The 12 Most Haunted Places in Europe That Will Give You Goosebumps
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When most people think about a European vacation, they imagine glorious white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, historic cities, and iconic landmarks. However, did you know Europe is also home to some of the scariest places on Earth? If not, you’ve come to the right place.
Europe’s dark side is filled with medieval horrors, mass murder, paranormal activity, and mysterious characters like vampires and witches. As such, many places across Europe are haunted. Below, you’ll find 12 of the most haunted places in Europe. The entries on this list were selected because they are well-known for their mysterious sightings, unexplained noises, and spooky sightings.
Château de Brissac, France
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Let’s kickstart this list with a haunted castle in France. Château de Brissac is a château in the Brissac-Quincé area in the Loire Valley, Western France. At first glance, this grand castle appears like any other royal-esque French castle. However, a dark past hides beyond the impressive architecture, ivy-covered facade, and stunning interior.
During the 15th-century, Château de Brissac was the site of a grizzly double murder. Legend has it an unfaithful wife called Charlotte de Breze and her not-so-secret lover were murdered by her husband. According to the current residents, the Duke of Brissac and his family, the wife’s ghost still roams the castle’s dimly lit hallways. She is best known as la Dame Verte, the Green Lady.
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Poveglia Island, Italy
Just off the coast of Venice, a world-famous Italian city, lies a mysterious island that nobody can visit without prior authorization. Hidden away in the Venetian Lagoon, Poveglia Island has a haunting past. For starters, from 1776, the island was used as a quarantine station to treat plague victims.
Worse yet, the island has also been used as an asylum. Unfortunately, it’s believed many patients were mistreated, tortured, and put through experimental methods like lobotomy at the asylum. As a result of this dark past, it’s widely reported that almost 160,000 people died on the island. As you would expect, along with this comes many a tale of ghosts and unruly spirits.
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Beau-Séjour Palace, Portugal
One thing you have to praise ghosts and ghouls for is their impeccable taste. Almost every haunted place on earth is some kind of royal palace or ancient castle, and Beau-Séjour Palace is no different. Beau-Séjour Palace is a 19th-century manor house in São Domingos de Benfica, in the Lisbon region.
Like Château de Brissac, this palace features a breathtaking facade and an interior fit for a king. However, any king who decided to live in the palace would have to share it with the ghost of a former resident. Considered one of Portugal’s most haunted places, it’s believed the ghost of Baron of Glória haunts the palace’s grand corridors and vibrant gardens. Some visitors have also reported hearing bells ringing despite the palace having none.
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Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Up next, we have Edinburgh Castle, a gorgeous 11th-century castle that sits proudly above the capital, dominating the city’s skyline. Several places in Edinburgh could’ve made our list, but Edinburgh Castle is the most iconic. A former military fortress and royal residence, a whole host of spirits are believed to haunt its corridors.
Staff members at the castle and tourists have heard strange noises and reported seeing the ghosts of the castle’s former soldiers and prisoners. It’s also believed that a piper who disappeared in the castle’s tunnels also haunts the medieval property. As such, you should keep your eyes peeled for ghostly characters as you explore the castle’s passageways. Other haunted locations in Edinburgh include Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetery and the Edinburgh Dungeons.
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The Catacombs of Paris, France
France makes our list of the most haunted places in Europe for the second time with the Catacombs of Paris. I believe the Catacombs of Paris are the scariest destination on this list. Everything about this labyrinth of ossuaries, from the neatly organized piles of bones to pitch-black corridors, is terrifying. The fact that the catacombs are also home to over six million bodies is pretty scary.
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Unsurprisingly, many visitors to the catacombs have reported seeing ghostly figures and hearing unexplainable noises. If you’re brave enough to visit the Catacombs of Paris, you’ll quickly realize that there is an eerie atmosphere and paranormal feeling lurking down there. If you want to see the catacombs before you visit, the horror movie As Above So Below was filmed there.
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Nidaros Cathedral, Norway
The next haunted place on our list is Nidaros Cathedral, an early 14th-century church in Trondheim, Norway. Built over the burial site of King Olav II, who became the nation’s patron saint, the cathedral is a traditional location for the consecration of Norway’s new kings. However, despite its royal popularity and spectacular architecture, Nidaros Cathedral is haunted.
