Do you love a good scare? Are you fascinated by the paranormal? If so, you might want to check out some of the most haunted houses in the world. These are places where ghosts, spirits and other supernatural phenomena have been reported for centuries, and where you can experience a chill down your spine or a glimpse of the unknown. Here are 10 of the most haunted houses in the world, according to various sources and legends.
10. Beau-Séjour Palace, Portugal
This elegant palace in Lisbon was once the residence of King Ferdinand II and his second wife, Countess Edla. However, it is also said to be haunted by the ghost of his first wife, Queen Maria II, who died in childbirth at the age of 34. Some visitors have claimed to hear her footsteps, sighs and whispers in the palace, especially in her former bedroom. Others have reported seeing her apparition in a white dress, wandering the halls or looking out of the windows.
9. Lemp Mansion, USA
This stately mansion in St. Louis, Missouri was the home of the Lemp family, who owned a successful brewery business in the 19th and early 20th centuries. However, the family was plagued by tragedy and suicide, and four members of the family took their own lives in the mansion. The mansion is now a restaurant and inn, and many guests and staff have reported paranormal activity, such as cold spots, knocking sounds, moving objects and apparitions of the Lemp family members.
8. Margam Country Park, Wales, UK
This sprawling estate in South Wales boasts a Gothic castle, a ruined abbey and a chapel, all of which are said to be haunted by various spirits. The castle is home to the ghost of a gamekeeper who was murdered by a poacher, the ghost of a blacksmith who walks the grounds, and the ghosts of Victorian children who like to play pranks and laugh. The abbey is haunted by ancient monks who do not welcome visitors, and the chapel is haunted by a white lady who is believed to be the daughter of a local lord.
7. Pendle Hill, UK
This hill in Lancashire is famous for being the site of the Pendle witch trials in 1612, when ten people were executed for witchcraft after a series of accusations and confessions. The hill is said to be haunted by the spirits of the witches, who have been seen flying on broomsticks, casting spells or cursing those who trespass on their land. Some people have also reported feeling a sense of dread or oppression when visiting the hill.
6. Whaley House, USA
This historic house in San Diego, California was built in 1857 by Thomas Whaley, a businessman and merchant. However, before he built his house, the land was used as a public gallows, where several criminals were hanged. One of them was Yankee Jim Robinson, who allegedly cursed the land before he died. Whaley and his family experienced many misfortunes and deaths in their house, and some believe that they were haunted by Yankee Jim and other ghosts. The house is now a museum and has been featured on many TV shows and documentaries as one of the most haunted houses in America.
5. Jane Addams Hull House, USA
This house in Chicago, Illinois was founded by social reformer Jane Addams in 1889 as a settlement house for immigrants and poor people. It was also the site of many rumours and legends about supernatural occurrences, such as demonic possession, poltergeist activity and ghost sightings. One of the most famous stories is that of the “Devil Baby”, a deformed child who was allegedly born to a Catholic woman whose husband had renounced God. The baby was said to have horns, hooves and red eyes, and to speak curses and blasphemies. Some people claimed that Jane Addams took in the baby and hid it in the attic of Hull House.
4. Lalaurie House, USA
This mansion in New Orleans, Louisiana was owned by Delphine Lalaurie, a wealthy socialite who was notorious for torturing and killing her slaves. In 1834, a fire broke out in her house and revealed her horrific secret: dozens of mutilated slaves were found chained up in her attic, some alive and some dead. Lalaurie fled the city after an angry mob attacked her house. The house has since been renovated several times but has never lost its reputation as one of the most haunted houses in New Orleans. Many people have reported hearing screams, moans and cries from inside the house or seeing ghostly figures of slaves or Lalaurie herself.
3. Amityville Horror House, USA
This house in Amityville, New York became infamous in 1974, when Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his parents and four siblings in their beds. A year later, the Lutz family moved into the house, hoping to start a new life. However, they claimed that they were terrorized by demonic forces that made them hear voices, see apparitions, smell foul odours and feel cold spots. They also claimed that their personalities changed and that they experienced nightmares and visions. They fled the house after 28 days and never returned. Their story was turned into a best-selling book and a series of movies, making the house one of the most famous haunted houses in the world.
2. Winchester Mystery House, USA
This bizarre mansion in San Jose, California was built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of William Winchester, the inventor of the Winchester rifle. After her husband and daughter died, Sarah believed that she was cursed by the spirits of those killed by the Winchester guns. She consulted a psychic who told her to move to California and build a house that would appease the spirits and protect her from them. She spent the next 38 years of her life building and expanding the house, without any plan or logic. The result was a maze-like mansion with over 160 rooms, 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors, 47 fireplaces, 40 staircases, 13 bathrooms and 6 kitchens. Some of the features were designed to confuse or trap the spirits, such as doors that opened to walls or floors, stairs that led to nowhere or ceilings, windows that looked into other rooms or outside walls, and secret passages and rooms. Sarah died in 1922 and left behind a mystery that still baffles people today. The house is now a tourist attraction and is said to be haunted by Sarah and other ghosts.
1. The White House, USA
The most famous house in the world is also one of the most haunted houses in the world. The White House in Washington D.C. has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800. It has also been the witness of many historical events, tragedies and scandals that have left their mark on its walls and rooms. Many presidents, first ladies, staff members and guests have reported seeing or feeling the presence of ghosts in the White House, some friendly and some not so much. Some of the most common ghosts are Abraham Lincoln, who has been seen in his former bedroom or walking the halls; Andrew Jackson, who has been heard swearing or laughing in his former bedroom; Abigail Adams, who has been seen carrying laundry in the East Room; Dolley Madison, who has been seen tending to the Rose Garden; John F. Kennedy, who has been seen looking out of a window; and Willie Lincoln, who has been seen playing with other children in various rooms.
So there you have it: 10 of the most haunted houses in the world. Would you dare to visit any of them? Or do you know of any other haunted houses that deserve to be on this list? Let us know in the comments below!
