Ghosts in abandoned houses. Abandoned haunted house

If you have a lot of stamina - most of these places can be easily visited.

1. Paris Catacombs - Paris, France.

At the very beginning of the history of Paris, when Christianity flourished, the practice of burying the dead not on the outskirts, but within the city, became applicable. As the city grew, its cemeteries became overcrowded and unsanitary.

The areas surrounding the most popular cemeteries were so heavily contaminated with decaying remains that a new large-scale burial ground was needed. In the late 1700s, six million Parisian "dead" were exhumed and transferred to underground tunnels Parisian catacombs. It is said that hostile spirits whose bodies have been disturbed now haunt the tunnels.

Visitors say that not only are human remains crawling out of the tunnels, carefully buried row after row, but also supernatural phenomena: cold spots, the feeling of being watched, dark figures, and there have even been several cases of ghost strangulation.

2. Island of the Dolls - Xochimilco, Mexico

Imagine floating lazily down a maze of fairly small canals in Xochimilco, south of Mexico City. You see other trajinera gondolas - colorful boats carrying visitors, live traditional music playing next to you as you enjoy your breakfast, looking out at the wildlife and tastefully manicured gardens of the islands floating nearby.

Then you look up and realize that instead wildlife, you are actually surrounded by dolls. Your boat has sailed, the music has died down and there are only dolls around - mutilated, dirty, disgusting dolls. Thanks to Don Julian Santana Barrera. The story goes that Barrera found the body of a little girl near his canal island. He believed that he was being haunted by her ghost, and decided that these creepy dolls would help protect him from the girl's spirit.

As might be expected, he spent the next quarter of a century hiding in his home until he died... or rather, drowned in the very spot on the river where the girl's body was said to have been found. Visitors to the island are convinced that the dolls have taken on the girl's spirit or are independently giving birth to evil spirits, and they are often seen whispering to each other.

3. Roscrea Castle, Offaly, Ireland

If in an old castle there is a room called " Bloody Chapel" - this is enough for me not to set foot in this building. The chapel got its name and haunted history sometime in the mid-1500s when the chapel's priest was stabbed to death in the middle of a service by his insane brother, leaving him to bleed to death on the altar.

The underground dungeon, a long, spiked shaft at the back of the chapel where the castle's enemies were dumped to their doom, is another likely source for the 20 or so spirits rumored to haunt the building today. The most terrifying of these is the Elemental, a hunched creature with a decaying face that smells of rotting flesh and sulfur.

4. Larundel Psychiatric Hospital - Bundoora, Australia

In 1953 mental hospital Larundel opened its doors to hundreds of patients with varying degrees of mental illness and psychosis, as well as one famous patient who, after his time at the facility, became one of Australia's most notorious serial killers. Today, the building is covered in graffiti such as pictures of monsters, straitjackets and freaky eyes.

Parts of the building were heavily damaged by the fire, which is believed to have caused restless spirits. People exploring the territory often talk about loud sounds, strong, unpleasant odors, and sometimes they can hear children crying or - which is somehow even creepy - laughter.

The most common sound heard is that of a young girl's music box on the third floor. The girl is said to have died there, and sometimes appears to visitors in a nightgown, holding a box.

5. Tower of London - London, England

Since the 1070s Tower of London used as royal residence, a menagerie, a mint and treasury, an arsenal, but is most often remembered as torture chambers and a prison used by English monarchs to quench their thirst for violent punishment. The spirit of Anne Boleyn, who was executed here in 1536, haunts several parts of the tower, especially the area where she was executed.

Her ghost was seen wandering around without a head Royal Chapel. Another of Henry VIII's victims, the Countess of Salisbury, managed to escape before she was beheaded, but the executioners caught up with her, throwing an ax that killed her - a gruesome scene that is repeatedly enacted by the spirits and which can be seen by visiting the Green Tower.

