This magnificent château goes back to the 13th century, but time has not been kind to the abandoned stately property. Today, it sits as a derelict shell, crippled by terrible fires and badly damaged during the French Revolution, but it may fare better than the others on our list: a crowdfunding initiative has generated funds to restore the castle to its former splendor.
Dilapidated River House in Thailand
This abandoned river home in Phatthalung, Thailand, may appear peaceful at first sight, but it is far from it. Long neglected, its walls are cracking, the roof is collapsing, and the land underneath it is slowly being eaten up by the sea.
Former Georgian Parsonage
Although this seven-bedroom Georgian parsonage is located on five acres of Devonshire countryside, it is hardly a place where you would want to retire. The walls are decaying, and both the inside and outside have a somewhat scary feel, with overgrown plant life covering the walls and an unpleasant sense of stillness enveloping the property.
The House Eroded By The Sea
Holland Island in Maryland was formerly five miles long and home to hundreds of individuals and over 60 residential structures before being forced to migrate in the 1920s due to catastrophic erosion and increasing sea levels. This was the final remaining residence on the island, valiantly clinging to life and battling the sea until collapsing in 2010.
Ramshackle Neoclassical Palace
What was once a magnificent neo-classical palace is now in ruins. Darul Aman Palace in Kabul was created in the early twentieth century, but its full potential was never realized due to decades of conflict and death. It now sits as an eerie shell and a reminder of what may have been.
Deserted Ghost Town Cabin in California
Go no farther than this cabin in Bodie, a gold-mining town that sprang to life in the late 1800s, for a home haunted by the past. But, after the first boom, its population of roughly 10,000 people fell, and Bodie became an abandoned ghost town in the mid-20th century. You may walk through the desolate streets and see houses like this one, which has been vacant for almost a century.
Cobweb-laced Timber Cabin
Walking through a forest alone during the day may not appear frightening, but at nighttime, it’s the last place you’d want to be. Especially if you happened across this spooky wooden mansion with cobweb-laced windows. This decrepit shanty of a dwelling is hidden in the center of a protected wildlife reserve in the Owl Mountains of Poland.
Former Belgian Orphanage
While it may appear to be a storybook castle on the exterior, this abandoned château has not had a happy ending. The medieval property was erected in the nineteenth century and was held by the Nazis during WWII before being converted into an orphanage and summer camp. But, the deteriorating palace proved too expensive to maintain and was permanently shuttered in 1991, only to be destroyed by fire a few years later. Unfortunately, the beautiful mansion was demolished, but its iconic, spooky façade will never be forgotten.
Italianate Manor With a Political Past
This beautiful property, known as Orr Manor, was erected in 1865 by a local judge and was influenced by Gothic Revival and Italianate architecture. While we don’t know why the once-elegant home was abandoned, it’s apparent the previous owners fled quickly. The once-grand mansion sold in 2021 for a measly $90,000 (£83.7k), so let’s hope the new owner intends to restore the manor to its former splendor.