Buzz
Traveling is a beloved activity during the holidays, but why not add an exciting twist to your next journey by embracing a chilling theme: haunted travel. This list explores ten of the most terrifying locations across the globe, many of which remain unknown to the average traveler. Feel free to suggest additional destinations in the comments if you believe they deserve a spot.
10. Hill of Crosses Lithuania
The Hill of Crosses, known as Kryzi? Kalnas, is situated 12 kilometers north of Siauliai, a small industrial city in Lithuania. This site serves as the country's national pilgrimage center, featuring countless crosses that symbolize Christian faith and commemorate Lithuanian heritage. The origins of the first crosses remain a mystery, but despite numerous attempts by 20th-century communist occupiers to demolish the hill and remove the crosses, they continue to reappear in vast numbers. A panoramic view of the hill can be seen here. While the site itself isn't inherently frightening, the eerie phenomenon of mysterious crosses appearing on the hill is undeniably unsettling.
9. St Louis Cemetery 1
No list of eerie destinations would be complete without mentioning a cemetery. St. Louis Cemetery comprises three Roman Catholic burial grounds in New Orleans, Louisiana. These cemeteries are notable for their above-ground vaults, most of which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The elevated tombs, reportedly necessary due to New Orleans' high water table, bear a striking resemblance to those in Paris's Père Lachaise Cemetery. St. Louis Cemetery #1, the oldest and most renowned, has been in use since its establishment. Due to safety concerns, solo visits are discouraged, but guided tours offer a secure way to explore. The legendary Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau is said to rest in the Glapion family crypt. Other notable figures buried here include Bernard de Marigny, the French-Creole playboy who introduced craps to the U.S., Barthelemy Lafon, the architect rumored to have joined Jean Lafitte’s pirates, and Paul Morphy, a pioneering world chess champion. The infamous socialite Delphine LaLaurie, known for her gruesome crimes, is also believed to be interred here.
8. Mary King’s Close
For decades, the concealed underground alleys of Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh’s Old Town, Scotland, have been enveloped in legends and enigmas. Stories of spectral apparitions, gruesome murders, and rumors of plague victims being sealed alive and abandoned to perish have persisted. In 1645, the close’s fate was sealed when the plague ravaged this small community. Legend has it that authorities attempted to contain the outbreak by imprisoning the infected, bricking up the close for years and leaving them to succumb. This tragic history likely earned it the nickname ‘street of sorrows.’ The close is reputed to be haunted, with the ghost of a young girl named ‘Annie’ gaining local fame. Visitors, moved by her story of losing her beloved doll, have filled a room with gifts for her. Pictured above is the plague suit worn by Dr. George Rae, who served the area.
7. Leap Castle Oubliette Ireland
Leap Castle, located in County Offaly, Ireland, approximately four miles north of Roscrea, dates back to 1250. In 1659, it came under the ownership of the Darby family through marriage. The castle has a dark history of imprisonments and executions, and it is said to be haunted by numerous spirits. The most feared is a hunched, grotesque entity whose appearance is accompanied by the foul odor of decay and sulfur. During renovations, workers uncovered an oubliette (pictured above), a dungeon where prisoners were left to be forgotten. The pit contained spikes at its base, and when cleared, it yielded three cartloads of human remains. Among the bones, a pocket-watch from the 1840s was discovered, though it’s unclear if the oubliette was still in use at that time. Restoration efforts are ongoing, making this a fascinating future destination for travelers.
