Forget theme parks and beach resorts — in 2025, American travelers are embracing the eerie. Haunted castles across Europe, steeped in centuries of dark legends and ghostly lore, are topping bucket lists for thrill-seeking tourists. Whether it’s whispers in the halls, cold spots in ancient dungeons, or ghostly figures in moonlit towers, these historic fortresses are offering chills alongside charm.
Here are the most haunted castles in Europe that Americans are rushing to explore — and maybe spend a night with the undead. Read "Hidden Gems" For News
👾 Leap Castle, Ireland
Claim to Fame: Blood-soaked history and a chilling entity known as The Elemental
Leap Castle has long held the title of the world’s most haunted fortress
and is located in Ireland’s County Offaly. It was built in the 15th
century by the O’Bannon family, a wealthy clan who acted as secondary
chiefs in the Offaly territory (the O’Carrolls being the supreme chiefs of
the region).
As early as 1513, the castle repelled a first assault: Gerald FitzGerald is said to have tried in vain to seize the fortified enclosure. Faced with failure, the man attacked again 3 years later, and managed to partially destroy the castle.
Leap Castle passed into the hands of the Darby family in 1659. During
this period, countless Irish were imprisoned and executed within the
fortress which is the sad history that has earned the castle its
reputation for being haunted. In 1922, the château suffered a major fire,
destroying most of the building. Subsequent archaeological digs uncovered
an oubliette, where people were locked up without being fed. It took more
than 3 carts to bring up all the human bones found in the dungeon.
It’s haunted past includes gruesome family murders and the mysterious “Bloody Chapel.” Visitors have reported that ghosts appear in the form of a small gray man, with a decomposing face and black holes for eyes. His arrival would be accompanied by the smell of rotting corpses and sulfur, sudden drops in temperature, and shadowy figures lurking in the corners. Ghost tours and paranormal investigations are a major draw for American tourists seeking an authentic supernatural encounter.
💀 Château de Brissac, France
Luxury Meets the Supernatural in the Loire Valley
Claim to Fame: The ghost of the “Green Lady”
The Château de Brissac is said to have originally built as a castle by
the Counts of Anjou during the 11 th century. During the 15 th century,
the château was rebuilt as a fort-like structure by one of Charles VII’s
ministers. During the French Wars of Religion, which broke out during
the 16 th century, the château was made into his possession by Henry of
Navarre (who would later reign as Henry IV of France). When Henry became
the King of France, the château was given to Charles II of Cossé as a
reward for his support. Charles was also awarded the title ‘Duke of
Brissac’.
Château de Brissac located in the village of Brissac-Quince. It's a
prominent landmark just south of Angers. The castle features 204
rooms and a rich collection of artwork, including portraits classified
as historic monuments.
The legend of the Green Lady begins in the 15th century, during the
time of King Charles VII. Charlotte de Brézé, the illegitimate daughter
of Charles VII and his mistress Agnès Sorel, married Jacques de Brézé, a
French nobleman. Their union, however, was far from harmonious.
According to the story, Charlotte had an affair with a local huntsman.
One fateful night, her husband discovered the lovers together in the
château. Consumed by rage, Jacques is said to have murdered both
Charlotte and her lover in a violent act of jealousy. Her tragic death
marked the beginning of her restless presence in the Château de
Brissac.
As Wesley tells the story --
“A double murder that occurred sometime in the 15th century within
the walls of the castle has resulted in one of the more famous ghosts
of the Château de Brissac, that of the la Dame Verte, or "Green Lady."
The current residents, the Duke of Brissac and his family, have become
accustomed to her roaming the rooms, but she has scared many guests.
She is often seen in the tower room of the chapel wearing her green
dress. What's terrifying, however, is her face. If she looks at you,
you'll see that her face has gaping holes where her eyes and nose
should be, resembling a corpse. As well as her sighting, her moans are
often heard throughout the castle in the early hours.”
Luxury accommodations here now include private ghost tours, drawing
Americans eager to mix elegance with the unexplained.
👿 Houska Castle, Czech Republic
Europe’s Alleged Gateway to Hell
Claim to Fame: Built to seal a gateway to Hell
Houska Castle is infamous not for its enemies, but for what’s said to
lie beneath it: a bottomless pit to the underworld. Legend has it the
pit was so terrifying, prisoners begged not to be sent down it — only
to emerge moments later in madness.
Houska is an early Gothic castle rebuilt in the Renaissance style,
which lies in the eastern part of the KokoÅ™Ãn forests, 47 km north of
Prague. It has been listed as a cultural monument of the Czech
Republic since 1965. The original Gothic castle, whose masonry is
still largely preserved in the Renaissance reconstruction, was built
in the first half of the 13th century by King Přemysl Otakar II,
though probably the construction was already started by his father
Wenceslas I. The first written mention of the castle is in 1316, as
the property of Hynek of Dubá.
Legend has it that deep under the castle chapel there is
a gaping chasm to nowhere. A black hole so deep that you will never hear the sound of a dropped stone
hitting the bottom. Before the castle was built, something is said to
have crawled out of this hole at night – demons and
strange winged creatures. Detailed eyewitness accounts are rare, for those who saw these
creatures rarely returned. And those who did return were completely
changed: disturbed, confused, as if delirious. No one dared go near the dark chasm
willingly.
The story goes that a young convict agreed to solve the mystery. His task was to gauge whether there was a bottom. But as soon as he reached the bottom, they could hear him screaming. Panicking, they pulled him up – and froze. The man had changed: his face was wrinkled, his hair was grey, and he looked decades older. No one could get him to talk about the terrible things that had happened to him in the chasm. What he had seen remains a mystery to this day. He took the answers with him to his grave, for he died a few days later, mad and without speaking a word.
