Europe’s castles aren’t just beautiful feats of architecture; they are stone vaults of history. And when that history involves centuries of sieges, executions, torture, and betrayal, it leaves a mark. Many locals and visitors alike swear that these stone walls still echo with the past—quite literally.
Whether you’re a hardened skeptic who just loves a good history lesson or a paranormal enthusiast hunting for EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena), these locations offer an atmosphere you can cut with a knife.
Here is our guide to 5 of the most haunted castles in Europe, featuring the true stories behind the legends and how you can experience them for yourself.
1. Bran Castle, Romania 🇷🇴
The Legend: Dracula’s Castle
Perched on a dramatic rock in Transylvania, Bran Castle is famously associated with Bram Stoker’s Dracula. While Stoker never actually visited Romania, his description of the vampire’s castle bears a striking resemblance to Bran. But the real history here is far more interesting than fiction.
The Bloody History: The castle was built in 1377 by the Saxons of Kronstadt (modern Brașov) as a defense against the Ottoman Empire. It controls a strategic mountain pass. The historical figure linked to it is Vlad III Dracula (Vlad the Impaler), a 15th-century ruler known for his brutal methods of punishing enemies (impaling them on wooden stakes). While he likely never lived here, he was possibly imprisoned in the castle’s dungeons for two months by the Hungarians.
The Hauntings:
- The Queen’s Heart: Queen Marie of Romania loved this castle. After her death, her heart was placed in a silver box and buried here. Some say her spirit still wanders the corridors, protecting her beloved home.
- The Torture Chamber: Visitors often report sudden drops in temperature and a feeling of overwhelming nausea when entering the rooms used for medieval punishment.
- Auditory Phenomena: Night watchmen have reported hearing footsteps in the empty secret passageway that connects the first and third floors.
Visitor Experience: The castle embraces its spooky reputation, especially around Halloween. It is a labyrinth of narrow, winding staircases and timbered rooms.
- Spook Factor: 6/10. It’s often crowded with tourists, which kills the fear factor, but the architecture is genuinely eerie.
- Tip: Visit in the dead of winter when snow covers the Carpathians and the crowds are gone. The isolation is palpable.
2. Leap Castle, Ireland 🇮🇪
The Legend: The Most Haunted Castle in the World?
Leap Castle (pronounced “Lep”) in County Offaly has a reputation that terrifies even seasoned paranormal investigators. It has been featured on Ghost Adventures and Most Haunted. It is currently a private home, but the owner, Sean Ryan, opens it for tours.
The Bloody History: The O’Carroll clan, who ruled here, were known for their ruthlessness. The most infamous incident occurred in the “Bloody Chapel” in 1532. A priest was saying mass when his own brother, Teige O’Carroll, burst in and murdered him in front of the altar in a power struggle.
Even worse, during renovations in the 1900s, workmen found an oubliette (a dungeon with only a hatch at the top) behind a wall in the chapel. It was filled with enough human skeletons to fill three cartloads. They had fallen through a trapdoor and been left to die on spikes.
The Hauntings:
- The Elemental: This is the most feared entity. Described as a hunched, foul-smelling creature with decaying face and glowing eyes. It is said to be an ancient spirit, perhaps pre-dating the castle, summoned by dark magic.
- The Red Lady: A tall woman dressed in red who moves through the halls holding a dagger. Legend says she was captured by the O’Carrolls and killed herself after giving birth.
- Two Little Girls: The spirits of two young sisters, Emily and Charlotte, are often seen playing in the main hall.
Visitor Experience: This is the real deal. The castle is drafty, dimly lit, and imposes a heavy feeling on many who enter. Sean Ryan, the owner, is an excellent storyteller who often plays the tin whistle, claiming the ghosts enjoy the music.
- Spook Factor: 10/10. The story of the oubliette alone is nightmare fuel.
- Tip: Tours are by appointment only. You must email Sean Ryan directly to book.
3. Moosham Castle, Austria 🇦🇹
The Legend: The Witches’ Castle
Located in the Lungau region of Salzburg, Moosham Castle looks like a fairytale fortress from the outside. But inside, it holds a gruesome secret related to the hysteria of the 17th century.
The Bloody History: Between 1675 and 1690, the frantic “Zaubererjackl” witch trials took place here. Moosham was the administrative center where the accused were held, tortured, and executed. Hundreds of people—mostly beggars and homeless children—were accused of witchcraft and put to death. It is one of the darkest chapters in Austrian history. Later, in the 1800s, werewolves were rumored to hunt the cattle in the area, and suspected werewolves were also executed here.
