Famous Haunted Castles

Do you know where the most famous haunted castles in the world can be found? Everyone immediately assumes that a castle is haunted. Castles are definitely spooky, with all those dimly lit corridors and creepy dungeons. Plus, most castles have been around for hundreds of years and have seen plenty of misfortune and death; it isn't surprising that a ghost or two would be roaming around.

Haunted Castles of Europe
The Tower of London, located on the banks of the River Thames in Britain, has a long history that includes more than 400 years of torture, violence, execution and murder. It is considered one of Britain's most haunted places. The ghosts of Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey are said to roam the castle.

Edinburgh Castle is one of the most haunted castles in Scotland. It is fitting that the Lone Piper, Headless Drummer and other ghosts would choose to haunt a castle in Edinburgh, which itself is one of the most haunted cities in the United Kingdom. The sound of the Lone Piper playing in the tunnels beneath the castle accompanies the vision of the ghost dog that roams the grounds.

Several ghosts haunt Windsor Castle. It is said that the ghost of Henry the VIII roams the halls; visitors claim to hear his footsteps and loud painful groans. The ghost of the Saxon Hunter Herne is said to haunt the grounds of Windsor Castle. Some people have even spied the spectre of Queen Elizabeth in the window of the Dean's Cloister and in the Royal Library. The ghostly Queen is dressed in a black gown with a black shawl over her shoulders.

It goes without saying that Transylvania's Bran Castle, better known as Dracula's Castle, is haunted. The original owner, Vlad the Impaler, performed many gruesome executions on the castle grounds. Many a restless spirit is believed to still inhabit this haunted castle, which inspired Bram Stoker's popular vampire tale.

Haunted Castles of America
Castles may not be something you think of in America, but there are three well-known haunted castles in the United States: Preston Castle in California, Beardslee Castle in New York and Thornwood Castle in the state of Washington.

Preston Castle was originally a home for juvenile offenders. The grounds contain a cemetery for those who passed away while incarcerated. Visitors report feeling intense cold and experiencing odd sensations and emotions when visiting the graveyard.

Thornwood Castle is currently a bed and breakfast, but at one time it was the home of Chester Thorne, a major figure in the development of Washington State. The castle was completed in 1911. Over the next 10 years, it was the center of the Tacoma social scene. The castle is believed to be haunted by the people who loved it, including Thorne himself. Visitors report seeing angelic presences and feeling a rush of positive emotions.

Beardslee Castle in Little Falls, New York, is considered one of America's most haunted castles. It currently operates as a restaurant, but it was originally built in 1860 as a home for the Beardslee family. The castle has a lady in white and many moving objects, shadows and things that go bump in the night.