According to this Barcelona legend, there is the ghost of Count Arnau, who is cursed in the afterlife and will wander the world because of his sins as a cruel ruler and the theft of the body of the nun he seduced.
Known for its affluent folklore and legends, Spain is home to many ghost stories and haunted places. Among these stories, one of the most enduring and chilling is the story of the ghost of Count Arnau. According to local lore, Count Arnau was a 14th-century feudal lord known for his gloomy deeds and sinister reputation.
The legend of Count Arnau was passed down from generation to generation in Catalan mythology and is the subject of a classic Catalan ballad from the 16th century Song of Count Arnau. According to legend, he was a nobleman from Ripolles, known only for his cruelty.
Those who have claimed to have encountered his ghostly presence describe feeling uneasy and fearful, as if an otherworldly force was watching them. But who was Count Arnau and what led to his eternal damnation?
Remains of Mataplana Castle
There are various theories about where the story of Count Arnau came from, where he lived and was lord. One theory comes from Mataplana Castle.
This medieval fortress, located in the heart of the Catalan Pyrenees, was according to legend the seat of power of the Arnau family, as it was lost for a long time.
They found the remains of a castle built in the 12th century, which it seems with the legend that there actually was a real Romanesque castle. Currently, only the chapel and the remains of the castle can be seen with the naked eye, but next to it, underground, there is an entire district waiting for full excavations.
Whether such a lord as Count Arnau actually existed there, however, is highly speculative. We know that in the 14th century it became the residence of Count Artau of Pallars. For a long time he was considered the mythical figure of Count Arnau.
History of the Chapel of the Virgin and the Sanctuary of Montgrony
In the heart of the Pyrenees, among rugged mountains, lies the Sanctuary of Montgrony. This holy place has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries, attracting both devout believers and curious visitors. At the heart of the sanctuary stands the Chapel of the Virgin, a miniature stone building with deep spiritual significance.
He was not a trustworthy master and abused his power whenever he could. For example, he promised his workers that for every step they took to the Virgin Chapel and Sanctuary of Montgrony, they would receive a sack of wheat. The workers took the steps, but the count did not keep his word and did not pay.
The gloomy deeds of Count Arnau
Count Arnau was a wealthy and influential man who ruled his lands with an iron fist. However, beneath his noble façade there was a twisted and depraved nature, driven by insatiable desires. He was set up for an arranged marriage to a 15-year-old girl he didn't find attractive. Twice her age, he was looking for other women.
One of Count Arnau's most renowned deeds was the seduction of the prioress of the monastery of Sant Joan de les Abadesses. The youthful abbess, innocent and naive, fell under his spell, unable to resist his advances. Their illicit affair continued in secret until tragedy struck and she died.
It is said that during a violent storm, Count Arnau decided to steal the prioress's body and drive away into the night. As he galloped through the treacherous terrain, his horse lost its balance, throwing the rider and the corpse over the edge of a cliff. The fall was fatal, but Count Arnau's spirit was not released into the afterlife. Instead, he was condemned to wander the earth as a restless spirit, forever haunted by his gloomy deeds.
Due to his sins, his soul was condemned and he was cursed to ride on stormy nights for all eternity. A pack of wild dogs, more like hell hounds, can be seen following him, spitting fire through their mouths, ears and eyes.
In the song, the Count visits his wife and daughters, riding on a fiery horse after he is condemned, and haunts them. He appears at the foot of the grate on which she is embroidering and tries to catch her in order to burn her and send her to hell. It is said that the Count visited his wife every night for seven whole years. Seven years – that's how long the mourning lasted.
Spirits of the Lord
The story of Count Arnau's fall serves as a warning and a reminder of the consequences that await those who give in to their darkest impulses. His ghostly presence in Barcelona is a constant reminder of the sins he has committed and the eternal punishment he now suffers.
Reference:
https://web.archive.org/web/20090608194722/http://usuarios.lycos.es/allagostera/trobadors/arnau.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20090408133543/http://usuarios.lycos.es/allagostera/trobadors/excava.htm
Count Arnau – Wikipedia13 haunted houses and places in Barcelona that will scare you
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