Haunted Places in Östergötland (125)

Explore 125 haunted places in Östergötland. Read the stories and find your next ghost trip.

• ⚔️ Skänninge execution site (Tivoliängen) Östergötland One of Sweden's most-excavated execution sites — used for ~600 years, eleven graves and a gallows ditch.
• 📖 Abbey Garden — the Black Nun Östergötland In the abbey garden the Black Nun is said to glide along the wall at night — a nun who killed her child and never found rest.
• ⚔️ The Gallows Hill at Kvarnbacken Östergötland The town gallows, in use 1400–1650. A 2005 dig uncovered ~25 executed young men — one with an iron hook driven through the skull.
• ⛪ Alvastra abbey ruin Östergötland A Cistercian abbey from 1143 where the monks' treasure is said hidden in the mountain — and where dusk walkers think they glimpse cowled figures.
• 📖 Lake Sommen — the primal cow Sommakoa Östergötland The lake was made by the primal cow kicking open the rock; caged in a cave she eats one hair each Christmas Eve — then she breaks free.
• ⛪ Bjälbo church & Ingrid Ylva Östergötland Birger Jarl's 'sorcery-wise' mother is said to have been walled in standing in a pillar — while she held her head high the dynasty would be spared.
• ⚔️ Kårarp / the Gallows Hill (Eriksgata) Östergötland The district execution ground on the medieval royal road itself — with an Iron Age grave field, a hollow way and three runestones.
• 📖 Högby old churchyard & the Högby stone Östergötland An abandoned churchyard and Östergötland's second-greatest runestone, naming the freeholder Gulle's five sons — all dead.
• 📖 Kungshöga grave field Östergötland One of Sweden's larger Iron Age grave fields — 125 graves, judge-rings and standing stones, in use a thousand years.
• 📖 Mount Omberg & Queen Omma Östergötland The mountain's mist-queen weeps in the Rödgavel cave so fog settles over Vättern — giants dwell in the rock and hurl stones at the churches.
• 📖 Sverkersgården & the 1156 regicide Östergötland Here King Sverker the Elder was murdered by his own stable-hand on the way to Christmas matins in the dark — a memorial stone remains.
• 📖 Lake Vättern — the lake-wight & the scornful laugh Östergötland A mute old man was foretold to drown by the seer at Fjuk; when he was found dead in the ice-hole, witnesses heard 'a ringing scornful laugh from the lake'.
• ⛪ St Olof's friary & Petrus de Dacia Östergötland At the vanished friary of the Black Friars, Sweden's first author wrote of the devil beating a mystic's head against the wall.
• ⚔️ Trollkäringeskogen Finspång, Östergötland The forest where eight women died in Sweden's largest witch trial. A woman's voice is still said to repeat the same words: I am innocent.
• 👻 The Great Madhouse / Hospital Museum Östergötland Sweden's first madhouse (1757), built for the "wretched, insane and raving". Of its forgotten dead, only a single gravestone remains.
• 🛎️ Vadstena Monastery Hotel Östergötland In the medieval abbey buildings — once a hospital, plague house and asylum — guests wake to a kindly old woman on the edge of the bed. 🛏 Book a night here
• 📖 Svaneholm castle ruin & the giant Garpe Östergötland A 14th-century castle on an islet where the giant Garpe lived with his dwarf and hound — his copper bridge glints in moonlight.
• ⚔️ The old gallows ground at Åtvid Östergötland A former place of public execution marks this spot near Åtvid parish in Åtvidaberg. Executions were deliberately staged at the margins of a community, on ground like this rocky moraine, so the memory would linger as a warning. Registered in Fornsök as L2009:3155.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplats – Fornåsa Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Fornåsa, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplats – Gammalkil Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgeberget, a former place of execution in the parish of Gammalkil, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Gärdserum Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Gärdserum, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Grebo Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Grebo, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Hogstads avrättningsplats Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Hogstad, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Källstads avrättningsplats Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Källstad, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Källstads avrättningsplats Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Källstad, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Kuddby Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Kuddby, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Kvillinges avrättningsplats Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Kvillinge, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Linköpings avrättningsplats Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Linköping, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Lönsås Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Lönsås, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Motalas avrättningsplats Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Motala, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Ödeshögs avrättningsplats Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Ödeshög, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplats – Ödeshög Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Ödeshög, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Östra Hargs avrättningsplats Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Östra Harg, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Rystad Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Rystad, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Sankt Per Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Sankt Per, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Skänninges avrättningsplats Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Skänninge, Sweden. Local tradition holds that the ground is haunted.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Skänninge Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Skänninge, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Skärkind: a place of execution Östergötland This is a former place of public execution in the parish of Skärkind parish, Norrköping. For generations such grounds — set apart from the living, here among the surrounding countryside — were where the condemned met their end, and few places in the landscape feel as charged.…