6. Linda Vista Hospital - Los Angeles, California, USA

Linda Vista Hospital in Los Angeles had previously flourished. But since East End As the Los Angeles area changes, both customers and employees experience changes. In the 1970s and 80s on quality medical care Doctors' decisions to move to hospitals in wealthier areas had an impact, leading to unusually high mortality rates in Linda Vista.

By 1991, the hospital ceased to exist and quickly became empty. In the following years, the building quickly fell into disrepair, and rumors spread of screams in the night, unexplained voices, ghostly appearances, and the sounds of disembodied, insanely eerie humming. City researchers swear that a little girl still hangs in one of the old operating rooms, and sometimes tries to grab a living person's hand for comfort.

The hospital is going to be converted into a senior citizens' apartment, in case there are any grandparents you don't particularly like.

7. Aokigahara Suicide Forest - at the foot of Mount Fuji, Japan

The dense forest of Aokigahara was popular place in suicide even before Wataru Tsurumi's 1993 bestseller " Complete Guide suicide" who called him ideal place, in order to die. Suicides were so common here that in the 1970s the government established annual sweeps to remove the bodies - most of which were found in various stages of decay, hanging from trees in nooses.

With an estimated 70-100 bodies found here every year, it is horrifyingly likely that the sounds of crying heard through the trees could be from actual living people committing suicide, but many believe the forest is cursed to torture the souls of those who die here. In any case, I wouldn't want to find out the details.

8. Edinburgh Castle - Edinburgh, Scotland

Castle dungeons, especially from 900 -years of history, have seen various hard times. The dungeons of Edinburgh Castle are haunted by the spirits of such strange personalities as Lady Janet Douglas, who was accused of being a witch and was later burned at the stake (along with other 300 women who were burned in the entire history of the castle), Prince Alexander Stuart of Albany, who escaped , killing the guards and burning their bodies.

When visiting, we expect to see their ghosts and the spirits of a headless drummer, a phantom bagpiper, a stray dog ​​from a dog cemetery and many other deceased prisoners roaming the halls. Visitors also report an eerie feeling of being watched, unnatural temperature fluctuations, breathing sounds coming from nowhere, and, worst of all, invisible bodies touching their faces.

9. Igorot Funeral Caves - Echo Valley, Sagada, Philippines

For centuries, coffins containing the remains of famous citizens of the small mountain town of Sagada in the Philippines were hung along the cliffs of Echo Valley. The tradition is associated with the belief of the Igorot tribe that hanging bodies of the dead brings them closer to heaven, and in addition saves their bodies from scavenger animals.

The tradition goes back centuries, with some decaying coffins falling off the cliffs, making the area a bit terrifying. Along with the coffins suspended on the rocks, scores of coffins fill the caves below.

According to local residents, not only coffins and remains are found in Echo Valley. Sometimes whispering voices are heard, and shadows appear here and there. There have also been rumors that the cave ghosts play mischief, but the Igorot people usually say that if you just show some respect and don't disturb the coffins, you will come out of the valley unharmed.

10. Hotel Cecil - Los Angeles, California, USA

The Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles has a reputation where you probably won't want to stay, due to drug addicts, serial killers and really scammed tourists. It was first heard of in 1947, in connection with the still unsolved case of the murder of the Black Orchid girl, and in subsequent years the hotel was associated with several more mysterious deaths.

After a number of suicides and several murders in the rooms, the hotel became famous as the residence of serial killers Richard Ramirez (The Night Stalker) in 1985 and Jack Unterweger (The Vienna Strangler) in 1991. And then there was Elisa Lam, who disappeared from the hotel earlier this year. Shortly after her disappearance, a video was released showing Eliza in a hotel elevator (at her last known location), frantically pressing buttons, hiding by sneaking peeks into the hallway, and waving her arms down the hallway.

Weeks later, after hotel residents complained about the foul-smelling and strange-tasting water, her body was found at the bottom of one of the rooftop water tanks, although the area was closed off by an emergency door. With no visible signs of injury and no illegal substances in her body, her death was ruled an accident.

