The 10 most haunted castles in the world

Walled halls where something is said to have stayed behind. 10 castles, fortresses and castle ruins with the darkest reputations — ranked by how frightening they are said to be, and by how fully the story behind each one is recorded.

1. 🏰1 Harridslevgaard Castle Fyn, Bogense Funen's most haunted castle. Anne Lykke was beheaded for witchcraft in 1641. A man must every night ride his pregnant sister to death.
2. 👻2 Dragsholm Castle Sjælland, Odsherred In 1910 they broke open the old wall and found a skeleton in a sealed niche. The noblewoman Celestine had vanished around 1550. 🛏 Book a night here
3. 🏰3 Rosenholm Castle Østjylland, Hornslet The white lady had walked the corridors for centuries — until builders opened a tower wall and found the skeleton of a young woman inside. 🛏 Book a night here
4. 🏰4 Hammershus, Bornholm Bornholm The watchman sat on the wall to learn who built by night. By morning the wall had grown three ells around him. 🛏 Book a night here
5. 🏰5 Château de Tiffauges Pays de la Loire In Bluebeard's castle, children's cries are still said to echo at night — this was the lair of Gilles de Rais. 🛏 Book a night here
6. 🏰6 Glamis Castle Angus, Scotland Earl Beardie is said to play cards with the Devil in a secret room — and the castle hides the legend of the Monster of Glamis. 🛏 Book a night here
7. 🏰7 Chillingham Castle Northumberland The radiant Blue Boy cried at midnight in the Pink Room — and a renovation uncovered a child’s bones walled up in blue cloth. 🛏 Book a night here
8. 🏰8 Penningby Castle Norrtälje, Uppland A medieval fortress by Lake Väsby where a resident was seized by the foot by a bony, invisible hand.
9. 🏰9 Hampton Court Palace Surrey Henry VIII's palace — "The Grey Lady" Sybil Penn and Catherine Howard's screams in the haunted gallery. 🛏 Book a night here
10. 🏰10 Gävle Castle Gästrikland The official Johan Wattrang was summoned to the castle and never seen again – legend says he was walled up alive in one of the cellar vaults and so never found rest. 🛏 Book a night here

FAQ

The 10 most haunted castles in the world?

Walled halls where something is said to have stayed behind. 10 castles, fortresses and castle ruins with the darkest reputations — ranked by how frightening they are said to be, and by how fully the story behind each one is recorded. Harridslevgaard Castle, Dragsholm Castle, Rosenholm Castle.

How is this list ranked?

By the frightfulness rating each place carries in our database, and where two places share a rating, by how fully its history is documented. Only places with a photograph and a written account of their own are included.

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