Europe’s Haunted Castles and Their Dark Histories

Do you love being scared and learning about European history? Why not combine these two passions and visit some of Europe’s most haunted castles? Tens of thousands of ancient castles are scattered throughout the continent, but some of them have a dark past that will shock you.

I’ve compiled a list of 13 of Europe’s haunted castles and their dark histories so you can decide if you want to travel to these terrifying places and discover for yourself if they are truly haunted.

1. Tower of London, London, England

There are enough ghost stories about this castle that you could write a book about them (and I’m sure someone has), but let’s go over the main ones. Anne Boleyn is the most famous ghost of the castle.

She was Henry VIII’s second wife and the first one he executed. She’s most often seen on Tower Green (the spot where she was beheaded), the church of St. Peter ad Vincula (where she was buried), and the halls of the castle. Her ghost is a headless woman who seems to wander aimlessly and doesn’t want to cause harm.

Then we have Henry VI, who was murdered by Edward IV. He was stabbed while praying in Wakefield Tower, where his ghost can be seen every night at the last stroke of midnight.

2. Frankenstein’s Castle, Darmstadt, Germany

If you want to see the real castle that the book Frankenstein was based on, head to Darmstadt, Germany. The castle is not in good condition (which, for me, adds to its creepiness), but the history here is truly haunting.

The most famous, of course, being Frankenstein’s monster, but did you know it wasn’t Frankenstein who was trying to make a monster in this castle? The person the book was based on was Johann Konrad Dippel, a man who was obsessed with living forever.

He started by creating an oil made from dead animals, which he described as the “elixir of life.” After he got bored with this, he moved on to exhuming dead bodies from the local cemetery. It was rumored that he created a monster that he brought to life by a bolt of lightning (sound familiar?).

He finished his life’s work by “creating an elixir that would keep him alive until he was 135” made from liquified human bones and hair. He died a year later, most likely from drinking the “elixir”. It’s said that his ghost still haunts the site of the castle, along with his zombie creation.

Read more about Haunted Historical Sites Around the Globe

3. Dracula’s Castle, Bran, Romania

Here’s another castle that you probably thought wasn’t real. Well, technically, it’s not. Bran Castle is known as Daracula’s Castle, but it’s said that there’s no connection between this castle and Dracula’s castle from Bram Stoker’s book Dracula.

Many think that he didn’t even know of the castle’s existence. The only connection between this castle and Dracula’s fictional castle is that the king who lived in it, Count Dracula, shared his name with the main character of the Dracula book (which seems pretty solid to me).

Count Dracula, who lived in this castle, actual name was Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler. He was named this because his favorite method of execution was, you guessed it, impaling his prisoners. It’s said that Vlad still haunts the castle and will torment people in their sleep.

4. Trakai Castle, Trakai, Lithuania

The original castle built on this island in Lithuania was constructed in 1409. The ghost that haunts this castle is the Grand Duke Witold, who was killed by King Jogallia. He is most often seen near the castle towers at night.

Unlike most ghost sittings, which are usually terrifying and mean that you’ll soon die, seeing the Duke is actually good luck. The year after you see the ghost, it’s said that you’ll have good fortune. This sounds like the only situation I would want to see a ghost!

5. Muiderslot Castle, Muiden, Netherlands

This gorgeous castle is just outside of Amsterdam and is one of the most famous castles in the Netherlands. It was originally built in 1280 by Count Floris V, who was later stabbed to death in his castle and by a fellow nobleman from just a couple of cities away.

It’s said that the Count’s ghost can be seen in the castle at night, wandering from room to room as if looking for something. He has a very sad countenance and appears to be nervous.

He’s not the only ghost here. Machteld van Velsen is another ghost that haunts one room in the castle because it’s said that she was assaulted by the Count in this room. Multiple other ghosts have been spotted here, so if you want a good chance of spotting a ghost, head to this castle!

6. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland

This is one of the most classic haunted castles in Europe. The Edinburgh Castle has enough ghosts for its list. Some of the most famous are The Headless Drummer Boy, Lady of Glamis, and The Bagpiper.

The Drummer Boy is a ghost of warning. It’s said that his drums can be heard around the castle at night. If you spot this ghost, Edinburg will soon be under attack, and you better get out of the city quickly!

Next is the Lady of Glamis, accused of being a witch and burned at the stake. Her ghost can be seen wandering the spot where she was burned, along with knocking sounds at the sight of her death.

Finally, there’s The Bagpiper, the most frequently heard ghost. When miles of tunnels were found under the castle, a bagpiper was sent down to explore. He would play the bagpipes as he went to ensure he was safe. While he was down there, the bagpipes suddenly stopped, and rescuers were sent to see if he was okay. They never found his body. His bagpipes can still be heard under the castle as if calling for help.

Read more about Edinburgh Castle one fo the Most Majestic Castles with Incredible Histories

7. Predjama Castle, Slovenia

Predjama Castle is the world’s largest cave castle, built in the 11th century. In the 15th century, Erasmus Luegg ruled over the castle. He was a Robin Hood-type character who would steal from rich emperors and give to the poor villagers. He got away with it until the day that he killed a relative of Frederick III, a Roman Emperor.