If you believe that she accidentally stripped naked and climbed without a ladder into one of the 2.5 meter high water tanks, fell inside and closed the lid of the tank behind her, then yes - there is nothing wrong at all at the Cecile Hotel.

11. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum - Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The most horrific holiday destination - with an estimated 14,000 men, women and children imprisoned by the Khmer Rouge, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh has seen many horrors over the past few decades. There is nothing unexpected in rumors of restless spirits, in a place where thousands have occurred horror stories.

Museum workers have been known to leave food out during their lunch breaks for the spirits - they say they otherwise cannot eat in peace due to poltergeist activity and loud crashing noises. Security guards say they have seen dark figures wandering around at night and regularly hear screams and banging inside buildings.

Other workers also say that the spirits of the dead come to them in their dreams at night. As horrifying as the thought of thousands of tortured souls wandering the scene of their brutal murders may be, the reality of what actually happened in those cells sounds a hell of a lot worse.

12. Lemp Mansion - St. Louis, Missouri, USA

The history of the Lemp family in St. Louis began in 1838, when Johann Adam Lemp built his small store to sell groceries, household items and his own lager beer. The light beer was so popular that Lemp started a brewing business, which made his family and himself very rich.

Despite their success, the Lemp family experienced 4 suicides (and the murder of an unfortunate dog). And all this happened in their mansion. After the last member of this family died, the mansion was turned into a boarding house, and the building began to collapse. After the sounds of walking, knocking and other strange noises, people began to say that the building was haunted.

Today you can rent rooms in the mansion and test the existence of apparitions, other moving objects, and leave a toy in the attic for the ghost of William Jr.'s illegitimate son. He was everyone's favorite.

13. Chernobyl - Pripyat, Ukraine

300,000 people were evacuated from areas surrounding Chernobyl on April 26, 1986. Hundreds of residents and members of cleanup teams have died from radioactive poisoning, and people living in nearby towns have suffered from exposure for years.


Although the area has been vacant for almost 30 years, the site and the abandoned villages surrounding it have become the scene of strange phenomena. Witnesses reported seeing ghostly figures moving around the streets and in buildings, especially near the hospital in the city of Pripyat. But the saddest reports actually appeared BEFORE the disaster.

Reports of winged, giant dark figures - human-shaped but with glowing red eyes - began appearing in the vicinity of Chernobyl in the weeks before the accident. People also reported nightmares and threatening phone calls as everyone around them witnessed what became known as the Black Bird of Chernobyl. The inexplicable continued until the morning of April 26. After the accident, I never saw the Black Bird of Chernobyl.

14. Shanghai Tunnels - Portland, Oregon, USA

Portland's underground network of tunnels was heavily used between the 1850s and 1940 for human trafficking and other seedy purposes. Many of those who ended up in Shanghai - falling into tunnels through hatches hidden in bars and other dubious establishments, and being sold as labor on long sea voyages - did not survive.

The dark and dusty passages are now home to the souls of former tunnel workers and those who were trapped and imprisoned here, such as "Strawberry" - a little girl who lived in the basement with Nina, a long-dead prostitute.

15. Cannibal Village - Nabutautau, Fiji

In 1867, Christian missionary Reverend Thomas Baker visited a small village in the Fiji mountains. Shortly after his arrival in Nabutautau, the monk and his companions around Fiji were executed, cooked and eaten. More than a hundred years later, cannibalism has ceased in Fiji, but the spirits of the missionaries have not yet been appeased.

Guys, we put our soul into the site. Thank you for that
that you are discovering this beauty. Thanks for the inspiration and goosebumps.
Join us on Facebook And In contact with

There are many places in the world that people's rumors have attributed to the presence of evil spirits. But it’s one thing when there are rumors that voices, footsteps and strange shadows are wandering in the house, and another thing when otherworldly entities can be captured.
website made a selection of the most famous buildings in which visitors were able to take photographs of ghosts. These photographs have been examined by professionals who have concluded that the photographs are genuine.

