#01 Vianden Castle in Luxembourg
Vianden Castle in Luxembourg. Built in Romanesque style in the 11th century it was later expanded to include a keep, a residential palace, and a chapel to reflect the might of the Counts of Vianden who made it their seat till the 15th century. The castle is one of the largest west of the Rhine. It stands on the site of a Roman castellum and combines Romanesque, gothic, and Renaissance architectural styles added throughout its long history. In the 18th century, it was however sold piece by piece, later abandoned and started falling apart. In the middle of the 20th century, the owner ceded it to Luxembourg and proper restoration began that allowed in the long run to restore the castle to its former glory and open it to the public.
#02 Chateau de Montreuil-Bellay
Chateau de Montreuil-Bellay is a castle in the department of Maine-et-Loire, France. It was first built on the site of a Gallo-Roman village high on a hill on the banks of the Thouet River in the 11th century. In 1151, Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou and Duke of Normandy laid siege to the castle on his way back from the Second Crusade. Inspired by a 4th-c. book on military mastery, he used Roman siege towers, sapping, and incendiary bombs to attack the chateau. During the 16th c. French Wars of Religion The town of Montreuil-Bellay was burnt but the fortress survived. During the French Revolution, it was seized and converted into a prison for women suspected of being royalists. In the 19th century, the chateau was purchased by businessman Adrien Niveleau, who transformed it into rental apartments. The Niveleaus’ descendants still own Chateau de Montreuil-Bellay and make premium wine of the same name.
#03 Montegiove Castle
Montegiove Castle, dating back to the 13th century, started as a strategic fortress in Umbria, Italy. Over time, it changed hands among noble families. In the 16th century, the Atti family renovated the castle, turning it into a cultural hub during the Renaissance. The castle continued to be a residence for various noble families, evolving with each owner. Today, it stands restored, hosting cultural events and serving as a testament to the region’s historical transitions.
#04 Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, Scotland
The castle’s history dates back to the 13th century and has been home to the Dukes of Hamilton and Montrose families. It now belongs to the National Trust for Scotland.
#05 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐬̌𝐭𝐞𝐣𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞
Karlstein Castle was built in the years 1348-1357, most probably on the plans of the architect Mathieu d’Arras. It was not only intended to serve as an imperial residence where Charles IV could rest, hunt, or receive important visitors but also as a stronghold where the emperor’s collection of precious relics. Subsequently, it was decided to also keep the crown jewels in the Chapel of the Holy Cross — originally intended to be kept in a place specially built for them in Prague’s New City.
#06 Château de Pompadour
Château de Pompadour is located in the department of Corrèze, Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The chateau’s oldest parts date back to the 11th century. The castle was rebuilt in the 18th century when King Louis XV presented it to his mistress, the world-amous Marquise de Pompadour, who never lived there. Instead, she bred horses. In 1785, the castle’s orangery was demolished to give way to large stables. Decades passed and the chateau was no longer suitable for living. Most of the castle was destroyed, but the southern part and the Châtelet survived. For the next 150 years, the castle was used as a stud farm and until 2004 was even the seat of the management of the National Stud Farm.
#07 Fort-la-Latte
Fort-la-Latte – also known as château de la Roche Goyon is one of the most famous castles in Brittany (north-western France). It is a 14th-century fortress (remodeled between the late 17th and early 18th century) that originally belonged to the Goyon de Matignon family and was built on a cliff in the Baie de la Fresnaye (municipality of Plévenon), a bay on the Channel of the Côte d’Émeraude located opposite Cap Fréhel. Fort-la-Latte has been used for the scenes of numerous films, including The Vikings of 1958. The castle is built in pink slate and stands at approx. 60-70 meters from the sea below. The castle/fort is equipped with two drawbridges and there is, among other things, a chapel, a water cistern, and a menhir, which – according to legend – would be the finger of Gargantua.
#08 Bled Castle
Bled Castle is a medieval castle built on a rock overlooking Lake Bled in Slovenia and is located in the municipality of Bled. It is thought to be the oldest Slovenian castle and is currently one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country. The castle has origins around the 11th century by donation of Emperor Henry II in favor of the bishops of Bressanone, then given its position it passed under the Habsburgs in 1278.
#09 Château De Brissac
The Château de Brissac is a French château in the commune of Brissac-Quincé, located in the département of Maine-et-Loire, France. The property is owned by the Cossé-Brissac family, whose head bears the French noble title of Duke of Brissac.
The château is listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.
