by Becky Robbins

Created on: September 16, 2009

France is a country rich in history. With buildings that stand centuries old, there are bound to be some paranormal sightings. The truth is that skeletons don't always stay in the closet. In fact, their spirits may show themselves in many ways. The haunted locations in France continue to report sightings today.

The Catacombs, Paris, France:
The most talked about place for haunting is The Catacombs in Paris. As a quickly growing city, cemeteries were becoming overcrowded and space for the living was becoming sparse. Reports in some locations, such as Les Innocents, near Les Halles, told of rotting corpses spilling out into the streets due to improper burial left neighbors suffering from disease. It was in the mid-1700s that cemeteries were being condemned and the remains of corpses were being moved into the darkness beneath Paris. When you visit The Catacombs in Paris, you are only seeing a small portion of the extensive tunnel system. Thousands of remains were moved underground and piled together. The remains of men, women, and children all intertwined. Their stories forever lost and combined into one.

It is often said not to disturb the dead. Moving remains will definitely cause disruption in a spirit's life. As visitors and tour guides move through the Catacombs, there have been reports of eerie silences, feeling the presence of spirits, and even being touched by the dead. During the first White Night, the Catacombs were open until 2:00am with all the other Paris attractions. The lines were long to get in and the eerie feeling that hits you during the day was even stronger at night. The area that is open to tourists displays the bones in patterns. If you ever found yourself in other parts of the Catacombs, know those patterns no longer exist.

Brissac Castle, Loire Valley:
When you find yourself admiring the French Chateaux in the Loire Valley, make sure Brissac Castle is on your list. Built in 1633, you can see that no expense was spared when this ornate castle was built. Touring the castle, among the gold painted ceilings and extensive tapestry collection, you may feel a chill. It is perfectly normal to feel a chill at the sight of a double-murder. The story says that Jacques de Breze caught his wife, Charlotte, in the castle with her lover. In a fit of rage, de Breze murdered them both. Jacques de Breze sold the castle shortly after their deaths because the moaning at night was too much to bear.

Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy:
If you visit Mont-Saint-Michel

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