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, UK

This gloomy castle holds the record for the number of ghosts living there. The ghost of a bagpiper who got lost in the labyrinths of the castle, never leaving it before his death, the spirit of a drummer from Oliver Cromwell's army, the ghost of a dog walking through the local cemetery, the spirits of French prisoners, townspeople who died from the plague.

In addition to these “known” ghosts, visitors also meet other unidentified entities, hear groans, footsteps, and many experience a deterioration in their health.

Myrtle Plantation, Louisiana, USA

This is one of the most famous haunted houses in the United States. The ghost of a dark-skinned slave, Chloe, haunts the plantation. According to legend, the owner caught Chloe listening at the door and cut off her ear. Offended, Chloe baked a poisoned pie for the owner, which was accidentally eaten by his wife and three daughters. The owner, in desperation, unleashed his wrath on all the slaves of the estate, executing anyone who, in his opinion, was under suspicion. The slaves, in turn, carried out lynching of Chloe and lynched her.

Since then, the dark ghost of the tortured slave has repeatedly made itself known and attracted paranormal researchers and ordinary tourists to the estate.

Queens House, Greenwich, London, UK

This white house, decorated with ebony, was the place of imprisonment of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard (fifth wife of Henry VIII), Lady Jane Gray, Queen Elizabeth I. To this day, the ghost of the Lady in Gray walks along the tulip stairs of Queens House (who exactly is this from prisoners, has not been established).

In 1966, photographer Ralph Hardy managed to capture a silhouette walking up the stairs. Kodak experts have determined that the photo is genuine. In addition to the Gray Lady, there are other anomalies in Queens House: children's choir singing, the ghost of a woman wiping blood from the floor.

Newby Church, North Yorkshire, UK

Newby Church has not been known to be haunted since its construction, but in 1963 the Reverend C. F. Lord took a photograph of the altar and, when the film was developed, it revealed the outline of an eerie phantom measuring 9 feet (275 cm).

The ghost in the photo turned out to be so clear that the authenticity of the photo was questioned, but experts, having studied it, came to the conclusion that this was not a double exposure or some other photo trick. I wonder if this photo inspired the creators of Scream?

Port Arthur Prison, Tasmania, Australia

In the 19th century, Port Arthur was a prison where people died a large number of prisoners unable to withstand harsh living and working conditions. Now the old prison building is dilapidated, and no one lives in it permanently. Nobody but ghosts. At night, footsteps are heard here, old doors creak, and lights flicker in the windows every now and then. Port Arthur has become a real Mecca for all lovers of the supernatural.

Winchester House, San Jose, California, USA

The California home was purchased by Sarah Winchester, daughter-in-law of gunsmith Oliver Winchester, in 1884. After the death of her child and then her husband, Sarah went to a medium who told her that the misfortunes in the family were due to spirits killed by weapons created by Winchester.

To prevent vengeful ghosts from reaching her, Sarah rebuilt the house according to her own design, making it incredibly intricate and huge (there are about 10,000 windows alone).

After Sarah's death, strange phenomena began in the mansion: shadows in the mirrors, doors slamming, objects moving. According to the mystical version, these spirits are still looking for Sarah, wandering through the endless corridors of her house. Rumors of ghosts attract crowds of tourists to this house; it is called the most extravagant attraction in California.

Berry Pomeroy Castle, Devon, UK

Visitors to this castle, for no reason, begin to experience despondency, fear and irritation on its territory. The reason for this, according to many, is the ghost of the White Lady, who was repeatedly encountered within these gloomy walls. Locals say that this is the soul of Margaret Pomeroy, whom her sister Eleanor, out of envy, imprisoned in the tower and starved for 20 days until the unfortunate woman died. Most often, the translucent ghost is seen silently hovering above St. Margaret's Tower.

St David's Cathedral, Wales, UK

Do you want to tickle your nerves with quality while going on a trip? On our planet you can find enough places characterized by increased paranormal activity and the presence of ghosts, according to eyewitnesses. So, where can a risky and adventurous tourist who wants to encounter something supernatural go?

