The Castle of Good Hope (Kasteel die Goeie Hoop) is a bastion fort in Cape Town, South Africa, which completed construction in 1679. The purpose of the castle was to act as a replenishment station for ships traveling from the Netherlands to Indonesia. The castle housed a church, workshops, living space, prison cells and various other facilities. During the Second Boer War (1899 - 1902), part of the castle was used as a prison. With a history spanning nearly 350 years, the Castle of Good Hope has had a very troubled past.
In the 1720s, the governor, Pieter Gysbert Van Noodt would notoriously use cruel punishments on soldiers that defied him. On one occasion Van Noodt sentenced seven of his soldiers to death for desertion, but one of the soldiers cursed the governor just before being hung. Later that day, Van Noodt was found dead in his chair. Today, Van Noodt's ghost has been reported to walk the castle grounds cursing under his breath.
Another reported entity that haunts the castle is that of Lady Anne Barne. She was the castle's First Lady in the 18th century who would often entertain dignitaries and special guests back in the day. To this day, her apparition is believed to be seen when important people visit the castle. It is also believed she hung a cursed painting above the fireplace in her drawing room. The painting of peacocks in a garden are covered with a cloth because it is believed the curse will kill anyone who handles it.
There were also reports of a Lady in Grey, who's apparition has been spotted since 1860. The apparition is that of a woman wearing a grey cloak and crying into her hands. However after skeleton was found buried near one of the gates, the apparition has never been seen again.
A rather adrenaline-pumping experience some people have reported, is that of a black dog. The dog is reputed to leap forward at visitors and disappearing inches away before "colliding" with them.
One of the most haunted parts of the castle is the "Donker Gat", which translates to the Dark Hole. This was a small windowless prison cell and next to it, was a room used for torture. In some cases, prisoners in the torture room would be locked inside during the sea's high tide and water would flood the room, drowning the inmates. Some inmates would be kept in the Donker Gat for a significant number of days in the dark and forced to look directly into the sunlight.
Many visitors report hearing footsteps in passages, lights turning on and off by themselves, and the old bell tower can still be heard ringing, which is also the site of a soldier's suicide in the 18th century.
The Castle of Good Hope is open to tourists if you ever wish to visit one of the most haunted place in the world.
Sky angle view of the Castle of Good Hope
One of the entrances to the castle
A view inside the courtyard
Acclaimed apparition caught on camera
In the 1720s, the governor, Pieter Gysbert Van Noodt would notoriously use cruel punishments on soldiers that defied him. On one occasion Van Noodt sentenced seven of his soldiers to death for desertion, but one of the soldiers cursed the governor just before being hung. Later that day, Van Noodt was found dead in his chair. Today, Van Noodt's ghost has been reported to walk the castle grounds cursing under his breath.
Another reported entity that haunts the castle is that of Lady Anne Barne. She was the castle's First Lady in the 18th century who would often entertain dignitaries and special guests back in the day. To this day, her apparition is believed to be seen when important people visit the castle. It is also believed she hung a cursed painting above the fireplace in her drawing room. The painting of peacocks in a garden are covered with a cloth because it is believed the curse will kill anyone who handles it.
There were also reports of a Lady in Grey, who's apparition has been spotted since 1860. The apparition is that of a woman wearing a grey cloak and crying into her hands. However after skeleton was found buried near one of the gates, the apparition has never been seen again.
A rather adrenaline-pumping experience some people have reported, is that of a black dog. The dog is reputed to leap forward at visitors and disappearing inches away before "colliding" with them.
One of the most haunted parts of the castle is the "Donker Gat", which translates to the Dark Hole. This was a small windowless prison cell and next to it, was a room used for torture. In some cases, prisoners in the torture room would be locked inside during the sea's high tide and water would flood the room, drowning the inmates. Some inmates would be kept in the Donker Gat for a significant number of days in the dark and forced to look directly into the sunlight.
Many visitors report hearing footsteps in passages, lights turning on and off by themselves, and the old bell tower can still be heard ringing, which is also the site of a soldier's suicide in the 18th century.
The Castle of Good Hope is open to tourists if you ever wish to visit one of the most haunted place in the world.
Sky angle view of the Castle of Good Hope
One of the entrances to the castle
A view inside the courtyard
Acclaimed apparition caught on camera