The Hauntings:
- The Torture Chamber: This room has never been altered. Visitors report being touched by invisible hands, hearing screams, or feeling sudden, intense panic.
- The White Lady: Like many castles, Moosham has a White Lady ghost, but here she is said to warn visitors not to explore certain parts of the dungeon.
- Poltergeist Activity: Staff have reported doors slamming shut and keys disappearing and reappearing in strange places.
Visitor Experience: The castle serves as a museum today, filled with art and antiques collected by the Wilczek family. However, the guided tours do not shy away from the dark history.
- Spook Factor: 8/10. The historical reality of the witch trials adds a layer of genuine sadness and horror to the supernatural claims.
- Tip: The castle is in a remote alpine valley. Visit on a foggy autumn day for the full atmospheric effect.
4. Predjama Castle, Slovenia 🇸🇮
The Legend: The Defiant Robber Baron
This is one of the most visually stunning castles in the world, built directly into the mouth of a cave halfway up a 123-meter high cliff. It looks impregnable, and for a long time, it was.
The Bloody History: In the 15th century, it was the home of Erazem of Predjama, a Slovenian Robin Hood figure who raided rich merchants. The Holy Roman Emperor sent an army to besiege him. Erazem survived for over a year because a secret tunnel in the cave allowed him to bring in food. However, he was betrayed by a servant. The servant lit a candle to signal when Erazem was using the castle’s toilet (which was on an outer wall). The besiegers fired a cannonball at the toilet, killing the knight in a rather undignified manner.
The Hauntings:
- Erazem’s Ghost: He is said to still patrol the castle, perhaps restless due to the embarrassing nature of his death.
- The Cave Spirits: The cave system beneath the castle (part of the Postojna Cave network) is said to be inhabited by older, elemental spirits. The wind howling through the tunnels often sounds like human moans.
- Anchoring Sounds: Visitors frequently report hearing footsteps and the clanking of chains in the torture dungeon.
Visitor Experience: The audio guide here is fantastic and narrates the siege in detail. The cold, damp air from the cave seeps into the castle, making it perpetually chilly.
- Spook Factor: 7/10. The setting is more dramatic than terrifying, but the torture chamber is genuinely unsettling.
- Tip: You can visit the cave under the castle from May to September. It is home to a colony of bats!
5. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland 🏴
The Legend: The Most Besieged Place in Great Britain
Dominating the skyline of Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh Castle sits on Castle Rock, an extinct volcanic plug. It has been a royal residence, a military garrison, a prison, and a fortress. It has been attacked 23 times in its 900-year history.
The Bloody History: Where to begin? There’s the “Black Dinner” of 1440, where two young nobles were invited to dine with the King, only to be dragged out and beheaded (the inspiration for the Red Wedding in Game of Thrones). There are the plague victims buried in the vaults. There are the thousands of French and American prisoners of war who died in the dank dungeons during the 18th century.
The Hauntings:
- The Headless Drummer: First seen in 1650 before Cromwell’s attack. Legend says if he is seen drumming, the castle is about to fall. He appears without his head.
- The Lone Piper: A piper was once sent down a newly discovered tunnel to see where it went. He played his pipes so people above could track him. Suddenly, the music stopped. The piper was never found, but his ghostly pipes are still heard underground near the Royal Mile.
- The Dog: A phantom dog is often seen near the castle’s dog cemetery (yes, there is a cemetery for regimental mascots).
Visitor Experience: This is a major tourist attraction, so it is busy. But the dungeons (Prisons of War exhibition) are dark, grim, and atmospheric.
- Spook Factor: 5/10 during the day, 9/10 at night.
- Tip: Book a specific “Ghost Tour” of Edinburgh that includes the castle or the nearby underground vaults. The city’s dark history comes alive when the sun goes down.
Tips for Hunting Ghosts in Europe
- Respect the Dead: Remember that the stories behind these hauntings often involve real human tragedy, torture, and death. Treat these sites with respect.
- Bring a Jacket: Paranormal activity or not, old stone castles are freezing cold, even in summer. The “chill” you feel might just be a draft, but why take the chance?
- Listen to the Guides: The tour guides at these castles are often locals who have their own personal unexplainable experiences. Ask them about the weirdest thing they’ve seen.
- Check for “Night Tours”: Many of these castles (especially Bran and Edinburgh) offer special after-hours tours. This is when the atmosphere is at its peak—and when the crowds are gone.
Dare to visit? These castles offer a connection to the past that is visceral and sometimes terrifying. Just don’t be surprised if you leave with more than just a souvenir… like the feeling that something followed you home.