Dunstanburgh Castle

The Dunstanburgh Castle was built in 1313 when the conflict between Earl Thomas of Lancaster and King Edward II was hotting up. The castle is located on a remote headland in Northumberland and was built on a truly magnificent scale, perhaps as an insult to the King. The Earl was executed in 1322 after his rebellion against the King failed and the castle was passed to John of Gaunt. Over the years, it saw the Wars of the Roses and other conflicts before falling into decay. And over the years it became one of the most stunning abandoned castles around.

Dunstanburgh Castle is mostly in ruins now but was once absolutely stunning. John of Gaunt converted the twin-towered gatehouse into a Keep to strengthen it against the Scottish invasions. These additions add to its foreboding atmosphere and are an architectural marvel on their own. And the setting, poised high along the coast, is fitting for every spooky, Gothic tale ever told. As you might expect, there are lots of spooky legends attached to this castle.

Thomas of Lancaster, the original owner, suffered a brutal death. It took the executioner 11 strokes to decapitate him and his ghost is said to haunt the castle, carrying his mangled head. The ghost of Margaret of Anjou, the wife of Henry VI has also been seen wandering the grounds. The dramatic ruins have also given rise to the legend of Sir Guy the Seeker. According to this creepy story, Sir Guy took shelter from a storm in caves under the castle. He was approached by a warlock and followed him after being promised a great beauty. Once in the castle, he made the wrong choice to save the woman and was trapped there, haunting the corridors, looking for the beauty he’d lost.

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Casa Loma

Casa Loma is located in Toronto, Canada and is now a historic house museum and landmark. It was built in a Gothic Revival style between 1911 and 1914 for financier Henry Pellatt. And according to visitors, it’s one of the most haunted abandoned castles on this list. The owner suffered a number of setbacks, resulting in the abandonment of the castle. But according to the stories, not everyone went away.

Visitors to the site have reported grabbing hands, spooky voices, and a mysterious lady who wanders the halls. A grumpy spectral man is said to live in the stables and some people have even seen the original owner, angrily glaring at guests from windows. The stories about the castle make it a popular place for ghost tours and Halloween parties. So, if you enjoy a scare, then this should be one of the abandoned castles on your bucket list.

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Frankenstein Castle

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a story that many people claim to be one of the greatest monster tales in history. It’s also one of the most important stories about the nature of evil and set the stage for horror writers for generations to come. In the story, Victor Frankenstein conducts his macabre experiments in an isolated castle. And as the story goes, that castle was inspired by the Frankenstein Castle in Germany.

The Frankenstein Castle overlooks the city of Darmstadt in central Germany and it’s one of the most chilling abandoned castles in the world. It has existed for centuries, with the earliest reference to it in a letter written in 1252. Over the years, it saw a lot of bloodshed and turmoil, and all that death and horror has sunk into the walls, giving it a foreboding aspect. The castle is even said to be haunted by the ghost of Arbogast, a knight who once lived there, and it’s a hotspot for paranormal investigators who are seeking the truth of what walks its walls.

Whether it’s one of the world’s many abandoned castles or whether its ancient walls are occupied by a far less corporeal force, this castle is a chilling reminder of old stories and the nightmares that followed.

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Bannerman Castle

Bannerman Castle is located in New York on Pollepel Island in the Hudson River and was once a military surplus warehouse. The Hudson River acts as a moat around the castle, which has turrets just like what you’d see in fairy tales. But the story behind it makes it one of the most eccentric abandoned castles on this list.

The castle was built by the Bannerman family during the early 1900s. The owner, Frank, personally designed all the buildings, docks and turrets in the style of old Scottish castles. And he did it without any professional help of any kind, almost on instinct. The castle was elaborately decorated, from the tower with its venetian tilt to the biblical quotations cut into the fireplace mantles. And the architectural details are amazing as well. For instance, if you look at the north view then you’ll notice there are no right angles on any of the buildings. All of these details confirm that the creator was a genius, and more than a little eccentric in his precision and vision.

Bannerman Castle was used to store military weapons of all kinds until it was destroyed by fire in 1969. Since then it has been cared for by a trust, but the structure is so unstable and the land so treacherous that it’s become yet another of the world’s amazing, abandoned castles.

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