Would you sleep in a haunted mansion? Eight European accommodations with a terrifying past

BarcelonaSome hotels invite you to relax, while others can have the opposite effect. If you're the kind of guest who enjoys the idea of spending the night in a room with a spine-tingling history, these are some of the most... terrifying of Europe where you can stay 365 days a year.

This 13th-century fortress is reputed to be haunted by the spirit of Lady Catherine, a young woman who died under mysterious circumstances after being locked in the tower as punishment for her affair with one of the stable boys. The castle had several owners until the late 20th century, was also used as a private boarding school, and in 1972 was converted into a luxury hotel.

This Belgian hotel offers the unique experience of sleeping inside a neo-Gothic church in small capsules installed within the temple, surrounded by original features such as the bell tower, pulpit, and altar. Known as champingThis trend arises from the combination of the words church (church in English) and camping, and consists of spending the night in old chapels or churches.

Would you dare to sleep behind bars? Hostel Celica is now a centrally located hostel in the Slovenian capital, but it once served as a prison during the Austro-Hungarian Empire and as a military barracks when Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia. The cells have been renovated inside, and several artists have painted colorful murals that distance them from their wartime past.

Located in the idyllic region of Småland, this Swedish hotel, formerly a mansion, harbors a tragic legend. It is believed to be haunted by the ghost of a young man who committed suicide in room 324. He was in love with the owner's daughter, but was forced to marry another man. Hotel guests they assure who often hear strange noises, as well as doors and windows closing by themselves.

Located on the island of Zealand, about 60 kilometers west of Copenhagen, this castle was built in 1215 and is considered one of the most mysterious and haunted sites on the continent. Part of the castle was used as a prison during the 16th and 17th centuries, and many visitors report hearing or seeing the ghosts that inhabit it. Among them are a Grey Lady, a White Lady, and the ghost of one of its prisoners, James Hepburn.

In the 1930s, this 15th-century Florentine building, a short walk from Florence Cathedral, was a favorite haunt of artists and poets. It's also known as one of the most haunted places in Tuscany, as over the years many guests have claimed to have seen ghosts and felt watched at night.

On Långholmen Island, one of Stockholm's many islands, stands a hotel that served as a prison from the 17th century until 1975. The cells are arranged along a gallery, and the hotel also houses a museum with historical artifacts and documents. The establishment has two sections: a luxury hotel with converted rooms, and a hostel where guests can share a cell with another traveler.

Located next to Oxford Street, in the heart of London's shopping district, this classically styled hotel offers all the comforts of a palace, including a ghost. Legend has it that a Victorian-looking man lives in room 333 and enjoys wandering the hotel's historic halls. The hotel's nearly two-century history also includes other apparitions, such as that of Napoleon III.