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An aerial night view of Home Hotel Bilan, a large illuminated building complex surrounded by roads and other city structures.

The ghost story of Home Hotel Bilan

At the heart of Karlstad stands a hotel that offers far more than a comfortable stay with dinner included. Home Hotel Bilan is housed in the city’s former prison, and has even served as a psychiatric ward, before its cells were transformed into unique guest rooms. Within these solid walls, echoes of the past remain – making every stay an experience unlike any other.

An old illustration of a man, a former prisoner at the prison that is now Home Hotel Bilan.

Anders Lindbäck

The priest from Silbodal

One of the most infamous stories is that of Anders Lindbäck, remembered as the Sillbodal priest. In the 1860s he committed a series of poisonings in his parish, crimes that led to his arrest and a death sentence. Before the execution could take place, he took his own life in the prison. According to legend, his spirit never left Home Hotel Bilan.

A partially open former prison cell door with the number 20 above it, now part of Home Hotel Bilan.

Arsenic murder

A serial killer in the pulpit

He laced communion wine with arsenic, turning a sacred ritual into something deadly. Faced with the heavy costs of poor relief in his parish, Lindbäck sought to reduce the burden by targeting the weak and vulnerable. In the 1860s, three people died from arsenic poisoning and several others were the victims of attempted murder. The truth emerged in early 1865, when an exhumation revealed the poison. Lindbäck later claimed his crimes were acts of mercy, but the court dismissed this defence, as one of the victims had not been poor. The revelations unsettled the parish and still chill to this day.

A black and white photo of a prison corridor with a railing, showing the historical appearance of Home Hotel Bilan.

A fate sealed

The eternal stay

After his crimes came to light, Anders Lindbäck was sentenced to death by beheading. Before the execution could take place, he ended his own life in his prison cell. He had preached salvation but delivered poison – a priest who betrayed his calling in the most terrifying way. According to legend, his punishment was not confined to this world, and his presence is said to linger still within the old prison walls.

A view into a former prison cell at Home Hotel Bilan, featuring a simple bed with a brown blanket and wooden floors.

The haunting

Unexplained encounters

Home Hotel Bilan carries more than just history within its walls. Over the years, both staff and guests have spoken of strange events: footsteps when no one is around, doors slamming in the kitchen, and the sense that someone has passed by when the corridor is empty.


Former receptionist Lillemor Gaasvik is one of the most cited voices. On several occasions, she has recalled how, during her evening rounds, she was unable to enter the prison museum, as if an invisible wall blocked her way. She has also felt someone brush past her in an empty corridor, or heard a man clear his throat in the dining room, though no one was there. Her repeated accounts have become part of the lore surrounding Bilan and contribute strongly to its reputation as a haunted hotel.


When the medium Pehr Trollsveden once visited, he spoke of an alleged strong presence in the very room where Anders Lindbäck is said to have ended his life. He even reported feeling pressure around his neck, as if reliving the priest’s final moments. His conclusion was simple:


Bilan is a place where ghostly activity cannot be ignored.

A cozy bedroom at Home Hotel Bilan, illuminated by a warm red glow from behind the curtains, creating a unique ambiance.

Home Hotel Bilan

Ghost stories are best felt where they were born.
To truly believe, spend the night where the haunting began – and for those who want to delve deeper into the building’s past, the prison museum in the basement reveals more of its history.


Dare to stay the night?

Close-up of a preserved former prison door at Home Hotel Bilan, featuring a small hatch and a heavy metal bar.A dimly lit prison cell at the prison museum at Home Hotel Bilan, with number 19 above the door, a bed, and a barred window.A dimly lit view inside a prison cell at Home Hotel Bilan prison museum, showing metal bars and a stained wall.A rustic wooden pillory with three openings, adding a historical touch at Home Hotel Bilan.

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