There isn’t anything quite as mysterious and spectacular as an old castle. Many castles carry with them scars from histories most influential moments. In the Middle Ages rulers began building castles for protection. In a time of war, the castle was the strong hold for conquering nations. Many have been battered and left inhabitable, but it is difficult to completely destroy a well built castle. It is a fairly tale dream to live in a castle on a big hill overlooking the city. In modern times many contemporary castles are being built, but they are mainly used for hotels and entertainment. I have compiled a list of some of the most fascinating castles in the world.
15. The Lowenburg Castle (Lion’s Castle)
This castle sits in the Wilhelmshöhe Hill Park, Germany. It was built
by Landgrave Wilhelm IX from 1793-1801. It was created to look like
a medieval fortress, including a moat and drawbridge. The castle also
includes medieval glass windows, weapons, and statues.
14. Castle Stalker
Castle Stalker is a four-story tower house located near Port Appin, Argyll, by Scotland. It is believed that this structure was built around 1320 by Clan MacDougall, who was then Lords of Lorn. It was abandoned around 1840 when it lost its roof. In 1908, it was re-purchased and had basic conservation work done. This castle is quite famous and has appeared in the films Monty Python and the Holy Grail and two Highlander movies. It is one of the best examples of a medieval tower-house surviving in western Scotland.
13. The Castle Slot Zuylen
Slot Zuylen is a Dutch castle near the city of Utrecht. In the 13th century the Lord of Suilen had a tower built and since that time the castle has been subject to many architectural changes. Around 1420 it was destroyed in a battle between Hoeken and Kabeljauwen. Every century Slot Zuylen has had additional construction with the majority of the renovation coming in the Mid-1700’s. The castle has historical representation from all of the last seven centuries. It has many famous designs including a tapestry by the Delft carpet weaver Maximiliaan van der Gught.
12. Het Steen Castle
Het Steen (The Stone) is an ancient medieval castle built in the old city center of Antwerp, Belgium, one of Europe’s biggest ports. Built around 1225 it is Antwerp’s oldest building. The castle was constructed in part to control access to the Schelde, the river that flows through this area. It was also used as a prison between 1303 and 1827. Let’s just say that prison was not a nice place during the Middle Ages. There are often reports of weird noises and ghostly activity on the grounds of Het Steen. Lately the castle has been used for various museum exhibits.
11. Bodiam Castle
Bodiam castle is located near Robertsbridge in East Sussex, England. It is one of the most famous landmarks in England and a perfect example of a late medieval moated castle. It is not a large structure, but was ideally suited for defense against France and militant rural populace after the English Peasants’ Revolt. It was also the site for many gatherings and parties with foreign merchants and dignitaries. The castle is completely surrounded by a moat from the north and south. It has four large towers on each of its rectangular corners. There are two gateways, each of which has long bridges leading over the moat. Bodiam castle has been pictured in many popular movies and videos, including Enya’s song “The Celts.” If you are lucky enough to visit this site, you have to be sure to check out the enormous hollowed out tree in the back of the castle grounds.
10. The Albrechtsburg Meissen Castle
This structures history spans all the way back to 929 when a military camp was established between the rivers Meisa, Triebisch and Elbe. The castle was destroyed in the 15th century and redesigned by Arnold of Westphalia, mostly in the late Gothic style. This landmark dominates the city centre of Meissen, Germany. In 1645, Swedish General von Königsmark captured the castle during the Thirty Years War. It was the factory for the first fine European china, Meissen porcelain, from 1700-1850. During World War II Albrechtsburg was used as storage for artistic inventories of the Dresden Art Collections and some other stolen artifacts.
9. Eltz Castle (Burg Eltz)
Burg Eltz is a medieval castle nestled in the hills above the Moselle River between Koblenz and Trier, Germany. In the 13th century many towns were first being founded in this area. Multiple owners came to claim this land and jointly built Burg Eltz. This was a common practice in some parts of the Roman Holy Empire of the German Nation, as only the very rich European lords could afford to build a castle solely on their land. This has caused the property to be divided into a community of joint heirs, which belong to different branches of certain families. Burg Eltz is located on an important Roman trade route between the rich farm lands and their markets. The castle had major construction done from 1472-1540. It was mostly in the late Gothic style. To this day it is still owned by a branch of the same family that lived their 33 generations ago. The owners are the Rübenach, Rodendorf, and Kempenich families.
8. Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein castle was built in the 19th century and was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria. It is located near Hohenschwangau and Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. It is the most photographed building in Germany, although pictures of the interior are not permitted. Ludwig II was widely known for building numerous extravagant castles. He used them as retreats and the public was not permitted to visit. Neuschwanstein’s budget was exceeding itself and Ludwig was losing public support. In 1886, when the castle was almost complete, the King was declared insane by a State Commission. Although he vigorously proclaimed that he was not even examined. Ludwig II mysteriously drowned that same year at the age of 41. After his death the castle was open to the public, in part to counter the incredible debt it originally created. Since that time over 50 million people have visited the site. Neuschwanstein castle was an inspiration for Walt Disney when creating the animated film
7. The Castle of Miranda (Home de Noasi)
I had to add one castle to the list that is currently abandoned. There is something quite eerie about a vacant and dark castle, it has the nickname "Home de Noasi." Actually that name originated between World War I and World War II when the castle became a vacation home for SNCB (Belgian national rail company) railway men's children. The castle is located not far from Dinant in Belgium. It has been abandoned since 1991 when there was a fire. It may look somewhat in tact from the outside, but is in pretty bad shape on the interior. Be careful because it is not a safe place to explore, corrosion could cause a partial collapse at any time. Miranda castle is 142 years old, has 550 windows, and a clock tower that is 183 feet tall. I’m not sure what creatures are living in there today. You decide for yourself.
