Live Your Fairytale Dream
The past may seem like a foreign country, but sometimes it's close enough that we can reach out and touch it. If you want to live out your royal dreams and follow in the footsteps of some of history's greatest leaders, then these 20 castles are must-dos.
1. Alhambra
Perched high above the city of Granada, the Alhambra is one of the most famous examples of Islamic architecture. Commissioned during the Naṣrid dynasty, the Alhambra evolved to encompass both Moorish and Renaissance architectural features, reflecting on who was in power. This luminous castle was designed to be mathematically perfect, with all the visuals working in harmony.
Jorge Fernández Salas on Unsplash
2. Bran Castle
Nestled deep in the mountains of Transylvania is a castle that Dracula called home—literally, Bram Stoker used Bran Castle as inspiration for his 1897 novel. While Bran Castle has little connection with the historical inspiration for Dracula, Vlad the Impaler—he may have passed through once or twice—it's a must-see for anyone visiting Romania. There's no reason to fear Bran Castle today, it houses a lovely art museum.
3. Mont Saint-Michel
Pilgrims to Mont Saint-Michel in France will want to time their visits carefully; the fortress is only accessible at low tide. Located half a mile off the coast of Normandy, Mont Saint-Michel is a tiny, seemingly gravity-defying island reached by a stroll across the sea floor. Outside of Paris, it is the most-visited tourist attraction in France, seeing over 3 million visitors annually.
4. Himeji Castle
If the Himeji Castle's brilliant white façade looks like a bird taking flight, that's no coincidence! Nicknamed the "White Heroin Castle" this 14th-century fortress was constructed for a battle it never needed to fight. Considered a national treasure, Himeji not only survived 700 years, but also a devastating earthquake and bombing during World War II.
5. Versailles
What began as a hunting lodge evolved into a sprawling symbol of the decadence of man. Versailles is one of the most iconic buildings in the world, full stop, and for good reasons. The jaw-dropping Hall of Mirrors, Royal Apartments, and Royal Opera are just a taste of what this palace has to offer.
6. Eltz Castle
Of Germany's some 20 thousand castles, Eltz Castle is unique in that it has belonged to the same family for nearly a millennium! Eltz Castle's soaring red brick towers, oriel windows, and turrets make it the quintessential fairytale castle. Due to its somewhat secluded location—nestled deep within the forest—it receives fewer visitors than you may expect, but still enough to be Germany's second most popular castle.
Frédéric Paulussen on Unsplash
7. Chapultepec Castle
Built atop a site formerly sacred to the Aztecs, Chapultepec Castle is a rare North American castle to have actually hosted royalty. The castle was constructed during the Viceroyalty of New Spain as a summer residence. Today, Chapultepec is one of Mexico City's many fantastic museums.
8. Fasil Ghebbi
Ethiopian Emperor Fasilides broke literal and metaphorical ground when he began work on Fasil Ghebbi in 1636. Prior to its construction, emperors were expected to be nomadic, living and eating off of the land of their people. Fasilides named Gondor the capital of Ethiopia and built a palace to match, blending Portuguese, Hindu, and Arab architectural styles.
9. Peleș Castle
Peleș Castle may look old, but construction actually finished in 1914! King Carol I of Romania commissioned this neo-Renaissance castle shortly after the country achieved independence. Each of the 160 rooms are distinctly themed, with the playhouse featuring murals by Gustav Klimt and Franz Matsch.
10. Windsor Castle
Not only one of the most iconic castles in the world, Windsor Castle is also the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world! Used as a royal retreat all the way back to the days of William the Conqueror, around 500 people—some of them royal—live and work in this splendid palace. Windsor Castle is one of Britain's most important attractions, not only for its tourism dollars, but for its extensive art collection.
11. Château de Chambord
Château de Chambord is one of the most recognizeable châteaux in the world to thanks to its distinctive architecture, which blends medieval and Renaissance styles. A hunting lodge, Château de Chambord was never intended as a permanent residence, rather it served as a symbol of the French monarchy's power.
12. Red Fort
Shortly after commissioning the greates mausoleum ever buit, the Taj Mahal, Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan set his sights on the new capital of Delhi. Called "the zenith of Mughal creativity", the Red Forth synthesizes Islamic architecture with Persian and Timurid styles with resplendent results. Since the 1940s, the Fort has also been a symbol of India's independence.
13. Hohenschwangau Castle
Hohenschwangau is located just a hop, skip, and a jump from another iconic Bavarian castle on this list. This palace, whose name translates to Swan District, acted as a summer residence for King Ludwig II. The castle is open year-round, save for Christmas, and is especially beautiful in winter.
14. Pena National Palace
On a clear day, you can see the rich red exterior of Pena National Palace all the way from Lisbon. Located in Portugal's Sintra mountains, Pena served as a sun-soaked summer retreat for the royal family. The purposefully eclectic mix of styles make Pena one of the most playful palaces on this list.
15. Matsumoto Castle
Nicknamed "Crow Castle", Matsumoto Castle was constructed in the early 16th century. Over the years, as the castle switched hands, it evolved into the commanding, ink-black structure it is today. When the Meiji government ordered all castles destroyed, the people of Matsumoto banded together to save their beloved castle—and did!
16. Frederiksborg Castle
Frederiksborg Castle housed the Danish royal family for one hundred years before it was almost totally destroyed by fire in 1859. With only the chapel and audience chamber surviving, the people of funded a reconstruction through public subscription. Luckily, over 300 paintings were also saved from the flames, and are now displayed alongside a substantial natural history collection.
Original uploader was Kresten Hartvig Klit at da.wikipedia on Wikimedia
17. Edinburgh Castle
This craggy castle stands tall over the Athens of the North. In over a millennium of history, Edinburgh Castle has been subject to 26 sieges, including those during the Wars of Scottish Independence and the Jacobite rising. Thank goodness this breathtaking is still standing, with Mary, Queen of Scots' initials included.
18. Neuschwanstein Castle
The one you've all been waiting for, Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany served as the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland. Neuschwanstein is perhaps the best example of Romantic-era architecture: dreamy and stylized, with a perfect view. Gorgeous as it is, Neuschwanstein is technically unfinished—not that we'd be able to tell!
Massimiliano Morosinotto on Unsplash
19. Qaitbay Fort
Qaitbay Fort in Alexandria, Egypt, is considered one of the most important defensive strongholds in the Mediterranean. Construction began in the late 15th century in the face of Ottoman invasion. Today, the fort remains open as a maritime museum.
20. Chateau Laroche
A medieval castle...in Ohio? That's right. After World War I, American medievalist and veteran Harry began work on a castle for Sunday school groups and boy scouts to enjoy. Andrews named the castle after a military hospital in France; his castle was modeled on those found in northern France and the British Isles but at one-fifth of the size.
