The mysterious videotape of the Paris Catacombs
In the 90s, a strange discovery was made in the Catacombs of Paris by a group of cataphiles (those who document and explore the catacombs). In one of the many dark chambers they chanced upon a video camera lay on the floor. A tape was in the device and its contents are the stuff of nightmares.
The footage documented a man lost in the catacombs. As the film progressed, his grasp on reality slipped, and then it ended abruptly with the camera falling to the floor. The man was never found and the story is thought to have been the inspiration for found-footage horror, As Above, So Below.
Westminster Burial Ground’s screaming skull
The Westminster Burial Ground in Maryland is home to Edgar Allan Poe’s grave, but whilst he might be the most famous name in residence, he is not the most notorious ghost. That honor belongs to the famed Screaming Skull. The legend begins with a murdered minister whose head apparently continued to scream after death.
In an attempt to stop the screams, the body was exhumed, the skull gagged and encased in cement. Though these extreme lengths should have been enough to put an end to the supernatural occurrence, locals still claim to hear the sound of muffled screams on quiet evenings.
The haunting of Paramount Studios
Spending an eternity trapped in the confines of the same location must get tiresome. The spooky residents of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery have thought up new ways to spice up their afterlife, as they have begun straying off of the property.
The burial ground rests very close to major Hollywood studio, Paramount. The proximity to the graveyard has caused no end of issues, with spirits believed to regularly tour the studios. Reports from studio workers have described hearing strange footsteps, equipment turning on and off by themselves, and sightings of ghosts wearing period clothes.
The dedicated worker of Le Recoleta Cemetery
Those who work in cemeteries need to have nerves of steel to spend their days amongst the dead. One such worker at Le Recoleta Cemetery, Argentina, enjoyed his work so much that he continues to visit the graveyard now that he is dead.
In life, David Alleno had a job at Le Recoleta Cemetery as a gravedigger. Clearly a man committed to his profession, Alleno maintains his upkeep of the grounds even in the afterlife. He is reported to wander the cemetery by night, his keys jangling as he walks.
The warning signs of Aoyama Cemetery
Located in the metropolitan area of south Tokyo, Aoyama Cemetery is backed with stories of ghostly experiences. Some visitors have confessed to seeing signs appear around the cemetery. These signs do not bear any words, just a single exclamation mark.
Locals believe that these signs are the universe’s way of warning visitors that ghosts are around. The appearance of these signs do not have a pattern, suggesting that they follow the ghost’s movements. With the universe so keen to alert visitors to impending danger, it’s important to heed their warnings should you ever see them.
The haunting downfall of Fred Weeks
Shortly after moving to Orlando, businessman Fred Weeks was scammed into buying swampland close to Greenwood Cemetery. Furious at the other men, Weeks purchased a cemetery plot and erected a tombstone with his three swindlers’ names on. He was later made to remove it and instead built his own mausoleum.
This new structure also included the names of those that conned him, but they were soon chiselled off. The whole incident infuriated Weeks so much that even in death he can’t find peace. Visitors to the cemetery often see a ghostly apparition of Weeks standing in front of his mausoleum.
Little Gracie Watson of Bonaventure Cemetery
The Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah has been proclaimed to be one of the most haunted graveyards in the world. Whilst the statues act as though they are always watching, it is the ratio of child ghosts that many find the most upsetting.
Of all the child ghosts that remain in Bonaventure Cemetery, little Gracie Watson is the boldest. The young girl died of pneumonia in 1889, leaving her father devastated. His grief led him to commission a statue of Gracie and his daughter has played near it ever since.
Valentino’s mourner at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
The famous actor Rudolph Valentino died aged 31 in the year 1926 with over 100,000 people reported to have gathered outside his funeral home. One mourner in particular still visits his grave in Hollywood Forever Cemetery every year on the anniversary of his death.
The visits of Ditra Flame began while she was still alive. A dear friend of the actor, Flame would attend his grave with a red rose, dressed entirely in black. She passed away in 1984. Since then there have been many sightings of her ghostly visage still standing vigil at Valentino’s grave.
St. Louis Cemetery’s curse of Maria Laveau
Amongst the many dead in St. Louis Cemetery lies Marie Laveau, aka the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. Laveau pioneered New Orleans Voodoo and was portrayed onscreen by Angela Bassett in American Horror Story: Coven. Famously eccentric actor Nicolas Cage has bought space within Laveau’s tomb and will one day reside next to her.
