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Once, these stately abodes played host to luxury. Now, they’re decrepit and vacant, home only to dread and the ghosts of the past. These abandoned mansions from around the world prove that home truly is where the haunt is.
The Liu Family Mansion
Photo Credit: Flickr, Bunkichi Chang
Erected in Taiwan in 1929 as a home for a businessman and his family of eight, the Liu Family Mansion is known to believers as the Minxiong Ghost House. The businessman and his family are thought to have abandoned the home in the 1950s. The reason for the departure isn’t known, although some believe the house had become the site of unimaginable horror: The story goes that the family’s heartbroken maid drowned herself in the well, bringing calamity down on the property and those who reside there. Still others claim the home is haunted by the ghost of soldiers who died in a long-forgotten battle on the property.
Carleton Villa
Photo Credit: Pricey Pads
Located on Carleton Island in upstate New York’s St. Lawrence River, the Carleton Villa was constructed in 1894 for William Wyckoff, who made his fortune selling Remington typewriters. Unfortunately, the Wyckoff family never got a chance to enjoy their idyllic home. William’s wife Francis passed away from cancer a month before they were to move to the house. William himself died of a heart attack his first night in the new home. After William’s death, the home was passed down to his son but has sat abandoned and deteriorating for at least six decades.
The Chateau Miranda
Photo Credit: Flickr, nik gaffney
Belgium’s Chateau Miranda, also known as Chateau de Noisy, was built in 1866 for the Liedekerke-Beaufort family. The family relocated to the impressive neo-Gothic castle following the French Revolution, and the home remained in the family until it was possessed by the National Railway Company of Belgium. The mansion housed orphaned and sick children until 1980, when it was abandoned. Despite numerous offers to buy, the once-grand castle remained unoccupied until October of 2017, when it was demolished.
Cambusnethan House
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
The impressive Cambusnethan House still stands in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, where it was built in 1820 for the Lockhart family of Castlehill. The mansion was erected to the family’s specifications, including the Lockhart family crest above the entry and etched into the impressive staircase. Cambusnethan House is one of the few remaining Gothic revival homes in the country. Although public use of the building terminated in 1984 due to unsafe conditions, a “Friends of Cambusnethan Priory” organization, established in 2014, aims to protect the building from future damage.
The Jukuiju of Taiwan
Photo Credit: Flickr, Ares Hsu
This creepy abandoned mansion in the Taichung area of Taiwan was built in 1920. The property’s history is debated: Some believe it initially housed prominent poet Chen Ruoshi; others say it was owned by wealthy businessman Chen Shaozong. When Shaozong died without a will, the house was bought by a man named Liu. After Liu passed away, it is believed the home passed to his heirs, although it stands abandoned today.
The Mudhouse Mansion of Ohio
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
This storied mansion was a source of mystery and horror until its owners began the process of demolishing the historic building on September 21, 2015. There are conflicting claims about the building’s past; some say it was built in the 1840s, 50s, or 60s, others say it was built around the 1900s. Regardless, it’s believed the home had numerous owners throughout its mysterious existence.
One legend claims that an owner who used the mansion to hide his slaves during the Civil War—this despite the fact that Ohio was not a slave-owning state. When one of the slaves escaped, they allegedly killed the official and his family. Other stories claim the house was once the home of Bloody Mary, and that she roamed its corridors searching for her lost children. Although the house itself no longer stands, the legends around the infamous property persist to this day.
Villa de Vecchi of Italy
Photo Credit: Flickr,jeff kerwin
Nestled in the picturesque mountains of Lake Como, Italy, this 19th century home has allegedly been the site of generations of heartbreak. The impressive property was commissioned by Count and soldier Felix de Vecchi, who hired architect Alessandro Sidoli to construct the ideal family home. But a mere year before the villa was completed, Sidoli died, never to see his work come to fruition. Sadly, the tragedy didn’t end there. After the building was complete, Count de Vecchi returned home one day to find his wife murdered and his daughter missing. After a long search for his daughter, a heartbroken de Vecchi killed himself, unable to face life without his family. The villa was passed on to de Vecchi’s brother, but has stood abandoned and silent for decades.
Pidhirtsi Castle
Photo Credit: Flickr,Bo&Ko
This impressive castle in Pidhirtsi, Ukraine was constructed sometime between 1635 and 1640. The castle has had a rough history: During World War I, Russian soldiers removed much of the lavish interior. Later, it suffered yet another blow when then-owner prince Roman Sanguszko took some of the decadent inner furnishings with him to Brazil. In World War II, the castle was reopened as a Soviet tuberculosis hospital. But unfortunately, the building eventually caught fire and the interior was ravaged by flame for three weeks. Although stripped of its former glamour, the castle stands, eerie and decrepit, to this day.
This story was first published on The Lineup