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Skönberga Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Skönberga, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplats – Slaka Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Slaka, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplats – Styrstad Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Styrstad, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Sund Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Sund, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Sund: a place of execution Östergötland Here, in wooded ground on the outskirts of Sund parish (Ydre), stood a former place of public execution. The visible traces are faint, but this was a place of death, and its history clings to it still. Heritage id L2010:3660.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Svanshals Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Svanshals, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplats – Tjärstad Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galghagen, a former place of execution in the parish of Tjärstad, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Vadstenas avrättningsplats Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgebergsgärdet, a former place of execution in the parish of Vadstena, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Vångas avrättningsplats Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Vånga, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Västra Hargs avrättningsplats Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Västra Harg, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Vreta klosters avrättningsplats Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Vreta kloster, Sweden.
• 👻 The Child Murderer's Cross – Ödeshög's Haunted Glade Östergötland Some places carry stories so dark they seem etched into the ground. The Child Murderer's Cross, deep in the forests of Östergötland, is one such place.
• 🏥 Bona Reformatory and Mental Hospital Östergötland A journey back in time. In the heart of the Östergötland countryside lies Bona, a place where time has stood still, but whose history still whispers through the abandoned buildings.
• ⛪ Ekeby church & the Igelbäcken Östergötland Four runestones in the churchyard — and the church's first great bell said to lie giant-stolen in the brook nearby.
• ⛪ Malexander church Östergötland Trolls tore down the building each night until twin heifers chose the spot — by the shore of Lake Sommen.
• ⛪ Rinna church Östergötland A church-warden spirit invisibly tore down at night what was built by day — the same motif as at Malexander.
• 📖 Boxholm brickworks — the Giant's Grave Östergötland Under a triangular stone setting a giant is said to lie buried — a place shunned after dark for its 'haunting'.
• 🏰 Brokind Estate Östergötland A haunted manor with the frightening presence of Barbro Påle. Among the scenic landscapes of Östergötland lies Brokind Estate, a place with a historical legacy spanning centuries.
• 🏰 Ekenäs Castle Östergötland Welcome to one of Sweden's most haunted castles. Ekenäs Castle, located in Örtomta parish in the Linköping municipality, carries a dark and mysterious history that makes it a place filled with legends and chilling stories... 🛏 Book a night here
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Vadstena Östergötland Locally the site is known as Kvarnbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Vadstena, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Nässjas avrättningsplats Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Nässja, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplats – Drothem Östergötland Locally the site is known as Skallhammaren, a former place of execution in the parish of Drothem, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Gistad Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Gistad, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplats – Kullerstad Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Kullerstad, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Ekebyborna Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Ekebyborna, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Väversunda Östergötland A former place of execution in the parish of Väversunda, Sweden.
• 🏰 Löfstad Castle Östergötland Where history echoes in every hall. Located in the beautiful Östergötland landscape, just outside Norrköping, Löfstad Castle stands as a living monument to Swedish history and the bygone days of the aristocracy. 🛏 Book a night here
• ⛪ Veta church — the leper's squint Östergötland A hole in the chancel wall let criminals and the contagious follow Mass from outside — those not allowed in among the living.
• ⚰️ Lost churchyard at Å Östergötland In Å parish, Norrköping, lies an abandoned churchyard — a burial ground left behind when its church fell out of use. Set in the surrounding countryside, the graves have largely returned to nature, but the dead were never moved. Recorded in Fornsök as L2009:1994.
