Top 20 most beautiful castles in World
There are so many amazing castles around the world and it is very hard to make a list of the top 20. We've put together a list of the most breathtaking castles around the world that are already in our database. This list will continually change as our visitors vote for their favourite castles and new ones are added to our database.
20.Atalaya Castle, Spain
The Atalaya Castle is located over a spur of the Sierra de la Villa mountains, in the north-western part of the province of Alicante, and it commands the former frontier between Castile and Kingdom of Aragon.
The castle was an important stronghold on the northern frontier of the Islamic emirate of Iberia, and resisted to three different sieges laid by James I of Aragon. He was finally able to conquer it in 1240, although the castle was handed over to the Kingdom of Castile after the Treaty of Almizra of 1244.
The castle is now in good conditions and is the centre of the yearly Moros y Cristianos feast.... view details
19.Dover Castle, United Kingdom
Dover Castle has been described as the Key to England due to its defensive significance throughout history.
Dover Castle is one of the largest castles in England. From a height of 120 meters, it looks over the English Channel at the crossing's narrowest point.
The castle features massive defenses, topped with medieval walls, towers, and networks of tunnels beneath.
King Henry the Second began building the castle in the 12th century.
Over the next 800 years, its buildings, defenses, and tunnels were modified to address the evolving warfare needs right into the era of nuclear weapons.
This site may have been fortified even before the Romans invaded the British Isles.
Still standing at the site, a lighthouse built by the Romans soon after their conquest.... view details
18.Gravensteen, Belgium
The Gravensteen is a castle in Ghent originating from the Middle Ages. It was built in 1180 by count Philip of Alsace and was modeled after the crusaders castles that Philip of Alsace encountered while he participated in the second crusade.
The castle served as the seat of the Counts of Flanders until they abandoned it in the 14th century. The castle was then used as a courthouse, a prison and eventually decayed. At one time it even served as a factory.
In 1885 the city of Ghent bought the castle and started a renovation project. The newly built houses around the castle were removed and the walls and keep were restored to their original condition. The castle houses a museum with various torture devices (and a guillotine) that were ...... view details
17.Bodiam Castle, United Kingdom
Bodiam Castle is one of the most picturesque and beloved castles in Great Britain. Many historians consider that Bodiam represents the popular ideal of a medieval castle.
Often portrayed as "the perfect English castle", Bodiam's pictures have been embellished on numerous books, chocolate boxes, wallpapers which are shipped all around the world.
Bodiam Castle was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight of Edward III, apparently to defend the area against French invasions during the Hundred Years' War.
There is a constant debate among historians whether the castle was built for military strength or as a romantic country home designed to evoke the ideas of grandeur and prestige.
Bodiam Castle was built to a simple rectangular plan, with no keep, in the middle of ...... view details
16.Edinburgh Castle, United Kingdom
Edinburgh Castle is a historic fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, from its position on the Castle Rock. There has been a royal castle on the rock since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century, and the site continued to be a royal residence until 1633.
As one of the most important strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle was involved in many historical conflicts from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century to the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Research undertaken in 2014 identified 26 sieges in its 1100-year-old history, giving it a claim to having been "the most besieged place in Great Britain and one of the most attacked in the world".
The castle, in the care of Historic Scotland, ...... view details
15.Castle of Fougeres, France
The Chateau de Fougeres is an imposing fort, built on a naturally protected site, a rock emerging from a swamp surrounded by a loop of the Nancon river acting as a natural moat.
It had three different enclosures: the first for defensive purposes; the second for day to day usages in peacetime and for safety of the surrounding populations in times of siege; and the last for the protection of the keep. In all it has an impressive 13 towers.... view details
14.Castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg, France
The Castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg was built in a strategic location, on a rocky promontory, high above the Upper Rhine valley at an altitude of more than 700 meters. This site was ideal for observing the main routes in the region and provided a great defensive position for the fortress.
