The Best Places in the World to See Castles
They may look like Disney attractions or a film sets from Game of Thrones, but these are the real thing, hundreds of years old, built on rock and towering over small villages.
They are the places of kings and queens, round tables of knights, prison towers, torture rooms, hideaways of princes, the dreams of rich men. They are fortifications, grand palaces and walled complexes that evoke images of everything from Dracula and Nostradamus to Camelot and Romeo and Juliet.
If you are drawn to the beauty, history and mystery of castles, we've compiled a list of the best places to see them around the world, based on information from travel sites including European Best Destinations and Booking.com.
Beware of women offering poison apples and frogs posing as princes -- it's time to polish your armor and hone your sword, get out your garlic and wooden stake. Here are the best places to see castles.
Corvin Castle, Romania/Photo: Shutterstock
Germany: The Neuschwanstein Castle
Bavaria, Germany
Neuschwanstein may be one of the most recognizable, popular castles in Europe. It was built by Ludwig II starting in 1868 as a place for the shy prince to withdraw from public life. The Romanesque Revival palace sits on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau in Bavaria. Ludwig II died in 1886. Had it been completed, the palace would have had more than 200 interior rooms, but no more than about 15 rooms and halls were finished.
Photo: Shutterstock
Germany: Cochem Imperial Castle
Cochem, Germany
This 11th-century hilltop castle overlooks the vineyards of the Moselle valley and is rich in German and European history. Today it belongs to the city of Cochem, and you can sit in its restaurant and enjoy panoramic views.
Photo: Shutterstock
Germany: The Eltz Castle
Wierschem, Germany
The turreted medieval castle is still owned by a branch of the same family that lived there in the 12th century, 33 generations ago. Unscathed by war, it still has many of the original furnishings of the past 850 years, and a treasury and armory with one of the world's most important private collections: more than 500 exhibits of gold and silver artworks, jewelry, precious glass and porcelain.
Photo: Shutterstock
Germany: The Hohenzollern Castle
Baden-Württemberg, Germany
History of this castle goes back as far as the 11th century, when it was likely a huge complex. It has been rebuilt twice, the last time by King Frederick William IV of Prussia in 1850. It is considered masterpiece of military architecture and has an impressive art collection.
Photo: Shutterstock
Germany: Lichtenstein Castle
Lichtenstein, Germany
The privately-owned Lichtenstein Castle, a Gothic Revival castle built in the 1840s, was inspired by Wilhelm Hauff's novel "Lichtenstein." The Duke of Urach had the palace built on the foundations of an old knight's castle. It is open to visitors and contains a large collection of historic weapons and armor.
Photo: Shutterstock
Germany: Schwerin Palace
Schwerin, Germany
This is another 'fairy tale' castle, situated in an idyllic landscape of lakes and forests. Today it serves as the parliament of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state.
Photo: Shutterstock
Wales: Conwy Castle
Conwy, Wales
The medieval Conwy Castle, on the north coast of Wales, was built by Edward I, during his conquest of Wales between 1283 and 1289. The imposing fortress appears to grow right out of the rock on which it stands.
Photo: Shutterstock
Scotland: Culzean Castle
Maybole, Scotland
Culzean Castle is the jewel in the crown of the National Trust for Scotland. This grand cliff-top country house was remodeled in the late 18th century by the renowned architect Robert Adam in his trademark neo-classical Georgian style.
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Scotland: Eilean Donan Castle
Highlands of Scotland
The 13th-century castle may be one of the most iconic images of Scotland. It was first inhabited around the 6th century; a fortified castle was built in the mid-13th century and since then at least four different versions of the castle have been built and re-built. The most recent was built in 1932 according to the surviving ground plan of earlier phases. It is now the headquarters of the Clan McRae and open to visitors.
Photo: Shutterstock
England: Windsor Castle
Windsor, England
The residence at Windsor of the British royal family is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Its rich history spans almost 1,000 years. The castle covers about 13 acres and contains one of the largest and most important art collections in the world, the burial place of 10 monarchs, and Queen Mary's Dolls House, a masterpiece in miniature.