1. Eastern State Penitentiary

The maximum security prison in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) has long been the subject of numerous paranormal investigations. The building resembles a well-fortified fortress with towers and powerful gates, and it served as a prison for almost 140 years until the early 1970s. Nowadays it's state museum, and one of the most interesting places in the former prison - this is the solitary cell of Al Capone himself. Abuse and torture led to many prisoners going crazy and dying, which is why today visitors report hearing ominous whispers, crying and even dark silhouettes in the premises.

2. Tower of London

So many executions were carried out in the Tower so often that manifestations of paranormal activity within its walls do not seem surprising at all. Most often, visitors and workers notice the appearance of the ghosts of Queen Anne Boleyn, the executed wife of King Henry VIII, the childish silhouettes of Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York, as well as the elderly Countess of Salisbury, whom the executioner managed to behead only the third time.

3. Gettysburg

Gettysburg (Pennsylvania) is one of the most visited historical places in USA. This is the site of a bloody three-day battle (1863) during civil war, which claimed the lives of about 50 thousand people. It is believed that the battlefield and several nearby buildings, then used as temporary hospitals for the wounded, have forever remained an eternal refuge for the souls of many soldiers, whose ghosts are often observed by tourists coming to these parts.

4. Père Lachaise

The atmosphere of the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris is unique and inimitable; its territory is not similar to any other earthly cemetery, but rather to some special one City of dead. The ancient tombstones, statues and absolute silence of Père Lachaise make visitors feel as if they are constantly being watched by invisible eyes.

5. Bran Castle

Bran Castle in Transylvania is a real tourist attraction. Of course, people still call it nothing more than Dracula’s Castle. There are no historical records confirming that Vlad the Impaler was his master, but for several months he was kept in this castle as a prisoner. However, imagination is a powerful thing, and Bran Castle forever became the fearsome fortress of Dracula himself.

6. Queen Mary liner

The transatlantic military transport liner Queen Mary is also haunted, according to numerous eyewitnesses. Nowadays he is permanently laid up in the port city ​​of Long Beach(California) and performs many functions: a museum, restaurant, hotel and premises for presentations, exhibitions and conventions. There is even a church and chapel on board for wedding ceremonies. Among the paranormal activity, one can note the appearance of a young man who was crushed by door number 13 in the engine room, the sounds of splashing water from an empty swimming pool and traces of wet feet and
dancing lady in white in the first class lounge.

7. Mansfield Prison

If you walk into the former Mansfield (Ohio) Penitentiary and Penitentiary, chances are you'll feel very uneasy there. Many terrible and mysterious deaths were recorded in the prison infirmary.

The chapel once housed a torture chamber, and the so-called “Hole” was a terrifying punishment cell. By the way, it was Mansfield Prison that “played the role” of Shawshank Prison in the film “The Shawshank Redemption.”

8. Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle is a very attractive place for tourists, which, of course, is not without its own ghosts, namely the Greyfriars dog Bobby, who guarded the grave of his deceased owner, and a mysterious man in a leather apron. In addition, the sounds of bagpipes can be heard here, since a local bagpiper was once lost forever in the tunnels under the castle, and visitors also note the constant feeling that they are being watched by the invisible inhabitants of the castle.

9. Paris Catacombs

They say that the Parisian catacombs are simply overpopulated with ghosts. And this is quite understandable. The catacombs serve as underground burial chambers for huge quantities of bones removed from the city's overcrowded cemeteries.

The remains were used to create an amazing, but rather ominous ossuary (ossuary) in the form of crosses and imitation walls.

10. St. Louis Cemetery

St. Louis Cemetery in the city New Orleans(Louisiana) looks like a real setting for some Hollywood horror movie. Visitors are also drawn to the tomb of a local voodoo queen named Marie Laveau, who died in the late 19th century.

It is believed that even from underground she continues to fulfill the wishes of those who come to her here for help - most importantly, do not forget to draw three crosses on the wall of her crypt.

