Have you ever thought about what scary secrets and haunting myths are hidden in Norway? My curiosity has driven me to find some of the most haunted places with strange stories attached to them. If you are one of those with a heart that stops beating when strange noises come from the basement, then I recommend that you close the tab right now!
Whether you pull a blanket over your head during horror movies. Or you do not believe in the supernatural at all in these haunted places. The hair on your neck will rise anyway!
Nes Church ruins in Vormsund
The church ruins in Nes can be traced back to the 1000s. It is a beautiful place to visit during the day. During the night it’s a popular area for ghost hunters. Here, both mobile phones and cameras have abruptly stopped working, while lights flash uncontrollably. There are many myths and stories around Nes Church ruins. Several of these have been popular for over a hundred years.
One of them is about a priest-clad figure who wanders around the ruins at night. This is supposed to be the old priest Jacob Christian Finckenhagen, who was a priest in Nes between 1800-1837. There are also rumors that his children were bricked inside the church. Also, that you can hear them shouting as you walk along the ruins. Several have observed a figure in a priest’s robe following them as they approached his grave. Some also believe that Jacob Christian must have hung himself inside the church, while others say that he died of old age.
Akershus Fortress in Oslo
A royal castle was built here in 1299 as a haunt for the king’s representatives. Later, Akershus Fortress was built on the same site. In the 19th century, the fortress became a military headquarters. From 1820, it was also used as a prison, and at that time was Norway’s strictest.
Many prisoners were executed in the castle. Some of them are believed to be haunting the area. Employees at Akerhus Fortress have witnessed hearing scratching noises in the fortress. Many have experienced being pushed even when they’re alone at work!
In the Middle Ages, a royal castle adorned the square where the fortress stands today. During construction, a living dog was bricked inside by the workers in the hope that it would bring happiness to the castle. But the dog “Malcanisen” instead returned to take revenge. Instead, this dog brought misfortune upon those who saw the dog’s ghost in their eyes. Later, a chambermaid starved to death, and it is said that you can see her walking without a face in Margaretasalen. If you visit the old gate by Jomfrutårnet where the dog died, you can experience that the bushes move.
Blaafarveværket museum in Modum
Blaafarveværket, or the Blue Colour Works, was a mining and industrial company. It was in operation from 1783-1898. Today it is a museum with information about the mining that was.
It is said that a man called Blåmannen (the Blue Man) is haunting here. Originally, these mines were part of a cobalt factory, where it was mined to produce cobalt blue dye. It was in these mines that the legend of Blåmannen originated in the 19th century. The man was wearing a uniform and carrying a lamp.
His real name was Hans Simen Paulsen Røtter, and he lived from 1806-1867. In retrospect, he is also known as “Hans with the buttons”, due to his recognizable uniform and for the mine lamp he wears. It is said that Blåmannen appears in advance of accidents.
According to the oral stories, it is believed that Blåmannen tried to notify the miners of the imminent danger. As well as try to get those closest to the accident site to get away. At the same time, he brought fear, because someone was going to die after he had appeared.
The worst accident happened on December 13th in 1854. When Blåmannen had to appear three times before the workers realized that it was a warning and that they had to get out. By then it was already too late. Six miners lost their lives at the time, only the last to enter survived the landslide. He was the one who told about the Blue Man’s arrival.
Old Lier Mental Hospital in Lier
Behind these dilapidated walls lies an extensive, dark history. At the time of its opening in 1926, the hospital was called Lier Asylum. The knowledge about mental disorders and the cause of them was almost non-existent, so the sick was both imprisoned and abused.
When Lier Hospital opened its doors, it was the beginning of a horrible future for patients, with gruesome methods and experimental treatments. The inmates underwent experiments with LSD, electroshock and lobotomy – treatments that often ended in death. Fortunately, the hospital has not been in operation since the 1970s.
The hospital originally consisted of 12 buildings, but recently several of these have been closed. You can still visit the area. Buildings A, D and E are believed to be haunted. It is in those building that you can experience hearing unexplained sounds and screams from afar. While cameras and flashlights have a tendency to stop working in these areas.
Several witnesses have experienced that cameras have stopped working near building E. Some have even discovered that photos they took during the trip there have been deleted from the camera. Or that the camera has taken photos itself. Those who have been and explored Old Lier Mental Hospital, say that the heavy atmosphere is hauntingly cruel. You notice that a lot of cruelty has happened within these walls.
