SCARY CEMETERIES

OLD JEWISH CEMETERY, PRAGUE

The Old Jewish Cemetery lies in the Josefoy which is the Jewish Quarter

or Prague in the Czech Republic and it was in use from the early 15th

century with Avigdor Kara’s tombstone dating back to 1439 until 1787.  

The numbers of grave stones and numbers of people buried there are

uncertain, because there are layers upon layers of tombs. However, it

has been estimated that there are approximately 12,000 tombstones

presently visible, and there may be as many as 100,000 burials in all.

Not surprising, it is said that this cemetery is teaming with paranormal

activity with many claiming to have seen apparitions moving through the

tightly compacted tombstones.

LES CATACOMBES, PARIS

The Catacombs of Paris is an underground ossuary in Paris, France

located south of the former city gate and holds the remains of about six

million people.  Due to its peculiar decoration many ghosts and strange

paranormal encounters are said to occur here on a regular basis. These

range from spectral lights appearing in videos to ghostly orbs, mists and

sometimes even shadow spectres walking the corridors and moving

among the piles of bones. You definitely don’t want to be in this

place alone.

SAINT LOUIS #1, NEW ORLEANS

Saint Louis #1 is the oldest of three Catholic Cemeteries in

New Orleans, Louisiana which has a history of ghost stories. One of

their most active paranormal sites is the Saint Louis #1 Cemetery which  

hosts one of the most notorious tombs of all time; that of

Marie Laveau also known as “Grande Voodoo Queen”. Many of the locals

believe that her spirit haunts the graveyard and any and all individuals

who try to disrupt her sleep by trying to awaken her.  Now who in their

right mind would want to “awaken” a voodoo queen…or anybody else

for that matter?

LA RECOLETA, BUENOS AIRES

The Recoleta Cemetery is located in the Recoleta neighbourhood in

Buenos Aires, Argentina and is one of the main tourist attractions in

that neighbourhood due to its outstanding display of nineteenth and

twentieth century funerary art and architecture. Of course this

cemetery also has its fair share of ghost stories and paranormal

activity ranging from a ghostly night watchman who took his own life at

the cemetery to a spectral lady dubbed the “The Lady In White”

who frequents the tombs at night.

VALLEY OF THE KINGS, CAIRO, EGYPT

The Valley of the Kings houses Tutankhamen’s grave and its believed

to come with a curse as almost all who participated in the opening of

the grave mysteriously died a few years after. Some scientists hold the

deadly moulds from the tombs maybe the cause but others

believe it is the Egyptian curse for disrupting the tomb of the dead.

CAPUCHIN CRYPT, ROME, ITALY

4000 Capuchin Franciscan friars are housed in this crypt

boasting of an intricate floor to ceiling arrangement of human bones

paired with the crypt’s soil which is supposedly from Jerusalem.

Various bones are utilized in different chapels. For instance, there is

a chapel called “Crypt of the Pelvises” and another one,

“Crypt of the Skulls”.  If that’s not enough to freak you out, there is

a solemn reminder underneath a child’s Grim Reaper that states

“What You Are We Once Were Too And What We Are Now,

You Will Be”.

BACHELOR’S GROVE, CHICAGO, USA

Known for being one of the most haunted sites in the United States the

Bachelor’s Grove Chicago cemetery was opened in 1844.  The claims of

hauntings peaked in the 1970s and 1980s and ranged from reported

phenomenons such as weird orbs to phantom vehicles. There are

even rumours of a ghostly farmhouse which is said to terrorize

its victims by floating towards its victims then vanishing into thin air.  

As late as 1984 witnesses also reported seeing multiple ghostly figures

emerging throughout the cemetery dressed in monk’s robes. And if

that’s not enough, in the 1990s, witnesses reported seeing a black dog 

at the cemetery’s entrance which also disappeared when they

attempted to approach it.

CIMITERO DI SAN MICHELE, VENICE, ITALY

After Napoleons’s decree prohibited the burial of bodies in Venice,

the cemetery was set up in the 19th century on the island of San Michele.  

Special gondolas delivered remains to the island where they are

buried on a 10 year lease.  Needless to say, a whole island given over

to the dead is sure to attract some attention from paranormal buffs and

Cimitero di San Michele is no exception.  Tales of ghostly encounters

have been recorded, however no single entity has been labelled.  

Nevertheless, for a site dedicated to the dead, it’s only natural

that ghostly convolution reign supreme.

GANGES RIVER, VARANASI, INDIA

Due to its proximity to the Ganges, Varanasi is one of the Hindus’

holiest cities in India. The river stands for spiritual health and purification.

Being cremated on the banks of the river is a great honour.  Thousands

of corpses are burned on floating pyres annually and the remains are

left to be swallowed up by the river. Thus, the Ganges is ripe with bacteria

and largely polluted. Unbelievably though, Varanasi people play, bathe, and

wash their clothes here. The burning dead’s acceptance into the daily lives

of the people is as fascinating as it is eerie.