Horrifying: Eight Sinister Graveyards Scattered Around the World

Cemeteries aren't exactly the nicest places to visit around. Although they are considered places of rest and peace, many of them can be quite scary too - especially the older ones with their tombs and statues of angels or other religious figures.

In addition, there are several horror stories and strange cases that occur in the cemeteries that feed various superstitions. With that in mind, we have listed here today (based on the List 25 article) some of the most horrifying graveyards you can find around the world. So, come on:

1 - Okunoin Cemetery - Japan

Okunoin Cemetery in Japan can be a beautiful place with its temples, Buddhist statues and ancestral trees, but it can also be quite scary. Supposedly there is buried Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism - and legends say he will be resurrected along with his followers.

In addition, the cemetery is filled with statues of Jizo, a small monk who died as a child. So many parents who have lost their children go to Okunoin Cemetery and wear these statues, putting small clothes on them to symbolize mourning for their children. There are also piles of overlapping tombstones that belong to people who had no family or friends and were therefore crowded into one space to be together at least in death.

2 - Suicide Cliffs - Mariana Islands

This is not exactly a cemetery, but a place where more than 1, 000 people committed suicide simultaneously. During World War II, the Americans took control of Saipan Island in the Mariana Islands, which until now was under Japanese rule. The Japanese who lived there received direct orders from Emperor Hirohito not to be caught by the Western military and were encouraged to commit suicide on behalf of the nation.

More than a thousand Japanese, including women, children and the elderly, launched themselves from the cliffs of Saipan Island, crashing into the rocks and waters below, in one of the largest joint suicides ever. Today, the place is known as "The Cliffs of Suicide." There is a temple there and dozens of tombs for these Japanese.

3 - Sedlec Ossuary - Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, it is possible to find a very terrifying ossuary in the city of Sedlec, with human bones that were used for decoration of the gothic church of the place. These bones were unearthed for the building's construction in the 14th century and were therefore used to decorate the somewhat sinister-looking space. According to local beliefs, there are ghosts in the Sedlec Ossuary, but they are fun and just like to play tricks on visitors.

4 - La Noria Cemetery - Chile

La Noria is an abandoned city in Chile, where dozens of people worked in the region's mines - its history is troubled and involves abuse and slave labor. As a place virtually forgotten by time, several cemetery tombs are open, strangely violated, with exposed bones and tombstones falling apart, giving it a daunting look. Locals say that when the sun goes down, it's not wise to wander the streets of La Noria.

5 - Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetery - Scotland

This is regarded as the scariest place in all of Scotland - and can be found in the heart of the city in central Edinburgh. According to locals, the place has constant paranormal activities attributed to the spirit of George Mackenzie, who was buried in the cemetery in 1691.

It is a violent spirit that can (according to legends) injure people passing by with scratches and bites. This does not seem to scare many because, due to Greyfriars Kirkyard's fame, the cemetery has become a tourist spot - and there is even a Ghost Tour . Of course, many people on this tour have reported finishing the tour and noticing strange body marks that were not on their skin before.

6 - Bones Chapel - Portugal

Like the Sedlec Ossuary, Portugal's Bones Chapel is a place with hundreds of carefully placed human bones. Already at the entrance of the sanctuary, located near a cemetery, we can see the following message: “We, bones that we are here, for your hope” - sinister. It is estimated that there are approximately 5, 000 skulls in the Bones Chapel.

7 - Valley of the Kings - Egypt

This is a true historical place where dozens of powerful pharaohs and nobles from Egypt were buried in tombs with their treasures. Many of these tombs have been breached by thieves and their treasures stolen, so there are legends of spirits that roam the Valley of Kings after victims to take revenge. Despite that, it must be an interesting historical place to know, no?

8 - Catacombs of Paris

The Catacombs of Paris are part of an extensive ossuary along the underground tunnels of the French capital. Although the largest churches in Paris had their own cemeteries, due to the city's growth, bones from several generations had been accumulated, and the churches could no longer keep these bones.

Because of the crowding, the catacombs were created to make room in the capital's cemeteries. At the very least, it must be a little daunting to walk through tunnels and more skull-lined tunnels (the catacombs are estimated to contain approximately 5 million people buried). Today this is a very famous tourist spot.

Of course, there are many other creepy graveyards and places considered somewhat sinister due to their history. And you, do you know more places that are like this? If you know of any, share it with us in the comments.