The château was originally built as a castle by the Counts of Anjou in the 11th century. After the victory over the English by King Philip II of France, he gave the property to Guillaume des Roches. In the 15th century, the structure was rebuilt by Pierre de Brézé, a wealthy chief minister to King Charles VII of France. During the reign (1515–47) of King Francis I, the property was acquired by René de Cossé, who was named by the King as governor of Anjou and Maine.
#10 Beersel Castle
Beersel Castle (Dutch: Kasteel van Beersel, French: Château de Beersel) is a medieval castle located in Beersel, Flemish Brabant, Belgium. Originating in 1300 under the auspices of the Duchy of Brabant, the water castle’s present configuration dates to 1357. It was twice sacked and was subject to significant restorations in 1491 and 1617. Its present condition owes much to a major restoration in 1928–39. Built largely of brick, a rare material for such buildings at the time, around a circular enceinte, its major feature is its three large towers. Today, it is open to the public and is considered one of Belgium’s best-preserved castles.
#11 Burg Katzenstein, or Katzenstein Castle
Burg Katzenstein, or Katzenstein Castle, is a medieval fortress located in the Swabian Jura of Germany.
One notable story is related to the castle’s construction. Legend has it that Katzenstein Castle was built by two brothers who were in love with the same woman. To determine who would win her hand in marriage, they decided to build two castles side by side, and the one who finished first would marry the woman. One brother built Burg Katzenstein, and the other built a neighboring castle, Burg Spielberg.
As the story goes, Burg Katzenstein was completed first, and the victorious brother won the heart of the woman. However, the defeated brother, instead of harboring resentment, is said to have attended the wedding feast and offered his congratulations. The two brothers then supposedly lived in harmony, each ruling over his own castle.
While this story is likely more myth than historical fact, it adds a romantic and intriguing layer to the history of Burg Katzenstein. The castle itself has undergone various renovations and changes throughout the centuries, and today it stands as a well-preserved example of medieval architecture, inviting visitors to explore its towers, courtyards, and historical charm.
#12 𝐊𝐬𝐢𝐚̨𝐳̇ 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝
It is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved castle complexes in the whole of Poland. Ksiaz is the biggest castle in Lower Silesia and the third largest in Poland after Malbork and Wawel.
#13 Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle dates from 1370 and was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor, a family made famous by Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”.
The castle is a popular location for visitors and tourists given its fairytale look and stunning grounds.
#14 Bojnice Castle – Hungaria
Bojnice Castle, nestled in the heart of Slovakia, is a captivating architectural gem that seems plucked straight out of a fairy tale. Its origins trace back to the 12th century, evolving through various architectural styles, showcasing a remarkable blend of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque elements.
Perched atop a hill, Bojnice Castle is a vision of grandeur with its turrets, towers, and a striking red-and-white facade. The castle’s interior is equally enchanting, adorned with opulent furnishings, intricate woodcarvings, and exquisite frescoes that depict centuries of history.
One of its most mesmerizing features is the castle’s romantic garden, a lush oasis that surrounds the castle grounds, adding to its allure. Bojnice Castle is not just a monument frozen in time; it’s a living testament to history, hosting cultural events, festivals, and even a popular International Festival of Ghosts and Spirits every year, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in its magical aura.
#15 Kizkalesi Castle
Is a castle situated on a small island in Mersin Province of Turkey. The medieval name of the island was Crambusa. At 36°27′N 34°09′E it is about 300 metres offshore in the Mediterranean Sea. The total area of the island is about 15,000 square metres and the castle covers most of this area. Kızkalesi, the town facing the island on the mainland which shares the same name as the island is 23 kilometers to Erdemli (district center) and 60 kilometers to Mersin (province center).
According to the legend of Kızkalesi, a fortune teller informs the king that his beautiful daughter will be poisoned by a snake. He adds that even the king is unable to change her fate. Shocked by the fortune teller’s words, the king tries to save the princess by building a castle on an island where no snakes live. He sends his daughter to live in the castle. But a snake hides in a grape basket sent from the mainland and poisons the princess. This legend is not unique to Kızkalesi and some other localities in Turkey share the same story.
#16 Loreto Castle
The island of Loreto is located in the middle of Lake Iseo and it is privately owned. The nuns of Santa Chiara di Brescia purchased the island at the end of the XV century, and had a convent built there: the structure, however, was abandoned in 1580.
In the XIX century, the island became the property of Duchess Felicita Bevilacqua La Masa, the nit was purchased by Vincenzo Richeri, a Royal Navy Captain. In 1910, Richeri built a neo-Gothic castle on the island, and around it, he created a garden full of conifers, a marina, and two light towers. The latter illuminates a cove with a path leading straight up to the villa.
