Top 10 Creepiest Real-Life Haunted Castles

Denmark
Originally built in the early 13th century by the Bishop of Roskilde, this Danish castle was once used as a prison for nobles. One of its most famous inhabitants included the husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, Lord Bothwell. Today, Dragsholm is allegedly haunted by three distinct ghosts. The first is Lord Bothwell himself, who is said to haunt the castle’s courtyard. Visitors often report hearing the sound of ghostly horse clops, despite there being no horses or carriages in the vicinity. The other is a young maiden who stalks the castle’s hallways in a white dress. And finally there’s the Grey Lady, a welcoming spirit who reportedly performs friendly deeds for the castle’s visitors.

Ireland
Another 13th century creation, this castle was built by the O’Bannon clan. It’s known for its violent history, which of course has led to widespread reports of haunting. The castle has been visited by all the greatest paranormal investigators, and it’s said to house numerous entities. Some of its friendlier ghosts include those of sisters Emily and Charlotte. But Leap is perhaps best known for housing the so-called Elemental. As described by author and owner of the castle Mildred Darby, the Elemental is an eerie “Thing” with a human-like face and rotten smell. It’s been said that Darby dabbled in the occult, and it’s theorized that her experiments brought the Elemental into the castle.

India
Built in 1573, Bhangarh Fort is a popular tourist attraction in Rajasthan, India, owing to its beautiful ruins. But the palaces and temples are said to house numerous legends. One story posits that the fort was cursed by a holy man, resulting in the fort town’s destruction; another that it was the accidental result of a love potion concocted by a wizard who practiced black magic. Fatal accidents on the grounds led the Archaeological Survey of India to prohibit visitors after sunset. The site’s general eeriness, the supposed curse, and the deaths attributed to the area have earned Bhangarh Fort the reputation of being India’s most haunted fort.

Scotland
Dating back to the late 16th century, Scotland’s Castle Fraser is known for its elaborate architecture and Z-plan construction. It received an extensive restoration in the 19th century. Castle Fraser is most famous, however, for housing the ghost of a murder victim. It’s said that a beautiful young princess was staying at the castle when she was brutally killed and dragged down the stairs. The princess allegedly still inhabits the castle, and her blood-curdling screams can be heard reverberating throughout its cold halls. Another resident ghost is that of the black-clad Lady Blanche Drummond, who died of consumption in 1874.

Japan
Also known as the White Heron Castle owing to its distinctive exterior, Himeji Castle dates back to the 1600s, although the first fort was built there in 1333. A major tourist destination, it was one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan. It’s said that Himeji harbors the spirit of Okiku, a servant girl who was tasked with looking after ten special golden plates. When falsely accused of losing one, she was either killed or took her own life in a nearby well. Her ghost continues to haunt the castle, as she wails for the missing plate. The castle is also supposedly the home of a Yokai, or spirit, named Osakabehime, who hates and avoids humans.

England
Dating back to the 12th century, Chillingham Castle was visited by many prominent historical figures, including King Edward I, Anne of Denmark, and James I. The castle is currently open to the public and puts on popular ghost tours. Some of the castle’s spectral inhabitants include a pale lady in white who begs for water and two men who can be heard talking in the chapel. There’s also the so-called Blue Boy, who supposedly appears as a blue halo above the beds of guests. The castle has garnered a reputation throughout the years and has been visited by the likes of “Most Haunted” and “Ghost Hunters International”.

Austria
This Austrian castle is perhaps best known for its role in the 17th century Zaubererjackl witch trials. Moosham served as the administrative center of the trials, which led to the brutal execution of 139 people, including 39 children aged 10-14. Most of the victims were male beggars who were accused of following a Satanic man known as Wizard Jackl. The castle’s supposed paranormal links continued, and in the late 18th century, some of the residents were accused of being werewolves and killed. Unsurprisingly, Moosham has a reputation for being haunted, with many visitors noting unexplained footsteps, eerie white mist, sudden banging noises, and the sensation of being breathed on with no one around.

Czech Republic
Located 30 miles north of Prague is the incredibly creepy Houska Castle. Houska served as an administration center in the 13th century, and today stands as a superb example of Gothic architecture. The castle has paintings of pagan and demonic figures and is said to cover a gateway to Hell. In fact, legend has it that the Nazis conducted occult experiments within the castle throughout World War II, further increasing the area’s paranormal activity. Houska is said to be haunted by a creepy old lady, a headless horse, and otherworldly demonic creatures that have managed to escape the pit.

Romania
Guarding a mountain pass in Transylvania, Bran Castle has long been associated with both Vlad the Impaler and Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”. However, it’s highly likely that Vlad never visited Bran Castle, and it shares nothing in common with the one found in “Dracula”. Rather, its relation to both Vlad the Impaler and “Dracula” was a plan concocted by the Communist Party of Romania to drive tourism to the castle. However, Bran does house something very creepy - the heart of Marie of Romania, the country’s last queen, which is kept inside a marble sarcophagus. Both the legends and the very real human heart have led to Bran Castle’s reputation as a fiercely haunted and magnificently sinister location.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Predjama Castle, Slovenia
Haunted By the Ghost of a Knight Named Erazem Lueger

Arundel Castle, England
Home to Various Ghosts, Including “The Blue Man” & the Earl of Arundel

Ballygally Castle, Ireland
It Has a Ghost Room & the Specters of Madame Nixon & Lady Isobel Shaw

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Numerous Ghosts Haunt This Castle, Including Those of Pets & Prisoners of War

Castle of Good Hope, South Africa
A Ghostly Bell Tolls, A Dog Attacks Visitors & Ghosts Haunt the Dungeon

England
One of the most famous castles in the world, The Tower of London dates back to the late 11th century and has served numerous roles throughout history. It was once a famous prison, seeing various executions and housing the likes of Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh. Paranormal activity has been reported within the castle for centuries. The Tower of London is said to be haunted by the ghosts of a bear (owing to its time as The Royal Menagerie), The Princes in the Tower, Lady Jane Grey, and perhaps most famously, the beheaded Anne Boleyn. Visiting the castle is a fascinating but unnivering experience befitting its creepy history.