Even in death, Laveau retains her reputation and power. Local lore states that if you write an ‘X’ on her grave, shout a wish, spin around three times, circle the X, and leave an offering, Laveau will grant your wish. So if you’re feeling brave, you know where to find her.
Midnight whispering in the Paris Catacombs
The Catacombs of Paris are the resting place of over 6 million people. With that many bodies, there is bound to be a ghost or two amongst them. Although open to the public for exploration, be warned if you stay after midnight.
According to legend, when the clock strikes midnight, the walls begin to speak. Whispers break through the darkness, urging visitors to venture further into the labyrinth. Those who listen run the risk of becoming lost and joining the disembodied voices in eternity.
The ghost caught on camera at Greyfriars Kirkyard
Scotland’s Greyfriars Kirkyard has the reputation as being the most haunted graveyard in the world. With such an accolade, the cemetery often finds itself in the news as people share their stories. Scotland’s Daily Record’s most recent report was published in October 2022 and told of a terrifying occurrence during a ghost tour.
During the tour, a patron snapped many pictures of the tour guide. However, upon reviewing the images they were horrified to see her face had been distorted and appeared covered in scars. Eerily, the picture was taken near the grave of a woman who had been branded with hot irons for harboring a plague victim.
St. Louis Cemetery’s woman in white
St. Louis Cemetery in New Orleans is a beautiful place and one that, despite its macabre connotations, is a hugely popular tourist destination. Women planning on visiting should give careful consideration to their outfits however, as dressing in white is frowned upon.
Over the years, countless taxi drivers have told of picking up women from outside of the St. Louis cemetery and driving them to their destinations, but, upon arriving at the drop-off location, they have found no one in the backseat. Most taxi drivers no longer stop for women dressed in white who try to flag them down.
The grasping hands of Adolphe Thiers
Three-time French Prime Minister, Adolphe Thiers, serving in 1836, 1840, and 1848, is one of several well known people buried in Cimetière du Père-Lachaise. Although having passed away in 1877 from a stroke, Thiers is believed to still haunt the graveyard today.
Unable to rest, Thiers roams the land at night, but favors staying close to his own tomb. Those who have visited his grave site to pay their respects have reported feeling their clothes being tugged at, and now visitors are warned to keep their distance or risk Thiers’ wandering hands.
The sad sobs of Virginia Rappe
The career of aspiring starlet, Viginia Rappe, came to a tragic end in 1921. The young dreamer attended a party of Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle which, despite the prohibition, was overflowing with alcohol. During the party, Rappe was taken ill and died days later. Host Arbuckle came under suspicion of her death, but was eventually cleared.
Embroiled in terrible tragedies both in life and after death, it is no surprise that Rappe’s soul cannot rest. Those who have visited her grave site in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery have heard the sounds of a woman’s sobs, and it is clear that even in death, Rappe is still mourning her career.
Arlington Cemetery’s voices from beyond the grave
The Arlington Cemetery is the final resting place for many of America’s armed forces, with over 300,000 veterans buried in the grounds. Whilst predominantly a peaceful place, ghost hunter Martin Bravo and his team had a different experience when they visited.
Using a spirit box, the group picked up voices of several of the dead, including one who enquired, “do you want to play with me?” Later in the investigation, one team member felt someone touch him. When asked, the spirit confirmed it was them by replying, “very slowly.”
The ghostly hitchhiker of Resurrection Mary
Visitors at Chicago’s Resurrection Catholic Cemetery often report sightings of a beautiful young woman dressed in an extravagant ball gown. She stands desperately trying to wave down passing cars, but magically disappears should they stop. Locals have named her Resurrection Mary.
Mary’s legend is one tinged with violence and sadness. The young woman is said to have perished on her way home from the O’Henry Ballroom. Lore suggests that after having a fight with her boyfriend, Mary decided to walk home, but was killed in a hit-and-run accident on Archer Avenue next to the cemetery.