History
The first castle, called Castrum Estuphin dates back to aprox. 1147. The fortress changed its name to Koenigsburg (which in German means "royal castle") about 10 years later. Successive powers used the castle from the Middle Ages until the Thirty Years' War.
After the castle was destroyed in 1462 in a siege let by a coalition of forces of the cities of Colmar, Strasbourg, and Basel, the Habsburg emperor Frederick III handed the ...... view details
13.Walzin Castle, Belgium
Walzin Castle was constructed in the 13th century, but the castle was burned down by the French army in 1554. A Renaissance horseshoe tower with four cannon ports was added in the 15th century, and that tower still exists today. There were several restorations later, the latest by Baron Frederic Brugman between 1930 and 1932. Victor Hugo made a drawing of the castle in 1863.... view details
12.Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. The "fairy-tale" palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as an homage to Richard Wagner, whom the king has greatly admired.
The castle was intended as a personal refuge for the reclusive king Ludwig, but it was opened to the paying public immediately after his death in 1886.
Since then more than 61 million people have visited Neuschwanstein Castle. More than 1.3 million people visit annually, with as many as 6,000 per day in the summer.
The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as a homage to Richard Wagner; it embodies both the contemporaneous architectural fashion known as castle romanticism, and Ludwig II's immoderate enthusiasm for the operas of ...... view details
11.Castle of Fontainebleau, France
The castle of Fontainebleau is one of the biggest royal palaces in France, serving as a royal residence for eight centuries.
The "True home of kings, house of centuries," as Napoleon liked to call it, has been inhabited by great historical figures.
Kings and queens, emperors, and empresses have all striven to enhance the chateau, making it an outstanding testimony of history and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The first structure on the site was built in the 12th century and used as a hunting lodge by the kings of France.
The original medieval fortress was replaced by a Renaissance palace under the guiding hand of King Francois the First.... view details
10.Tower of London, United Kingdom
The Tower of London is a world-famous monument and one of England's most iconic structures.
The Tower has served as a royal palace, a notorious prison and place of execution, the home of the Royal Mint, a treasury, and the home of the Crown Jewels of England.
The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 on the banks of the River Thames.
It is an outstanding example of medieval military architecture and the most complete 11th-century fortress palace remaining in Europe.
Acting as a symbol of Norman power, the Tower served both as a fortress and a gateway to the capital.
The Tower of London, with all its later additions, was built around the White Tower.... view details
9.Castle of Chambord, France
The Castle of Chambord is the largest castle in the Loire Valley and one of the most recognizable chateaux in the world because of its unique architecture.
In 1519, the young King Francois the First ordered its construction.
The plan of the castle and its decorations are designed around a central axis: the famous double revolution staircase inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, known to have accompanied the king on his return from Italy.
The edifice was a monumental architectural work that Francois liked to show off as a symbol of his wealth and power.
It was not until the reign of Louis the Fourteenth that the building was completed.
Stables were constructed outside the main structure, and French formal gardens were planted to adorn the facade.... view details
8.Castle of Chenonceau, France
The Castle of Chenonceau is one of the most picturesque castles in the Loire Valley and the second most visited palace in France.
A marvel of French architecture, the chateau boasts a five-arched bridge spanning the River Cher.
Nicknamed "the Ladies' Chateau," the history of this castle is defined by an almost uninterrupted succession of women who built, embellished, and protected it.
Although the estate was first mentioned in the 11th century, the current structure was built in the early sixteenth century and later extended to span the river.
King Henry the Second offered the castle as a gift to his beloved mistress, Diane de Poitiers, who became deeply attached to it.... view details
7.Alhambra, Spain
Alhambra is one of Spain's major tourist attractions, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the inspiration for countless songs and stories.
The Alhambra is a magnificent palace, fortress, and garden complex, recognized as the most spectacular example of Moorish architecture in Spain and one of the most renowned in the world.
The vast palace compound developed gradually through additions and modifications made during both the Muslim and Christian periods.
