From Frankenstein Castle in Germany to Belcourt Castle in Rhode Island, these are 25 Haunted
Castles That Are Too Scary To Handle. 25.
Frankenstein Castle, Germany Overlooking the city of Darmstadt in central
Germany, the Frankenstein Castle is alleged to have been an inspiration for Mary Shelley
when she wrote her famous Gothic novel Frankenstein.
The castle is thought to be haunted by the ghost of Arbogast, a knight who once used
to live there.
In 2008, the Ghost Hunters International team proved there really is some sort of paranormal
activity going on at the castle.
24.
Leap Castle, Ireland Built by the Irish O'Bannon clan in the 13th
century, the Leap Castle has a long and bloody history.
There was a brutal fratricide committed in the castle´s chapel now known as the Bloody
Chapel.
Moreover, many people were held prisoners and executed there.
The castle is rumored to be haunted by a number of spirits, including a violent supernatural
entity known as the Elemental, most recognizable by the accompanying smell of rotting flesh
and sulfur.
23.
Zvikov Castle, Czech Republic One of the most important early-Gothic castles
in the Czech Republic, the Zvikov Castle is thought to be haunted by a supernatural being
known as Rarasek.
Weird events occur at the castle frequently, including unexplainable technical problems,
unpredictable animals behavior, spontaneous extinguishing of fires, electromagnetic anomalies
etc.
Allegedly, those who happen to sleep in the main tower will die within a year.
22.
Moosham Castle, Austria Built at the end of the 12th century, the
Moosham Castle has an unusually gloomy and bloody past as thousands of young women were
executed there during brutal witch trials.
In the 19th century, numerous dead deer and cattle were also found near the castle, which
gave rise to a speculation that the castle might have also served as a werewolves´ refuge.
These days, the castle is better known as the Witches Castle.
21.
Bran Castle, Romania One of the scariest castles in the world,
the Bran Castle is alleged to have been the seat of Vlad III - a cruel Romanian ruler
better known as Vlad Dracula or Vlad the Impaler.
Notorious for brutal impaling his enemies, the character of Vlad III inspired Bram Stoker
to write his famous Gothic horror novel Dracula.
Yet, the castle has another creepy element - one of its chapels hosts a gold casket in
which the Queen Marie's heart was placed and buried.
20.
Larnach Castle, New Zealand Located at the ridge of the Otago Peninsula
in New Zealand, the Larnach Castle is one of the spookiest places in the country.
Originally built as the residence of William Larnach, a prominent entrepreneur and politician
in colonial New Zealand, the castle is said to be haunted by at least one, and possibly
two ghosts: that of Kate, the daughter of the mansion’s original owner and that of
Larnach’s first wife, Eliza. 19.
Castle of Good Hope, South Africa Built by the Dutch East India Company in the
second half of the 17th century, the Castle of Good Hope is generally considered the most
haunted site in South Africa.
The resident ghosts reportedly include the ghost of Lady Anne Barnard who lived there,
the ghost of a soldier who hanged himself in the bell tower and the ghosts of soldiers
pacing the battlements.
Despite its scary reputation, the castle was declared a national monument in 1936.
18.
Chateau de Brissac, France Built as early as in the 11th century, Chateau
de Brissac is a haunted castle in west-central France.
According to the legend, one of the previous residents of the castle caught his wife with
another man and murdered them both.
These days, the castle serves as a hotel where multiple paranormal activities such as eerie
sounds, slight touches, ghostly sightings, and wailing throughout the halls are frequently
reported by the guests.
17.
Belcourt Castle, Rhode Island Originally built as a summer cottage designed
by architect Richard Morris Hunt for Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, a prominent 19th century
US politician, the Belcourt Castle is now one of the most haunted places in Rhode Island.
In 1956, the Tinney family of Cumberland bought this castle and one of the family members,
Harold Tinney, is believed to reside in the castle even in his afterlife, roaming the
castle´s grounds.
16.
Castle Fraser, Scotland Located in east Scotland, the Castle Fraser
is famous for its legend according to which a princess was once staying at the castle
when she was brutally murdered while sleeping.
Her body was dragged down the stone stairs, leaving a blood trail.
As hard as they tried, the occupants of the castle could not scrub out the stains so they
decided to cover the steps in wood paneling, which remains today.
It is said she still stalks the halls of the castle during the night.
15.
Castle of Horst, Belgium Situated in the Belgian municipality of Holsbeek,
the Castle of Horst is a half-ruined Flemish Renaissance castle that is reportedly haunted
by one of its previous owners Lord of Rode.
The locals say the ghost of the lord comes back every day at midnight in a carriage pulled
by six wild horses.
The soul of the legendary 15th century lord cannot find rest for having murdered a priest
who might have had an affair with the lord´s wife.
14.
Predjama Castle, Slovenia Known for its hidden passageways and unique
position as it was built within a cave, the Predjama Castle has a violent history.
In the 15th century, the castle was a seat of the knight Erazem, a feared robber baron.
After a long besieging by the Habsburgs´ army, Erazem was killed in this castle.
Since then, the castle is believed to be haunted.
In 2008, it was even investigated for paranormal activity by the Ghost Hunters International.
13.
Dragsholm Castle, Denmark One of the scariest places in Denmark, the
Dragsholm Castle has been reportedly haunted by a number of ghosts.