The Mackenzie poltergeist of Greyfriar’s Kirkyard
In the 1670s, the Lord Advocate to Charles II, George ‘Bloody’ Mackenzie, was a diabolical judge who during his life, created the world’s first concentration camp. In a truly barbaric move, he sentenced hundreds of Covenanters to be executed. After he died he was laid to rest within the walls of his own mausoleum in Greyfriar’s Kirkyard.
In 1999 a homeless man broke into Mackenzie’s mausoleum. Almost immediately afterwards, visitors began to report being attacked by an unseen force – the Mackenzie poltergeist – which left them covered in bruises, scratches, bite marks and burns. The tomb was resealed and is now off limits with the exception of a couple of tours.
Buried alive in Le Recoleta Cemetery
Argentina’s Le Recoleta Cemetery is famed as the resting place of Eva Perón. Fans of the First Lady still flock to her gravesite to pay their respects. Whilst she lies in blissful piece, another woman, Rufina Cambaceres, had a less than pleasant introduction to the cemetery.
Rufina Cambaceres died in 1902 and was buried within a mausoleum. However, days after her burial, screams were heard from within her tomb. The body was exhumed and upon investigation scratch marks were found on the inside of the coffin, meaning she had been buried alive!
The shadow people of Aoyama Cemetery
Originally a Shinto-only burial ground, the grounds of Tokyo’s Aoyama Cemetery were opened to the general public in 1874. Over the years, a number of well known characters from history such as samurai Okubo Toshimichi, and the infamous dog, Hachiko have been laid to rest there.
Of the many ghostly happenings, the creepiest are reports of two shadows that float around the area at night. The shapes are of differing sizes, one larger than the other, with many believing them to be the shadows of a mother and child not quite ready to depart our realm.
The burial tragedy of Marcel Proust
Spirits remain to roam the Earth when they have unfinished business. One spectre that definitely has unresolved issues is French novelist Marcel Proust. Before his death, Proust expressed that his wish was to be buried near his lover; sadly his words went unheeded.
Proust’s partner was another man, and although the queer arts community thrived in 1920s France, homosexuality was still viewed as wrong by much of society. Wanting to ‘save’ Proust, the writer was buried away from his beloved. Proust now roams Cimetière du Père-Lachaise each night desperately looking for his lost love.
Supernatural sightings in Belfast’s Friar’s Bush
Even before it officially became Friar’s Bush Graveyard, the Belfast site was used as a burial ground. The first instance came in the 1840s during an outbreak of cholera when hundreds of bodies were piled into a mass grave.
The mound is still visible today, as it looks unnatural in its formation. Due to the sheer amount of bodies, there have of course been a number of supernatural sightings over the years. The site of the mound is a magnet for spectral activity, with locals frequently talking of seeing ghosts roaming the area.
The curious case of the disappearing commune
In 2004, police were exploring a restricted area of the catacombs when they found the peculiar signs of a makeshift community. There were cables to access electricity illegally, a bar, workshop, and a twenty seat cinema – the seats carved into the stone. More disturbingly, there were cameras on the ceiling filming them.
Days later, the team returned to the site with reinforcements, but when they arrived back at the venue, everything had vanished, including all signs of the cinema. All that remained for them to find was a solitary note which read ‘Ne cherchez pas’, which translates as ‘Don’t Search.’
Hollywood Forever’s lady in the lake
The inhabitants of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery seem to be more restless than those in others. Perhaps the constant hectic lifestyle of Los Angeles has seeped into the soil, encouraging those buried to return to the surface. Of the many sighted spectres, the most commonly reported one is the lady of the lake.
At the heart of the cemetery lies Sylvan Lake. Whilst stunning to look at on a sunny day, come nightfall it takes on a darker edge. Many visitors report encountering a woman crying on the lake. Though her identity is a mystery, many believe her to have been a wannabe star of the 1920s.
Tokyo’s most feared cemetary
Japan has a long history of being fascinated by ghosts. Their obsession has spilled into cinema and the country has gifted the world terrifying ghost girls such as The Ring’s Sadako and Kayako from The Grudge. It makes sense then that the cemeteries of their countries are shrouded in superstition and stories of spooky happenings.
The Zoshigaya Cemetery in Tokyo is so revered that visitors dare not enter, even during the day. Those that have braved a visit claim to have seen faces and hands appearing from within the trees. Superstition has it that these are the wandering souls of three people who took their own lives on the hallowed ground.
