Whether you are a lover of paranormal phenomena or simply curious in search of a thrill, there is a wide selection of haunted places to visit in France. Between haunted castles, mystical forests, demon canyons and catacombs, you can find haunted places and witness unexplained phenomena in every corner of France. So if you fancy visiting the most haunted places in France, check out our list of 6 Haunted Places in France that you can visit and even stay overnight in some of them:

  1. The Château de Puymartin or the Château de la Dame Blanche (Dordogne)
  2. The castle of Fougeret, the most haunted castle in France (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
  3. The Château de Brissac (Maine et Loire)
  4. The Gouffre de Padirac, nicknamed the "Devil's Throat" (Dordogne)
  5. The catacombs of Paris as witnesses to a gruesome past (Paris)
  6. The forest of Brocéliande between legend and mystical powers (Brittany)

3 haunted castles where you can spend a spooky night in France

Alongside England and Germany, France is one of the countries with a considerable number of haunted places. Some of them have decided to open their doors to lucky tourists who want to find out if they are able to make contact with beings. If you're prepared to maybe not sleep a wink, you can stay in one of the following haunted places in France:

Château de Puymartin: Spend a night in the haunted castle of the white lady

The haunted castle of Puymartin and the white lady's castle

The Castle of Puymartin is one of the most haunted places in France and is known as the Castle of the White Lady. This haunted castle was built in the 13th century during the Hundred Years' War and witnessed many important events in this very murderous period of our past. Later in the 19th century, it was an even bloodier history that shaped the walls of this castle and can still be perceived by experienced visitors today.

Thérèse, the owner's wife, is said to have been surprised by her husband with her lover. Enraged, her husband had Therese's lover executed and locked her in a tower of the castle, where he walled her up and left her to die slowly. This terrible event left its mark on the castle and the region around Puymartin. This story gave rise to a legend of apparitions of a white woman at midnight.

Some mediums, ghost hunters, energetics and paranormal tourists have witnessed several anomalous phenomena. Recently, several Youtubers specializing in paranormal investigations stayed at Puymartin Castle. Some of them witnessed and, thanks to their equipment (Spirit Voice and a K2), were able to detect inexplicable phenomena that they were able to film and share on their Youtube channel. We are thinking in particular of the French Youtubers:

  • Jordan Perrigaud: During his investigation of the white lady's haunted castle with Denyzee
  • The Great JD: During an unsettling paranormal encounter in Puymartin

Can you spend the night in the haunted castle of Puymartin in France?

It is possible to sleep at Puymartin Castle if you rent the castle for a night. You will need to contact the owners directly to be able to spend the night in this haunted place in France. For those who prefer not to spend the night on site but still want to discover this mystical place, the castle organizes tours and events on the theme of the legend of the White Lady.

Where is the Château de Puymartin located in France?

The Château de Puymartin is located in the south-west of France, around 2.5 hours by car from Bordeaux.

The Château de Fougeret: sleep in the most haunted castle in France

Haunted places in France with creepy doll decor

The Château de Fougeret is considered the most haunted castle in France. This haunted castle is a gateway to a world that is still little understood and often feared by ordinary people. At the heart of this haunted place, it is not one story that has shaped the stone of this castle, but several. In Fougeret, entities live side by side and sometimes appear to the living with stronger psychic or clairvoyant abilities than others.

These figures of tragic destiny are well known in the world of the paranormal and numerous forums and articles bear witness to encounters with some of them. Those who most often attempt to contact visitors are the following:

  • Felix: Former owner of the castle, whose body was found one night in a room in the castle. The cause of his death remains unknown to this day.
    • The Bailiff: He came to take care of the debts of a former owner and was murdered in a room of the castle.
  • Alice: A young girl named Alice turns up still in her room, where she died after a violent and fatal infection while pregnant.

At the Château de Fougeret, time has stood still, the decoration has remained as it was in the last century to create this mystical atmosphere. You will feel this atmosphere when you step through this haunted castle. The owner of the castle, Veronique Geffroy, wanted to honor the memory of all these beings by preserving the rooms with the utmost respect.

Fougeret is one of the most popular places when it comes to paranormal tourism. Numerous reports have been filmed in the heart of this castle, witnessing events that can be linked to supernatural acts. If you can't travel to this haunted castle in France, we recommend you watch the following reports:

Can you spend the night in the most haunted castle in France in Fougeret?

The owner of Fougeret Castle, Véronique, allows people who want to suspend their disbelief and love the experience and immersion to enjoy an overnight stay in the most haunted castle in France. However, she points out that events that can be associated with the supernatural do not have a regular frequency and are unpredictable. Therefore, it is best to arrive without expectations in order to be surprised.

The Allan Kardec package offers an overnight stay at the Château de Fougeret (including breakfast and dinner) with a workshop that will give you a better understanding of the apparitions at the château.

Where is the most haunted castle in France?

The Château de Fougeret, known as the most haunted castle in France, is located in the Vienne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, about 50 minutes by car from Poitiers. It was bought back by Véronique Geffroy in 2009 and is privately owned. It is therefore necessary to contact the owner in order to visit the castle or stay overnight.

The Château de Brissac: witness paranormal phenomena

The Château de Brissac a haunted place in France
The Castle of Brissac> is one of the Loire castles and is known as the highest castle in France with its seven storeys. It is also known as the castle of the Legend of the Green Lady.

A paranormal myth that arose from a bloody story between a husband and his wife, who allegedly cheated on him with a lover. When the husband saw this deception, he is said to have murdered both lovers in a fit of rage and then left the castle. The ghost of Charlotte (the murdered wife) is said to have haunted the premises ever since. The nickname "Green Lady" is derived from the color of the dress her ghost wears.

