Nauru has had a troubled history, passed from one empire to the next. As one of the three big “phosphate rocks” of the Pacific, (Banaba in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia being the other two), the island was a … Read More
Port Royal, Jamaica was once known as “the most wicked and sinful city in the world”. Founded in 1494 by the Spanish, the enclave positioned on the mouth of what is now called Kingston Harbour, was the center of shipping … Read More
Bunker Valentin was the largest fortified U-boat facility in Germany during WWII. Built to produce submarines on a grand scale for the Nazi war effort, more than 10,000 forced laborers were used in the construction of this gigantic bunker, support … Read More
The Museum of Death, in Los Angeles, California boasts the world’s largest collection of serial killer artwork. That’s quite a claim to fame. It also has a vast collection of macabre exhibits related to, well you’ve guessed it, death. No … Read More
Tarrafal was once known as Campo da Morte Lenta (the “Camp of the Slow Death” in Portuguese). Those unfortunate enough to end up there suffered greatly. A notorious concentration camp in the Portuguese colony of Cape Verde, it was established … Read More
Abandoned settlements can be found all over northern Chile. They are the remains of the once very lucrative nitrate industry. In the first half of the 20th century, towns were rapidly built to house the many workers required to mine … Read More
If you take a trip to Viper Island in the sound of Port Blair, Andaman Islands, you will find the ruins of a former British colonial-era penal colony prison. Not much remains, however it is still worth taking the time … Read More
Visiting the Kura Hulanda Museum in Willemstad, Curaçao is a hard-hitting experience. Chronicling European colonization and the slave trade in the area, the exhibits certainly evoke an emotional response from those that venture inside. From original Ku Klux Klan robes … Read More
As with many of the Nuclear powers during the 1950s, the British chose a location far from home in order to conduct their testing. The place was the beautiful Montebello Islands off the north-west coast of Australia. Three nuclear weapons … Read More
The White Sea-Baltic Canal in northwest Russia has a dark history. It was one of the first large construction projects, fully conducted by the forced labor of gulag inmates. Stalin’s Five Year Plan and tyrannical push to prove that Russia … Read More
Moosham Castle in Unternberg, Austria, is considered one of the world’s most haunted castles. It is certainly closely linked with the macabre. Not only was Moosham the administrative center of the Zaubererjackl witch trials, (commonly thought of as the bloodiest … Read More
Dragsholm Castle in Denmark is a vision from a fairy tale. This stunning white-walled castle has stood on the west coast of Zealand for over 800 years. Situated just an hour from Copenhagen, it is a popular destination for tourists … Read More
The islands around French Guiana exhibit unparalleled natural beauty. If paradise needed a poster child, these could be it. Lush green forests, meet sandy beaches that roll into crystal blue waters. Tourists flock to this part of the world for … Read More
Villa Torlonia in Rome is a grand 19th-century villa that was once the home of Benito Mussolini. And as any dark tourist will admit, visiting the residences of former dictators is definitely intriguing. Lucky for us, it is now open … Read More
Eyam, located in the Peak District, Derbyshire, England, is a place with a dark history. And it all stems from a moment of innocence. Back in 1665, a local tailor ordered some materials from London so that he could make … Read More
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the long and bloody history of Leap Castle, County Offaly, Ireland will intrigue any dark tourist. A lot has gone on between its walls over the last 8 centuries and given that the … Read More
Chateau de Brissac is a sight to behold, it is quite possibly the most beautiful chateaux in France. Less subjectively, with 7 floors it is the tallest in the Loire Valley. Located in the village of Brissac-Quince in the département … Read More
Grytviken, South Georgia has fascinated me for years. It’s inhospitable nature at the far end of the world, along with being the final resting place of the great Sir Ernest Shackleton gives it a special place in my imagination. And … Read More
The Lombroso Museum of Criminal Anthropology is a fascinating place and a highly recommended visit for any dark tourist in Turin. Once only available to academics, this museum of skulls is a product of the criminal anthropologist Cesare Lombroso. His … Read More
Eltz Castle or Burg Eltz is considered to be the most intact and traditional of all Germany’s 20,000 plus castles. Its isolated location and dramatic medieval design simply take the breath away. The fact the same family has remained in … Read More