Bellver Castle

Balearerna · Spain · Castle

Bellver Castle — Balearerna · Spain · Castle

In the round castle-prison above Palma, the shade of Jovellanos is said to stroll the gallery – dissolving at the door of his old cell.

The perfectly circular Bellver Castle above Palma was built between 1300 and 1311 for King Jaume II of Mallorca, who by tradition was tormented by the conviction that the spirits of ancestors and fallen Moorish soldiers pursued him. For centuries the castle served as a state prison: the Enlightenment statesman Jovellanos was held here from 1802 to 1808, General Lacy was executed by its walls in 1817, and hundreds of Republican prisoners were confined here during the Civil War. In 1976 night watchmen told of footsteps following them along the first-floor gallery, and cleaning staff claim to have seen Jovellanos's shadow strolling before dissolving at the door of his former cell. Older legends add the witch Joana, said to live in the caves beneath the castle, offering poisoned figs to passers-by.

FAQ

Where is Bellver Castle located?

Bellver Castle is in Balearerna, Spain.

More haunted places in Balearerna

Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.

Image: Wofratz · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons