Topping our ranking of the eeriest attraction in every European country, Czechia's Houska Castle stands in the middle of nowhere. The nearest water sources, towns, and trade routes are all miles from the lonely fortress, so why is it here? One legend holds that, in the 13th century, the forests of Houska were deemed a gateway to hell itself – home to a yawning pit of doom. To seal off the bottomless chasm, a local duke is said to have erected the castle directly atop it.

In the years since, the site has supposedly attracted black magic practitioners and Nazi worshippers of the occult. Today, access is by guided tour only (if you’re brave enough).

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