Whether your favorite fairy tale is Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast—or, if you’re really wild, Shrek—haunted castles are most likely where the action goes down in the end. They call to mind crackling thunder above dark towers, howls of strange animals, and spiky iron gates. These legendary fortresses might be full of skeletons, spirits, vampires. There’s almost always a dungeon. They are spooky and secretive, making all of us curious as to what happens within their walls. But haunted castles don’t just populate books, TV, and movies—you might find yourself at one in the real world, too.
Legendary haunted castles can be found from upstate New York to Malaysia. Halloween is fast approaching, so to satisfy your curiosities, here’s a compilation of some of the most haunted castles around the world. Join us on some October psychological travel below—these places are home to tigers, dead brides, and the literal gateway to hell.
This gallery was originally published in 2016. It has been updated in 2023 with new information. Additional reporting by Katherine LaGrave.
