The World’s Most Haunted Castles: Edinburgh Castle In Scotland
As far as haunted castles go, Edinburgh Castle is by far one of the most haunted places in Europe. The castle is famous for its high levels of paranormal activity stemming from its dark history of torture, executions, and even deaths from the Black Plague.
Edinburgh Castle was originally built as a military fortress in the 12th century before it was later turned into an estate. Like any 900-year-old castle, the structure boasts a slew of dungeons where a number of notorious figures were once held.
Among those who suffered a terrible fate inside its dungeons was Lady Janet Douglas of Glamis, who was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake; the Duke Alexander Stewart of Albany, who escaped by stabbing his guards and then burning their bodies; and an unidentified piper who managed to venture into one of the castle's many underground passageways only to never be heard from again.
Besides its brutal history of executions, Edinburgh Castle also is near the Real Mary Kings Close (close is a Scottish term for "alleyway"), thought to be haunted since at least the 17th century. The underground site was once home to victims of the Black Plague, who were left for dead there.
Most notably, Edinburgh Castle was the site of one of the largest paranormal experiments in history. The investigation took place in 2001 and involved a team of nine researchers and more than 200 people who dispersed around the famously spooky estate.
All the people involved in the project were told to look out for any signs of supernatural activity without being told beforehand which areas of the castle were considered to be frequently haunted. In the end, 51 percent of participants who were placed in the haunted areas of the castle reported experiencing some sort of paranormal event.
By comparison, only 35 percent of participants said they had experienced similar inexplicable sightings inside the non-haunted areas. These claims included visitors who felt a sudden chill in the air, the feeling of having someone tug on their clothing, and mysterious shadowy figures around the castle. Apparitions of French prisoners and ghost dogs have also been reported.
Some might claim Edinburgh Castle as one of the scariest castles in all of Europe, but it's clear that competition for that honor is incredibly stiff.
The Little Girl That Haunts Castello Di Montebello
Castello di Montebello sits on the green hills near Rimini, Italy. For centuries it was the main fortress connecting Montefeltro and Tuscany.
The castle is very old, with the earliest recorded reports of the structure dating back to 1186. The castle witnessed conflict over the centuries between the Montefeltro and Rimini families.
In 1393 the Montefeltro family finally took the castle. It was later conquered by Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta in 1438. Castello di Montebello's military use declined after that. By the 16th century the fortress was home to nobility rather than military forces.
More recently in the 1970s, the Montebello castle underwent extensive restoration to repair damage from Nazi bombings during World War II. Since 1989, the old stone structure has functioned as a museum.
But it's not only the castle's extensive history that makes the fortress so interesting to tourists. The Castello di Montebello is also believed to be haunted by the ghost of a young girl called Azzurrina, the word for "pale blue" or "little blue one" in Italian.
As the legend goes, Azzurrina was a noble girl born Guendalina Malatesta in 1370. Her father was Ugolinuccio, or Uguccione, the feudal lord of Montebello. The young girl had albinoism, a trait that symbolized misfortune in the middle ages.
It was believed albinos were connected to witchcraft and other popular superstitions. So, in an attempt to hide their child's condition, Malatesta's parents tried to dye her white hair black.
However, on her stark white hair, the black dye turned her hair blue, giving her the nickname Azzurrina. Due to the unsuccessful attempt to dye her hair, Azzurrina's parents left two guards to watch her at all times and prevent her from leaving Castello di Montebello.
One day in 1375, Azzurrina was playing with a ball on the castle grounds. She dropped it and her guards watched her go after it. Supposedly, all the guards heard next was a scream and Azzurrina was nowhere to be found.
It is said Azzurrina can be seen on the castle grounds today. Visitors have reported hearing the mysterious sounds of a young girl laughing or crying. The tales of the ghost child sightings and her rumored story inspired the 2023 Italian film Azzurrina.