This abode features a rectangular layout, with two floors. Thanks to its turret, battlements, and light stone walls, the villa appears quite spectacular and evocative. It actually stands on a rock overlooking the lake.
#17 Bobolice Castle
The Royal Castle Bobolice is one of the most beautiful fortresses on the Eagles’ Nests trail. It has borne witness to a stormy history and has been the object of an extraordinary metamorphosis. During the last 13 years the castle was meticulously reconstructed, so that posterity could see it in its full splendor.
The walls of the castle joined with the lime rocks are full of life once again. Reconstructed chambers attract tourists not only from Poland but the whole world. The royal castle in Bobolice is now undoubtedly one of the symbols of the Polish Jura. It is one of the most beautiful corners on the tourist map of Poland.
#18 Hamlet Kronborg Castle Denmark
The Renaissance castle stands majestically with its spires, towers, columns, sandstone, and copper roofs. Kronborg Castle is a magnificent Renaissance palace.
#19 Orava Castle
Orava Castle, built on a rock above the river Orava in Oravský Podzámok like an “eagle nest”, is one of the greatest tourist attractions of northern Slovakia. It was built in the place of an older wooden hillfort after the Tartar invasion in 1241. Through the following centuries, this small fortress transformed into an extensive castle structure
#20 The Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel has been referred to as the high king of Irish monuments. It is a prominent and well-preserved archaeological complex that sits atop a limestone hill. The site is known for its rich history, impressive architecture, and stunning views of the surrounding countryside
#21 Chateau de Saumur in France’s Loire Valley
Chateau de Saumur in France’s Loire Valley. It is one of the oldest castles in the country dating back to the X century. Originally built as a fortress against the Normans, it was later transformed into a chateau-style residence. The castle changed hands many times. Under Napoleon, it became a state prison. It also housed army barracks and an ammunition depot. Large-scale restoration works were carried out at the end of the 1990s beginning of the 2000s. Since 1912 the castle has been a municipal museum focusing among other things on horses and all things equestrian.
#22 Castle De Haar
Castle De Haar, situated in the serene Dutch countryside near Utrecht, is an awe-inspiring masterpiece that epitomizes medieval splendor blended with 19th-century opulence. With its origins dating back to the 14th century, the castle underwent a remarkable restoration in the late 19th century, transforming it into the majestic architectural wonder that stands today.
A sight to behold, Castle De Haar boasts fairytale-like features with its soaring towers, crenelated walls, and a picturesque moat. Its grandeur extends to the interiors, adorned with lavish decorations, ornate furniture, intricate tapestries, and a remarkable art collection that narrates the castle’s rich history.
Surrounded by meticulously landscaped gardens, complete with serene lakes, sculpted hedges, and vibrant flowerbeds, Castle De Haar offers visitors a chance to wander through its enchanting grounds. The castle hosts various events, exhibitions, and fairs, inviting guests to immerse themselves in its captivating ambiance and step into a world of both medieval allure and refined luxury.
#23 Castle Menzies
The Castle was the seat of the Chiefs of Clan Menzies for over 500 years. Situated in a strategic location, it was involved in much of the turbulent history of the Highlands.
During the second Jacobite rise the Castle first hosted both Bonnie Prince Charlie, who rested for two nights on his way to The Battle of Culloden in 1746, and then, just four days later, the Duke of Cumberland, son of the British Monarch and commander of the Government forces.
#24 Akhaltsikhe Castle
Is a medieval fortress built in the 9th century under the name “Lomisa Castle” in the city of Akhaltsikhe in southern Georgia, recently globally reconstructed. One of the main attractions of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region along with Vardzia.
The fortress and its adjacent buildings were extensively rebuilt and renovated in 2011–2012 in order to attract more tourists to the area.
The fortress occupies about 7 hectares and is divided into two parts – modern and historical. In the modern part, there is a restaurant, a hotel, cafes, and shops. In the old part of the fortress, there is the Ahmediyeh Mosque, the church, the family castle of Jakeli, and the historical museum.
#25 Sloup Castle – Czech Republic
Throwback to Bohemia with a real gem that even the majority of people living in the Czech Republic do not know. Sloup Castle is a small rock castle in the village of the same name. It takes its name from the special appearance of the freestanding 35-metre (115 ft) high sandstone rocks, into which it was carved in the 14th century (sloup means column in Czech). In the rock face, you can find small rooms carved in the rock, a dungeon, and underground spaces – a chapel from 1693 and three artificial caves.
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