14 Most Terrifying Abandoned Prisons on Earth

Abandoned prisons aren’t just heirlooms of the past; they’re part of a very long, and sometimes disturbing history. They are eerie monuments to a time when justice was served (or sometimes miscarried) in the most severe ways imaginable. These sites are a hauntingly vivid window into the darkest recesses of humans.

You can almost hear the desolate cries echoing back at the mind, or the clinking of doomed chains, the ones that once bound the wrists. Below, you can find 16 of the most bone chilling abandoned prisons in the world, each with a story to chill and intrigue.

Eastern State Penitentiary, USA

Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia was the world’s most famous and expensive prison, in operation from 1829 until 1971. Its grand architecture and strict discipline made it famous, first to use solitary confinement, which many inmates drove to madness. Today it’s possible to tour the crumbling façades, and it’s rumored the anguished spirits of past residents still remain, with reports of ghostly figures and sounds from an era long past continue to haunt its vast corridor.

Alcatraz Island, USA

Alcatraz, possibly the most famous prison in America, sits in the cold, squindex waters of San Francisco Bay. Then, it was home to some of America’s most notorious criminals, including Al Capone and the ‘Birdman” Robert Stroud. High operating costs and the saltwater corrosion was the reason the facility was closed in 1963. Now a museum, it is a staple of paranormal research and many visitors say they hear whispers in the cells that once housed the country’s most feared criminals.

HMP Shepton Mallet, UK

One of the oldest prisons on this list dates back to 1625 in Somerset, UK; HMP Shepton Mallet. During its early years, it held military and civilian prisoners and was famous for its harsh conditions and brutal executions. It closed in 2013 but now hosts guided tours through its grim past with sightings of ghostly soldiers still standing guard, reputed.

Chateau d’If, France

Most well known for its appearance in Alexandre Dumas’ novel “The Count of Monte Cristo,” this fortress turned prison is located off the coast of Marseille. During the 17th century, Chateau d’If was used as a prison for political and religious prisoners. The cold stark cells, and its isolated location made escape almost impossible and many never left. Presently, it attracts the visiting sort to sit and think of the desperation its wall once trapped.

Carandiru Penitentiary, Brazil

Once, South America’s largest prison was Carandiru Penitentiary in São Paulo, Brazil. It was notoriously overcrowded and violent until it was closed in 2002 after a 1992 massacre when police pumped 111 inmates full of bullets during a riot. In 2002 some of the prison was partially demolished, but parts remain standing and still stand today as chilling reminders of the prison’s bloody history.

Estonia Patarei Sea Fortress Prison

Patarei in Tallinn was originally built as a sea fortress in 1840, and became a prison in the early 20th century, remaining so until 2004. Nearby, you’ll find it known for its harsh conditions and has been the site of executions by both the Soviet NKVD and Nazis. The fortress is open to the public and the eerie halls, cramped cells can be explored.

Fremantle Prison, Australia

Western Australia’s former Australian prison operated from the 1850s until 1991. Convicts built it and then housed them there, and it has a reputation for brutal living conditions and many escape attempts. Now a World Heritage Site, Fremantile has tours including night tours, exploring the paranormal aspects.

Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Built in 1859 and used until 1960, this small prison was officially known as the Penitentiary of St. John’s. Many of Newfoundland’s most notorious criminals came through the gates and it housed a variety of prisoners. While picturesque, it was anything but life inside one of this small penitentiary’s pens. These days, the wind is the only thing that howls through its empty corridors, leaving it abandoned.

Sinop Fortress Prison, Turkey

In the mid 1800s, this massive fortress on the northern edge of the Black Sea was turned into one of Turkey’s most formidable prisons, and inmates were still held there until 1997. It was famous for holding political prisoners during its stormy histor around who included famous poets and writers. It is open today to the public as a museum that relates its dark past and provides spectacular views of the Black Sea.

Cellular Jail, India

The Cellular Jail lies on the Andaman Islands, where the British exiled political prisoners, away from the mainland. The isolation and horror of the inmates here was infamous — known as the “Kala Pani” or Black Waters. It operated from 1906 until 1938 and is now a national memorial monument.

Old Provost, South Africa

One of South Africa’s oldest prisons is Old Provost, built in 1838 in Grahamstown. Used extensively during the apartheid era as a political prisoners detention place while the political prisoners were fighting against racial segregation. Today, the site is a reminder of the struggle for equality and justice in South Africa and tours are available to the public of the site’s history.

Sighet Prison, Romania

The Communist regime used Sighet Prison, in northern Romania, to put away without trial a broad range of political prisoners, including former leaders, intellectuals and dissidents. It was closed in 1977, and many prisoners died here because of the harsh conditions. Now a museum to the victims of communist oppression, it offers a grim reminder of a grim period in Romania’s history.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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