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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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?