Savannah’s weeping statues
Savannah is widely believed to be the most haunted city in America, primarily because of all the bodies from the Civil War. With so much death intrinsically linked to the city, it’s easy to imagine all manner of ghosts walking the streets. Thankfully, most of the spirits keep themselves confined to the Bonaventure Cemetery.
The cemetery is populated with an abundance of lifelike statues amongst the tombstones. Although beautiful, the statues are said to feel somewhat unwholesome. Their stature generates the sensation of being watched, which is creepy enough, but some visitors have spoken of seeing the statues smile and even cry tears of blood.
The ‘red eye’ ghost of Easton Union Cemetery
The paranormal occurrences in Easton Union Cemetery in Connecticut caught the attention of famed supernatural investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, the real-life couple at the centre of The Conjuring universe. They found so much to explore that they wrote about it in their 1992 book, Graveyard.
One of the entities that caught their interest was one that they referred to as the ‘red eyes ghost’. The Warrens claimed that a pair of red eyes watched them from the forest behind the cemetery. They traced the spirit back and believed it to be Earle Kellog, a man who had been set on fire.
The restless child spirits of Babyland
No matter the cemetery, the site of children’s graves is always a deeply depressing one. Greenwood Cemetery in Orlando, Florida, has a particularly high population of the young, and those under five are all buried in the same area, which has generated the rather macabre name of Babyland.
Those that dare to visit Babyland have reported a range of disturbing encounters. These range from the sound of melodies being sung and children’s laughter, to physical interactions. This contact tends to feel like a gentle tugging on your leg, akin to a young child trying to get your attention.
Edgar Allan Poe speaks with fans
Edgar Allan Poe was known for his distressing tales of the macabre and his stories have recently been turned into Netflix series The Fall of the House of Usher. Given his affinity for death and the afterlife, few are surprised to hear that he haunts his resting place – Westminster Hall and Burying Ground, Baltimore.
Sightings of Poe are commonplace and he can be found wearing a long black coat, fedora and scarf over his face, and looking forlornly at his grave site. Poe can also be seen at the church altar, as well as in the underground catacombs. On very rare occasions, Poe has spoken to visitors.
Aoyama Cemetary’s portal to another world
By day, Tokyo’s Aoyama Cemetery is viewed as a pleasant place to spend a few hours of serenity. However, come nightfall, the mood and atmosphere of the graveyard shifts and distorts into something far darker.
One group of teenagers decided to visit the cemetery at night on a dare, but claimed that they were sucked into another world. This ties in with the theory that several locations around the graveyard are capable of linking with different plains.
The terrifying grave of Sarah Marshall
Sarah’s grave in Castlereagh Cemetery is notorious as the most haunted place in West Sydney. Sarah Marshall came to Australia from the UK on one of the first convict ships. After serving her sentence, she bore eight children and had her life back on track until a horrific assault from a group of men ended in her murder.
Sarah’s grave is located towards the back of the cemetery, but had to be cordoned off in 2011 after locals started to visit the grave in the hopes of seeing something spooky. The brave were rewarded with sleepless nights after hearing strange footsteps, experiencing car troubles, and seeing a white floating figure.
Belfast’s haunted tunnel
Much of the paranormal activity at Belfast’s Friar’s Bush Graveyard has occurred on a subterranean level. Part of Queen’s University, the David Kerr building, is located across from the cemetery and there is an underground tunnel that connects it to the nearby Ashby Building.
During the 90s, a worker in the tunnel had a very sinister experience. As they were working, they felt hands moving over their body despite being alone. Other staff have talked of feeling cold spots, and some refuse to use the tunnel at all.
The ghostly presence of Jim Morrison
The Cimetière du Père-Lachaise houses the remains of several high-profile figures, with The Doors front-man Jim Morrison being amongst the number. Though hard to find, his grave can be identified by its copious amount of graffiti. His resting place is so famous, it has its own security team.
With so many adoring fans taking the pilgrimage to their hero’s resting place, the security has to be extra tight. Stories of sightings of Morrison suggest that he himself has taken on the role of grave guardian. Some visitors believe that they have captured the ghostly singer in pictures.
