Around this time of year, some of us get the silly notion in our heads to purposefully seek out knowledge and sights that has the potential to make us lose sleep. Halloween is here and so too is the peak season for haunted houses and ghost tours. Last year we ran through some of the most haunted roads in the world that you could drive your hire car down. This year, we cover some of the most so-called haunted attractions around the world that you can visit.
Photo by: scaliger/Adobe Stock
Les Catacombes, Paris
Beneath the romantic topside of Paris, lies a darker underbelly. The ossuary, used to store the bones of the dead, consists of a maze of hallways and chambers, adorned with bones. Initially the bones stored here had been moved from graveyards that were being closed, but during the Revolution, bodies were bought here directly. It’s an eerie location to take a tour… and certainly not one if embarking on a romantic getaway.
Dublin, Ireland
It’s unsurprising that the hometown of Bram Stoker takes full advantage of this time of year to celebrate with public showings of monster movies, parades, and performances. The Bram Stoker Festival runs in 2017 between 27th and 30th October, with a wide variety of day events and night events, some perfect for the family. Alternatively, head to Saint Michan’s Church, built in 1095. Grab a tour of the burial vaults below. Although many bodies here had been concealed in coffins, over time the wood has degraded and fallen away, exposing the well-preserved mummies within.
Fremantle Prison. Photo by: Adwo/Adobe Stock
Fremantle, Australia
Given how big Australia is, you don’t have to search for long to find somewhere with a creepy history. The dark history of the World Heritage prison in Fremantle lends itself well to ghost stories. Built in the 1850s by convicts, legend has it that many souls of the executed reside within. Between 1888 and 1984, the prison was Western Australia’s only lawful location for execution. More than 40 hangings occurred on-site. Get yourself booked on the torchlight tour to hear more about those who still lurk. To really immerse yourself in the darker history of Fremantle, consider the Tram Tour to include a stop at the prison, the cemetery, and the Arts Centre (what used to be an asylum).
Capela dos Ossos, or Chapel of Bones in Évora. Photo by: Sergii Figurnyi/Adobe Stock
Évora, Portugal
Visit the Capela dos Ossos, or Chapel of Bones, created in the 16th century when monks exhumed the remains of 5,000 corpses from much-needed land into a consecrated space. Their interior design skills are now questionable, as many of the bones line the walls. It’s thought that the thinking behind it was to help those visiting meditate on the worth of material goods. There are also two corpses which hang from nooses; one of a child. I doubt it’s a style you’re likely to see on 60 Minute Makeover. There are a lot of inscriptions throughout the chapel that really will give you pause for thought. It’s worth a visit for the chilling enlightenment.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
This is not an attraction for the queasy or faint-hearted. The museum depicts a graphic portrayal of the history of torture along with over 40 pieces of equipment. See the skull cracker, limb-dislocating rack, and the guillotine. Some of the illustrations are disturbing to say the least.
Port Arthur in Tasmania. Photo by: Uwe Bergwitz/Adobe Stock
Port Arthur Historic Site, Tasmania
This 19th century penal colony was home to thousands of convicts. It’s said over 1000 deaths took place here, with many ending up in unmarked graves on the Isle of the Dead. Take the ghost tour to hear the stories of things that go bump in the night. The World Heritage Site now serves as an open-air museum and is officially Tasmania’s top tourist attraction. In 1996, it became the location for the worst mass murder event in Australia’s post-colonial history in which 35 people were killed. Local stories tell that despite all of the convicts that were killed here, the most commonly-seen apparition is that of a crying woman and child.
Winchester Mystery House. Photo by: Friday/Adobe Stock
Winchester Mystery House, California
Heir to the rifle empire, Sarah Winchester, built this house over 32 years, right up to her death in 1922. The 160-roomed Victorian mansion is said to have been built specifically to appease and confuse the unfriendly spirits that reside within. Specifically, the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles. It’s believed that Winchester slept in a different bedroom every night so the sad spirits could find her less easily. The house contains some 2000 doors, 10,000 windows, 47 fireplaces, 47 stairways, and dead-end corridors. Several rooms were left unfinished and a previously hidden room was discovered earlier in 2017. The property has been used as a filming location for upcoming film Winchester: The House That Ghosts Built starring Helen Mirren which is set for release in early 2018. Take the Explore More Tour, new for 2017, which includes rooms that were previously closed off to the public.
Island of the Dolls, Mexico. Photo by: Pascal06/Adobe Stock
Isla de las Muñecas, Mexico
This island, the Island of the Dolls, located on Lake Xochimico is incredibly creepy, especially if you don’t like china dolls. Julian Santana Barrera, previous owner of the island, was said to have been haunted by the spirit of a young girl whose body washed up on the shore. To help placate her, he began a mission to cover the island in dolls. Not just any dolls; whatever he could get his hands on. Many were found in disrepair with eyes smashed or limbs missing, but still he hung them from trees. Barrera openly welcomed visitors to his home and allowed photos of the island’s oddities. He died in 2001, apparently drowning in the same spot on the beach where the little girl’s body was found. Locals tell that his spirit has joined hers roaming the island. Many visitors report that the dolls eyes move to follow you around and it’s rumoured that their heads will turn to keep a better watch on you. Some have even heard the dolls whispering to each other. Will you visit to find out what they talk about?
Monte Cristo Homestead, Australia
Reputed to be Australia’s most haunted house, the course of it’s dark history makes a perfect foundation for tales of ghosts. During the occupation of previous owners, Christopher and Elizabeth Crawley, history details of many a horrific event. A pregnant maid was pushed from the balcony, a little girl thrown down the stairs, a stable boy burned to death as he slept, a caretaker was murdered, and a mentally disabled boy was kept tied up by his father for over 30 years. With such a horrendous history, perhaps it’s no wonder that spirits might terrorise the place. Reg and Olive Ryan currently own the house who have restored it to its original condition. The Ryan’s daughter-in-law helps run tours with her husband, believing she was once a maid who served under the Crawley’s.
A little closer to home… for us anyway!
Our Digital Marketing Manager, Shaun, visited Norfolk’s biggest scare experience…
For most of the year it’s occupied by dinosaurs, however for 16 nights leading up to Halloween the Dinosaur Park in Norfolk turns into PrimEVIL. 5 separate attractions ranging from the “Forest of Fear” with chainsaw-wielding clowns to the caged mutants of “Infected” take over the park for a truly terrifying experience. I’ve recently visited and can tell you it was scary, claustrophobic and very jumpy. Walking through the entrance and having a possessed girl jump out at you certainly sets the tone and puts you on edge for the rest of the night. There’s plenty of entertainment on offer too, street performers and a BBQ can distract you between attractions, just don’t let your guard down…
Which of these haunted attractions will you visit?
Our list really isn’t for those who fear the dark- but is there really any ghostly truth of the sinister stories behind them? If you’ve visited any of the attractions on our list, let us know in the comments. Perhaps you’ve had a ‘spirited’ experience of your own? We’d love to hear about it below!
Written by Jessica Juby.
Make sure you follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest travel tips and news. Remember to sign up to our newsletter below for the latest deals.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Want our blogs emailed direct to you? Sign up below to get updates featuring our blogs and car hire top tips. Receive the best deals on car hire straight to your inbox.
