Vysehrad | Fortifications

The Ghost of the French Major

In the haunted fortress of Vysehrad, where the prophetess Libuse bathed with men before tossing them to their untimely deaths off the rock cliffs is one of Prague’s once most feared and bloodthirsty ghosts, the Ghost of the French Major. The major was the commander of the French troops who invaded Prague in 1741 during the War of the Austrian Succession and was killed by a bullet shortly before the victorious end; it is rumored he screamed ‘sacrebleu’ while sinking to the ground. After his untimely death the French Major went off the ghostly deep end so to speak and started to attack guards and soldiers alike, killing some but pardoning others that were so terrified after the ordeal they refused to speak! It was not until 1892 that the French Major calmed his reign of terror down thanks to Lieutenant Pištora of Austria who encountered the Major and instead of showing terror, saluted him. The Major laughed at the Lieutenant, saluted him back and went about his merry way. His frame of mind has been happy ever since and he does not attack, he merely nods respectfully at passersby.  

Vyšehrad, Praha 2. The Ghost of the French Major haunts the fortification walls of Vysehrad irregularly. He is now a friendly ghost.  

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