It seems that the older a country is the more haunted sites you’ll find in it, which is why Europe is chock full of them. You’re definitely going to need your European health card on this trip because these haunted sites will give you a heart attack!

 

You don’t have to believe in ghosts to feel something unsettling in some of the most haunted places in Europe. So, if you dare, pack your bag, grab your salt, and check out our top picks.

 

most haunted places in Europe, the tower of London
Photo Davide D’Amico CCL
 

The 9 Most Haunted Places in Europe

England – The Tower of London

 

With over 900 years of torture in its history, it’s no wonder that the Tower of London is one of the most haunted places in Europe.

 

Everyone knows the story of King Henry VIII and his many wives and it is believed that one of the less unfortunate wives still haunts the towers today.

 

Ann Boleyn was executed for adultery, high treason and of conspiring to kill the king with her lover although charges of witchcraft and incest are also included in some history books.

 

Whether or not Ann Boleyn was actually guilty of these is something of a mystery, which might be why she’s still seen haunting her place of death.

 

Some people have also seen two little children wandering around the tower, thought to be princes sent to the tower after they were deemed illegitimate.

 

If Shakespeare’s version of history is correct, it was their uncle Richard III that ordered to have them killed in secret and it was their skeletons that were later found under the White Tower’s staircase.

 

most haunted places in europe, pvoglia island
Photo FOTOlogie CCL
 

Italy – Poveglia Island

 

Second on our list of most haunted places in Europe is Poveglia Island. To this day, many locals dare not step foot on this small island in the Venice Lagoon.

 

This place was used as a quarantine zone throughout history. The island is where infected dead bodies were disposed of and victims of the Black Death went to die.

 

There is some speculation that the site was also used as a hospital/mental asylum during the 1800s with many stories being shared concerning sadistic practices, horrifying experiments, and doctors jumping to their death from the bell tower.

 

This may be all myth and lore, however witnesses agree that they have heard screams coming from the island and they’ve seen dark shadows looming.

 

There have also been reported cases of possessions and visitors being suddenly overcome with madness.

 

Creepy town City Prague, Czechia
Photo by John Jacobson on Unsplash

 

Mitrovica (Kosovo)

 

Mitrovica is a significant city situated in Kosovo. It is split between two ethnic gatherings which are the Serbs and the Albanians.

 

This division has prompted endless ethnic mobs and different demonstrations of viciousness bringing about loss of lives and property.

 

There is remarkable steady strain between these two ethnic gatherings and consistent battles happening all of a sudden.

 

Other than this, there is an additionally high pace of crime and debasement happening in the city.

 

With every one of these, the city runs wastefully with the police being of little assistance to survivors of the criminal demonstrations happening inside the city dividers.

 

 

most haunted places in Europe, romania
Photo Swithun Crowe CCL

 

Romania – Hoia Baciu Forest

 

While the reason this forest is haunted is unknown, we had to include on our list of most haunted places in Europe This is because there are more than a few creepy stories that people share.

 

Mentioning this haunted forest will inspire stories about everything from UFOs to ghosts.

 

In the very centre of the forest there is said to be a patch of earth where nothing grows and any electronic devices you bring will mysteriously stop working as soon as you set foot on this ground.  

 

Trees around the forest also grow abnormally crooked and have charred branches even though no fires have been reported.

 

 

 

most haunted places in europe, paris catacombs
Photo Fraser Mummery CCL

 

France – The Paris Catacombs

 

One of the most haunted places in Europe is a large catacomb maze of underground tunnels filled with the bones of millions of corpses.

 

Back in 1786, Paris was growing so quickly that the cemeteries in the area became full to the point they were uncovering old remains when creating graves for others.

 

They decided to move the bodies to the underground tunnels which were previously lime stone quarries. And so the Catacombs were created.

 

This 200-mile labyrinth of death is very easy to get lost in and there is a story that in 1793 the body of Philibert Aspairt went missing from The Catacombs for 11 years, only to be found in front of the exit with no explanation.

 

His cause of death was never determined, and he was buried there, where he was found.

 

most haunted places in Europe, Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

 

Scotland – Edinburgh Castle

 

Known to be one of the most haunted places in Europe, Edinburgh castle has a history of torture, imprisonment, violent battles, murder, and quarantined victims of the plague, and ghost stories that go back just as far.

 

Commonly people that visit see the ghosts of the old castle staff, young boys who died in battle and the poor souls that got lost in the tunnels beneath the castle.

 

People experience the feeling of ghostly hands pulling and pushing them and sense that they’re being watched while unexplained mists inside the castle have also been described by witnesses along with sudden, intense feelings of sadness and despair.

 

hill of crosses, Šiauliai, lithuania
Image by Arunas Bruzas from Pixabay

 

Hill of Crosses (Lithuania)

 

This Catholic Pilgrimage site located northwest of Šiauliai is home to around 100,000 crosses.

 

For about 250 years, locals and visitors alike have been placing crosses, rosaries, and statues of both Jesus and Mary.

 

This tradition began after several people reported witnessing an apparition of Mary holding baby Jesus.

 

Since then, there have been reported sightings of ghosts swapping through the hills. So naturally, we had to include it on our list of most haunted places in Europe.

 

church czech republic
Photo by Florian Olivo on Unsplash

 

Sedlec Ossuary (Czech Republic)

 

If you enjoy hanging out in underground chapels where the wall decorations and furniture are made from human bones – then you’re in luck!

 

The Chapel of Bones in Sedlec Ossuary contains around 70,000 human skeletons, all repurposed for this macabre display of wall hanging, light fittings, and other furniture.

 

As one of the most haunted places in Europe this church is guaranteed to give you the heebie-jeebies!

 

Kilkenny, Ireland
Photo by Hennie Stander on Unsplash

 

Kilkenny (Ireland)

 

Kilkenny offers you the chance to explore an entire city full of ghostly figures, creepy stories, and a sad past.

 

This city is only eighty miles away from Dublin, with Dublin being the site of the first witch trials of Ireland.

 

Also, a tragic event occurred here in 1763 when 16 people drowned in the river after a flood.

 

It’s easy to see why locals report ghost sightings all over the city and why it is one of the most haunted places in Europe. 

 

Are you brave enough to take an early morning walk along the River Nore and encounter this city’s resident spirits?

 

 

Protect Yourself from the Ghosts of the Internet

 

If you are brave enough to visit these most haunted places in Europe, be sure to bring your salt for protection.

 

If you are brave enuogh to search the internet near these haunted places, we recommend using a VPN service.

 

A VPN service can’t protect you from ghosts, but it can save you from hackers!

 

Each time you connect to WiFi, especially a public network such as at a library or coffee shop, you are exposing your personal information to the bad guys.

 

A VPN service will encrypt your private data and keep you safe! Ward off the baddies as you search for ghoulies during your European adventures!

Author

Christa Thompson is the Founder and Chief Editor of The Fairytale Traveler. She started traveling the world in 2003 when she attended a summer abroad study at the University of Cambridge in England. Since then, her wanderlust has been fierce. Her three passions in life are her son, traveling, and being creative. The Fairytale Traveler brand gives Christa the opportunity to do all of these things and to live intentionally every day. "It's never too late to believe in what you love and to pursue your dreams." -Christa Thompson

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