Denfert-Rochereau Ossuary (Paris, France)
Also known as the “Catacombs”: “Far below the city streets of Paris, in the quiet, damp darkness, seven million Parisians lie motionless. Their skeletons, long since dis-interred from the churchyard graves their survivors left them in, are neatly stacked and aligned to form the walls of nearly one kilometer of walking passage.”
Tunnels of Arras (Arras, France)
Mezzaneine recommends this site: “If you ever get a chance to go to Northern France, there’s this town called Arras that has all these 10th Century tunnels under it that we toured. They were originally used for sacrificial rites and stuff (OOOHHH!!!) and were used to hide troops during the wars and the revolution.”
Ossuary at Sedlec (Sedlec, Czech Republic)
A special thank you to Elizabeth for pointing this bone-filled church out to me. Looks like one of the greatest morbid sites in the world – no bones about it! <boo, hiss!> Incidentally, I’m hoping to be able to visit this spot next year. Phalanges crossed!
The Hunterian Museum (Glasgow, Scotland)
Suggested by Bruce Townley: “Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum is a rival to the Mutter in Philadelphia. I haven’t been to the Hunterian but from what I’ve read they got some really oddball stuff floating in jars.” We can hope!
City of the Dead Walking Tour (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Suggested by Kainlane: “Good Auld Reekie (aka Edinburgh) has some of the best ghost tours in the world. If you ever make it to Scotland you really must take the City of the Dead tour. Very enjoyable experience.”
National Museum of Ireland (Dublin, Ireland)
Lauren recommends the natural history museum for the creepiness factor: “Ireland is a pretty creepy place in general. Everyplace you go there has some freaky historical fact behind it. I think that that the Museum of Natural history in Dublin was pretty creepy. All of the animals are on display in old fashion Victorian style. They all have a waxy appearance and I swear they were watching me! I enclosed some pictures of the exhibits there.”
Dublin Ghost Bus Tour (Dublin, Ireland)
“You’ll see haunted houses, learn of Dracula’s Dublin origins and we’ll even throw in a crash course in body-snatching.” Sounds like a fun night out to me! (Link suggested by Joe Callis.)
This is also recommended by Kate: “I went on the Ghostbus tour of Dublin and it was genuinely frightening (but funny as well). I would recommend it to anyone who visits or lives in Dublin.”
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (Los Angeles, California)
From Urban Daddy: “Half the hotels in Los Angeles claim to be haunted by the ghost of Marilyn Monroe, but this is the only one with a view of the Tropicana Bar and Pool. Bonus: the spirit of Monty Clift is known to hold court around Room 928. And nothing is scarier than undead method actors…”
Hotel Monteleone (New Orleans, Louisiana)
From Urban Daddy: “According to legend, the spirit of a lost child haunts the 14th floor (actually the 13th). Locked doors open on their own. Elevators stop at nonexistent floors. Mints mysteriously show up on pillows. Okay, that’s probably housekeeping.” I’m impressed that the hotel is so proud of their hauntings that they even have a page dedicated to them on their website. Bravo! (Thanks to Anne for the suggestion.)
Driskill Hotel (Austin, Texas)
An allegedly quite haunted hotel in Austin. From Urban Daddy: “Thanks to the ‘suicide brides’ urban legend—two women allegedly committed suicide in the same bathroom 20 years apart to the day—room 525 had been closed and bricked up for years. But now, it’s open for Halloween season—you know, if you’re feeling romantic.” Thanks to Anne for the suggestion.
Here’s some more information on the alleged hauntings of the hotel: Austin Ghost Tours.