The ghost of a monk lives inside the cathedral. Visitors who’ve seen the monk claim he is a tall figure with dark clothes. It’s also rumored that he is regularly seen with blood dripping from a wound on his neck. Luckily, he doesn’t appear to be a nasty spirit, as he often walks straight through visitors. Maybe he just wanted the best seat in the house for the coronation.
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Hoia-Baciu Forest, Romania
Hoia-Baciu Forest is a fascinating forest situated west of Cluj-Napoca in Romania. The forest is best known for its mysteriously-shaped trees, which bizarrely bend at an unnatural angle. The reason why the trees bend like this has baffled scientists for decades, with people blaming weather conditions, wars, evil spirits, and even aliens.
Aside from the forest’s mysterious trees, many people also believe the forest is haunted. Many spooky stories circulate the woods, from mysterious disappearances and deaths to unexplainable noises and grizzly murders. With rumors of witches and aliens to go with it, we’re not so sure Hoia-Baciu Forest is somewhere we’d want to visit anytime soon.
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Ten Bells Pub, England
London’s rich history is bursting at the seams with horror stories, grizzly deaths, and murderous kings. One of the city’s most famous stories is that of Jack the Ripper, an unidentified serial killer who killed at least five women in Whitechapel in the late 19th century. Today, it’s still unknown who Jack the Ripper was.
Although, perhaps there is a ghost who could tell us who he is at the Ten Bells Pub in the East End of London. For years, this Spitalfields pub was dubbed the ‘Jack the Ripper Pub’ due to its close ties to the case. Two Ripper victims had connections to the pub. One of the victims (Annie Chapman) still haunts the Ten Bells Pub. We don’t know about you, but a pub sounds like a great place to haunt.
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Frangokastello Castle, Greece
Most people who think about Crete picture a sunny vacation destination with charming towns, tranquil beaches, and hot weather. However, Frangokastello, a small village, beach, and castle on the island’s southwest coast, is home to a haunted castle. Again, we praise the ghosts for picking an excellent place to spend eternity.
This castle is haunted by the ghosts and spirits of soldiers who fought a bloody battle there during the Greek War of Independence in the 19th century. Locals claim visitors can witness ghosts returning to the castle on May 17th annually, which marks the anniversary of the deadly battle. The ghosts are known as Drosoulites and take the form of shadows.
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Zvíkov Castle, Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is famed for its almost 1,000 castles, so it’s hardly surprising that one of them is haunted. Zvíkov Castle in Zvíkovské Podhradí, approximately 9 miles (15 kilometers) north of Písek, is one of the country’s most significant early-Gothic castles. The 13th-century structure is magnificent, and its lush surroundings are beautiful.
However, since the late 16th century, the castle has been rumored to be haunted. It’s believed that a supernatural being once haunted the castle’s residents, occupying its ancient tower. Today, visitors have also reported hearing unusual noises, witnessing bizarre animal behavior, and seeing mysterious things happen. Another legend says that anyone who sleeps in the castle’s tower will die within one year.
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Moosham Castle, Austria
The penultimate haunted place on our list is Moosham Castle in Austria. Situated in the Lungau region of Salzburg, this 12th-century castle is a sight to behold, but its history is tragic and barbaric. In the 17th century, Moosham Castle was the scene of the Zaubererjackl witch trials. As such, the castle is often called the Witches Castle.
During the witch hunts, hundreds of so-called witches, which included homeless children and teenagers, were imprisoned, tortured, and executed at the castle. Those who escaped the hangings were punished with hot irons and the cutting off of limbs. The castle also has a history of werewolf attacks, which also saw locals tortured and killed in the castle’s dungeons. Unsurprisingly, the castle is rumored to be haunted by many spirits.
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Burg Wolfsegg, Germany
The final location on our list is Burg Wolfsegg, an 800-year-old castle in Wolfsegg, Germany. Despite the castle’s name, Burg Wolfsegg isn’t home to werewolves. Instead, it’s reportedly home to the spirit of Klara von Helfenstein. According to legend, Klara von Helfenstein was murdered by her husband after he learned of her affair with a soldier.
Upon finding out, the husband murdered his wife, who now haunts the castle’s dimly lit corridors. Despite the possibility of spotting the ghostly figure, Burg Wolfsegg is a marvelous place to visit. The 13th-century castle features a historic design and is still filled with much of its original decor. The castle is open to visitors on the weekends.
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