Paradoxically, one of the greatest pleasures in our lives is associated with fear. We love horror books and movies, regularly celebrate Halloween and even in childhood we call the Brownie and the Queen of Spades. There is even a special kind of tourism associated with places where various unpleasant or nerve-tickling events have taken place or are taking place.
These places, such as the Ossuary in the Czech Republic, the Island of the Dolls in Mexico, the Winchester House in the United States, and the ghost town of Sun Zhi in Taiwan, tell dark and mysterious legends. They arouse interest and fear, make you think about life and death, about mystical powers and unknown mysteries. Each of these places keeps a history full of mysteries, attracting curious travelers from all over the world who want to touch the inexplicable and feel the breath of the past.
If you like such a vacation, then our today's review is addressed to you.
Ossuary, Czech Republic
The Ossuary in the Czech Republic is an eerie place that reflects the dark pages of human history and religious beliefs. In the crypt of the Church of All Saints in Sedlice, there is an amazing monument to the frailty of human existence, which has been created over the centuries. This is a Catholic church, the decoration of which is the bones of 40,000 people, whose remains were buried here, in the church cemetery. The interior of the chapel is 100% made of human bones, including skulls that adorn the lamps, walls and columns, and even the iconostasis.
This temple evokes a variety of emotions in parishioners and curious tourists: from horror and hostility to deep reflection on the frailty of existence. Many consider it grotesque and creepy, but there are also those who see the Ossuary as a powerful religious symbol, a reminder that the body is only a temporary shell for the soul. The chapel has become a place of pilgrimage for those seeking spiritual enlightenment, reinterpreting life and death in an unusual context.
Doll Island, Mexico
Another mysterious attraction, covered with mysticism and legends, is Doll Island in Mexico. Located near the capital, this island has a frightening reputation. Legend has it that in 1951, its only occupant, a man named Julián Santana, heard the cries of a drowning child. He hurried to help, but could not save the girl, but he found a doll in the water and decorated a tree with it, paying tribute to the memory of the deceased. Soon he began to hear screams and moans again, as if the ghost of the child was demanding other toys.
For the next 50 years, Santana collected and hung dolls from trees, turning the island into a veritable toy graveyard. Today, there are almost a thousand of them on the island, most of them have become quite creepy over time due to natural influences and aging. Since Santana's death in 2001, the island has become a popular destination for tourists who want to experience the spooky atmosphere and touch the mysterious legends. Some of them, by the way, bring new dolls to please Santana and the girl's spirit.
Winchester House, USA
In the United States, there is also a place shrouded in mystery and mysticism - the House of Winchester. It has nothing to do with the heroes of the Supernatural series, as some authors claim on social networks. In fact, it is a huge and unusual building built by Sarah Winchester, the heiress of the world-famous gun business.
Sarah began building a house in California, following the advice of a spiritist medium, whom she turned to shortly after the death of her husband and daughter. According to legend, the medium said that all the tragedies in her family occurred due to the revenge of the souls of people who died from the weapons of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
To avoid their wrath, Sarah had to build a dwelling for the rest of her life, made of many corridors, stairs, secret doors and passages. The construction lasted 38 years, until Sarah's death in 1922, and cost her entire fortune (approximately $550 million in today's money).
After the death of the armory baroness, nothing was found in her safe except a few strands of hair of her daughter and husband. The Winchester House has been the subject of numerous films and stories, attracting tourists with its dark history and mysterious rooms.
Ghost Town, Taiwan
On the opposite side of the world, in Taiwan, is the ghost town of Sangzhi. It was originally conceived as a fashionable resort on the coast of the South China Sea, with modernist-style houses and modern amenities. However, during the construction, strange and tragic events began to occur here: dozens of workers died under mysterious circumstances. Locals began to believe that the city was cursed and inhabited by evil spirits. As a result, in the late 80s of the last century, construction was stopped, and Sang-Zhi turned into a real ghost town. Spacious houses and fashionable hotels have become deserted, becoming ghostly ruins that now attract daredevils who want to experience the thrill.