Photo: Ververidis Vasilis / Shutterstock
France: The Chateau de Chambord
Chambord, France
The chateau is one of the most recognizable for its distinctive architecture blending traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures. The building, which was never completed, was built in 1519 on the edge of a forest in the Loire Valley by the young King Francis I of France as a hunting lodge. If you're wondering about the liqueur of the same name, the drink was supposedly inspired by raspberry liqueur made in the region in the late 1600s, said to have been introduced to Louis XIV during one of his visits to the château de Chambord.
Photo: Shutterstock
France: Chenonceau Castle
Chenonceaux, France
This castle spans the River Cher, near the small village of Chenonceaux in the Loire Valley. The site is renowned for its design, the rich collections of furniture tapestries and paintings, and because it was loved, administered and protected by women through most of its history.
Photo: Shutterstock
France: Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire
Chaumont-sur-Loire, France
Another Loire Valley chateau, this castle dates back to the 10th century, but was destroyed by order of Louis XI in 1465 to punish the owners of the castle who had revolted against him. It was rebuilt shortly after. Catherine de Medici acquired it in 1550 and is said to have entertained numerous astrologers there, including Nostradamus.
Photo: Karibou / Shutterstock
France: Rocamadour Castle
Rocamadour, France
Rocamadour, in the Dordogne Valley, is an impregnable cliffside medieval castle. The village has been an important pilgrimage site on the "Way of Saint James" for hundreds of years.
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Italy: Castello di Miramare
Trieste, Italy
The Archduke Maximilian built this magnificent castle in 1856 in the beautiful city of Trieste overlooking the Adriatic Sea. The grounds have a large park and gardens featuring rare plants, sculptures and ponds. It has over 20 rooms, one of them furnished as a ship's cabin. Miramare is as beautiful from the inside as from the outside. All of the rooms still feature the original furnishings, ornaments, furniture and objects dating back to the middle of the 19th century.
Photo: Clari Massimiliano / Shutterstock
Italy: Aragonese Castle
Ischia, Italy
Ischia is a volcanic island in the Gulf of Naples known for its mineral-rich thermal waters. The castle itself, which dates as far back as 474 BC, is accessed by a tunnel. It is privately owned and open to visitors 365 days a year.
Photo: Shutterstock
Japan: Osaka Castle
Osaka, Japan
The Osaka Castle is one of Japan's most famous landmarks. It was built in 1583 by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, a powerful feudal lord and warrior who was obsessed with gold, and insisted that gold be applied to much of the castle's interior. Ultimately, Hideyoshi Toyotomi's stronghold led to peace and unification of the country. You can visit both the grounds and the castle.
Photo: Shutterstock
Japan: Mastumoto Castle
Nagano prefecture, Japan
This castle, built between 1592 to 1614, features steep wooden stairs, openings for dropping stones onto invaders, openings for archers to shoot invaders, and an observation deck at the top of the main keep with views over the surrounding city. It is a good place to see cherry blossoms in spring.
Another famous castle in Japan is the Nijo Castle in Kyoto built in 1603 by the Tokugawa shogunate.
Photo: Shutterstock
Romania: Corvin Castle
Hunedoara, Romania
Corvin Castle was laid out in 1446, when construction began at the orders of John Hunyadi who wanted to transform the former keep built by Charles I of Hungary. Above, the Knights Room in the castle.
Photo: Shutterstock
Romania: Bran Castle
Bran, Romania
Bran Castle is a national monument and landmark in Romania. The fortress sits on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. It is the only castle in all of Transylvania that fits Bram Stoker's description of Dracula's castle. Bram Stoker never visited Romania. He depicted Dracula's hideaway based upon a description of Bran Castle that was available to him in turn-of-the-century Britain.
Photo: Shutterstock
Portugal: The Palace of Pena
Lisbon, Portugal
Perched in the Sintra hills near Lisbon, the Palace of Pena and its park can be seen from miles around. While the site dates back to the Middle Ages, it was built as a palace by King Ferdinand II with a mix of architectural styles and expression of 19th-century romanticism. The grounds include a forest and lush gardens.
