Haunted House of the Spreewald: Water Spirits and Legends
Nestled southeast of Berlin, the Spreewald region in Brandenburg is a mesmerising labyrinth of waterways, ancient woodlands, and old-world Slavic villages. Recognised as a UNESCO biosphere reserve, this enchanting marshland is famed for its serene beauty, hand-paddled punts, and natural biodiversity. But beyond its idyllic appearance, the Spreewald harbours a lesser-known world of supernatural legends, folkloric creatures, and one particularly chilling tale — that of the Haunted House of the Spreewald.
Unlike castles and crumbling ruins typically associated with ghost stories, this tale is rooted in a modest timber-frame house hidden among the waterways — a place where folklore, tragedy, and local belief converge into a haunting that lingers to this day.
A Landscape Shaped by Spirits
The Spreewald’s unique geography — a river delta formed during the Ice Age — naturally lends itself to mystery. With more than 200 navigable canals winding through dark woods and peat bogs, it feels like stepping into a realm untouched by time. The area is steeped in Sorbian and Wendish mythology, blending pagan traditions with centuries of whispered warnings.
Here, spirits are said to live in the trees, the rivers, and even the fog. Every bend in the water could lead to a place of quiet wonder — or deep unease.
The House That Locals Fear
Among the many legends of the Spreewald, one stands apart for its strange persistence: the Haunted House of the Spreewald (Spukhaus im Spreewald). Situated near the village of Lehde, this dilapidated wooden home — now overtaken by vines and marsh grass — is said to be cursed by the very water spirits that inhabit the surrounding canals.
According to local accounts, the house was originally built in the mid-19th century by a fisherman named Jakob Brenn, who mysteriously disappeared one foggy evening while rowing home. His boat was found adrift, empty, with its bow tied in intricate knots no one could explain. After his death, his widow, Marta, lived alone in the house until she, too, vanished without a trace.
Since then, the house has remained mostly abandoned, save for the brave — or foolish — few who dared to inhabit it over the years. None stayed for long.
Paranormal Phenomena and Local Lore
Villagers in Lehde and neighbouring Lübbenau have passed down stories of strange happenings tied to the Haunted House:
- Footsteps on water: Several residents report hearing soft, deliberate footsteps across the wooden planks of the boat dock at night — despite no visible person being there.
- Blue lights: Ethereal blue orbs, said to be “Irrlichter” (will-o’-the-wisps), have been seen dancing over the marshy land near the house. According to Wendish lore, these are spirits of drowned souls luring the living into watery graves.
- Whispers from the canal: On misty nights, boaters speak of hearing whispers in the Wendish language coming from beneath their punts — sometimes followed by splashes with no visible cause.
- The crying woman: Echoes of a woman sobbing — often attributed to Marta Brenn — have been reported coming from the empty house, especially during full moons.
Local children were once dared to paddle past the house at night — a tradition that ended after a teenager went missing in the 1980s. His body was later found tangled in reeds, face frozen in terror.
The Nix and the Water Woman
Much of the haunting is tied to ancient Slavic mythology still alive in the region. Chief among the Spreewald spirits is the Nix — a shapeshifting water creature that lures victims to their doom. Sometimes appearing as a beautiful woman with flowing hair and pale skin, other times as an old hag, the Nix is said to sing to passing boaters, especially lonely men.
Another spirit, the Wasserfrau (Water Woman), is described as both protective and vengeful. When angered — often by trespassers or disrespect — she is believed to flood homes or curse families. The Haunted House, some say, was cursed after Jakob Brenn inadvertently disturbed a sacred spring nearby.
Many locals leave small offerings near the canals — coins, bread, or flowers — to appease these spirits. Some still speak of avoiding the waterway beside the haunted house altogether.
Over the years, numerous attempts have been made to renovate or repurpose the infamous haunted house, but each effort has ended in sudden and unexplained abandonment. In the 1960s, a young family moved in, only to flee without warning just three weeks later. They left behind all their belongings and never offered any explanation, refusing even to speak about the experience afterward.
Decades later, in 1994, a Berlin-based artist tried to transform the decaying structure into a peaceful summer studio. At first, he appeared enthusiastic about the project, but his optimism quickly waned. He reported feeling an eerie presence, particularly near the lake, claiming that he was being ”watched from inside the water.” On several occasions, he discovered his tools moved or rearranged overnight in ways that defied logic. Eventually, he abandoned the studio and returned to Germany, visibly shaken.
More recently, the house drew the attention of a well-known paranormal investigator who planned to spend three nights there to film a documentary. However, after just one night inside, he departed without warning. Since then, he has declined all interviews and refuses to comment on what occurred during his brief stay.
Today, the house stands empty on private land, slowly being reclaimed by nature. It is no longer open to visitors, yet it continues to attract the curious. Adventurous travelers sometimes row silently past the shore, gazing at the shuttered windows with a mix of dread and fascination—each secretly hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever still lingers inside.
Why the Spreewald Keeps Its Secrets
Unlike other haunted regions capitalised on for tourism, the Spreewald holds its ghosts close. Perhaps it’s because the stories feel personal, deeply embedded in cultural memory and ancestral belief. The Sorbian and Wendish heritage remains strong here, and with it, a reverence for the spirit world.
Local guides may acknowledge the legends in hushed tones but often discourage sensationalism. “The Spreewald keeps what belongs to it,” one guide said when asked about the haunted house. “And it does not give it back.”
A Final Warning for the Curious
Should you find yourself drifting along a canal at twilight, passing a crumbling timber house with moss-covered shutters, listen. Do you hear the lapping of water — or something more deliberate? Are the trees swaying in the breeze — or are they whispering in an ancient tongue?
The Spreewald is beautiful, no doubt. But its beauty hides its watchers, and not all of them are friendly.
So if you ever go looking for the Haunted House of the Spreewald, remember: the water sees, the water knows, and it never forgets.