If you are interested in abandoned buildings and ghosts, then we offer you a kind of guide: in these abandoned buildings located in different parts of the world, according to local legends, you can not only touch history, but also meet ghosts. Almost all of these places can be visited on your own, since access to them is free, but we still strongly recommend visiting them only virtually. So, let's begin:

Berengaria Hotel

where: Prodromos, Cyprus
The hotel, built in 1930 by one wealthy man, flourished in the 1950s-70s, bringing considerable profit. However, the death of the hotel owner predicted a sad fate for his brainchild. He bequeathed the management of the hotel to his three sons, who initially managed to run the family business. However, later, when quarrels began over the distribution of profits, all three brothers died one after another under very strange circumstances. They say that the owner and the hotel took revenge on them for failing to keep their promise. Everything that could be taken out of the hotel was taken out local residents, and the hotel fell into complete disrepair. The ghosts of the brothers are said to have taken up residence in the ruins of the building.

Bhangarh Fort


where: on the road to Alwar and Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
On the way to the castle, signs are striking that strictly prohibit approaching it after sunset, since anyone who dares to do so will never return back! Tradition says that a black magician cast a curse on Bangar and its inhabitants because the shadow of the fort fell on sacred place, which was intended for meditation. He cursed everyone, saying that they would die a painful death, and their spirits would remain in the castle for centuries. That's how it all happened. This castle truly brings animal fear to every mortal. The Indian government somehow decided to debunk the terrible myth and set up armed patrols in the fort, but there were still brave souls.

Diplomat Hotel


Where: Baguio, Philippines
Residents of houses in the surrounding area complain of chilling sounds - groans, screams, slamming doors, hurried footsteps - coming, according to them, from the direction of the abandoned hotel. During World War II, this building served as a refuge for refugees, being repeatedly shelled and bombed. Japanese army soldiers executed many innocent nurses here. When a hotel was opened in the building in the 70s of the last century, its inhabitants repeatedly saw the silhouettes of mysterious black figures walking through the halls, appearing in the windows, hiding behind the curtains.

St. John's Hospital (Saint John Hospital)


where: Lincolnshire, England
This hospital, founded in 1852, was created for the sick poor who suffered from mental disorders. For obvious reasons, few people cared about the fate of poor patients, so cruel treatment methods were used against the unfortunate patients. When in 1989, after the hospital closed, hired workers were asked to remove all existing medical equipment from the building, they were not able to spend even a couple of days there. According to the men, they were constantly haunted by terrifying screams of unknown origin. Firefighters were called to the abandoned hospital more than once, as it seemed to people passing by that flames were bursting out of the windows. The fire crews that arrived each time did not find any signs indicating a fire, but they saw some strange lights flashing in the corridors.

Salesian School (Salesian school)


Where: Goshen, New York, USA
This Catholic school for boys was built on the territory of a former aristocratic estate. She enjoyed honor and respect until one day, in 1964, one of her students died: 9-year-old Paul Ramos fell to his death from the roof of one of the educational buildings. Then the boy’s death was explained as a tragic accident, but at the beginning of the 2000s, the press and intelligence services again became interested in this case. As it turned out, the student’s body lay too far from the school building: for it to fall at such a distance, someone had to push it, but finding the killer, of course, is already impossible. Currently, the school building is under guard, but those few brave souls who managed to bypass it and approach the abandoned building, according to them, saw the silhouette of a boy in the window openings.

Baldoon Castle


where: Bladnock, Scotland
During the day, the ruins of the castle do not evoke anything sinister, but at night, they say, you can see the ghost of the bride Janet Dalrymple, dressed in a bloody wedding dress. According to legend, in the middle of the 17th century, her parents forced her to marry the rich owner of this castle, although she herself loved a poor guy named Archibald. However, the girl never had to marry someone she didn’t love. A few minutes before the bride left for the wedding ceremony, she was found stabbed to death in the room where brides wait to walk down the aisle. Some say that this is the work of a rejected lover, while others believe that Janet committed suicide.