One of them is the White Lady that is supposed to be the ghost of a girl who fell in love
with a local commoner.
The girl's father found out about the lovers and imprisoned the girl in her room.
In early 20th century, shocked construction workers found a small recess in one of the
castle´s walls which contained a small skeleton wearing a white dress.
12.
Wolfsegg Castle, Germany Located in the German state of Bavaria, the
Wolfsegg Castle is thought to host ghosts for more than 500 years.
In the 16th century, the owner of the castle hired two farmers to kill his wife after discovering
she was having an affair.
Soon after, the man and his sons suddenly died.
Since then, the castle has been allegedly haunted by the White Woman.
To make things even scarier, numerous animal skeletons of unknown origin were discovered
in a nearby cave.
11.
Castle of Bardi, Italy Also known as Landi Castle, the Castle of
Bardi is thought to be haunted by the ghost of Moroello, an army captain who killed himself
after his lover Soleste committed a suicide, thinking that Moroello had died in a battle.
Nowadays, this old medieval castle serves as a museum dedicated to local folklore and
customs but the ghost of Moroello is still believed to reside at the castle, roaming
the grounds and searching for his love.
10.
Houska Castle, Czech Republic Located just outside Prague, the Houska Castle
is one of the most haunted and mysterious sites in Europe.
As the castle lacks any fortifications, it was not built to repel any attacks or as a
seat of a ruler.
The legend has it the castle was built over a large hole that was supposed to be the gateway
to hell from which horrifying half-human and half-animal creatures came out.
By building the castle over the hole, locals were able to keep the demons trapped inside.
9.
Arundel Castle, England Arundel Castle is a restored and remodeled
medieval castle in Arundel, West Sussex, England, originally built in the 11th century.
The castle is considered to be haunted by numerous ghosts but it is the ghost of the
first Earl of Arundel whose apparitions are reported most often.
Other spirits residing at the castle are those of a young woman who jumped to her death and
a Blue Man who has been often seen in the library.
8.
Rocky Hill Castle, Alabama Built as a plantation house between Town Creek
and Courtland, Alabama, the Rocky Hill Castle was surrounded by numerous ghost stories and
folklore legends.
Before it was demolished in 1960s, the castle was purported to be haunted by the spirit
of a Lady in Blue, ghosts of Civil War soldiers, and the ghosts of tortured slaves.
Prior to its destruction, it was also alleged that knocking and banging of unknown origin
often occurred in the house.
7.
Ballygally Castle, Northern Ireland Built in 1625, the Ballygally Castle is one
of the most haunted places in Northern Ireland.
Now serving as a hotel, the castle is reputed to host a number of ghosts, the most active
of which is the former resident, Madam Nixon, who has been allegedly haunting the castle
since her death in the 18th century.
She roams the passages at night dressed in a silk dress.
Her fleeting appearances have recently been confined to a room in a corner turret.
6.
Himeji Castle, Japan One of the greatest examples of Japanese castle
architecture, the Himeji Castle in the Hyogo Prefecture has been a site of some eerie events
and unexplainable occurrences.
In fact, it is the castle´s well that has allegedly witnessed the most haunting as it
is thought to host the ghost of Okiku, a mythical character from ancient Japanese legends.
The ghost is supposed to rise from the well at night and count to nine before shrieking
and returning to the well.
5.
Akershus Castle, Norway Built in the 13th century to protect Norway´s
capital Oslo, the Akershus Castle is regarded as the scariest place in the country.
In more recent history, the castle served as a prison here many prisoners died and it
was also where the Nazis executed masses of people during the WWII.
With such a bleak history, it comes as no surprise that the castle is believed to be
haunted by numerous ghosts, even including the ghost of a dog who was supposed to guard
the castle gate.
4.
Charleville Castle, Ireland A Gothic-style castle located in Ireland,
the Charleville Castle is one the most haunted castles in the country.
Alleged to be haunted by the third Earl of Charleville’s daughter Harriet, the castle
was featured in several paranormal reality TV series such as Scariest Places on Earth,
Most Haunted, and Ghost Hunters International.
Harriet is believed to have haunted the place since 1861 when she died after falling from
the staircase at the age of eight.
3.
Franklin Castle, Ohio Located in Cleveland, Ohio, the Franklin Castle
has a particularly gloomy reputation, ranking among the most haunted places in the US.
The castle features many hidden passages and rooms, including a trap door that lead to
a tunnel that goes nowhere, and, more infamously, a room in which dozens of human baby skeletons
were found.
Surrounded by several other tragic stories, the castle is thought to be haunted by children
ghosts.
2.
Erasmus Castle, South Africa Also known as “Die Spookhuis” or “The
Haunted House”, the Erasmus Castle is a large mansion famous for frequent ghost sightings
and supernatural encounters.
These days, the castle is open for public tours and cultural gatherings, which is why
so many people have witnessed various paranormal activities at the castle such as lit windows
in the uninhabited parts of the building, unexplainable human sounds etc.
1.
Beaumaris Castle, Wales One of the world´s greatest examples of symmetrical
concentric planning, the Beaumaris Castle is a haunted medieval castle in north Wales.
Built in 1330, the castle is said to be home to strange echoes of chanting which have been
caught on audio recording equipment by visitors to the small chapel area.
The feeling of being watched has also been felt in the long dark corridors and an over-all
sense of creepy loneliness can be felt there.
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