She is said to appear mainly in the tower of the chapel. According to witnesses, the appearance of this ghost would also be very unsettling, as her face allegedly has no eyes and no nose. Several visitors and employees of the castle reported hearing her complaints, especially in the early hours of the morning, adding to the mysterious and sometimes unsettling atmosphere of the place. This supernatural presence at the heart of this haunted place is said to have spooked many guests over the years.

Can you spend the night in the most haunted castle in France in Brissac?

It is possible to stay in the cguest rooms of the Château de Brissac, which is a family château, by contacting the family directly via their website.
The family also organizes tours of the château with its incredible architecture that reflects the incredible history of the place.
Good to know: The tours focus on the historical and architectural aspect of the building. Paranormal tourism is not a priority for the hosts of this haunted castle.

Where is the Château de Brissac located in France?

The Château de Brissac is located about 25 minutes from the city center of Angers if you drive towards Poitiers. It is also close to many Loire châteaux if you want to include them in your itinerary.

3 haunted places in France that you should visit

Castles aren't the only haunted places in France you can visit if you're a fan of unexplained phenomena. If you want to discover places in nature or underground, one of which is scarier than the other, here are 3 haunted places in France you should definitely visit!

The Gouffre de Padirac, nicknamed the "Devil's Gorge"

The Gouffre de Padirac is located in the Lot region and is an exceptional natural site surrounded by mysteries and surprising legends. This impressive gorge, nicknamed l'enjambé du diable, is over 100 meters deep and has a diameter of 33 meters.

At the heart of the Gouffre de Padirac is an underground river that stretches for around 20 km. Visitors who want to discover this extraordinary and mystical site can explore this river by boat and navigate the clear and deep waters of the rain lake. The dark and silent depths of the abyss, together with its history and legends, make it a place where the imagination can easily escape to unexplainable phenomena.

Legend has it that the devil wanted to take the souls of the villagers with him through the Gouffre de Padirac. It is believed that he would have crossed the path of Saint Martin, who would have saved the lives of the damned souls. The devil, fuming with rage, was swallowed up by the gorge.

Another legend associated with the gorge says that the son of the English king and his soldiers hid a treasure in the heart of the gorge at the end of the Hundred Years' War. The villagers are said to have tried several times to find the treasure, but without success. Their souls are said to haunt this place, making the Gouffre de Padirac one of the most haunted places in France.

Can you visit the Gouffre de Padirac?

You can visit the Gouffre de Padirac during the day, but also in the evening during the Soirées Explorateurs, which retrace the adventures of the first cave explorers.

The catacombs of Paris and their creepy cemetery

The Catacombs of Paris haunted place in France.
The forbidden catacombs of Paris are one of the most mysterious and unexplored haunted places in France. This vast network of bones houses the remains of more than six million people, creating a strange and eerie atmosphere that feeds numerous legends and myths.

The history of the Paris Catacombs begins at the end of the 18th century, when a health crisis struck the capital city of Paris. The Parisian cemeteries were overcrowded at the time and it was important to find a solution quickly to avoid the risk of an epidemic. The Parisian authorities then decided to move the remains from the cemeteries to make room for new corpses and take them to the city's old underground limestone quarries. This macabre transfer took place at night so as not to frighten the population and lasted 12 years.

Several creepy legends have developed around the catacombs. One of these is that of a porter at the Val-de-Grâce hospital who is said to have lost his way in the catacombs and whose body was only found 11 years later. It is said that his ghost has been haunting the labyrinths of the catacombs ever since.

Another legend is about a video that was found in the 1990s. The camera contained footage of a man who got lost in the catacombs and went mad. It is not clear from the story whether he managed to escape. Other stories of mysterious voices heard after midnight trying to persuade visitors to go deeper into the catacombs until they get lost are also told, adding a touch of the supernatural to this haunted place in France.

How to visit the catacombs of Paris

A part of the catacombs is now open to the public and can be visited. However, the forbidden catacombs are strictly forbidden to the public and are subject to fines.

If you would like to visit the haunted catacombs in Paris, which are open to the public, here is the most important information:

The Brocéliande forest: one of the most haunted forests in Europe

The forest of Brocéliande haunted site in France

The Forest of Brocéliande in Brittany is a place full of magic that has inspired the greatest legends. Between the Fountain of Youth, the Lady of the Lake and the tomb of Merlin the Magician, this forest is mainly linked to the legends of King Arthur.

This forest is one of the most haunted places in France, but also one of the most haunted forests in Europe. Many paranormal investigations have been carried out in the heart of this forest by French-speaking and international mediums and ghost hunters.

Many visitors and locals report strange experiences in the forest, such as sensations of invisible presences, unexplained noises or sudden changes in temperature. One of these legends is that of Arthur's Hunt. The ghost of Arthur himself roamed the forest of Brocéliande. Observing such an apparition would be a harbinger of great misfortune for anyone who witnessed it.

If you're too scared to go to the Forest of Brocéliande yourself, we recommend you discover the paranormal explorations of Jordan Perrigaud, who braved this forest and slept in this spooky place in France.

How to visit the forest of Brocéliande

Brocéliande Forest is open to the public all year round, but access is regulated. The tourist office organizes various activities if you want to learn more about this haunted forest that inspired the legend of King Arthur and the Grail.

Due to its spectacular and bloody history, France has numerous places haunted by ghosts who have had bad things happen to them during their lives, causing them to not fully leave our world.

If you're interested in paranormal phenomena, check out our other articles on the most haunted places in the world: