoners of war. It is no wonder that a place that has witnessed such gory acts would be associated with claims that it is haunted. Security guards have heard sounds of swords clashing and even the roars of unseen lions. Tourists have experienced sudden drops in temperature or “cold spots” and eerie silhouettes of Ancient Roman soldiers have also been spied on occasion.
Asia and the South Pacific
Singapore is evidently one of the most haunted places in Asia. Heritage houses, turn of the century hotels, and various train stations are commonly said to have resident ghosts. Guests of the old beach houses at Changi Beach describe having intense feelings of being watched by unknown eyes. Many guests have also claimed that they were slapped by an invisible assailant. If you are out during the late hours at night be careful not to share your taxi with any strange women dressed in white clothing – they apparently request to be dropped off at the nearest cemetery!
Australia’s past as a harsh convict colony has helped spawn dozens of spooky tales in the land down under. Ghost enthusiasts have declared the city of Brisbane as a centre for paranormal activity. The Old Government House at the Queensland University of Technology is a popular stop for haunted tours. It is supposed to be one of the most haunted buildings in Australia with reports of doors that mysteriously lock themselves and peculiar floating orbs of light.
Even sunny tropical islands aren’t immune to ghost sightings. In the 1990’s, the security cameras at the Government Buildings in Suva, Fiji, recorded what appeared to be a ghost. It was rumoured that the Prime Minister was so unnerved by the alleged spectre that he ordered an exorcism to be performed.
North America
Hollywood has done its part in turning many North American haunted sites into household names. Places such as Amityville in New York State as well as the Stanley Hotel in Colorado, where Stephen King wrote half of his book “The Shining”, are ensconced in horror film culture. Travellers to Long Beach, California should pay a visit to the HMS Queen Mary where guests have recounted stories of ghost sightings, splashing sounds coming from empty swimming pools, and wet footprints that appear and disappear on their own.
A little closer to home, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, which is nestled near the stunning Canadian Rockies, is said to be haunted by ghosts that include a loyal bellman and a bride who tragically died on her wedding day. Sam the bellman retired in the late 1960’s and promised his co-workers that he would return. After his death a few years later, guests and hotel workers have reported seeing a bellman dressed in a uniform from the 60’s. Earlier this century, an unfortunate bride fell from one of the hotel’s staircases to her death. Since then, there have been sightings of a figure in a flowing wedding dress either descending those fateful stairs or dancing alone in an empty ballroom.
If you are still not sure whether you would like to spend an entire vacation ghost hunting then why not spend a day at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver? A very stylish ghost dubbed “the Lady in Red”, supposedly haunts the 14th floor. According to city archives, “the hotel’s elevator often makes unexpected stops on floor 14, and as the elevator door opens on its own, the lady in red is seen gliding through the hallway . . .”
