- Nothing spices up a vacation quite like a horrible curse.
Vacations are all fun and games until you disturb an ancient spirit and come home with a terrible curse. There are places around the world where that could conceivably happen.
Many popular tourist sites and locations reportedly carry curses or are haunted in one way or another. Often, the rumors about supernatural goings-on only add to the place’s fame.
Here are seven examples of allegedly cursed but still popular tourist destinations around the world.
1. Margam Abbey, Wales
The curse that has befallen Margam Abbey in Wales is of a curious sort, as it’s mostly benign. As long as you don’t go plow down what’s left of the abbey with a bulldozer, you’re perfectly fine visiting the place.
The abbey was built in the 12th century and hosted monks until its dissolution by Henry VIII. Before the last monks were driven out, however, one of them cursed their old home.
According to folklore, should the abbey ever be completely razed, the nearby town of Port Talbot will be destroyed with it. The locals aren’t in a rush to find out if the curse is true and lovingly look after the abbey’s remaining structures.
2. Ko Hin-Ngam Beach, Thailand
Ko Hin-Ngam Beach is located on its eponymous island off the coast of southern Thailand. It’s renowned for its curious black pebble beach.
Over time, the waves have polished the beach’s rocks into perfectly smooth little pebbles. They make for a striking scene, and you might be tempted to pocket one as a souvenir.
But don’t! The pebbles are the property of a Thai sea god, and he guards his possessions jealously. Anyone who dares remove even one stone from Ko Hin-Nham will be cursed with misfortune and ill fate for the rest of their lives.
3. Tower of London, England
You might be familiar with the famous tradition of keeping ravens at the Tower of London. If the birds ever leave the tower, the British monarchy will collapse soon after.
But that’s not the only supernatural rumor about the old fortress. It has served as a prison to many enemies of British monarchs, and some of them may remain in the tower.
Numerous ghosts of its previous occupants reportedly haunt the Tower of London. Among the most famous of them is Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s ill-fated wife.
4. Bhangarh Fort, India
The Bhangarh Fort is a 16th-century fortress in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan. It is immaculately preserved and attracts large crowds of tourists every year.
It’s also extremely cursed, but no one’s quite sure why. One legend tells of an incensed sadhu (an Indian holy ascetic) who cursed the fortress that disrupted his peaceful meditations. Another story claims a dark magician swore vengeance on the fortress and its inhabitants after he failed to court a princess.
Whichever the case, visitors are strongly advised to get out of the fortress before sundown. It’s not exactly clear what happens in the fort at night, but the locals will tell you that it’s best you’re not around to find out.
5. Island of the Dolls, Mexico
The Island of the Dolls is located in the canals of Mexico City’s Xochimilco neighborhood. The eerie place was created in the 1950s, when a local eccentric started hanging abandoned dolls he’d found on the island’s trees.
Over the decades, he gathered hundreds upon hundreds of dolls to the place. You can probably understand why the place has a reputation for being extremely cursed.
People on boat tours through the island have reported that the dolls’ heads will turn to follow passersby. Other mysterious phenomena include children’s laughter and crying, disembodied whispers, and strange shapes moving in the trees.
6. Pyramid Builders’ Village, Egypt
Everybody knows that Egyptian pharaohs’ tombs in their massive pyramids carry various curses. But the same goes for the people who built those tombs.
The pyramid workers’ village and graveyards were discovered only recently in 2017 near the pyramids of Giza. Surprisingly, the supervisor of the workers apparently wanted to ensure his subordinates could enjoy their hard-earned eternal rest in peace.
Stones erected in the cemetery contain multiple curses against those who would defile the graves or bear ill will against those lying in them. Yet, the village and graveyards have been opened to the public.
If you visit, you’d better be on your best behavior.
7. Charles Island, Connecticut
Charles Island is a small piece of land in the sea by Milford, Connecticut. During low tides, you can walk to it along a sandbar that’s usually under the waves.
However, you’ll go to the island at your own risk. The place isn’t just cursed, but triple cursed.
According to stories, the first curse was laid on Charles Island by the Native American chief Paugussett, whose people were driven out of the area. Pirate captain William Kidd cast the second curse after he reportedly buried his booty there in 1699.
The third curse comes all the way from Mexico. Emperor Guatimozin reportedly cursed a cachet of gold that a group of Connecticut sailors hid on Charles Island after looting it from Mexico.