Raynham Hall, Norfolk, England
One of the most beautiful country homes in all of Norfolk is also home to one of the most creepy ghost stories ever told. People claim to have spotted the mysterious Brown Lady, who got that name due to the fabric of the dress she is seen wearing. This Woman is rumored to be Lady Dorothy Walpole.
It seems that in the December 1936 edition of _Country Life_, the ghost of Lady Dorothy was captured in film for the first time! For those that do not know who Dorothy Walpole was, she was the sister of Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister of Great Britain.
Poveglia Island, Venice, Italy
The amazing island of Poveglia is pretty close to the Italian city of Venice; in fact, it is only a 17 km trip by boat. What makes Poveglia so scary is that it was used as a quarantine zone for people who got the plague in the 14th Century.
If that was not creepy enough for one little island off the coast of Italy, in the 20th Century, the same island was used as an insane asylum. A lot of famous ghost hunter television shows were recorded here, and ghost hunters say that this is a great hotspot for paranormal activity.
Bhangarh Fort, India
One of the most prominent haunted locations in India is located approximately two hundred miles from the capital, New Delhi. We are talking about Bhangarh Fort, which was built by King Madho Singh after being approved by an ascetic by the name of Guru Balu Nath.
According to folklore, the king swore to the Guru that the fort’s shadows would never touch his area of meditation. As this promise was broken shortly after being made, when the first shadow touched his meditation spot, Guru Balu Nath cursed the village to remain roofless. They tried to build a new roof, but when they did, it fell off briefly afterward.
Ancient Ram Inn, Wotton-Under-Edge, England
Built in the 12th century, the Ancient Ram Inn is one of the oldest inns still conserved in the western continent. It is said that the terrain where this inn was built was once a pagan burial ground and that it is inhabited by more than 20 spirits, among which there are children and even an incubus.
Another story surrounding the inn is that of a witch who was burnt at the stake around the 1500s when hunts against those who did not embrace Christianity were at their peak. One of the rooms in the hotel is called “The Witch’s Room” as she took refuge there before she was found. It is said that she still roams that room. Creepy!
Port Arthur, Australia
Port Arthur, located in the Tasman Peninsula in Australia, was used as a convict settlement from 1833 to 1853 approximately, although it continued to be a prison up until 1877. Records have shown that during the 47 years of the prison functioning, more than 1000 people died in it.
Many ghost stories have been recorded since it stopped working as a prison in 1977, and, on top of those records, a lot of people have stated that they have spotted paranormal sights. Nowadays, Port Arthur is one of the most prominent destinations for ghost tours!
The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
Another destination offering ghost tours is the RMS The Queen Mary, which is currently retired and docked in Long Beach. The ship made its first trip on September 26, 1934, and it is said that more than 50 persons died aboard the ship during its several voyages during 30 years.
The ship is so full of ghosts and so haunted that a convention of ghost hunters was held in the ship, in an expedition known as a Strange Escapes, and which was led by Amy Bruni, who is the owner of Strange Escapes. The most haunted room is room B340, which was sealed… for thirty years!
Burg Wolfsegg, Wolfsegg, Germany
Located in the municipality of Wolfsegg, Germany, it is one of the oldest castles that still remain after 800 years. Of course, as it is a very old castle, there are ghosts inhabiting it….or so they say.
In this case, the ghost is known as the White Woman, who is in charge of scaring any person or visitor who happens to pass by it. The White Woman is said to be the ghost of Klara von Helfenstein, who was killed by her husband (the one who built the castle) after he discovered her affairs!
Lizzie Borden House, Fall River, Massachusetts
One of the most famous and publicized cases in the United States is the case of Lizzie Borden, who was suspected of killing her father and stepmother in 1892, and who became known as the ax killer, as the item she used to kill her family was a hatchet.
Even though she was acquitted and she died later in 1927, the house in which it happened is now a bed and breakfast, and many guests have reported many sightings and very strange and disturbing sounds. The “legend” of Lizzie Borden is a source of a lot of television and film productions.
Casa Loma, Toronto, Canada
Casa Loma, in Toronto, is a Gothic Revival style house that completed its building in 1914 is full of secret corridors and passageways that were requested by the family who built it. When the Kiwanis Club took possession of Casa Loma around 1930, the ghost stories started.
It is said that people have spotted a white lady on the second floor of the house, but that nowadays she may be seen in the basement of the castle. Other visitors have heard an unseen man muttering in the stables. Thanks to these stories, ghost tours are now an activity here!
Château de Brissac, Brissac-Quincé, France
The Château de Brissac, one of the biggest ancient buildings in France to still be intact, is known to be the place where Charlotte of France, the illegitimate daughter of King Charles VII was violently murdered by her husband.
The story goes that Charlotte’s husband discovered that his wife was having an affair with a man named Pierre de Lavergne. Both Charlotte and his lover were killed by Charlotte’s husband, and now she roams the castle as The Green Lady.
