“As the unfortunate story goes, Herman forgot to mention to his servants about his wife being locked in the closet, leaving her there to die of thirst and starvation.”
Ghostly Stories of Turku
It’s no surprise that Turku Castle is our first destination. The castle has captured many horrible facts and inspired some gruesomely ghostly stories. So it’s no wonder that the castle has been organising ghostly tours already for several years. These terrifying stories have brought so much macabre fascination that the "Torture, Death & Ghosts" tours are quick to sell out every year.
If you are yet to experience the horrors of the tour, read carefully. Here you will get a taste of the castle’s exciting tales.
The tourist was in front of the dungeon’s stairwell when she felt someone tug at her leg and prevent her moving forward.
In the prison guardrooms of the main castle and the passages connecting with the Jaakko Ilka dungeon, many have retold experiences that will send shivers up your spine. A decade ago, a Japanese tourist asked the guide if someone had noticed or observed spirits in that room. The tourist was in front of the dungeon’s stairwell when she felt someone tug at her leg and prevent her moving forward. A creepy thought, wouldn’t you agree?
In same room, a cleaner a few years before saw a small man walk down the stairs and disappear without a trace. At first, the story wasn’t believed but then the same sighting was made later by the castle caretaker.
Ghostly coincidences have also occurred elsewhere in the castle.
In both the medieval guest room and the medieval King’s State Room, workers have sighted a wandering woman who disappears mysteriously behind a column. Again, two guides have experienced a bewildering moment in the Scriptorium. In the process of explaining to the tour group how the scribes used the crowns money for their own expenses, they were suddenly taken aback as they started to hear the ruffling of old pages in a book. The guides were as shocked and as baffled as the group they were guiding.
At the end of the tour, the visitors thanked the guides for such a surprising sound effect. However, thanks should really go to someone very different, but to whom? To a deceased auditor perhaps?
Located on the island of Kakskerta is Brinkhall Manor, well known in Finland for the Hovimäki TV series as well as the Käsky movie.
Located on the island of Kakskerta is Brinkhall Manor, well known in Finland for the Hovimäki TV series as well as the Käsky movie, where the manor and its grounds were used as a filming location. Nowadays, the manor is owned by the Finnish Cultural Heritage Foundation, which maintains and shares the region’s sites of historical value.
But what about the stories of ghosts?
According to rumours, in Brinkhall Manor even in recent times people have heard some spooky sounds, ghostly murmurings and peculiar ringing, as well as doors locking by themselves and lights randomly flickering. If not enough for you to be convinced, then the figure of a pale blonde woman has been seen wandering the manor’s apple orchard.
Rumour also has it, that the staff quarters of the manor’s former gardener are also said to be haunted. The story goes, that one of the manor gardeners hanged himself in the attic and remained to haunt the building. Another gruesome mystery is the skeleton of a child, discovered under the floorboards during renovation of the second-floor nursery. Just before the discovery, a spectre was seen floating past the window of the same nursery.
From the manor’s courtyard you can also spot Finland’s largest elder tree, which is believed to be able to exorcise ghosts. Maybe there’s a reason why the tree was allowed to grow so big?
Louhisaari Manor looms imposingly at the end of a near three kilometre long tree-lined avenue. Located in Masku, the manor is best known as the birthplace of C.G.E Mannerheim, but the background of the manor has a long history, which includes spooky reports of odd goings-on, ghoulish fights and objects being mysteriously replaced…
Before the Mannerheims, Louhisaari was the property of the Flemings, a family widely known for their hereditary temperamental character. The last of the wealthy Fleming family was Herman Claesson Fleming, and according to stories, he was a jealous and impetuous man, who, we are told, was known to lock his wife in the closet when leaving on trips. Servants were supposed to keep his wife fed during this time she was in captivity. However, as the unfortunate story goes, Herman forgot to mention to his servants about his wife being locked in the closet, leaving her there to die of thirst and starvation. The eerie spirit of the wife is said to still be present, roaming the manor and the surrounding grounds.
Of the same Herman Fleming it is told that he also tormented his wife by repeatedly torturing her in a room known as the Devil’s Chamber. Understandably, not many wish to stay there, because in the night one can hear heavy breathing, banging noises as well as groaning sounds coming from within a thick pillar. The wailing noises are said to belong Herman Fleming’s tormented wife, whose husband eventually bricked her up inside the pillar of the Devil’s Chamber – still alive!
To really embrace the stories from the manor at Louhisaari, it’s best to experience them through the manor’s own fictional ghost tours. The tours are arranged in the dark nights of autumn, with additional information found on their website.
Located on the edge of the Puolalanpuisto Park, the Park Hotel has been accommodating travellers in Turku since 1984. During its history, the unique stone building has also served as the villa for shipyard director John Edward Eager, the economics school of the Turku Martta Association as well as a herbal remedy shop in its later years.
Notice: Undefined property: stdClass::$default in /srv/sfbagency/clients2/mellow_core_3_centralized/live/builds/build-visitturku/public/App.php(52) : eval()'d code on line 3
Park Hotel is well known for its original décor as well as its grey-feathered parrot Jaako, who has taken to whistling at the guests in the hotel lobby. Rumour has it that in addition to Jaako, the hotel might have a ghost residing there as well. Among other things, visitors to the hotel have heard unusual knocking sounds and the clopping of mysterious hoofs from the courtyard…
Are the tired eyes of the night porters playing tricks, or could it be the ghost of Mr Eager searching for something to eat?
Who then, might be haunting the hotel? It can’t be said for sure, but it is suspected it could be the spirit of the late owner, Mr Eager. A number of night porters have seen out of the corner of their eye, from the mirrors above the elevators, a dark figure with a broad-rimmed hat, passing from the hotel’s side door towards the kitchen. Are the tired eyes of the night porters playing tricks, or could it be the ghost of Mr Eager searching for something to eat?
There was also a confusing occurrence that awoke another hotel guest. The guest was in his room when he heard a clear knocking at the door. However, when he checked, there was no one there. After the knocking happened for the third time, the corridor was still empty, and the upset hotel guest came to ask the astonished receptionist, who was playing a joke at his expense.
If in this case it was indeed a ghost, then at least you can say it was a good-humoured spirit.
Story created in cooperation with City of Turku Cultural Services.
Text Stina Frimodig. Photos and video Kim Allen-Mersh.
Published | Updated