Værtshuset restaurant in Akershus
Værtshuset is considered to be the oldest in Norway. It has been run since 1640, and from the 18th century, it was owned and run by Anna Krefting. Many believe that she is the one that is haunting the place. Several times she has been observed on the second floor, all the time dressed in green.
Unexplained activity is also taking place in the administration building. At exactly the same time, the phone rings in the meeting room. Those who have tried to pick it up have only heard a strange beeping sound from the handset. Telenor, a Norwegian telecommunications operator, checked the problem, but found no solution to the problem.
When employees come to work in the morning, the lights flash. The employees had managed to find out that the lights were coming from the lunchroom, which was previously the bedroom of landowner Conrad Clausen. Many believe that he will return to the haunted place. Clausen took over the operation of the ironworks as an 18-year-old and died when he was 31 years old. Some believe that it is his early death that is the reason he is leaving.
Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim
Nidaros Cathedral is an unbelievably beautiful work, but there is a haunting presence hiding here. In 1924, Bishop Marie Gleditsch saw the figure of a monk during a service in the gallery in the Chapter House. Despite the fact that the mysterious monk has not been associated with violence, he has been observed with a bloody cut across his neck.
At the same time, there is something that casts doubt on the myth of the monk in Nidaros Cathedral. The church guide Knut Ola Naastad Strøm has told in an article in Laagendalsposten that there have never been monks directly connected to Nidaros Cathedral. Nevertheless, the rumors and stories about the monk are many, and it is difficult to know what to believe.
Over the years, an endless number of visitors have told their stories of what they have seen and heard around and in the church. At night, organ music and mass singing are constantly heard. Even those who doubt the existence of ghosts, claim that there is a suspicious mood there.
Brekkeparken museum in Skien
Several stories have emerged about an unidentified woman haunting the museum. In 1813, a young and unknown lady died suddenly inside the hall. It is believed that her soul never got peace and she has not left the place yet.
The janitor at the building has felt her presence one time when he working. One stormy night he was working outside when, he felt a hand grab him by the arm. Just after, a huge tree slammed into the ground in front of him. He was sure it was the Gray Lady who saved his life.
During an inspection after the museum closed one day, he opened the door to the ballroom and saw a lady standing inside. He closed the door and opened it again, but she was already gone. After that he never saw her again. But he felt her presence, and he felt that she looked after him in the daily work of the museum.
Others have experienced chairs being pushed around and doors being slammed shut. What the Grey Lady wants is not know, but I would rather not take part in finding out.
Finnskogen in Hedmark and Sweden
Finnskogen extends over an area on the border with Sweden, not far from Flisa. No matter how tough you think you are, you will not travel in this forest alone at night. There are rumors that you can find witches and hear the sound of infants crying here.
The Röjden area on the Swedish side of the Finn forests is known for haunted places, ghosts and violent, invisible forces, which among other things led to the Finnetorp Välgunaho being abandoned in 1901. That year is also known as the “ghost summer” – the inhabitants were terrorized by evil spirits, that would make the furniture move around, throw glass and porcelain in the air and flipped the beds over. Not even the priest was able to calm the spirits in this haunted place. It was so bad that the haunted place was abandoned.
Also, there is supposed to be ghost activities on an old farm, called Bekka. The farm was vacated in 1930. Since then it has been demolished, but the old food cellar remains. A story told among the locals tells of a funeral procession that was to spend the night on the way to the funeral. The next morning, the guest of honor himself, the corpse, had disappeared without a trace.
According to the stories, many visitors’ lives have been marked by misfortune after going there. Visitors are warned against taking souvenirs from the forest, as one can be severely punished by the vengeful spirits of the forest.
Elingård manor house and estate in Viken
In the 18th century, the powerful Birgitte Kristine Kaas was the dreaded owner of Elingård. 300 years later it is said that she still walks around the beautiful manor house outside Fredrikstad. Over the years multiple people have reported seeing black cats, crying brides and headless riders at the manor house.
According to the stories, one can still sense Birte wandering around the rooms at Elingård. Someone has seen her. Others have heard her. The most common, however, should be to smell the scent of her strong perfume. There is also a story about a headless man in a black cloak down in the garden. If he comes up to the window, he warns of death.
Conclusion
That was just a handful of the most haunted places in Norway. There is no definite answer if those haunted places are in fact haunted. But the stories and witness testimonies seemed convincing. So, you will just have to be a judge of that. If you’re feeling brave, why not visit some of these places.
