A spectre is haunting Europe. No, hang on. Spectres are haunting Europe, and apparently people are willingly sleeping in the same space as them.
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While I personally would avoid any hotel that claims to be haunted, there are a number of properties across the continent that loudly and proudly shout about their paranormal guests, and with Halloween coming up, we thought it was time to spotlight them.
Here’s where to stay if you want a truly haunted Halloween experience.
Golden Fleece, York, UK
Billing itself as one of the most haunted cities in Europe, practically every street in York has a building with a ghost story attached to it.
The Golden Fleece, a pub on Pavement, claims to be the most haunted in the city, and for those who aren’t satisfied with just enjoying a pint among the spectres, you can also book a night in one of the rooms here.
According to York’s tourism board, paranormal guests you might encounter during your stay include Lady Alice Peckett, the wife of the pub’s owner from the early 18th century, and a British airman who fell out of a window here in 1944.
The Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire, UK
Originally built in the late medieval period, The Ancient Ram Inn has had plenty of time to rack up supernatural figures that wander its halls while guests sleep.
Its owners say it’s the most haunted bed and breakfast in the UK, with some 20 ghosts, including a young girl named Rosie, reports Metro. One ghost hunter even claims to have encountered a female sex demon. Blimey.
The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection, Dublin, Ireland
When it comes to five-star hotels, you tend to have certain expectations: Top-notch service, fantastic bars and restaurants, and preferably a nice wellness area with a spa or swimming pool.
You probably don’t expect to run into the mischievous spirit of a seven-year-old girl named Mary Masters who died of cholera in 1791.
But that’s exactly what you’ll get at The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection in Dublin, according to the Irish Mirror, with sightings as frequent as two or three times a week.
Actress Lily Collins even claimed to have seen the ghost during a stay here while filming The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.
Hotel Union Øye, Norway
While Mary Masters is supposedly limited to the sixth floor of The Shelbourne, the ghost said to be inhabiting Hotel Union Øye sticks to “The Blue Room”.
The tale goes that a servant girl named Linda started an illicit affair with one of Emperor Wilhelm’s officers, and The Blue Room was where the pair would meet.
It ended in tragedy. Unable to divorce his wife and be with the woman he loved, the officer killed himself. Linda, not wanting to live without him, killed herself by walking into the lake, never to be seen again.
Now, according to Norway’s tourism board, Linda’s ghost is said to be heard weeping in The Blue Room.
Toftaholm Herrgård, Sweden
Another broken-hearted ghost can be found at Toftaholm Herrgård in Sweden.
Servant Mats fell in love with the daughter of a count, who was promptly married off to the son of a nobleman. Upon discovering the news, Mats hung himself in one of the guest rooms of the mansion.
Describing him as a “gentle ghost”, the team behind Toftaholm Herrgård say guests claim to have seen him appearing behind women staying in the hotel, occasionally putting his hand on their shoulder.