After all, medieval architects were geniuses — they built castles, luxurious structures that were also extremely practical. Castles, unlike modern mansions, not only demonstrated the wealth of their owners, but also served as powerful fortresses that could hold the defense for several years, and at the same time life in them did not stop.
Even the fact that many castles, having survived wars, natural disasters and the carelessness of their owners, still stand intact, suggests that they have not yet come up with a more reliable dwelling. And they are also incredibly beautiful and seem to have appeared in our world from the pages of fairy tales and legends. Their tall spires remind of the times when they fought for the hearts of beauties, and the air was saturated with chivalry and courage.
In order for you to get into a romantic mood, we have collected in this material 20 of the most famous castles that are still left on earth. You will definitely want to visit them and, perhaps, stay alive.
1. Reichsburg Castle, Germany
The thousand-year-old castle was originally the residence of King Conrad III of Germany, and then King Louis XIV of France. The fortress was burned down by the French in 1689 and would have sunk into oblivion, but a German businessman acquired its remains in 1868 and spent most of his wealth on restoring the castle.
2. Mont Saint-Michel, France
The impregnable Mont Saint-Michel Castle, surrounded by the sea on all sides, is one of the most popular attractions in France after Paris. Built in 709, it still looks stunning.
3. Hohosterwitz Castle, Austria
The medieval castle of Gohosterwitz was built in the distant IX century. Its towers are still vigilantly monitoring the surrounding area, proudly towering above it at an altitude of 160 m. And in sunny weather, you can admire them even at a distance of 30 km.
4. Bled Castle, Slovenia
The castle is located on a hundred-meter cliff, menacingly overhanging Lake Bled. In addition to the magnificent view from the castle windows, this place has a rich history — the residence of the Serbian royal dynasty, and later Marshal Josip Broz Tito, was located here.
5. Hohenzollern Castle, Germany
This castle is located on the top of the Hohenzollern Mountain with an altitude of 2,800 meters above sea level. During its heyday, the castle in this fortress was considered the residence of the Prussian emperors.
6. Barciense Castle, Spain
The castle of Barciense in the Spanish province of Toledo was built in the XV century by a local count. For 100 years, the castle served as a powerful artillery fortress, and today these deserted walls attract only photographers and tourists.
7. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
The romantic castle of the Bavarian King Ludwig II was built in the middle of the XIX century, and at that time its architecture was considered very extravagant. Anyway, it was his walls that inspired the creators of the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.
8. Methoni Castle, Greece
The Venetian castle-fortress of Methoni has been the center of battles since the XIV century and the last outpost of Europeans in these parts in the battles against the Turks, who dreamed of capturing the Peloponnese. Today, only ruins of the fortress remain.
9. Hohenschwangau Castle, Germany
This castle-fortress was built by the Knights of Schwangau in the 12th century and was the residence of many rulers, including the famous King Ludwig II, who hosted composer Richard Wagner within these walls.
10. Chillon Castle, Switzerland
This medieval bastille resembles a warship from a bird’s eye view. The rich history and characteristic appearance of the castle served as inspiration for many famous writers. In the XVI century, the castle was used as a state prison, as George Byron wrote in his poem “The Prisoner of Chillon”.
11. Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
The castle, located on a rocky island in the Loch Duich fjord, is one of the most romantic castles in Scotland, famous for its heather honey and legends. Many films were shot here, but the most important thing is that the castle is open to visitors and everyone can touch the stones of its history.
12. Bodiam Castle, England
Since its foundation in the 14th century, Bodiam Castle has survived many owners, each of whom liked to fight. Therefore, when Lord Curzon acquired it in 1917, only ruins remained of the castle. Fortunately, its walls were quickly restored, and now the castle stands as good as new.
13. Guaita Castle, San Marino
The castle has been located on the top of the inaccessible Monte Titano mountain since the XI century and, together with two other towers, protects the oldest state in the world, San Marino.
14. Swallow’s nest, Crimea
At first, a small wooden house was located on the rock of Cape Ai-Todor. And the Swallow’s Nest got its current appearance thanks to the oil industrialist Baron Shteingel, who loved to relax in the Crimea. He decided to build a romantic castle that resembles medieval structures on the banks of the Rhine River.
15. Stalker Castle, Scotland
Stalker Castle, which means “Falconer”, was built in 1320 and belonged to the MacDougal clan. Since that time, its walls have experienced a huge number of feuds and wars, which affected the condition of the castle. In 1965, Colonel D. R. Stewart of Allward became the owner of the castle, who personally restored the building together with his wife, family members and friends.
16. Bran Castle, Romania
Bran Castle is the pearl of Transylvania, a mysterious museum-fort, where the famous legend of Count Dracula, the vampire, murderer and voivode Vlad Tepes was born. According to legend, he spent the night here during his campaigns, and the forest surrounding Bran Castle was a favorite hunting place for Tepes.
17. Vyborg Castle, Russia
Vyborg Castle was founded by the Swedes in 1293, during one of the crusades to the Karelian land. It remained Scandinavian until 1710, when Peter the Great’s troops drove the Swedes far and for a long time. Since that time, the castle has managed to visit a warehouse, a barracks, and even a prison for the Decembrists. And nowadays there is a museum here.
18. Castle Cashel, Ireland
Cashel Castle was the residence of the kings of Ireland for several hundred years before the Norman invasion. Saint Patrick lived and preached here in the 5th century AD. The walls of the castle witnessed the bloody suppression of the revolution by the troops of Oliver Cromwell, who burned soldiers alive here. Since then, the castle has become a symbol of the cruelty of the British, the real courage and fortitude of the Irish.
19. Kilhurn Castle, Scotland
The very beautiful and even slightly creepy ruins of Kilhurn Castle are located on the shores of the picturesque Lake Eyve. The history of this castle, unlike most castles in Scotland, proceeded quite calmly — numerous counts lived here, who succeeded each other. In 1769, the building was damaged by a lightning strike and was soon finally abandoned, as it remains to this day.
20. Lichtenstein Castle, Germany
Built in the 12th century, this castle has been destroyed several times. It was finally restored in 1884, and since then the castle has become a filming location for many films, including The Three Musketeers.
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