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Lawang Sewu, Indonesia
A
landmark in Semarang, Central Java,
the history of hauntings in this old
building is tied to the history of colonial-
ism in the country. The name Lawang
Sewu, whichmeans “Thousand Doors”
in Javanese, is due to the design of the
building where there are numerous
doors and arcs, as well as 600 large win-
dows. It is said that at the end of World
War II, the Japanese fought a battle
with the Indonesian troops in front of
the building, and there are stories of
people being tortured in the basement.
Among the ghosts reported to inhabit
the establishment are a Dutchwoman
who committed suicide in the building
and headless ghouls.
Bran Castle, Romania
Located
atop a cliff in central Ro-
mania, Bran Castle is known for its
connections with Vlad the Impaler
– better known as Count Dracula. Vlad
was, even by the standards of the 15
th
century, an exceptionally cruel ruler,
known to impale rather than behead
his enemies. The 14
th
century castle,
owned by several different people over
the years, is most famous for its ties
to Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, Dracula.
Vampire masks, blood-red wine and
wooden daggers jostle for prominence
in the market below the castle while
inside, winding spiral staircases and
low cavernous doorways increases the
sense of menace.
Tuol Sleng, Cambodia
In
1975, Tuol Svay Prey High School
was taken over by Pol Pot’s security
forces and turned into a prison known
as Security Prison 21 (S-21). This soon
became the largest centre of deten-
tion and torture centre in the country.
Between 1975 and 1978, people were
imprisoned, tortured and murdered
here andmore than 17,000 people were
taken to the killing fields of Choeung
Ek. Today, S-21 has been turned into the
Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, which
serves as a testament to the crimes of
the Khmer Rouge. The grim museum
attracts hundreds of tourists each day,
and contains photographs of inmates,
skulls and instruments of torture.