Most Haunted Cemeteries Around the World

5. Old Western Burial Ground, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Old Western Burial Ground is a graveyard that boasts numerous famous occupants, such as Revolutionary war generals and famed horror writer Edgar Allan Poe. As you might expect from Poe’s final resting place, this cemetery comes with a haunted history as well.

Every year on Poe’s birthday, for over 50 years, the same spirit has been spotted haunting the burial ground. He dresses all in black, including a fedora and a scarf to cover his face. He places a bottle of cognac and three red roses on Poe’s grave, tips his hat, and departs. There has been much speculation about the identity of the ghost, some claiming it is Poe himself.

The catacombs beneath the burial ground have an eerie history as well. Visitors often sense a chilling presence, and bodies have been mysteriously disinterred.

4. La Recoleta, Buenos Aires, Argentina

La Recoleta is a beautiful place; it is filled with ornate tombs and statuary, as is fitting for the final resting place of some of Argentina’s most important and influential citizens. Yet, among these gorgeous monuments that make up a city unto themselves, you’ll also find eerie stories of restless spirits.

The cemetery’s most famous ghost goes by the name of Rufina Cambaceras. In 1902, Rufina died suddenly at age 19. She was transferred to La Recoleta, but couldn’t be immediately buried because of heavy rain. The next morning, undertakers noticed that her casket had been disturbed. Fearing grave robbers, they opened the casket and found Rufina bruised and bloody. Claw marks marred the top of the casket. Her family was faced with the horrible realization that she had been alive when placed in the casket. Because she was unable to rest in her final moments, her spirit still wanders the cemetery.

Rufina is La Recoleta’s most famous ghost, but others join her wanderings. Some report hearing the jingling keys of former caretaker David Alleno (who committed suicide shortly after buying a cemetery plot) or spotting a mysterious woman in white.

3. The Paris Catacombs, Paris, France

The Paris Catacombs are a place where nightmares are made. The final resting place of around six million people, visitors can see the bones of its occupants stacked from floor to ceiling. The bones of the dead were artistically arranged when they were moved to the catacombs with the explicit purpose of making it a macabre tourist attraction.

With so many bodies occupying the catacombs, it’s hardly surprising that ghost stories abound in the tunnels. Many visitors have claimed to see spirits wandering the tunnels, and some have even documented their sightings on film. The most famous film was supposedly shot in the early 1990s by a man who became lost in the catacombs and had numerous terrifying encounters. This man wasn’t the first to be lost in the labyrinthine empire of the dead.

Some speculate that the spirits are restless because their final resting places were disturbed and their remains out on display for the public. Whatever the cause, few leave the catacombs without an eerie feeling following them.

2. Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt

For over 500 years, the Valley of Kings was a burial place for Egypt’s royalty. Most people associate this location with the substantial cultural and material wealth that has been uncovered by archeologists over the years. However, there is a supernatural side to this unparalleled burying ground as well.

The most common tale is of the ghostly chariot. Late at night, travelers near the Valley of the Kings will be startled by a chariot, pulled by black horses and driven by an Egyptian King, barreling toward them at high speeds. Some people merely hear the sounds of horses or even just footsteps, but find no one in the vicinity to explain the sounds.

Other visitors hear the cacophonous sounds of crying and mourning echoing through the air. Still others claim to have seen the ghost of the pharaoh Akhenaten. Akhenaten was cursed for attempting to abolish old religions in Egypt, and his spirit wanders the desert attempting to anger the old gods.

1. Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, Scotland

Of all the haunted cemeteries on this list, Greyfriars Kirkyard is likely the most dangerous. Only the bravest ghost hunters attempt to encounter the spirit haunting this boneyard, and some have sincerely regretted their efforts.

This cemetery is home to the MacKenzie Poltergeist, believed to be the spirit of George MacKenzie. During his life, MacKenzie persecuted Scottish Covenanters. After his death, he was interred in the Black Mausoleum, where his rest was disrupted in 1999 when a homeless man looking for a place to sleep broke into the tomb. Since then, visitors to the cemetery have reported scratches, burns, bruises, and even broken limbs after encountering the spirit. There have been over 450 attacks documented. Some even believe the poltergeist was responsible for the death of local psychic Colin Grant.

Many graves in the cemetery are adorned with eerie angels of death, adding to the macabre ambiance. Visitors will also notice another chilling sight: metal grills covering numerous graves. While in reality these were added to deter body snatching, one can’t help but imagine the grills barring the way of wayward spirits.

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There’s our look at the most haunted cemeteries around the world. Have you visited any of these allegedly haunted cemeteries? Leave a comment down below or on any of our socials.