What are some well - known historical ghost stories from Europe?

In Scotland, there is the Glamis Castle. It is said to be haunted by a mysterious monster. Legend has it that there was a deformed heir locked away in the castle. People have reported seeing strange figures and feeling an eerie presence within the castle walls. The long history of the castle and its secrets contribute to the ghostly tales.

The story of the Grey Lady at Hampton Court Palace has its roots in the palace's long history. The Grey Lady is believed to be the ghost of Catherine Howard, one of Henry VIII's wives. She was accused of adultery and executed. Her ghost is said to haunt the halls where she once walked in despair. The historical events of her tragic life and death are what fuel this ghost story.

The Palace of Versailles in France has some ghost stories. There are rumors that the ghost of Marie Antoinette can be seen in the gardens or halls. It might be due to the tragic end she faced during the French Revolution.

Yes, there's the Tower of London. It has a long history of beheadings and imprisonments. Many people claim to have seen the ghosts of Anne Boleyn, one of Henry VIII's wives who was beheaded at the Tower. She's often seen walking around the Tower grounds, sometimes carrying her head under her arm. There are also reports of other ghosts of prisoners and guards.

One well - known ghost story is 'The Bell Witch'. It's about a witch that haunted a family in Tennessee. There were strange noises, objects moving on their own, and the witch would torment the family members, especially the father and a young girl. Another is 'The Amityville Horror'. A family moved into a house where a brutal murder had occurred, and they experienced terrifying things like cold spots, strange voices, and apparitions.

In medieval Europe, there was a knight who got his armor stuck in a tree while practicing jousting. He was left hanging there for hours until his squire finally managed to get him down. It's a funny image and a story that shows the clumsy moments that could occur even among the supposedly 'noble' knights.

In Japanese history, there were relationships known as 'nanshoku' which involved male - male relationships. Samurai, in particular, were sometimes involved in such relationships. It was a part of their code of honor and cultural norms to some extent. These relationships often had a hierarchical aspect, similar to the Greek model of an older and younger partner.

The story of the Red Room in many of the top 25 scariest ghost stories is well - known. It's a room that is said to be haunted by a malevolent force. People who enter it often feel an overwhelming sense of dread. And the story of the Screaming Skull is also quite famous. It's about a skull that emits blood - curdling screams and is said to be cursed.

One famous Tudor ghost story is that of Anne Boleyn. It's said her ghost haunts the Tower of London. After her execution, people claim to have seen her headless figure wandering around the place where she was beheaded.

One well - known hoax ghost story is the Amityville Horror. It was later found that many of the'spooky' elements were fabricated for financial gain. Another is the Bell Witch Haunting, which over time has had elements of exaggeration and false claims added to it. There's also the Cottingley Fairies, which were actually just cut - out pictures made to look like real fairies, but were presented as evidence of the supernatural.