After killing the man, he retreated to his castle and held off his attackers for over a year. He could have continued to hold them off for a long time, but one of his servants betrayed him and signaled to his attackers when he was using the toilet. His attackers fired a cannon into the bathroom and killed him. The ghost of Erasmus haunts the castle, seeking revenge on the servant who betrayed him.

8. Leap Castle, Roscrea, Ireland

This is known as being the most haunted place in Ireland. The castle is now abandoned, but that doesn’t stop it from being haunted. It was built in 1250 and, soon after being finished, was taken over by the bloodthirsty O’Carroll family, who kept it until 1649.

This first ghost of the castle is in what’s called “The Bloody Chapel.” Thaddeus O’Carroll was the family priest next in line to take charge of the castle. That is until his brother stabbed him to death at mass in front of his entire family. Thaddeus’s ghost can be seen in the chapel and appears as a bright light.

There are hundreds of other ghosts around the castle because of all the horrific murders that this family committed. The abandoned castle was bought in 1991, but the ghosts had other plans when the owner was ready to renovate. He was forcefully pulled off ladders, and many other accidents happened until he finally hired someone to communicate with the spirits and tell them they could stay even after the castle was restored.

9. Houska Castle, Blatce, Czechia

This castle is said to be built with the sole purpose of guarding the gateway to hell. The gateway was an endless hole located where the castle used to stand. They used to pardon prisoners if they would agree to descend into the hole and report back what they saw. When someone finally agreed to do it, he only made it a few feet before he started screaming and begging to be let back up. When they pulled him back up, the man’s face had aged 30 years, and he died a few days later due to “unknown causes”.

The villagers would also say they would see winged demons flying out of the hole and half animals and half humans crawling out at night. During World War 2, the Nazis took over the castle and were said to feel right at home in the castle (I wonder why?). Other ghosts haunt the castle, like the human/frog/bulldog ghost that roams the castle halls and a headless ghost with blood spraying out of his wound, which can be seen in the courtyard.

10. Moosham Castle, Unternberg, Austria

This incredible castle in the Austrian Alps is one of the most beautiful castles on our list. Some of the most haunted things that have happened in this castle are one occupant being brought down to hell by one of Satan’s helpers, but by far the most haunted place in the castle is the torture chamber.

Here, guests say they feel like they’re being watched, touched, and even breathed on. You can also hear the footsteps of the prisoners while you’re in the torture chamber, along with loud banging sounds. There are other haunted parts of the castle, but the torture chamber is your best bet if you are looking for an almost-sure encounter.

11. Château de Brissac, Brissac-Loire-Aubance, France

This castle in the French countryside is the tallest in France. Only one ghost haunts this castle, but man, she’s a scary one. She’s known as La Dame Verte or The Green Lady and is the ghost of Charlotte de Breze, the wife of Jacques de Brézé. One night, Jacques was woken up by one of his servants, who told him that Charlotte was cheating on him in the other room.

When he entered and found her and her lover there, he pulled out his sword and slashed them both into tiny pieces. After he did this, the ghosts of Charlotte and her lover wouldn’t leave him alone and moaned every night until he was finally forced to leave the castle. The Green Lady is so common in the castle that the people here say they don’t even mind her almost constant presence.

Read more about Phrases You Should Learn Before You Visit France

12. Horst Castle, Holsbeek, Belgium

This castle was first mentioned in literature in 1100, so it’s considered much older than that. In the 15th century, the lord of Rode resided in the castle when something happened that would change his life forever. The local priest had started mass one Sunday without the presence of Lord Rode. When Rode arrived, he was so angry at the disrespect of the priest that he slit his throat right then and there.

Rode died many years later, but his ghost still lives on. Every night at midnight, his horse-drawn carriage enters the castle, pulled by six wild horses. It’s believed that his spirit cannot find rest because of what he did to the priest.

13. Eltz Castle, Wierschem, Germany

Okay, this castle and the Austrian castle are tied for the most beautiful castle on this list. The king who lived in the castle had a daughter named Agnes. When she was of age, she started looking for a suitor, and Braunsberg, a knight, started pursuing her.

She was not interested in him, so one night, during a dance, he grabbed her hand, brought her onto the dancefloor, and tried to kiss her. When he did this, she rejected his kiss and slapped him.

After she did this, she was rushed back to the castle and put under 24-hour surveillance for fear that he would come and kill her. Finally, after three days of waiting, the king decided it was time to go on offense and went out to find the knight and kill him.

However, shortly after leaving, the knight came and killed the remaining guards and then accidentally killed Agnes as well. She was dressed in armor, so Braunsberg didn’t realize it was her. To this day, the armor that she was killed in is still in the spot where she was murdered to honor her. It’s said that her ghost wanders the castle, turning on lights and opening locked doors at night.