• ⚰️ The deserted graves of Bjälbo Östergötland In Bjälbo parish, Mjölby, lies an abandoned churchyard — a burial ground left behind when its church fell out of use. Set in the surrounding countryside, the graves have largely returned to nature, but the dead were never moved. Recorded in Fornsök as L2012:2649.
• ⚰️ The deserted graves of Brunneby Östergötland Ödekyrkogård – Brunneby socken
• ⚰️ The deserted graves of Grebo Östergötland Ödekyrkogård – Grebo socken
• ⚰️ Ödekyrkogård – Hägerstad Östergötland Locally the site is known as Hägerstads gamla kyrka, a former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Hägerstad, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Ödekyrkogården i Högby Östergötland A former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Högby, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Ödekyrkogård – Högby Östergötland Locally the site is known as Högby gamla kyrka, a former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Högby, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Horns ödekyrkogård Östergötland A former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Horn, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Abandoned churchyard — Klockrike Östergötland In Klockrike parish, Motala, lies an abandoned churchyard — a burial ground left behind when its church fell out of use. Set in the surrounding countryside, the graves have largely returned to nature, but the dead were never moved. Recorded in Fornsök as L2012:6252.
• ⚰️ Abandoned churchyard — Krokek Östergötland In Krokek parish, Norrköping, lies an abandoned churchyard — a burial ground left behind when its church fell out of use. Set in the surrounding countryside, the graves have largely returned to nature, but the dead were never moved. Recorded in Fornsök as L2012:6482.
• ⚰️ Kvarsebo: a forgotten burial ground Östergötland Ödekyrkogård – Kvarsebo socken
• ⚰️ Ödekyrkogården i Norrköping Östergötland A former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Norrköping, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Ödekyrkogård – Norrköping Östergötland A former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Norrköping, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Ödekyrkogård – Östra Ed Östergötland Locally the site is known as Kyrkogården, a former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Östra Ed, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Risinges ödekyrkogård Östergötland Locally the site is known as Kättilgruvan, a former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Risinge, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Ödekyrkogården i Rogslösa Östergötland Locally the site is known as Bocka kyrkogården, a former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Rogslösa, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Ödekyrkogård – Rystad Östergötland A former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Rystad, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Ödekyrkogården i Skänninge Östergötland A former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Skänninge, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Abandoned churchyard — Skänninge Östergötland In Skänninge parish, Mjölby, lies an abandoned churchyard — a burial ground left behind when its church fell out of use. Set in the surrounding countryside, the graves have largely returned to nature, but the dead were never moved. Recorded in Fornsök as L2011:9978.
• ⚰️ Styras ödekyrkogård Östergötland Locally the site is known as Styra Ödekyrkogård, a former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Styra, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Väderstads ödekyrkogård Östergötland Locally the site is known as Väderstads gamla kyrka, a former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Väderstad, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Ödekyrkogården i Väderstad Östergötland Locally the site is known as Harstads gamla kyrka, a former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Väderstad, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Ödekyrkogård – Varv Östergötland A former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Varv, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Ödekyrkogård – Västra Stenby Östergötland A former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Västra Stenby, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Västra Tollstads ödekyrkogård Östergötland Locally the site is known as Sverkersgården, a former abandoned burial ground in the parish of Västra Tollstad, Sweden.
• ⚰️ Vikingstad: a forgotten burial ground Östergötland Ödekyrkogård – Vikingstad socken
• 📖 Hästholmen & S/S Per Brahe Östergötland A medieval harbour where the steamer Per Brahe sank in 1918 — 24 dead, among them the artist John Bauer and his family.
• ⛪ Heda church Östergötland A giant built the church for the farmer's blood — saved only when the giant's name ('Påvel'/'Finn') was cried. The Madonna has seen 'eight hundred Christmas nights'.
• 📖 The Rök stone & Rök church Östergötland The world's longest runic inscription — the stone itself is 9th-century legend, raised by a father over his dead son Vämod.
• 🏯 Övralid Östergötland Does Heidenstam's spirit still linger in the manor? In Västra Ny parish, on a hill overlooking Lake Vättern, stands Övralid. Built between 1923 and 1925 by the Swedish Nobel laureate Verner von Heidenstam, Övralid was his home until his death in 1940.