The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado
The Stanley Hotel, located in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, is famous for having served as an inspiration for one of the most classic horror novels of Stephen King, The Shining. The story was then filmed by Stanley Kubrick in this very same hotel!
The hotel is known for having its own ghost stories and resident ghosts, although they do not seem to have such sad stories as those from our previous sites. The hotel staff has reported seeing a ghost of a maid in Room 217, who packs the guests’ stuff when they are looking another way. Incredible room service!
The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Calgary, Alberta
Completed in 1888, this famous hotel in Alberta was always associated with ghosts and other kinds of apparitions. Among those, the most famous is the Ghost Bride, which is always seen by guests dancing in the hotel ballroom.
In this 129-year old hotel, it would be more common than not to have several resident ghosts. Another one, which is also a very friendly one, is Sam the Bellman, who used to work in the hotel around 1960 until he died in 1975. The hotel staff always mentions that Sam helps them with something!
St. Augustine Lighthouse, St. Augustine, Florida
Located in Florida Bay, the St. Augustine Lighthouse became famous as its light was removed in the Civil War to interrupt the shippings to the Union, and thus resulted in a lot of deaths as the ships weren’t able to know where they were.
Many visitors have told the authorities that they have spotted the keepers of the lighthouse, Peter Rasmussen and Joseph Andreau. Peter was famous for being a cigar lover, and the smell of his cigar may be perceived by the visitors. On the other hand, Joseph is always seen on the top of the lighthouse, from where he fell to his death.
One If By Land, Two If By Sea, New York, New York
Located in the West Village area of New York, this is one of the most famous bars and restaurants in New York. Long ago, this building was the carriage house of Aaron Burr, a lawyer, politician and third Vice President of the United States.
It is said that many dinner guests have spotted his ghost and that of his daughter Theodosia. The story told about his daughter is that she was captured by pirates and forced to walk the plank. The ghost of Aaron Burr has also been seen in the American Merchant Marine Memorial waiting for his daughter.
Tower of London, London, England
The Tower of London, which was founded in 1066, is said to be one of the most haunted places in London. For more than 900 years, a lot of famous personalities from the royalty have died in the Tower, and among these, we can probably mention Anne Boleyn and Mary, Queen of Scots.
Speaking of Anne Boleyn, her ghost has been sighted in several places. Most of the sightings have been near the site where she was beheaded on May 19, 1536. Other reports state that her headless body has been seen walking the Tower’s corridors at all times of the day.
Myrtles Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana
Rumored to have been built on top of a Native American cemetery (which is never good news!), this plantation is known to be one of the most haunted places in the United States and is home to more than 12 ghosts! Before the Civil War, most of the workers here were slaves.
One of the most famous ghosts haunting this house is that of a black slave girl, which is spotted in several photographs. As a matter of fact, cameras usually do not work, and when they do, they capture the image of the slave girl, looking through the windows or standing between the two houses that make up the plantation.
Tao Dan Park, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Composed of more than 24 acres, the Tao Dan Park is like a paradise on earth. At day, this garden is an explosion of colors, plants, flowers, and trees, and every visitor is amazed by the view.
At night, however, is when the weirdest things start to happen. The colors seem to disappear, and everything becomes gloomy, especially when the ghost of a murdered young man comes into view, a victim of a brutal attack, who only wants to search for his lost true love.
The Haunted Vicarage, Borgvattnet, Sweden
Located in Jämtland County, in the north of Sweden, Borgvattnet is a very small village built in 1876, which was primarily a place for priests and holy men to stay. Even though the place was meant for priests, it is said that this vicarage is one of the most haunted houses in all of Sweden.
The first reported haunting occurred in 1927, when the vicar residing there experienced a range of paranormal experiences, from screams and laundry torn from the rope to sightings of ghosts and the rocking chair moving on its own. It seems that the maids who inhabited the house were abused and are responsible for the hauntings.
Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California
Another one of the most haunted houses in the United States is also a story of extreme violence. The building of the Winchester House was requested by the widow of William Wirt Winchester, the creator of the Winchester rifles.
Sarah Winchester requested that the enormous mansion should be made like a labyrinth in order to ensure her safety from the ghosts of everybody killed by Winchester rifles. The house is a four-story mansion, which boasts 160 rooms, 10,000 window panes, and 47 stairways. It is said that some of those stairs have no destination.
Driskill Hotel, Austin, Texas
Since it was built in 1886, many celebrities from all around the world stayed in this famous hotel, and it is bound to have some (or several) ghost stories attached to it in its more than 130 years of existence. One of the spirits that haunt the hotel is that of a young girl who fell to her death from the grand staircase of the hotel while chasing her ball.
People say that sometimes they can hear a ball bouncing down the staircase. Special attention, though, should be paid to the case of the two suicide brides. When celebrating their respective honeymoons, each of these brides killed herself in the bathtub of room 525, exactly 20 years apart from each other to the date.
