European Waterways is inviting guests to get into the spirit of Halloween on many of their luxury hotel barges that offer tours of some of Europe’s most haunted sites. From Château d’Ancy-le-Franc in France, which is said to be haunted by the ghost of Henry II’s mistress, to Leap Castle in Ireland, setting for the popular Ghost Hunter and TV Most Haunted television shows.
With Paris just hours from some of their cruises in Southern France, European Waterways also suggests visiting the city’s famed catacombs and the cemetery of Père Lachaise – two sites that are said to be extremely haunted for obvious reasons! Père Lachaise cemetery is the final resting place of celebrities such as Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf and American rocker Jim Morrison.
“What ghost story is complete without the wails of a long-lost spirit roaming the halls of a dark and spooky castle?” said Derek Banks, managing director of European Waterways.
“European Waterways’ cruises feature excursions to some of the most magnificent and awe-inspiring castles in Europe, many of which are rich in history and legends of the battles fought there and the ghosts of former residents that still haunt them.”
Leap Castle is one of Ireland’s most famous sites for ghosts, with a history of bloody family rivalries that is deeply embedded in the country’s extensive mythology. It is one of the daily excursions offered by European Waterways’ 10-passenger Shannon Princess hotel barge. The vessel cruises the River Shannon, the country’s largest and most picturesque river.
During the cruise, guests will also be treated to another kind of spirit – a private tasting at the Kilbeggan Whiskey Distillery. Considered the world’s oldest distillery, Kilbeggan is said to be the “quintessential Irish whiskey distillery.”
Offering centuries of dramatic history, the Renaissance Château of Ancy-le-Franc is renowned for its remarkable collection of mural paintings. Located in the Loire Valley, this stately residence is considered a masterpiece of architecture. A private tour of its myriad, intricately decorated rooms and vast, elegant gardens brings to life the opulent world of France’s nobility. The host even claims that Henry II’s famous mistress, Diane de Poitiers who once lived here, still roams its many rooms.
European Waterways’ deluxe 12-passenger La Belle Époque offers a tour of this extraordinary residence as part of its classic cruise, available throughout the season.
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