Chiajna Monastery, Romania

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This ruined 18th century monastery, which lies just outside Bucharest in Romania, has an intriguing cursed history. It was abandoned during a plague and fell into further disrepair after a 1977 earthquake. Locals claim that its fallen bell is still heard ringing from the depths of the Dambovita River. There are also legends that countless Roma people have vanished in these crumbling halls. Grisly murders also occurred in this area in 1967 and 2006.

Sanzhi UFO Houses, Taiwan

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Inspired by Futuro prefabricated architecture, these homes were built in 1978 and were installed with chic modern fittings. However, only two years later, the project was abruptly called off. The construction company suffered a spate of strange car accidents and were forced to abandon the site due to lack of funds. Various rumours of curses have sprung up around these distinctive properties. Some say that 20,000 17th century Dutch soldiers were buried at the site; others claim that the builders angered local spirits by cutting up a Chinese dragon sculpture to make way for a new road to the area.

Valley of the Kings, Egypt

Egypt’s Valley of the Kings is the final resting place for ancient Pharaohs. Many of their tombs contained written curses to deter grave robbers. No such tablet was found in the grave of Tutankhamun – yet many have speculated that a curse fell on those who uncovered it in an intact state in the 1920s. George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, the project’s financial backer, died within five months of the opening. His colleagues AC Mace and Richard Bethell would also die in the next seven years.

Roanoke Island, North Carolina

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In the 16th century, Sir Walter Raleigh tried to establish the first permanent English colony in North America. He chose Roanoke Island, which later became the first birthplace of an English child on the continent. However, this community was doomed to a mysterious fate. The governor, John White, returned to England to bring back much-needed supplies to the colony, but military action hampered his efforts to return for four years. When he eventually arrived on the island, the fortress was completely abandoned. No one has ever discovered what happened to the 100+ inhabitants.

Tomb of Masakado, Japan

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Taira No Masakado was a 10th century samurai with a fearsome reputation. According to folklore, his vengeful spirit has long wreaked havoc in Tokyo, where his head was buried after a violent decapitation. Several shrines and tombs are dedicated to him around the city, and it is said that the city’s fortunes depend upon the respectful maintenance of these sites. Bankruptcies, a lightning strike and a bulldozer crash have all been blamed on this terrifying figure.

The Bermuda Triangle

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The Bermuda Triangle is a western region of the North Atlantic Ocean that appears to play havoc with aircraft and ships passing through. Many vehicles have sunk or gone missing in this mysterious region since the 20th century. In 1945, a group of five torpedo bombers went missing in the area. Before the pilots lost contact with the navy, one flight leader reportedly left a haunting message: “We are entering white water, nothing seems right. We don’t know where we are, the water is green, no white.”

Colobraro, Italy

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This site is considered so cursed that local people refuse to name it, instead describing it as simply “That Village”. The very name Colobraro derives from the Latin word for “serpent”, which is viewed as a symbol of evil. The settlement has been plagued with freak accidents for decades, including a strange incident where a lawyer in the court declared that if he was incorrect about a case, the chandelier would surely plummet from the ceiling. Sure enough, a moment later the light fitting fell down.

Omenainen, Finland

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Ghost stories abound over this scenic island in the Baltic Sea. Uninhabited, this region was long used as a burial ground for whomever the local parishes churches in Nagu and Rymättylä refused to bury, including murderers and other sinners. The vengeful ghosts of these figures are thought to haunt the island and terrorise any visitors.

Bhangarh Fort, India

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In the 16th century, this fort was filled with temples and palaces under the rule of Bhagwant Das. Legend has it that one holy man living in the fort warned that no building should cast a shadow over his meditation spot. When his instruction was ignored and locals built columns that cast a shadow on his dwelling, the fort and all the surrounding towns were destroyed. Today, it lies in ruins and visitors report seeing ghosts and feeling an eerie chill in the area.

Al Jazirah Al Hamra, United Arab Emirates

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This one-time pearl fishing town was once home to a thriving community. But in the 1960s, after over 100 years of occupancy, villagers abandoned the area to move to Abu Dhabi. A mosque, marketplace, homes and schools have fallen into disrepair. Locals claim the site is haunted and say they have witnessed shadowy figures, vanishing cats, strange lights and a sudden feeling of dread in certain spots.