Unbelievably Haunted Places With Creepy Pasts

by Benjamin Frits

Horror stories give us some famous fictional locations (Sleepy Hollow, anyone?), but oftentimes, the scariest places come from the real life terrors that happened there. Whether it's a murder, a mysterious disappearance, or a tragic death, ghosts haunt every square mile of the world! Even if you're not a believer in the spooky and supernatural, the real stories behind these ghoulish spots will send a shiver down your spine.

10. Isla de las Munecas, Mexico

This spot's name tells you all you need to know: Isla de las Munecas, or the Island of the Dolls. Creepy already, right? The name is more than deserved, with thousands of dolls hanging from the trees and buildings of the small island in Xochimilco. The reclusive former owner is said to have found the body of a young girl floating down the river, and the next day found a doll in the same spot. Either in memory of her or to appease her ghost, the man salvaged more and more dolls out of the refuse of Mexico City, using them as talismans to ward off bad luck and misfortune. Despite the gruesome appearance and history of the island, it's less haunted than the other locations on this list: visitors merely report children's voices emenating from the hanging dolls, but no more than that.

9. The Winchester Mystery House, USA

Well-known and much beloved,

8. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

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7. The Amityville House, USA

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6. The Paris Catacombs, France

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5. Poveglia, Italy

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4. The Borden House, USA

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3. 41°43′32″N 49°56′49″W

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2. Bonaventure Cemetery, USA

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1. Cing Island, Scotland

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