It all started with a small fortress built in the ninth century on the remains of Roman fortifications.
Most of the structures we see today were built during the Nasrid dynasty, which ruled the Emirate of Granada for over two centuries... view details
6.Alcazar of Segovia, Spain
The Alcazar of Segovia is a famous medieval castle and one of the most visited landmarks in Spain.
The Alcazar served both as a royal palace and a fortress for the Castilian monarchs.
However, throughout its long history, the building also served as a state prison, a Royal Artillery College, a large chemistry laboratory, and a military academy.
The castle has been the stage for crucial events in Spain's history.
For instance, the first meetings of the Cortes of Castile or the proclamation of Queen Isabella of Castile, one of the most significant and influential women in history.... view details
5.De Haar Castle, Netherlands
De Haar Castle is the largest and most luxurious castle in The Netherlands.
Few Dutch castles can equal De Haar for its ideal image of a medieval fortress with towers and ramparts, moats, gates, and drawbridges.
Baron Etienne van Zuylen, who inherited the impressive ruins of De Haar, decided to rebuild it on a grand scale as a monument of his family history and a reminder of its glory days.
To achieve this, Baron Etienne decided to collaborate with the renowned architect Pierre Cuypers, who was famous for designing the Rijksmuseum and the Central Station in Amsterdam.
Cuypers's neo-Gothic architectural style fitted well with the Baron's desire to turn the castle into a family museum.... view details
4.Pena Palace, Portugal
Pena Palace is one of the world's most magnificent palaces and an outstanding example of 19th-century Romanticism in Europe.
Perched high above a landscape of verdant hills and sparkling coastline, the palace was intended as a summer retreat for the Portuguese royal family.
The site's history can be traced back to the Middle Ages when a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena was erected on the top of the hill.
Legend has it that construction occurred after an apparition of the Virgin Mary.
Two centuries later, King Manuel I ordered the building of a monastery on the site, which was donated to the Order of Saint Jerome.
For centuries, Pena was a small, quiet place for meditation.... view details
3.Windsor Castle, United Kingdom
Windsor Castle is a royal residence, notable for its long association with the English and later British royal family and for its architecture. The original castle was built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion of England by William the Conqueror.
Since the time of Henry I, it has been used by the reigning monarch and is the longest-occupied palace in Europe. The castle State Apartments are considered by many historians as the finest and most complete expression of later Georgian taste.
It is a popular tourist attraction, a venue for hosting state visits, and the preferred weekend home of Elizabeth II. Today, more than 500 people live and work in Windsor Castle - the largest inhabited castle in the world.... view details
2.Bamburgh Castle, United Kingdom
Built on a dolerite outcrop, the location was previously home to a fort of the native Britons. The Normans built a new castle on the site, which forms the core of the present one.
As an important English outpost, the castle was the target of occasional raids from Scotland. In 1464 during the Wars of the Roses, it became the first castle in England to be defeated by artillery.
The castle still belongs to the Armstrong family, and is opened to the public. It also hosts weddings and corporate events. It has been used as a film location since the 1920s, featuring in films such as Ivanhoe (1982), El Cid (1961), Mary, Queen of Scots (1971), Elizabeth (1998) and both the 1971 and 2015 adaptions of Macbeth.
It's also used as a filming location ...... view details
1.Citadel of Carcassonne, France
The medieval Citadel of Carcassonne is located on a hill on the right bank of the River Aude, in the south-east part of the city proper. Founded during the Gallo-Roman period, the citadel derives its reputation from its 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) long double surrounding walls interspersed by 52 towers.
The town of Carcassonne has about 2,500 years of history and has seen the Romans, Visigoths, Saracens and Crusaders. The citadel was restored at the end of the 19th century and in 1997 it was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.... view details
This "top" is based on user ratings (min. 30 votes needed) and it can change based on users votes; be sure to rate your favourite castles and check back soon.