France Castles # 1 : Château de Fougeret, Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Where there is a crumbling old château, there must also be a pilfering poltergeist, sinister specter, or perhaps even the ghost of a decapitated Marie Antoinette roaming the hallowed hallways.

There are over 40,000 châteaux in France, many of which have endured a colorful history of revolution, religious conflicts, and wars that lasted up to a hundred years, so is it any wonder that there are more than a couple of ghosts lurking in these turreted towers?

If there was a French version of Most Haunted, Château de Fougeret would top the list. It certainly looks the part: austere slate-turreted spires barely visible in the thick forest that surrounds it, climbing ivy, spooky oil paintings of the dear departed on the walls.

There are too many ghosts to list at Fougeret, but they usually stay confined to quarters.

In the nanny’s room, the ghost of a nanny strokes the hair of sleeping guests and whispers soothing words in their ears (lovely), but in the usher’s room, a man killed by an ax to the sternum ferociously scratches anyone who sleeps there (rather less pleasant).

Strangest of all is Alice’s room, where a young woman died of kidney disease.

People staying in the room in modern times have also been known to fall ill of the same disease, which is fortunately now curable.

Fodor’s Travel / ABC Flash Point News 2025.