Great Isaac Cay Lighthouse


Where: Great Isaac Cay, Bahamas
The designation of this island is not on every map, but its coordinates are well known to ghost hunters. Legend has it that in the 19th century there was a shipwreck very close to the island, in which only small child. No one knows what his future fate was, but the spirit of the child’s mother, a lady in gray, still wanders around the abandoned lighthouse at night, crying bitterly with grief. Two caretakers who lived here disappeared in 1969 under unclear circumstances. Their bodies have not yet been found. Many people associate this mystery with the fact that the island is geographically located in Bermuda Triangle, although according to skeptics, people simply died during Hurricane Anna, which carried their bodies into the ocean.

Waverly Hills Sanatorium (Waverly Hills Sanatorium)


Where: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
The building of a former sanatorium for tuberculosis patients has more than once been recognized as one of the most creepy places on the territory of the USA. Students of pan-normal activity believe that it is very high here. To a large extent, this refers to the “tunnel of death”, which was originally cut for the sanatorium employees: thus, they got to their jobs faster and safer, bypassing the rather steep hillsides. And later, this tunnel began to be used to secretly remove the bodies of deceased patients: the living did not need to see how their neighbors in the ward set off on their final journey. Ghosts were seen not only in the narrow and terrifyingly dark corridor, but also inside certain rooms. For example, in room 502 lives the spirit of a nurse who hanged herself here after she, a pregnant woman, learned that she had contracted tuberculosis. Those wishing to visit the abandoned sanatorium can do so as part of an excursion group.

Do you believe in ghosts? No? And they believe in you :) And they invite you to visit them in one of the largest wooden houses in the world. Of course, this house has long been abandoned. And as usual, he has a complicated history. Welcome to the orphanage on the largest of the Princes' Islands (Adalar) - Buyukada, near Istanbul.

The history of Büyükada Rum Yetimhanesi ("Greek Shelter") began in 1899, when a French company decided to build a hotel and casino "Prinkipo Palace" on the top of the hill.

Postcard

The building turned out to be luxurious: 6 floors, 20,000 square meters, 206 rooms, many utility rooms, more than 100 windows!

But the French plans were not destined to come true - Sultan Abdul Hamid II did not issue permission for operation. The building had to be sold. Its new owner was the wife of a Greek banker. After her death, he transferred the house to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. So it became an orphanage for Greek orphans.

When did the first one begin? World War, the children were resettled, and the house was used by the Turkish military school “Kuleli”.

Then for some time Greek refugees lived in the house, who were sent to the Princes' Islands. Russian refugees also flocked there, seeking salvation from the Bolsheviks. The house accommodated everyone, like a giant Noah's Ark.

Later, the house again became an orphanage and school for 1,000 Greek orphan boys.

The shelter existed until the 60s, when the building, built entirely of wood, began to crumble. The house was occupied and closed.

Since then it has stood abandoned and no one has tried to restore it. Many ceilings have already collapsed, the roof is missing in places, which only accelerates the destruction.

In 2010, the Patriarchate of Constantinople regained ownership of the house and plans to restore it.

But in 8 years, only a fence was erected around the building and security was installed.

A family lives on the territory of the house and makes sure that no one gets in here.

Dogs run around and various village animals graze. It was not possible to get inside.

From the outside you can see the deplorable state of the building.

Even its partial restoration requires huge amounts of money.

There are several more auxiliary wooden buildings on the territory.

The shelter simply amazes with its scale. The building is somewhat reminiscent of the Titanic, and is, in fact, from the same era of giant structures.

Inside, all the finishing is also made of wood. There are photographs from the 60s, when the shelter was closed. Pay attention to the rich interior - originally there was supposed to be a casino here.

On a bright, sunny day you don’t think about sad things at all, but in inclement weather it should be sad here.

I wonder if the Greek Church will ever pay tribute to a building that has been home to thousands of people deprived of family and shelter for more than half a century?

Although it is probably easier to rebuild a building than to restore an old one.

For those who want to get there,