The Castle of Loarre has more than one ghost. Perhaps you will be able to spot the ghost of the abbess who is said to haunt the place, or maybe the traitor, Count Don Julian. Or maybe it's the ghost of Violante de Luna, expelled by the Pope, that you hear in the middle of the night?
Spain is a country with a opulent history and many stories about supernatural phenomena. Some of the most intriguing ghost stories involve the pretty castles that dot the Spanish countryside. These haunted castles have inspired countless legends and are sure to send shivers down your spine.
This medieval fortress, perched majestically atop a rugged hill in the heart of Spain, holds secrets that have remained hidden for centuries. Ridley Scott was so impressed by the Castle of Loarre that he chose it as the location for his film “Kingdom of Heaven”.
From the beginnings of a strategic fortress to the shadowy days of war and betrayal, the Castle of Loarre has witnessed it all, and its walls echo with past tragedies.
Historical importance of Loarre Castle
The Castle of Loarre, also known as the Castle of the Abbey of Loarre, is an extraordinary architectural masterpiece that stands as a testament to Spain's opulent history and is a very well-preserved castle in Huesca. It is also one of the oldest castles in Spain.
Built in the 11th century, it served as a strategic fortress during the Reconquista, a period marked by the efforts of Christian kingdoms to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. With its strategic position on a hill overlooking the surrounding plains, the castle provided a vantage point for observation and defense.
The architecture of the castle is a wonder in itself, combining Romanesque and Moorish influences. Its impressive walls, built of vast stone blocks, are a testimony to the craftsmanship of those times. As you walk through the castle's corridors and visit its towers, you can't lend a hand but marvel at the intricate details carved in the stone, telling stories of battles fought and victories won.
Loarre Castle as an abbey
In old times, the Castle of Loarre was used as an abbey for nuns, as a spiritual sanctuary rather than a defensive fortress. It is from this time that rumors of haunted areas come from, and legend has it that the aged abbey is haunted by an aged abbess who appears on San Juan night.
It is said that during the armed conflict the abbey became embroiled in the conflict and had to pay for it. The superior was taken prisoner and locked in the castle dungeons.
According to local tradition, on San Juan night the Prioress appears ghostly, wandering the halls seeking peace or perhaps revenge for past sins. This is said to happen on San Juan night.
Feast of San Juan, i.e. Saint John falls every year on June 24, but it is on the eve of St. John, June 23, celebrations take place.
Visitors to the castle report hearing her ghostly footsteps echoing through the empty chambers, accompanied by the flickering of candlelight that mysteriously appears and disappears.
The ghost of Violante de Luna
Another version of this legend says that the ghost haunting the Castle of Loarre was a runaway abbess and did not necessarily rule the place.
Her name was Violante de Luna and she lived in the early 14th century in Spain, where the Pope ruled all of Catholic Europe. She was the niece of Papa Luna, or Pope Benedict XIII, and enjoyed the privileges this gave her. However, she did not know that the price for defeating him would be too high.
In her youth, she took her cousin Anton de Luna as her lover and became pregnant. After giving birth to a bastard, she entered a convent, where she became the superior of the Trasobares monastery and did quite well. Maybe she could have it all?
But then the rumor spread and the pope found out about the matter, excommunicated them both and burned her convent. They escaped to this very castle and moved in together. It was said that she led the siege that reached the castle when Anton had to fight.
For not only did their life together anger the Pope, but also their participation in the rebellion in defense of the candidacy of Jaime de Urgell for the throne of Aragon against Fernando de Antequera, the candidate ultimately chosen in the Compromise of Caspe. And the two lovers fell out of favor with the pope in the middle of the dispute.
Their time together in the castle was low, as Anton left for battle and Violante was captured by their pursuers when she lost the siege after three months. She was confined to Sora for several months, which gave the guards the impression that due to her fierceness, she was a woman “who had the devil in her body”.
What happened next to her is not certain, some say she was reunited with her lover in France, some say she was buried in a convent.
But all the legends say that she still haunts the castle that she devoted herself to protecting with all her heart. Some say he appears from time to time, walking around the castle as a ghost, standing on the queen's balcony and waiting for news from his beloved. Some say he holds a sword in his hand, still defending the castle from enemies knocking on the door.
Haunted Legends and Count Don Julian
In addition to the spiritual abbess, the castle of Loarre is steeped in other spine-chilling legends and spooky tales. One such story concerns Count Don Julian, who is said to be buried within the castle walls.
There is also a version that Don Julian was buried at the entrance to the church as a traitor for opening the gates and allowing the Moors to freely enter the peninsula in order to take over vast parts of Spain.
During the Battle of the Guadalete River in 711, there was an alleged betrayal by Don Julian, which ended with the defeat of the Visigoth king Don Rodrigo, and the Arabs led by the warlords Tariq and Muse made their way through the Strait of Gibraltar.
Count Don Julian's beloved daughter, Florinda, was known as La Cava, and they supposedly retreated to this castle to recuperate. But according to the story, both of them were captured and imprisoned in the fortress.
The daughter was so afraid of what would happen next that she took her own life. Apparently she threw herself from the tower.
Don Julian was buried at the entrance of the church of San Pedro so that everyone would stand on his grave as the traitor he was.
This version, however, seems a bit far-fetched, because in Don Julian's time the castle had not yet been built. Despite this, legend has it that every Tuesday he can be seen walking along the battlements.
Legend has it that his spirit still wanders the castle, seeking revenge on those who wronged him. His tormented soul laments and longs for the tragic end that befell his daughter.
Visitors claim to have seen a shadowy figure lurking in the recesses of their vision, but disappearing as they approached. Others report feeling an icy frigid in some rooms, as if the Count's vengeful spirit was still present.
Visit the Haunted Castle
So if you ever find yourself in Spain, don't miss the opportunity to visit this old castle. Step through its gates and immerse yourself in the haunting history that lies within. But beware, Loarre Castle is not for the dim of heart. The spirits that inhabit its walls might just leave you with an unforgettable experience that will send shivers down your spine.
Bibliography:
The final resting place (in life) of the spirit of the fortress of Loarre
Ghosts of Loarre Castle | About Legends
10 things about Loarre Castle (Huesca, Spain) that will amaze you. – Go to Aragon
Discover the aura of mystery in the 10 most celebrated haunted castles in Spain
10 Haunted Castles in Spain You Must Visit – Tourtravel & More
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