Not all castles have fairytale stories. Most of these beautiful structures are hundreds of years old, and that history is accompanied by many spooky myths. Some castles are haunted by ghosts and ghouls rather than princes and princesses. We’ve gathered a bone-chilling list of the most haunted castles in the world. Most of these are tourist attractions today, so you can visit… if you dare!
Leap Castle, Ireland
Leap Castle is thought to have been built as early as 1250. As you can imagine, a castle that old holds some secrets. This historic castle is widely known as the most haunted castle in Ireland. The legend is that a priest was murdered within the walls of what is now known as “The Bloody Chapel”. Spooky… but that’s not all.
When the castle was undergoing renovations in the 1900s, a worker found a hidden dungeon in the Bloody Chapel, and inside were tons of human skeletons. They discovered it was a trap designed to have prisoners fall below onto wooden spikes. Not quite a fairytale ending.
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Edinburgh Castle is one of the most popular and historic tourist attractions in Western Europe. It also happens to be haunted. Visitors have reported seeing many different spirits, including a dog wandering around the cemetery on the castle grounds.
Other guests of the castle have claimed to see prisoners of the American Revolutionary War and French prisoners from the Seven Years War. You can tour the grounds, shop the products, and enjoy fine whiskey and food. If you want to enjoy tea with some ghosts, this is the place for you.
Chillingham Castle, England
Chillingham Castle is widely known for being the most haunted castle in Britain. It has a long history of prisoner dungeons and torture chambers. This medieval castle has many ghosts that frequently haunt the halls.
The three most famous spirits of the castle are the Blue Boy, the Grey Lady, and the Lady in White. Apparently, the Blue Boy appears behind closed doors at the stroke of midnight. If you ever find yourself in Britain, we recommend you steer clear of these characters.
Casa Loma, Canada
Casa Loma is a Gothic castle in Toronto that is actually famous for more than just ghosts and ghouls. You might recognize this building from movies such as Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, X-Men, Beauty and the Beast (the live-action), and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Casa Loma has gained notoriety for the ghosts of the couple for whom the castle was built. Even more often, a ghost of a maid has made appearances in the halls of the castle. Its legend and beautiful infrastructure make it one of the most famous haunted castles in the world.