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6. Krak des Chevaliers
This castle might be the most important preserved medieval military landmarks in the world. It is a crusader fortress located east of Tripoli, Lebanon, in Syria, atop a 650-metre-high hill along the only route from Antioch to Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of many fortresses that were built as a defensive network on the boarder of the old Crusader states. This base controlled the road to the Mediterranean Sea. During The Crusades this was an incredibly important structure. Around 1200 it was expanded to the largest crusader fortress in the Holy Land. It was transformed into a concentric castle, which is a castle within another castle. During this time construction was constant and some parts of the walls were over a hundred feet thick. It has endured many battles and in 2006 the fortress was made a World Heritage Site, which is a place of cultural or historical significance. Krak des Chevaliers is one of the few places where some forms of crusader art and architecture are on display. Needless to say, not many structures survived these wars.
5. Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh castle is an ancient stronghold located atop Castle Rock in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. It is unclear exactly when it was constructed, but there has been a royal castle at the location since the reign of David I in the 12th century. It continued to be a royal residence until 1603 and the Union of the Crowns. Edinburgh castle has been involved in numerous historical conflicts, including the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century and the Jacobite Rising of 1745. It has been besieged, both successfully and unsuccessfully, on many occasions. From the 17th century to the 19th century the castle was used as a military base, with a large garrison. In the 1800’s it was recognized as a historical monument and various restoration programs have been carried out since. There are very few buildings in this area that pre-date the Lang Siege of the 16th century, when everything was destroyed by artillery bombardment. The castle is now in the care of Historic Scotland. It is the second-most-visited tourist attraction in Scotland and has many different museum exhibits.
4. Burg Katz (Castle Rhine)
Burg Katz is a castle above the German town of St. Goarshausen. It is a truly remarkable structure tucked in the hillside. It was built around 1371 by Count Wilhelm II of Katzenelnbogen. Originally it was used in the military as a commanding station. It also provided a transportation corridor through the German countryside. Burg Katz was an attractive target and was scarred by many battles. Spaniards conducted a siege in 1626 and the French tried to capture it in 1684 and again in 1692. In 1801, it was ultimately owned by France. Napoleon decided to blow it up in 1806 and it remained is disrepair well into the late 19th century. It was rebuilt from 1896-98. Burg Katz today houses a private Natural Science Grammar and Boarding School and is closed to the pubic. At least that is what they tell us, Hogwarts?
3. Osaka Castle
Osaka castle is located in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the most famous castles in this area and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the 16th century. The design of this castle is extremely unique. It was built on two raised platforms of landfill, supported by sheer walls of cut rock. The technique is called Burdock piling. The central castle building is five stories on the outside and eight on the inside. It also has underground stories. Construction began in 1583 under the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In 1615, Osakajo fell to Tokugawa clan. At that time Tokugawa Hidetada reconstructed the castle with many additions. In 1868, much of the castle grounds were burned in the civil conflicts surrounding the Meiji Restoration, it was converted to a barracks. In 1928, the main tower was restored and in 1945 in was damaged in bombing raids. The last restoration on Osaka castle took place from 1995-1997. Today the castle grounds contain thirteen structures which have been designated as Important Cultural Assets by the Japanese government. It is open to the pubic and an extremely popular vacation destination.
2. Caerlaverock Castle
Caerlaverrock castle was built in the 13th century in southwest Scotland. It is unique as it is a triangular double moated castle. Located very close to the border with England, this castle was vital in defending off English troops on numerous occasions. It was also besieged more then five times, most notably in 1300 by Edward I. After a siege in 1640 that featured Catholic Maxwells against some angry Protestant groups, the castle was permanently abandoned. During this battle the south wall and tower were demolished and it remains that way. Today Caerlaverock castle is a tourist attraction and its ruins are in a National Nature Reserve in the care of Scottish Natural Heritage.
1. Predjama Castle
Predjama castle is a Renaissance castle woven within a cave mouth in southwestern Slovenia. It was built in the Gothic style and first mentioned in 1274. It is truly an architectural masterpiece. It was constructed under a natural rocky arch high in the stone wall to make it difficult to access. This castle has changed hands many times throughout history. Probably the most infamous owner was knight Erazem, who controlled the land in the late 15th century. Predjama castle is located in the middle of a 123 m high, overhanging, limestone cliff. It has numerous secret passage ways including a natural shaft that leads out of a secret room. The shaft was used to supply the castle with food during a time of siege and also for smuggling and criminal activity. Over the years it has had numerous ghost sightings and paranormal activity. In 2008, it was featured on an episode of Ghost Hunters International on the Sci Fi Channel. Eventually the castle was confiscated by the state after World War II and today it is used as a museum for showing the life of medieval lords.
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Beautiful pictures. I love to visit castles. I visited many castles but I like Neuschwanstein castle. Neuschwanstein castle is amazing castle in Germany. Neuschwanstein is quite famous because of the castle's incredible mountain surroundings and architecture. Views of the surrounding countryside from the top of the castle are beautiful.
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