Akershus Festning, Norway
Located on the coast of the city of Oslo is a set of military buildings that were built in 1290, which served as a royal castle. Since 1938 it is used as a mausoleum for the royalty of Oslo. As it endured several wars and many royalties died here, the castle is completely haunted.
The two most popular stories about sightings include that of the dog named Malanisen, which roughly translates to the evil dog, who is said to roam and protect the entrance to the castle. The other reported sighting is a woman named Mantelgeisten, who walks back and forth to her chambers, and her features are impossible to see.
Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town, South Africa
The Castle of Good Hope was built in 1679 and is to date the oldest building standing in South Africa and was built by the Dutch East India Company to serve as a replenishment center, and as such, it was located on the coast of Africa. It is now located inland.
As the castle was a hub for violence, several angry ghosts roam the halls of the castle. One of the most important is the ghost of governor Van Noodt, who can be heard swearing and cursing constantly. On the now-closed bell tower, a soldier had hung himself, and nowadays he is responsible for making the bell chime, although it is completely closed off.
The Catacombs, Paris, France
Considered one of the spookiest places in all of the Old Continent, The Catacombs of Paris are also a place where ghost tours are really common. The Catacombs are an underground maze considered one of the biggest cemeteries in the world: every Parisian who died in the 1700s was buried there.
In order to keep visitors away, only a small portion of the tunnels, approximately 2 kilometers, are open to the public. Nonetheless, the most adventurous daredevils that call themselves cataphiles have gone to the restricted sections of the tunnels and even held parties!
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Located high atop a mountain in the capital city of Scotland, the Edinburgh Castle was built in the 12th century and is the most haunted location in all of Scotland. Many visitors experienced paranormal experiences, such as hearing music in an empty hallway.
It is said that the music is played by the ghost of a piper who once died suddenly in the castle while giving a concert. However, the piper is not the only “musical” ghost in the Castle, as the beats of a drum are also heard, which belong to a headless drummer that often foretells danger for the Castle.
Forbidden City, Beijing, China
Located in the center of the city of Beijing, the so-called Forbidden City, which served as the Imperial Palace, is completely haunted according to the ghost hunters that are often seen entering it. The first ghost seen in the city was that of a crying woman dressed in white who roams the halls of the palace.
According to the guards, the woman in white is heard only during the night hours. Not only that, but guards also reported having seen and heard several animals running through the halls and even in the ceiling of the Temple! This is what happens when there are murders for more than 600 years!
Hoia Baciu Forest, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Romania is considered to be one of the most haunted sites in Europe, as it hosts the Castle of Count Dracula. On top of that, the Hoia Baciu Forest is considered to be the most haunted forest in the world, and every visitor has reported feeling or seeing strange things.
Many people have reported feeling anxious and experienced while traversing the forest, a feeling of oppression as if the forest were too close around them. When taking photographs in the forest, some visitors have said that they have seen faces in the photos that were not there, and even UFOs!
Kehoe House, Savannah, Georgia
This three-story house in Georgia was the home of William and Anne Kehoe, and it was completed around 1892. Theirs was a big family, and they had ten children, but, unfortunately, several of them died in a few accidents, and thus the house became haunted.
Nowadays, the house is used as a bed and breakfast and many guests have said that they heard the sound of children playing around the house. One of the explanations is that two of the Kehoe children were playing and were stuck in the chimney and were not found until much, much later.
Gettysburg Battlefield, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
The history of the United States is built on top of several wars, but one of the most violent and gruesome wars was the American Civil War, which lasted from April 12, 1861, to April 9, 1865. One of the bloodiest battles was the Battle of Gettysburg.
Approximately 50.000 soldiers were killed in only that battle, and the battlefield turned into a mass grave for both the United States and the Confederate States. As such, it is very common that visitors report sightings of soldiers wearing the apparel of the Civil War while traveling the fields.
Corvin Castle, Hunedoara, Transylvania
Another haunted castle on the list is the Corvin Castle in Transylvania, which is thought to have been the inspiration in the original vampire myths. It is said that Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad the Impaler, was kept a prisoner in this castle, and many paranormal sightings have been reported since then.
Another story surrounding this castle was the digging of a well by Turkish prisoners, who were promised freedom when they were finished. After they finished digging it, the jailers broke their promise and killed all the prisoners, who cursed every one of them. Nowadays, the Turkish prisoners and jailers are said to roam the halls of the castle.
Lawang Sewu, Indonesia
Formerly a railway building and a World War II prison, Lawang Sewu (which translated to “Thousand Doors”) is considered to be the most haunted place in Indonesia. Although the government has tried to eliminate how everyone considers the building to be haunted, they have had no success so far.
Among the many stories that surround the building, the most prominent is that of a ghost that roams the basement, known as the Dutch Woman who killed herself inside the building; several headless spirits; and a _kuntilanak_, which is the equivalent to a vampire in the Malaysian mythology!