The curious case of Clifton Webb
Two-time Academy Award nominee, Clifton Webb, was the first to play the role of Mr. Belvedere. Outside of his Hollywood life, Webb had a fascination with the undead, and even claimed to live with the ghost of his mother. It seems fitting then, that in death, he himself became a ghost.
Since he passed in 1966 and took up residence in Hollywood Forever Cemetery, visitors have claimed to see the star. Webb’s ghost stalks around his family mausoleum with people hearing whispers, seeing strange lights, and experiencing cold drafts. The strangest though are those that report smelling cologne wafting from inside the mausoleum.
London’s Highgate Vampire
Graveyards are not just alluring to ghosts, the sacred grounds also hold appeal for other supernatural creatures. Legend tells that London’s Highgate Cemetery has attracted the attention of a vampire. The creature has stalked the location since the 18th century and shows no signs of stopping.
Believed to have formerly been a Romanian nobleman with an interest in black magic, the Highgate vampire is said to be a tall dark figure that stalks through the grounds. The creature terrifies the local wildlife, causes watches to stop ticking, and his arrival is preceded by a sudden drop in temperature.
The faithful ghost of Lucia Watson Taylor
Although both the specter of Edgar Allan Poe and the legend of the Screaming Skull may be better known, Baltimore’s Westminster Hall and Burying Ground has yet another ghost in its ranks. This third spook is that of Lucia Watson Taylor.
Lucia died in 1816 at the tender age of just sixteen years old. Although her mortal life was short, her afterlife has been long, as Lucia is still regularly spied within the graveyard. She can be located kneeling next to her grave in silent prayer. As visitors watch, Lucia vanishes in front of their eyes.
The roaming cowboy spirits of Boothill
If you’re a fan of Western movies then you have no doubt heard of Boothill Graveyard. Located in Tombstone, Arizona, Boothill is the resting site of many a bank robber and thief. The most infamous residents are Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury, and Franklin McLaury who all died in the O.K. Corral shootout.
Given its history, Boothill is a popular tourist spot, with people travelling from all around the world to read epitaphs that conjure a flavour of what life in the wild west was like. Some of the residents are unable to rest, and visitors claim to have seen visages of deceased outlaws as they walk amongst the tombstones.
Elisabeth Stroganov’s mausoleum of terror
Before dying, wealthy Elisabeth Stroganov added a strange challenge into her will. Stroganov’s clause stipulated that anyone brave enough to spend an entire year – 365 days and nights – inside her Cimetière du Père-Lachaise mausoleum, would be given a large lump sum of money.
The lure of money enticed many to try, though despite their best efforts, no one was able to complete the task. Several who attempted to inherit Stroganov’s wealth spoke of experiencing the sensation of having their lives sucked out of them.
The Warren’s encounter with the White Lady
After countless stories of sightings of a strange woman dressed all in white, Easton Union Cemetery called in the big guns: Ed and Lorraine Warren. Having investigated Amityville and the Enfield haunting, the Warrens were the go-to authority on the paranormal.
Upon arrival, the couple crossed paths with the Lady in White. Ed Warren alleges to have captured photographic evidence of the spirit. They could not get rid of her though and the woman is still said to drift around the graveyard, occasionally venturing outside the boundary to appear in front of moving cars before vanishing.
The disappearance of Philibert Apsairt
During the French revolution, Philibert Apsairt worked at the Val-de-Grâce hospital. One night he disappeared into the catacombs of Paris. Thought to have entered the catacombs by accident, with only a single candle to light his way, Apsairt was lost to the darkness.
His remains were found a decade later, his corpse identified by the hospital keyring hanging from his belt. Not wishing to disturb him, Apsairt was buried close to the discovery site. Legend says that Apsairt’s ghost can be found roaming the catacombs each year on the anniversary of his death.
The terrifying taxi rides of a Tokyo cemetery
No matter the cemetery, it seems that ghosts are drawn to cars. Taxi drivers in Tokyo have become so afraid of Aoyama Cemetery that many simply will not drive anywhere near the burial ground. This comes after years of reports of strange pick-ups who mysteriously vanished, leaving the backseat drenched.
What makes these incidents even more chilling is that the same phenomenon occurred with people travelling to the cemetery. It is not just taxi drivers that have been targets, bus drivers have also reported the stop button chiming on empty buses as they approach the cemetery.
