Many people love visiting old castles and haunted mansions. Perhaps this is due to their Gothic charm or atmosphere, which takes visitors back to the time of knights and wizards. Or maybe it’s more about the tragic stories of the former inhabitants of these castles and how they keep haunting the unsuspecting youth. Forget about charming fairytale castles from your dreams – these dark medieval buildings will draw out your most horrifying nightmares!
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Edinburgh Castle will make even the most avid skeptics believe in the supernatural. Among the spirits that like to spook the visitors, there is a ghost of a dog frolicking in the cemetery on foggy nights, a headless drummer haunting the corridors, and the ghost of Lady Glamis, burned at stake for witchcraft in 1537. Not so long ago, researchers conducted a major experiment. 240 volunteers, none of whom had any knowledge about the history of Edinburgh Castle, spent ten days here. Later, the participants spoke about similar events – including the touch of invisible creatures and the ghost in a leather apron.
Houska Castle, Czech Republic
While many European fortresses were built as strategically important buildings, the Houska castle in the Czech Republic has a much more sinister history. It is believed to be the gate to Hell. The castle is located in the dense forests surrounding Prague, about an hour’s drive north of the city. According to legend, the earth was once teeming with creatures that were half-human, half-animal. Brave builders erected a building where you could lock the devilish creatures. In the 1930s, the Nazis occupied the castle and conducted occult experiments here, trying to open extra-dimensional portals. Many years later, skeletons of German soldiers who died as a result of torture were found around scattered around the castle.
Leap Castle, Ireland
They say that a little girl named Emily fell from the high wall of the castle and crashed at the beginning of the XVII century, but did not leave this world just yet. Aside from little Emily, there is a terrifying creature with black eyes – half-sheep, half-human. There is a “bloody chapel” in the castle, where the priest was killed by his brother and the “stone bag” – an underground cell, where people sentenced to death were imprisoned.
Predjama Castle, Slovenia
Built inside a cave, the Predjama Castle was an important fortress that resisted numerous brutal attacks. And yet in the XIV-XV centuries, it was almost completely destroyed by being sieged. The earthquakes didn’t help either. In 1567, the castle was restored, along with various secret tunnels and passages, which to this day, are haunted by the ghosts of the countless soldiers who died inside the castle.
Warwick Castle, England
Warwick Castle was built in the XI century by William the Conqueror. This was one of the most battle-ready castle in Europe. The most mysterious part of it is known as the tower of ghosts. According to the legend, Sir Fulk Greville was killed by his own servant right in this spot in 1628 and now comes out every evening from his portrait, hanging on the wall in the tower. The dungeon is another full of ghosts. Many visitors claim they felt nausea and weakness when they touched rusty bars and horrific torture devices.
Moosham Castle, Austria
While the phrase “witch hunt” is usually associated with Salem, the brutal persecution of women suspected of witchcraft has gone far beyond America. One of the bloodiest witch hunts took place in Austria, where many girls and women were taken to the Moosham castle where they were tortured and killed. It is believed that many of their souls still roam the underground passages, seeking justice and revenge.
Berry Pomeroy Castle, England
Have you heard of the ghost of Lady Margaret Pomeroy, who was killed by her sister, Elinor, roaming the castle? They say that Elinor was always jealous of the younger and beautiful Margaret, and one day she locked her sister in a dungeon and threw away the key. Everyone who met the ghost of the young girl says that she is sad, depressed, and angry.
