Haunted Castles To Visit in Europe For Thrill Seekers!

Apart from its architectural marvels, vibrant cities and stunning natural landscapes, Europe is famous for its beautiful Castles. While visiting these fairytale looking castles, you will be teleported to an era of magnificent royal lifestyle with authentic architecture and ambience. Every castle here clearly depicts the toil of servant life. Spend a couple of nights here and experience the dark secrets and lurking stories unfold in front of your eyes! Here are the top 7 haunted castles in Europe with baffling stories that will leave you stunned for a lifetime.

Top 7 Haunted Castles in Europe

Here is the list of Top Haunted Castles in Europe which are a must-visit during your dream Europe vacation.

Leap Castle, Ireland
Houska Castle, Czech Republic
Predjama Castle, Slovenia
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Moosham Castle, Austria
Dracula’s castle, Romania
Dragsholm Castle, Denmark

Also read: Top 5 Mystical Castles Of Europe

1. Leap Castle, Ireland

Popularly known as the most haunted castle in the world, Leap Castle in Ireland is famous for the paranormal activities which happen here very often. Built between the 13th and 15th century, this Irish castle has witnessed some of the most gruesome deaths in history. Few such incidents are poisoning hundreds of guests at dinner and one brother plunging a sword into a priest holding masses. It is believed that this priest haunts the church during the night time.

It does not end there. During the castle renovations in the early 1900s, workers had discovered a secret dungeon in the Bloody Chapel. It had cartloads of human skeletons that were then hauled away. The prisoners would be lured into the dungeon, only to stumble upon a trap that would crush their bodies with wooden spikes, leading to a painful and lingering demise. Without a doubt, it is one of the spookiest castles in Europe.

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2. Houska Castle, Czech Republic

Houska Castle is located 50 kilometers north of Prague in the Czech Republic. Constructed in the 13th century, the fort displays stunning yet unsettling Gothic architecture and stone walls. This European castle lacks fortifications, a kitchen, and was not constructed with the intention of housing people. Even stray animals avoid visiting here!

Nevertheless, the most unusual aspect of this castle is the vast hole within its walls that sets it apart from all other castles worldwide. It is widely believed to be the entrance to hell. It was thought that prisoners were lowered into the hole with a rope and if they shared what they saw down there, they would be pardoned, making it one of the most haunted castles in Europe.

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3. Predjama Castle, Slovenia

Predjama Castle, Slovenia, Haunted Castles In Europe — Credits: Unsplash

Located in the southern part of Slovenia, Predjama Castle is a Renaissance castle built within a cave in the middle of a towering cliff, Predjama. It was built during the early 13th century by the legend of knight Erasmus of Lueg. You can witness vertical hidden passageways here, leading to the exit located 25 meters above the cliff.

This allowed Erasmus to continue with his robberies and also secretly supply food within the castle during the time of a barricade. It also has a reputation of torture and treachery in the Gothic era. This stunning castle in Europe is one of the most haunted castles and will definitely leave you awe-struck.

Also read: Must-visit offbeat destinations in Europe for your next trip

4. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, Haunted Castles In Europe — Credits: Unsplash

Edinburgh Castle is without a doubt the most renowned and spooky site in the capital of Scotland. Archaeologists think that people have been living in this ancient fortress since the Iron Age. This majestic landmark is considered to be the United Kingdom’s second most-visited paid tourist attraction, attracting more than 2.1 million visitors every year. It has emerged as a highly recognizable emblem of Edinburgh and Scotland.

Interestingly, Edinburgh Castle also has the reputation of the most attacked castle in the world. French prisoners from the American Revolutionary War were tortured here and people say there is a ghost of a dog haunting the place till date. During the night, you can see some spine-chilling views of this castle, clearly making it one of the most haunted castles in Europe.

5. Moosham Castle, Austria

Moosham Castle, Austria, Haunted Castles In Europe — Credits: Unsplash

Situated at a height of 3540 feet, Moosham Castle is a beauty from the medieval era located near Unternberg region, Austria. Moosham castle has a terrifying history of executions, imprisonments, and torturing of hundreds of women accused of being witches. The Salzburg Witch Trials during the late 17th century will be remembered as a terrifying and brutal event in history.

Even today the staff and visitors have reported abnormal banging sounds, footprints and seeing white mists occasionally conforming to the fact that it is one of the most haunted castles in Europe. It is also very popularly known as the Witches Castle.

Also read: Top Castles In Germany – A Must-Visit On Your Honeymoon Vacation

6. Dracula’s castle, Romania

Dracula’s castle, Romania, Haunted Castles In Europe — Credits: Pixabay

The list of top haunted castles in Europe is incomplete with the mention of the Bran castle. This national landmark and monument in Romania is where both facts and fiction become one. The enigmatic vampire stories by the author Bran Stoker in his book Dracula glorifies the same. Legend says Dracula took thousands of innocent lives with a few experiencing extended tortures until their death.

At the lowest point of the stone structure, you may find a chapel which is the resting place of Queen Marie’s heart. This huge monument is now a museum dedicated to displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Marie. You can either take a self-tour of this castle or opt for a guided tour.

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7. Dragsholm Castle, Denmark

Dragsholm castle, denmark, Haunted Castles In Europe — Credits: Unsplash

Dragsholm Castle, around 800 years old, stands as one of Denmark’s most ancient non-religious structures. Only a few castles in the world are as beautiful as Dragsholm Castle. In the 16th century, the Danish prince transformed the castle into a prison. Several prominent individuals, such as Joachim Rønnowand, the previous owner of Dragsholm, and the Earl of Bothwell, were detained at this location.

Surprisingly, you may see a white ghostly figure lurking around here and the Earl of Bothwell, Ejler Brockenhuus is the castle’s most famous ghost. It is definitely one of the most haunted castles in Europe for any of the adventure seekers.

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FAQ

What attracts travelers to the haunted castles of Europe?

Ghost stories help us talk about things in the past we might not otherwise have confronted. It might be a place with a violent or brutal history, like a prison or asylum. Haunted houses tell us a lot of stories. But those stories are not just about ghosts. The stories behind these castles draw the attention of travelers across the world.

Which castle is considered the most haunted?

Leap Castle in Ireland is home to regular paranormal activity and is often named the most haunted in the world. Its actual age is unknown. While some historians claim the castle dates back to the 15th century, others argue it was built around 1250. We know that Leap Castle was first built by the O’Bannon clan.

What is the best month to visit the haunted castles of Europe?

October marks the best month to visit the haunted castles of Europe since the Festivities of Halloween make for exciting period for the thrill seekers of the world.

What is the ghost story at Leap Castle?

The Ghost of Lumley originates from the centuries-old story of a woman named Lily Lumley, who was secretly married to Ralph Lumley before he met his wife Eleanor Neville. The story goes that two priests threw Lily down a well on the castle grounds as punishment for her refusal to follow the Catholic faith.