• ⚔️ Gärdserums avrättningsplats Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Gärdserum, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Gallows hill of Malexander Östergötland Here, in wooded ground on the outskirts of Malexander parish (Boxholm), stood a site long associated with executions. The visible traces are faint, but this was a place of death, and its history clings to it still. Heritage id L2011:5104.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplats – Norrköping Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbergen, a former place of execution in the parish of Norrköping, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplats – Sjögestad Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Sjögestad, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplats – Slaka Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Slaka, Sweden.
• ⚔️ Avrättningsplatsen i Vånga Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbänken, a former place of execution in the parish of Vånga, Sweden.
• ⛪ The Devil and the Cobbler at Old Regna Church Östergötland At old Regna church, the Devil raced a cobbler to stitch shoes — and his thread stretched all the way down to the churchyard slope.
• 📖 Sisle Gråmunne and the Merchant's Contract, Regna Östergötland The merchant had promised himself to the Evil One once his stock was sold out — but there was one thing the Devil would never buy back.
• 📖 The Thieves in the Earth-Dugout at Horngärdet, Västra Stenby Östergötland A pair of convicted pickpockets dug themselves three ells into the earth to escape exile — and hid stolen silver beneath the hearth.
• ⛪ When the Church Cracked in Västra Stenby Östergötland In the midst of the sermon at the old man's funeral, the ground shook — pots leapt on the hearths and Västra Stenby church split open.
• ⚰️ Old Fejer and the Contract in Svaveltorp, Norra Vi Östergötland Fejer of Svanshals could stanch blood and sap the strength from horses — and his secret demanded hidden rituals in the churchyard.
• 📖 Froste of Harketorp and the Immovable Horses Östergötland His horses were fatter than anyone's — but no one could move them from the spot except Froste himself, said to be in league with the devil.
• ⛪ Site of All Saints' church Östergötland The erased church: Gustav Vasa demolished it in 1552 and carted the brick to Vadstena Castle. The dead remain under the grass.
• ⛪ St Ingrid's convent ruin Östergötland A pilgrimage site around a saint never canonised — one sister said to have levitated in prayer, another to have bled from Christ's wounds.
• ⛪ Church of Our Lady (the 'Garp' church) Östergötland You walk a floor of grave slabs over the German merchants — a church built on church upon church.
• ⚔️ Skärkinds avrättningsplats Östergötland Locally the site is known as Galgbacken, a former place of execution in the parish of Skärkind, Sweden.
• 🛎️ Stenkullen Inn — Sweden's Most Haunted Hotel? Östergötland Stenkullen Inn, located just north of Norrköping, is a place that both fascinates and frightens. The venerable house from 1858 is today one of Sweden's most legendary haunted hotels, and those who have had the privilege — or misfortune — of staying overnight bear witness to unexplained phenomena. 🛏 Book a night here
• 🏰 The Black and White Ladies at Charlottenborg Castle Östergötland On the bank of the Motala River rises Charlottenborg Castle, a building whose stone façades bear traces of centuries of life, death and unspoken secrets. 🛏 Book a night here
• 🛎️ Vadstena Klosterhotell Östergötland A hotel inside the buildings of Vadstena Abbey, founded in the 1300s under the rule written by Saint Birgitta. 🛏 Book a night here
• 🏰 Vadstena Castle Östergötland The Renaissance fortress where Duke Magnus, Gustav Vasa's mentally ill son, is said to have thrown himself from a window toward a mermaid in the moat. 🛏 Book a night here
• 📖 The Harbour / Lake Vättern Östergötland At bottomless Lake Vättern dwell the Neck and the Lake Wife — and in 1897 a monster is said to have risen from the depths off Vadstena.
• ⛪ Sya church & the grave fields Östergötland Runestones and four Iron Age grave fields around a church by the Svartån — 1500 years of burials in unbroken succession.
• 📖 Mjölby mill village & the Svartån falls Östergötland At the mill wheels and rapids the Neck belonged — the fiddler who lured people into the deep.
• 🌉 Öjebro stone-arch bridge Östergötland One of Sweden's longest stone-arch bridges over dark water — war raids in 1567 and a 'misspelled' royal inscription.
• ⛪ Stora Åby church Östergötland A giant on Omberg could not bear the bell's ringing and hurled stones at the church — they lie still in the churchyard wall.
• 👻 Town Hall Square & the Red Tower Östergötland Sweden's oldest surviving town hall, with a medieval jail cell below — and the Red Tower, all that remains of a church that burned in 1423.
• ⛪ Abbey Church (the Blue Church) Östergötland Saint Birgitta's church, where relics rest in a red shrine — and where 2010 research showed the displayed "skull of Birgitta" is probably not hers.
• 👻 Mårten Skinnare's House Östergötland The medieval stone house where a merchant founded a hospital for the poor and for pilgrims in 1519 — the cradle of Swedish psychiatric care.
• ⛪ Västra Harg church Östergötland The church whose archive burned in 1797 — so the parish's legends live only by word of mouth. The three giant's stones lie in the lake beside it.

FAQ

How many haunted places are there in Östergötland?

Haunted Places lists 125 haunted locations in Östergötland, each with its story and GPS coordinates.

What are the most haunted places in Östergötland?

Among the most notable in Östergötland: Skänninge execution site (Tivoliängen), Abbey Garden — the Black Nun and The Gallows Hill at Kvarnbacken.

Can you stay overnight at haunted places in Östergötland?

Yes — 6 of the haunted places in Östergötland are hotels or inns you can book for an overnight stay. The rest are public sites you can visit.

Browse by type

Browse by country

Popular collections

All haunted places →