Revealing The European Cities Home To A ‘Haunted’ Castle

The historical nature of castles can’t be undermined – often representing a completely different era, these structures are iconic and can be dated back to medieval times, or even before. Noteworthy films such as Nosferatu and The Haunting have often depicted castles in a creepy sense, providing the backdrop for the supernatural such as vampires or ghosts.

It leads to the question, which cities around the world are home to these haunted castles? Using our investigation into Europe’s castle hotspots, we at Ubuy dived into the data and examined the number of TripAdvisor descriptions or reviews mentioning ‘haunted’ in relation to each specific castle – just in time for Halloween!

Overall, we found five eerie castles that received a review with ghoulish claims in five different countries. Without further ado, let’s take a look at which countries are home to a haunted castle.

Methodology

Using data collected for our investigation into Europe’s castle hotspots, we analysed the number of TripAdvisor reviews or descriptions with a mention of ‘haunted’ in relation to each specific castle.

Overall, we analysed the three largest cities in each of the top 20 countries with the most castles. Out of 60 cities investigated, a total of 5 had a castle each with a review relating to ‘haunted’.

Milan, Italy

The first city found to have a potentially haunted castle was Milan, home to the Castello Sforzesco. This castle was originally built back in the 15th century by the then Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza and has been since dubbed one of the most haunted places in the entire city, according to local sources. It’s also said to be home to ‘the Veiled Lady’ and many more spooky sights.

The review found on TripAdvisor mentioned a ‘’haunted night tour’’ that lucky visitors could experience, offering more information on the ghostly location and its eerie inhabitants.

Larnaca, Cyprus

Moving on, the Cypriot city of Larnaca is also said to be home to a potentially haunted castle. The Larnaka Medieval Castle can be found on the coast and dates back to the 12th century. Nowadays it’s used to display art but it may still also be home to some rather ghostly figures.

The review we found on TripAdvisor described the castle as having ‘’an air of familiarity’’ before going on to explain that the castle was ‘’still haunted by the nearby, in the wall, execution sala, where they hanged convicts, in the last period of British rule,’’ – spooky!

Brno, Czech Republic

Next, Spilberk Castle – found in the Czech city of Brno – was next to feature on our ghoulish list of haunted castles. The structure began construction throughout the 13th century and was finished by King Ottokar the second of Bohemia. The mixture of Gothic and Baroque architecture gives this castle a rather spooky feel, but what did the review say about the haunted castle?

On TripAdvisor, a review from a visitor of Spilberk Castle claimed ‘’you quickly begin to realise that the people working (in the castle) are both haunted and possessed,’’ before going on to add; ‘’My warning is clear. Enter this castle at your own risk.’’ It’s safe to say this location isn’t for the faint-hearted.

Ghent, Belgium

Located in the Belgian city of Ghent, the Gravensteen medieval castle is the next to feature in our haunted list. According to Ancient Origins, the castle is said to have a rather gruesome history and was home to prisoners who were often tortured and interrogated or even killed. Even from the outside, the Gravensteen certainly gives off some spooky vibes!

However, the TripAdvisor review found in relation to the castle described the location as ‘’a bad Halloween haunted house,’’ rather than a Gothic museum. The visitor went on to reveal the presence of ‘’a grotesque and morbid theme that is displayed throughout the castle.’’ Do you think you could stomach a visit?

Dublin, Ireland

Finally, in the Irish capital city, Drimnagh Castle can be found. The Norman structure is said to be haunted by Eleanor Barnwell who is looking for her first love, according to Spirited Isle. Many visitors have experienced ghostly encounters, it could be the perfect destination for thrill seekers ahead of Halloween.

On TripAdvisor, the review related to Drimnagh Castle stated; ‘’the 15th-century castle dates back to Norman times and is steeped in history and they say… haunted.’’ While the castle has undergone restoration in the 1980s, the spooky atmosphere remains. It’s safe to say this one gives us chills!

Conclusion

From Milan to Dublin, there is an abundance of potentially haunted castles for thrillseekers to enjoy, just in time for the Halloween celebrations. Overall, it was incredibly interesting to learn the history behind these frightening structures, particularly Gravensteen in Ghent which was home to gruesome tortures.

If you’re looking to visit any of the locations above and you’re shopping for travelling supplies, we at Ubuy have you covered. We also have a wide range of Halloween-themed products available on our website.