The history of mankind, unfortunately, is rich in cases of manifestation of cruelty, reaching the level of bloodthirstiness. And no matter how much we shout about humanity and justice, acts of violence are committed every moment on Earth.
On the manifestations of human cruelty, endless lists and ratings can be compiled. One of these ratings was the top 10 most terrible museums and castles in the world.
10. Horror Castle (London dungeon) in England
London, England
It has collected a bit of everything: an exposition of a fire in London, medieval chambers and instruments of torture, as well as various chilling shows. The castle is built very naturalistic and equipped with the latest developments, allowing, for example, to smell.
Ticket offices of the museum are open daily from 10.00 (Thu - from 11.00) to 16.00 hours (until 17.00 on Sat), but the schedule can change on holidays. The cost depends on the date of purchase, students are given discounts.
9. Museum of Hygiene in Russia
Saint Petersburg, RF
The museum does not have a single theme for exhibits: Pavlov’s dog, idle exhibits of circulatory systems, a dentist’s chair from the past, and even exhibits of genitals showing the phased development of sexually transmitted diseases. All individually, unpleasant and constituting a single disgusting sight.
Museum opening hours: daily, except Sunday. Paid entrance.
8. Museum of Pathology (Tower of the Mad) in Austria
Vienna, Austria
In the Middle Ages, this was the building of the shelter of the insane, hence the name "Tower of the Mad". The presented exposition is full of human organs and body parts, and exhibits showing abnormal cases of human development and sexually transmitted diseases. Everything, as they say, is natural, so it looks extremely unsightly.
The tower is open to visitors three days a week: Wednesday 10-18, Thursday 10-13, Saturday 10-13. The visit is paid.
7. Torture Museum in Malta
Mdina, Malta
The museum stores countless original medieval torture instruments and wax characters, recreating realistic paintings of the brutal atrocities of the Inquisition.
It is interesting that visitors will be relentlessly followed by a caretaker during the inspection of the collection, who is also part of the exhibition.
The museum is open daily, Sun 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Sat 10:00 - 16:00. Admission is paid, for students - a discount.
6. Castle of Dracula (Bran) in Romania
Transylvania, Carpathians, Romania
The castle, built on the edge of the abyss, is a terrible sight in the Gothic style. In one of the many rooms there is a huge bed on which, according to legend, Dracula sucked blood from his victims. In fact, the count was not a vampire, the basis of the legend was his bloodthirstiness for his servants. They say that he put unwanted people on a stake along the road to the castle, for which he received the nickname "Impaler" (putting on a stake).
You can come to the castle on your own or with an organized tour. The mode of operation depends on the season, mainly daily.
5. Museum of the Dead Souls, Italy
Church of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
In the capital of Italy is the most mysterious museum in the world. Entrance to this museum is free, however, to visit it you will need to obtain permission from the priest. The museum is filled with exhibits that are directly related to ghosts, and proving the presence on earth of dead souls. It is allowed to take pictures here, however, no one has managed to print the pictures taken.
You can visit the exposition at the time the church is open, daily from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 17.00 to 19.00.
4. Museum of Torture (Gateway to Prisoners) in the Netherlands
Bau Tenhof, The Hague, Netherlands
The XIII century museum, which was both a prison and a casemate for torture of prisoners, is the most terrible collection of executives' working equipment. The most bloody pictures and cruel tortures appear before my eyes, moreover, the kind guide will in detail and emotionally answer all questions on the use and purpose of torture instruments. The museum is so atmospheric and realistic that tourists often faint.
Located in the main square, near the famous international court. Entrance is paid, the halls are open until 11 pm.
3. Elmina Castle
Cape Coast (Cape Corso), Ghana
In third place is a monument symbolizing the guilt of a white man in front of a dark race: Ghana in the past is one of the first centers of trade in black slaves. A tight, narrow room, with a tiny window under the ceiling, shackles and a narrow passage in the wall - a passage for loading slaves. And the most chilling sight is the well, where people have been sitting for months, waiting for their fate.
In one of the wings of the fort there is a museum where you can see goods for which black leaders sold their fellow tribesmen: weapons, bottles of alcohol, beads. Now the castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cape Coast Castle is open daily from 9.00 to 16.30, visits are paid.
2. The Devils Museum in Lithuania
Kaunas, Lithuania
The second place went to the museum, which collected nearly 2,000 exhibits of devils, extremely realistically created from leather, wood, ceramics and other materials. This collection is the most numerous of its kind, it included the personal collection of the famous artist Antanas Zhmuijinvina. The exhibits are placed thematically on the methods of seducing a person by the devil. The collection is growing and has already been placed on three floors.
The exposition is open: Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun - from 11 to 17, Thu from 11 to 19, Mon, Sat - day off. The visit is paid, for children under 7 years old - free of charge.
1. Czech Museum-Ossuary of Kostnice
Sedlec, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic.
At one time, a cemetery and a church were located on the site of this museum. On a vast territory of 3.5 hectares, mainly victims of the 14th century plague epidemic and victims of the Hussite war were buried. After the overflow and subsequent closure of the burial, in order to restore order, all the skeletons of the deceased were dumped into the basement of the chapel, and not destroyed. After 2 centuries, a certain monk, in an attempt to clean up the chapel, dumped all the bones into six pyramid-shaped heaps. Even after 3 centuries, the new owner of the chapel entrusted the design of the chapel to the woodcarving master F. Rint, who processed all the existing skeletons and created from them a chilling interior made of human bones, the total number of which is about 40,000.
The chapel church is open to visitors daily, from morning to evening.