6. Château de Machecoul France
Château de Machecoul was the residence of Gilles de Rais (1404–1440), a Breton knight, Joan of Arc’s comrade-in-arms, and a Marshal of France. However, he is most infamous for being a prolific child serial killer. Between 1434 and 1435, he withdrew from military service, delved into occult practices, and squandered his fortune on lavish theatrical productions of his own creation. Between spring 1432 and spring 1433, the first child murder occurred, followed by numerous similar atrocities. The number of victims may have reached hundreds. After abducting and assaulting the boys, he would slit their throats and engage in unspeakable acts with their blood and organs. Court records from his trial reveal:
“when the said children were dead, he kissed them and those who had the most handsome limbs and heads he held up to admire them, and had their bodies cruelly cut open and took delight at the sight of their inner organs; and very often when the children were dying he sat on their stomachs and took pleasure in seeing them die and laughed…”
Gilles de Rais was hanged in Nantes on October 26, 1440. His heinous acts inspired the tale of Bluebeard. All his crimes were committed within the walls of Machecoul Castle, which still stands today, albeit in ruins. The bodies of his victims were concealed in walls, dropped down chimneys, and buried across the grounds.
5. Poenari Castle Romania
Don’t be misled by suggestions to visit Bran Castle in Romania as the home of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Dracula. Bran Castle is a popular tourist spot, but there’s no evidence Vlad Tepes ever resided there. Instead, the ruins of Poenari Castle, Vlad’s actual residence in Wallachia, are not far away. Built in the early 13th century by Romania’s first rulers, Poenari served as the primary stronghold for the Basarab dynasty. Over time, it changed hands and names before falling into disrepair. In the 15th century, Vlad III the Impaler recognized its strategic value atop a steep cliff and restored it, turning it into a key fortress. After his death, the castle deteriorated but remains partially intact and open to visitors. Reaching it requires climbing 1,500 steps, and it’s renowned as one of the world’s most haunted locations. [Image source]
4. Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo Italy
These catacombs should not be confused with other European ossuaries. Located in Palermo, Sicily, the Capuchin Catacombs serve as both a macabre tourist attraction and a unique historical archive. In 1599, the monks mummified Brother Silvestro of Gubbio and placed him in the catacombs. Bodies were dehydrated on ceramic pipe racks and occasionally washed with vinegar. Some were embalmed, while others were sealed in glass cabinets. Monks were preserved in their daily attire, sometimes with the ropes they wore as penance. Initially reserved for friars, the catacombs later became a status symbol for the elite, who requested specific attire or regular clothing changes in their wills. Officially closed in 1880, the catacombs continued to draw visitors. The final burials occurred in the 1920s, including Rosalia Lombardo, a two-year-old girl whose body remains remarkably preserved due to a lost technique recently rediscovered.
3. European Ossuaries Europe
An ossuary is a chamber, structure, or site designed to house human skeletal remains, often used in areas where burial space is limited. Across Europe, numerous ossuaries exist, many of which are open to visitors, much to the delight of those fascinated by the macabre. Among the most renowned are the Catacombs of Paris, an extensive underground network of tunnels adorned with skeletal remains. The image above is from Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini in Rome, Italy, a church established by Pope Urban VIII in 1626. It houses the remains of over 4,000 friars, some fully intact and dressed in Franciscan robes, while others are arranged into intricate decorative patterns using individual bones. This is just one example of the many fascinating and eerie ossuaries accessible to the public. Explore a detailed photo gallery and learn more about ossuaries here, including the striking human skeleton chandelier.
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2. Aokigahara Japan
Aokigahara, also known as the Sea of Trees, is a dense forest located at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan. The forest is known for its rocky, ice-covered caverns and is reputed to be a hotspot for paranormal activity. The terrain, primarily composed of volcanic rock, is challenging to navigate, even with tools like picks or shovels. Unofficial trails wind through the forest, often used during the annual “body hunt” conducted by local volunteers. Deep within the forest, human remains, often years old and reduced to scattered bones, are occasionally discovered. Aokigahara is infamous as the world’s second most common suicide site, trailing only San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Since the 1950s, over 500 people have died here, with around 30 suicides recorded annually. In 2002, a record 78 bodies were found, surpassing the previous high of 73 in 1998. To combat this, officials have posted signs urging visitors to seek help rather than end their lives. For graphic images of discoveries made by body hunters, visit here (NSFW). The image above shows a makeshift noose found in the forest. Learn more about Aokigahara here.
1. Poveglia Venice
