5 popular destinations in Hungary haunted by ghosts

Whether one believes in them or not, stories about places haunted by ghosts can nonetheless capture our imagination. There is something fascinating about pondering the question of existence after death, especially when it involves paranormal sightings.

This article is not just for horror movie nuts and ghost story lovers. The haunted places listed below are very popular with travellers: maybe you have been to these places and didn’t know that ghosts were watching your every move!

Travelo.hu collected five popular tourist destinations in Hungary with scary legends attached to them.

Unexplained noises in the Buda Castle Labyrinth

Spanning more than 3,000 metres beneath the Buda Castle district, the Buda Castle Labyrinth has been used for many purposes since the Middle Ages: as a refuge, cellar, hermitage or prison. Today, parts of the labyrinth are open to the public and are a popular tourist destination for visitors of the Hungarian capital.

Over the centuries, countless inexplicable events have taken place in the depths of the Castle Hill, with visitors hearing strange noises or even seeing ghostly figures in the corridors.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons / xorge

The bravest can test for themselves whether or not the caves are really haunted by ghosts, in the so-called “Labyrinth of Darkness.” As advertised on the cave’s website:

“This section of the Labyrinth is in total darkness. The Labyrinth of Darkness deceives the senses, testing perception while expanding consciousness. However, it is difficult to travel in the darkness when the visitor knows that paranormal phenomena have been observed in the Dark Labyrinth: whispers, descending white fog, sudden cooling temperatures, shadows that can never be reached.”

The Tihany Abbey becomes scary at night

The Tihany Abbey stands proudly on the shores of Lake Balaton. The ancient Benedictine monastery is a popular tourist destination, where monks live and work to this day. By day, it is an imposing and beautiful historic site, while at night it is said to be the scene of inexplicable sights. Many people claim to have seen and heard unexplained phenomena, such as strange lights and sounds, and ghostly figures within the old walls.

Below the Abbey is the Royal Crypt of Tihany, which contains the tomb of King Andrew I and his immediate family, among others. Maybe the strange sights are connected to the bodies laid to rest here, travelo.hu writes.

Photo: depositphotos.com

Hollókő, witches, and the devil

Hollókő, or “the living village”, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous worldwide for its traditions. The most important Hungarian folk customs are still kept in the small village as they were centuries ago. Perhaps the most well-known event in Hollókő, which attracts huge crowds every year, is the Easter celebration.

Easter in Hollókő
photo: www.facebook.com/Hollókő, az élő falu

You wouldn’t think this charming little village was a haunted place. Yet many have reported seeing strange figures walking the streets after the sun has set. Others have heard unexplained strange noises. Legend has it that there are many places in the village where tragic events happened in the old days and the ghosts of the deceased still return.

The paranormal is also present in the history of the small village. As we wrote in this article, the name of the village, “Hollókő,” means “Ravenstone” in English. The name comes from the legend of András Kacsics, a lord who kidnapped the beautiful wife of the neighbouring squire and locked her in his castle.

However, he did not know that the woman’s nurse was a witch who conspired with the devil to free her lady. She persuaded the devil to send his sons in the form of ravens to help. The devil-spawn did come, and tore the fortress down stone by stone, freeing the woman. The ravens then made a new castle out of the rock which became Hollókő, aka. Ravenstone. The village below was named after the castle.

The tragic love story of Sirok Castle

Sirok Castle is located in Northeast Hungary, in the Mátra Mountains. It is a small castle, high up on a steep climb, with a wonderful view of the surrounding area. However, the lonely castle up on the mountaintop has a sad story.

Mysterious legends of Hungarian fortresses

Source: https://www.facebook.com/sirokivar

Legend has it that the castle was the scene of a tragic love affair: the castle was taken over by a young girl named Gizella Kompolti. Once, seven knights stayed in the castle, each of whom fell in love with Gizella the moment they laid eyes on her. But she only returned the love of one of them. To win her hand, the knights fought a duel, but in the fight, Giselle’s lover died.

In her grief, Gizella killed the victorious knight and cast herself down from the highest bastion of the castle. It is believed that the castle has been haunted by ghosts ever since. The spirit of Gizella returns every night when the sun goes down and jumps down from the tower. It is rumoured that some people have seen Gizella leaping into the depths in a white dress and that her screams have been heard near the ruins.

Esterházy Castle haunted by ghosts

The Esterházy Castle is not just a beautiful sight that evokes the splendour of the earlier ages: like many old buildings, it has its own ghost-filled history.

According to legend, the castle is haunted by a descendant of the Esterházy family who, after dying a tragic death, could not find rest in the realm of the dead. Instead, he returns to haunt the Castle. The figure is called the “Ghost Rider.” He is a mysterious, dark figure who prowls around the castle at night on a white horse. According to travelo.hu, several visitors have reportedly seen the ghost.