Where: Västerås, Västmanland
When: All year round
What: The spooky stories of Ängsö
Discover the Tales of the Enchanted Ängsö, where ancient legends and ghostly whispers come alive in its mystical Forests and meadows. Ängsö is a great place for those who seek more than just a scenic hike.
THE GOSTLY LEGENDS OF ÄNGSÖ
Swedish folklore is rich with stories of the supernatural, and Ängsö has its fair share of ghosts, spirits, and strange happenings, many centered around the castle grounds.
Among the most intriguing tales is that of Anders Luxemburg, the hunchbacked court jester of Ängsö Castle. Anders, famously one of the last people to see King Charles XII alive, later brought the king’s horse, Brandklipparen, back to Ängsö. One stormy night, the horse became spooked, broke free, and tragically ran into a wall, dying instantly. Visitors have reported hearing ghostly galloping hooves echoing through the castle grounds, and Anders himself has reportedly been seen there, dressed in a grey coat.
The castle also harbors the legend of Brita Bååt, a stern noblewoman said to haunt the King’s Room. Legend has it she attended a ghostly Christmas mass at the nearby church, fainted upon realizing the congregation wasn’t human, and died three days later. Brita’s spirit is believed to wander the castle at 8 PM, making her one of Ängsö’s most famous specters.
The churchyard holds eerie relics tied to this tale: a “bloodstone”, said to have been thrown at Brita by one of the ghostly figures, and a piece of her veil, allegedly cut by a phantom sword, which still hangs in the church today. While historical research suggests some overlap between Brita’s life and that of Elsa Trolle, another formidable noblewoman who lived at Ängsö Castle, the legends persist, making her a famous ghost in Swedish folklore.
Adding to the mystery, Ängsö Castle is said to be visited by a ghostly dog named Cottilion. Loyal to its long-deceased mistress, Cottilion’s spirit is often announced by scratching sounds on the castle’s dining room floor or glimpses of a spectral figure dashing between rooms.
And then there is the legend of Johan Sigismund Sparre, a former lord of the castle, who is said to have gambled with the Devil himself. During a fateful game of dice, Sparre won a golden chain. The defeated Devil warned that the chain must never leave the castle grounds, or the building would be engulfed in flames.
Other Swedish stories speak of the skogsrå, a forest spirit said to protect the woods. This elusive being, often described as a woman with a hollow back, is believed to appear to lost wanderers, guiding or misleading them depending on her mood. While walking Ängsö’s shadowy trails, it’s easy to imagine such a figure watching from the trees. According to legend, every place in nature has its own rå—a protective spirit. The lake has its sjörå, while the mountain is guarded by a bergrå.
ÄNGSÖ'S EERIE REPUTATION TODAY
All these legends have made Ängsö a magnet for thrill-seekers and storytellers. Ängsö was even in a documentary about haunted castles in Sweden (linked below). Local kids sometimes venture to the island at night, daring each other to explore the shadowy paths or peek into the churchyard under a full moon. Some claim they’ve heard whispers in the wind, ghostly footsteps, or glimpsed figures vanishing into the mist.
NATURE'S ROLE IN THE MAGIC
Part of what makes Ängsö so enchanting is how the landscape seems to play into these legends. The gnarled old trees and moss-covered rocks look like they’ve been pulled straight out of a fairy tale. The island’s shifting light—from golden sunrises to eerie twilight—gives it an ever-changing character.
In spring, the meadows bloom with delicate wildflowers, almost as if nature itself is decorating the island for its ghostly inhabitants. Autumn transforms Ängsö into a palette of reds and golds, with mist rising from the cool waters, adding to its mysterious allure.
WANT TO CAPTURE THE ENCHANTMENT?
Here are a few tips to bring out its mystical charm:
Play with Light and Shadow: Use the dappled light filtering through the forest to create depth and a sense of mystery.
Golden Hour and Blue Hour: Sunrise and just after sunset offer the perfect glow to bring the legends to life.
Focus on Details: Capture the textures of mossy rocks, the twist of ancient tree branches, or even the gravestones around the church to tell a story.
Experiment with Fog: Visit early on cool mornings to find the island shrouded in mist, perfect for creating a ghostly atmosphere.
Next time when you visite Ängsö, approach it as more than just a nature reserve—let it transport you. Wander off the main trails to uncover hidden corners of the island. Look for small signs of the past, like the crumbling remains of old walls or forgotten paths. Let the legends and landscapes inspire your imagination.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Detailed map with all the trails and facilities:
Ängsö in the documentary about haunted castles in Sweden (in Swedish):
Ängso Slött Instagram page with the latest events
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