4 torture museums in Europe that will spook even history buffs

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Democracy Dies successful Darkness

Rick Steves shares his favourite places to larn astir the bleak achromatic arts utilized to extract confessions and punish criminals.

July 12, 2026 astatine 6:00 a.m. EDT8 minutes ago

The pillory, with holes for caput and hands, forced the accused to basal uncomfortably. Today, it’s a fashionable prop for tourer photos — a stark opposition to its archetypal purpose. (Laura Van Deventer)

Guest Column by Rick Steves

The endless information lines astatine the airdrome whitethorn look torturous — but they are child’s play compared with what heretics and criminals faced successful the Middle Ages. Medieval torture was utilized some to extract confessions and to punish the convicted earlier execution. Torturers (who were often clergy) had a immense instrumentality kit with which to signifier their bleak achromatic arts.