Japanese Suicide Forest
The Aokigahara Forest in Japan near Mount Fuji, better known as the Suicide Forest, is murderously (sometimes literally) beautiful and shrouded in grim glory. Located just a couple of hours from the capital, this forest is a place where more than half a thousand people have decided to commit suicide since the mid-50s. The process has gone so far that in terms of the number of suicides, this place will give odds to any other in the world, second only to the American Golden Gate Bridge.
In the forest, there are numerous announcements with requests to think about relatives and leave this venture, as well as contact details of psychological services, but this is of little use. Video surveillance and police patrols are another element of measures to prevent tragedies, but despite this, the Japanese continue to die here.
In Japanese society, a complex of socio-cultural factors has formed that contribute to the development of depression, anxiety and isolation, which sometimes leads people to such desperate steps. Most of the victims are white-collar workers, tortured by hard work and pressure from society. Travelers walking in the forest may encounter ribbons left behind that point the way to the bodies so that they can be found. These tapes are left by those who do not plan to return, which adds even more gloom to this place.
Port Moresby
The administrative center of eastern New Guinea is known as one of the most dangerous cities in the world: it looks attractive from above, but many of its areas are overgrown with mountains of garbage and are run by criminal gangs. For a Westerner, this is not the best place to relax, as there are still murders of foreigners in Port Moresby for food or occult rituals. In 2021-2023, newspapers often covered cases of cannibalism, in which those who were accused of black magic became victims. Despite the dangers, extreme tourists still strive to visit New Guinea, but this should be done only with an experienced guide.
Museum of Pathology
Vienna's Museum of Pathological Anatomy is one of the most unusual in the world. Also known as the Tower of Fools, it is located in the building of a former psychiatric hospital and is a real monument to various pathologies, injuries and genetic mutations. Its history dates back to the XVII century, when there was a psychiatric isolation ward for sleepwalkers on this site. As part of the museum exposition, you can see a mahogany chair for gynecological examinations, alcoholized entrails of people, prepared skulls and mummified heads of varying degrees of deformity. Also exhibited are specimens that clearly represent venereal diseases and hypertrophic genitals. In general, even the most experienced tourists looking for thrills agree that this place is a real horror.
Snake Island
Snake Island in Brazil, reminiscent of the name of creeping reptiles, is famous not only for its snow-white beaches, but also for its extreme danger. This island is inhabited by deadly lancehead snakes, whose bites lead to instant death. There are up to a dozen of them per square meter of land on the island, making it one of the most dangerous places on Earth. The Brazilian authorities have strictly banned tourists from visiting this place to avoid tragic incidents, but such a ban makes the island even more mysterious and frightening. In addition, it is violated from time to time, sometimes not without consequences.
Bran Castle
Bran Castle in Romania, known as the castle of Count Dracula, rises on the edge of a gorge in the Carpathian Mountains. With its Gothic silhouette and dark history, this medieval castle is considered the most sinister place in this country because it was the home of Vlad IV, nicknamed the Impaler: his cruel deeds inspired terror for centuries.
The legend of Dracula attracts many tourists here: through narrow corridors, gloomy halls and a giant stone staircase, you can go to the bedroom, where, according to Hollywood films, the blood vampire drank his victims dry. Even if you are far from superstition, the realities of the cruel life of Vlad IV will surely not leave you indifferent.
Stanley Hotel
The Stanley Hotel in the United States, which, according to some sources, became the model that inspired Stephen King while working on the novel The Shining, was originally a luxurious place for the cream of society.
The opening of the hotel was accompanied by performances by famous musicians, and in the large hall, the audience enjoyed the show of the magician Houdini. But already in 1911, an explosion occurred here, as a result of which the housekeeper was injured: the woman fell through the ceilings to the floor below and broke both legs, although she remained alive and lived to a ripe old age, giving countless interviews to vicious American journalists.
Today, the Stanley Hotel attracts lovers of mysticism and horror: spiritualistic tours, meetings with psychics and the opportunity to book "cursed" rooms such as 401, 407, 428 and the famous 217. Even if there is no ghost in your phone shot, the atmosphere of the hotel will leave an unforgettable impression.
