You might have seen beautiful arts designed innovatively. But have you seen a church with skulls and skeleton carved inside the wall? These churches are decorated with strange arts inside them and have hidden stories behind their construction. 

During the war, thousands of people lost their life. At the time, there was less space to bury the dead bodies. Therefore, several temporary burials were built. When the skeleton appeared, they created Ossuary. 

People arranged the skeletons in creative ways to make them live forever. Look at these wacky churches that are now tourists attraction but have hidden secrets.  

These Churches with Macabre Art Will Give You Goosebumps

1. San Bernardino alle Ossa, Milan

San Bernardino alle Ossa, in Milan, is popular for its ossuary. It was in 1210 when an adjacent cemetery ran out of space, and a room was made to keep bones. The church was renovated in 1679 but was destroyed by a fire in 1712. 

In 1145, a hospital was constructed near the Santo Stefano Maggiore Church. The graveyard was filled with bodies from the hospital; therefore, a little chamber was built to collect the bones. In 1269, another church was developed near the bone chamber.

Today the ossuary is located at the end of a short corridor towards the right of the church’s entrance. Its walls are completely covered with skulls and bones. Some of the bones are taken from the local graveyards; others are from the same old ossuary. 

The interior of the place has Baroque-style decoration, and chapels have paintings from the 15th to 18th century. Check other unique examples of French Baroque architecture.

The place remains closed on Sundays. It is a great tourist spot in Milan. So, plan to visit it another day for an unforgettable experience.

2. Skull Chapel, Czermna, Poland

St. Bartholomew’s Church or The Skull Chapel is the most attractive tourist destination in Poland. Built n the 18th century on the border of the Prussian County of Glatz, the church features thousands of skulls and skeletal on ceilings and walls. It is the only place in Poland and one of six in Europe. 

Walls of the church are filled with over three thousand skulls. There are also bones of twenty-one thousand people in the basement. The history of the Chapel can be read by the recordings available in three languages - German, Czech, and Polish. 

Father Tomaszek collected the casualties remains and put them in the chapel and made this unique site. Skulls and bones were cleaned and arranged in the place to attract tourists.

3. Sedlec Ossuary, Czech Republic

This church is located beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints. The Ossuary contains the skeletons of over 70,000 people. It is the most visited tourist attraction of the Czech Republic. Embedded in the walls, you can find two monstrances. 

Hanging above the nave is a huge chandelier that is made of every bone in the human body. Sedlec Ossuary Czech Republic is also known as the Bone Church. It features some of the world’s most beautiful macabre art. 

In 1870, a local woodcarver was employed for the task of arranging the bones. He came up with Schwarzenberg coat of arms that includes a raven pecking at the head of a Turk. His signature can be seen on the wall. In the 15th century, a Gothic church was created near the cemetery, and its basement was used as an ossuary. 

If you ever plan to visit this masterpiece, reach Prague. From there, it is a 1 hour trip to Kutna Hora (the location of the church).

4. Capuchin Crypt in Rome

The Capuchin Crypt is located beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini in Roma. The site features the skeletal remains of 3700 bodies. Despite the macabre decor, the Capuchin crypt was decorated with the remains of Capuchin friars who lost their life between 1528 and 1870. 

This unique site has been accompanied by a museum devoted to the history of church and Capuchins. The museum provides a history of the Capuchin community using a range of artifacts, manuscripts, and vestments. More than any other place, the city is dominated by its Catholic heritage.

5. Hallstatt Karner in Hallstatt, Austria

Everyone who visits Austria should pay a visit to Ossuary or better known as Beinhaus. It is one of Hallstatt’s treasure and the last of such places in Austria. It is located in a chapel in the basement of the Church of Saint Michael. More than 600 skulls are displayed on the wall. Some of them are adorned with flowers and garlands. 

The interesting thing about this church is it also has the remains of a woman who passed in 1983. Her last request was that Beinhaus should be her resting place. The church is open to receive similar requests. 

Final Words

Have you ever been to these churches? How was your reaction after seeing this frightening art inside them? Did you find them scary? Here are more buildings that are decorated with skulls and bones.

A tip for you before you visit these horrifying places: Visit these wacky churches only if you are a daring person. Chances are some spirit might be watching you when you click the pictures. 

Also, do you know other places that are worshiped but are scary as well? If so, share them with us below.