Paranormal adventurers are booking overnight stays to experience
its bizarre atmosphere firsthand.
👽 Chillingham Castle, England
The Most Haunted Castle in the UK
Claim to Fame: Torture chambers and restless spirits
Chillingham Castle, located in Northumberland & a striking
medieval fortress, was originally built in the 13th century as a
monastery. It has been owned by the Grey family and their
descendants since 1246. At its heart is the Great Hall, an
Elizabethan chamber with a medieval minstrel's gallery.
Highlights include Edward I’s room, named after his 1298 visit en
route to battle William Wallace, grand Elizabethan staterooms, and
the eerie dungeons and torture chambers.
Architecturally, the castle remains largely unchanged since the
13th century, except for Tudor galleries added for James VI’s visit
in 1604. It sits in 18th-century parkland designed by Capability
Brown, later enhanced by Sir Jeffry Wyattville.
As Richard Jones tells the story -
“Several ghosts are known to wander the castle's timeworn interior.
The most famous is that of the "Radiant Boy," a childish wraith seen
in the castle's Pink Room, whose heart-rendered cries of either fear
or pain echo through the corridors upon the stroke of midnight. In
the past, cries always seemed to emanate from a spot near where a
passage is cut through the 10-foot thick wall into the adjoining
tower. As they faded away, a bright halo of light would appear, and
the figure of a young boy dressed in blue would approach those
sleeping in the room.
Later, the bones of a child, surrounded by decaying fragments of
blue cloth, were found behind the wall. They were given a Christian
burial, and thereafter the "Radiant Boy" was seen no more – until,
that is, Sir Humphrey began letting the room. Some guests complain
of a blue flash that shoots out of the wall in the dead of night.
Although they attribute it to an electrical fault, Sir Humphrey is
quick to point out that there is no electrical wiring in that
particular section of the wall.”
Chillingham Castle embraces its haunted reputation. Americans eager to connect with the beyond actively book this spot for its ghost tours, séance nights, and even 'ghost hunt sleepovers.
👺 Moosham Castle, Austria
Claim to Fame: Witch trials and werewolf legends Nicknamed the “Witches’ Castle,”
Moosham Castle is a medieval castle in Unternberg, region Salzburg,
Austria.
The castle is famous for the Salzburg witch trials from
1675 to 1690. During this time, 139 people died, including 39 kids and
53 teens. Most of the victims were men, showing how society treated
them.
Moosham Castle has witnessed centuries of conflict, serving as the
backdrop for local wars, the Crusades, several Austro-Hungarian clashes,
and the Flemish Revolt against Maximilian of Austria (1428–1482). During
the German Peasants’ War (1524–1525), the castle was besieged by
rebellious peasants. In October 1611, Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von
Raitenau took refuge at Moosham during his flight from Salzburg, only to
be captured shortly afterward and imprisoned for the rest of his life.
While the castle’s history is steeped in bloodshed and turmoil, one era
stands out darker and more disturbing than all the battles combined.
It was the site of brutal witch hunts during the 1600s. The echoes of their suffering still seem to linger. Some guests have even encountered creatures linked to werewolf folklore. American tourists fascinated by Europe’s darker past are heading here in growing numbers.
👹 Bran Castle, Romania
Claim to Fame: The Dracula legend lives on
Bran Castle is a gothic fortress located on top of a cliff in
Transylvania. It is one of the most popular attractions in Romania and
is popularly known as the Dracula’s Castle as it is believed to have
inspired Bram Stoker’s stories. While Bram never set foot inside
this castle, the description in his book ‘Dracula’ resembles Bran
Castle quite closely.
Bran Castle’s history dates back to the 14th century when it was
built to protect Transylvania. Later, it acted as a customs point for
entry into Wallachia. In 1920, Queen Marie received the fortress as a
gift, who renovated it and turned it into this gorgeous castle. She
loved spending time in this castle so much that she requested her
heart to be buried beside it.
Although Vlad the Impeller — the real-life inspiration for Dracula —
never lived here, Bran Castle's gothic architecture and eerie
atmosphere have made it a pilgrimage site for vampire fans. In 2025,
themed tours, Halloween events, and after-dark explorations are
booming with American travelers eager to step into Bram Stoker’s
pages.
Claim to Fame: Ancient hauntings above the city
Edinburgh Castle is known as one of the most haunted castles in
Scotland.
It origins back to the 11th century, with a castle existing on Castle
Rock since at least that time.
The castle has been a focal point of sieges and battles throughout
Scottish history, including the siege by Oliver Cromwell in the 17th
century and the Jacobite uprisings. It was once a royal residence, with monarchs like Mary, Queen of Scots,
and James IV holding court within its walls.
It is a location steeped in history, with numerous legends and
ghost stories surrounding its walls.
Ghost include The Grey Lady, a Headless Drummer Body and a Black Hound.
Sighting of ghosts at the castle, as a whole, are few, the last one
being in 2003 when construction workers were harassed in the castle’s
dungeons. Visitors to the castle do report sensing people behind them or
being grabbed by the shoulder on occasion though.
Perched above Edinburgh’s skyline, this historic fortress has Seen
battles, sieges, and plague outbreaks. Americans are flocking to night
tours that mix history with hair-raising stories.
Haunted travel is a booming industry. Americans are craving experiences that are immersive, offbeat, and packed with stories. Whether it's for a thrill, a ghost sighting, or the perfect spooky Instagram shot. The haunted castles offer a blend of horror, history, and hospitality.
For those bold enough to spend a night among Europe’s spirits, these castles promise an unforgettable (and possibly supernatural) stay.
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