Photo: Shutterstock
Portugal: Sao Jorge Castle
Lisbon, Portugal
Located at the top of the highest hill in the historic center of Lisbon, the Castelo de Sao Jorge is the ideal place to enjoy a panoramic view over the whole city of Lisbon. The strongly fortified Moorish-style citadel dates to the medieval period.
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Cambodia: Angkor Wat
Siem Reap, Cambodia
The resort town of Siem Reap is the gateway to the ruins of Angkor, the seat of the Khmer kingdom from the 9th-15th centuries. Angkor's vast complex encompasses over 400 acres, including temples, reservoirs and canals, and is one of the largest archeological sites in the world. Above, huge, mysterious faces are carved into the Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom.
Photo: Shutterstock
South Korea: Gyeongbokgung Palace
Seoul, South Korea
Gyeongbokgung Palace was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, built in 1395. It was burned down by Japanese invaders in 1592, then rebuilt 300 years later. The reconstructed palace has 330 buildings and 5,792 rooms.
Photo: nueangphong thawatchai / Shutterstock
U.S.: Hearst Castle
San Simeon, Calif.
Hearst Castle was built on the central coast of California by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and designed by architect Julia Morgan. Hearst lived there from 1919 to 1947. When Hearst had to leave the remote location because of his fragile health, the estate was still unfinished, though it had 165 rooms and 123 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways all built to Hearst's specifications and showcasing a legendary art collection.
Photo: gnohz / Shutterstock
Spain: The Alcazar Castle
Segovia, Spain
The Alcazar of Segovia, a stone fortification that rises out of a rocky crag at the confluence of two rivers, is shaped like the bow of a ship. The castle was originally built as a fortress but has since served as a royal palace, a state prison, a Royal Artillery College and a military academy. The castle dates back to 1120.
Photo: Shutterstock
Belgium: Castle of Gravensteen
Ghent, Belgium
The medieval Gravensteen castle, located in the center of the charming town of Ghent, is one of the jewels of the city. The current castle dates to 1180 and was the residence of the Counts of Flanders until 1353. It has been used as a court, a prison, a mint and even as a cotton factory. You can visit the torture room and dungeon, too.
Photo: Kit Leong / Shutterstock
Austria: Hohenwerfen Castle
Werfen, Austria
Hohenwerfen perches upon a high craggy rock pillar towering above the Salzachtal valley. Dating back over 900 years, the fortress is surrounded by the Berchtesgaden Alps and the adjacent Tennen Mountains.
Photo: Shutterstock
Switzerland: Castle of Chillon
Lake Geneva, Switzerland
Sitting on an island on Lake Geneva, Chillon is the most visited historic building in Switzerland and was the residence and profitable toll station of the Counts of Savoy for nearly 400 years. It can be rented for events.
Photo: Shutterstock
Mexico: Castillo de Chapultepec
Mexico City
The only royal castle in the Americas, the Chapultepec Park and Castillo sit 7,600 feet above sea level in Mexico City. It was built as a summer house for the viceroy in 1785 but not completed until 1863. Much of the film "Romeo + Juliet," starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, was filmed here in 1996. Today it is the seat of the National Museum of History.
Photo: Kit Leong / Shutterstock
Slovakia: Castle Trencin
Trencin, Slovakia
This Slovakian castle, like many European castles, was built on top of a hilll, overlooking the city of Trencin. Today this castle is protected as a National Cultural Monument of Slovakia.
Photo: Shutterstock
Canada: Casa Loma
Toronto, Canada
Casa Loma is a Gothic Revival style mansion and garden in Toronto, Canada, constructed from 1911 to 1914 as a residence for financier Sir Henry Pellatt. It is now a historic house museum and landmark. Another famous castle in Canada is Quebec City's Le Chateau Frontenac, a luxury hotel run by the Fairmont.
Photo: Shutterstock
Colombia: Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
Cartagena, Colombia
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas is a fortress in the city of Cartagena. The castle sits strategically on the Hill of San Lazaro, dominating approaches to the city by land or sea. It was built by the Spanish during the colonial era.
Photo: meunierd / Shutterstock