Ancient castles overgrown with ivy amaze with grandeur and make an unforgettable impression. There are such historical buildings in many European countries. Among them are the oldest and most original. Ancient castles amaze with their beauty, grandeur and practicality. They were built not only to demonstrate the wealth of their owner, but also as defensive structures. Even with a long siege of castles, life did not stop there. Almost every architectural monument has become part of local legends, some got fame unusual place, which is haunted.

Germany is proud of Reichsburg Castle with a thousand-year history. At one time, it was the residence of King Conrad III. At the end of the seventeenth century, it was almost completely destroyed, but in the nineteenth it was restored by a local businessman.

The Austrian castle Hochosterwitz, towering one hundred and sixty meters above the terrain, seems to be vigilantly watching its possessions even today. It belongs to the ninth century. This medieval building looks great even from a distance of thirty kilometers.

Bled Castle hangs over Lake Bled on a hundred-meter cliff. The windows of this historic Slovenian building offer a magnificent view. It is known that the castle was once the residence of Josip Broz Tito, and even earlier - the residence of the royal dynasty.

Castle-fortress Hohenschwangau is located in Germany. It was built by knights in the twelfth century. It served as the residence of several rulers, including Louis II. The famous composer Richard Wagner visited this castle.

The most original castles

Visiting castles is always impressive. It seems that you are in a fairy tale or acting in a movie about knights and beautiful princesses. There are castles that are completely original, unlike those that we are used to seeing in films or book illustrations.

Predjama Castle cannot be called otherwise than non-standard and unique. It is literally carved out of the rock. The left wing was carved at the beginning of the twelfth century, the right and middle parts were completed already in the sixteenth. At the end of the twentieth century, the castle was restored, returning its original appearance.

Who hasn't heard of the Swallow's Nest? This castle is a gem and business card Crimea. It rises on the Aurora rock, on which huge waves break. Its romanticism, mystery and at the same time elegance contributed to the fact that several feature films were filmed in the castle.

Near the coast of Normandy there is an artificial island Mont Saint-Michel, on which a medieval French castle was built. Its peculiarity is that it is a functioning monastery.

The oldest castles

Castles began to be built in Europe from the tenth century. All of them are similar in layout, as they are fortifications. Usually castles were surrounded by a moat, which was filled with water.

One of the oldest buildings is the huge Dover Castle. Some of its buildings appeared about two thousand years ago - these are two lighthouses, however, only one has survived to this day. Already in the tenth century, a church was attached to the lighthouse, and in the eleventh century, the main tower was built nearby, and all the buildings were surrounded by a defensive wall.

Another ancient castle is located in the Czech Republic. It's about Prague Castle. It is known that its first tower was built as early as 879. Impressive is not only the age, but also the huge area of ​​the castle.

Kisimul is the name of a castle built on an island near Barra in the eleventh century. As confirm archaeological excavations, the first building was destroyed. It was rebuilt again in the fifteenth century. There is a source in the castle fresh water, and this is very important during a siege. Kisimul has never been captured, which makes it unique in its own way.

The most unusual castle in the world

The most unusual, one might say fabulous, is Neuschwanstein Castle. It is also called the castle in the clouds. In Germany, this is one of the most interesting sights. The name translates as "New Swan Rock".

Construction was carried out in the nineteenth century. It is known that when creating the cartoon about the sleeping beauty, the world-famous animator Disney created the castle of the main character of the cartoon similar to Neuschwanstein Castle. The resemblance is striking.

Monarchs often prefer to live not in castles, but in palaces. The Royal Palace in Stockholm took almost 57 years to build. The site has a site with interesting facts about the largest palaces in the world. The editors of the site, continuing the theme of surprisingly unusual sights, invites you to get acquainted with abandoned places that are breathtaking.
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Since ancient times, castles have been built to protect a region from enemies, and today they best reflect the history of states. In most cases, huge stone structures were built on the site of a small fortress. Awe-inspiring outposts are the most widespread in Europe. Over the centuries, they were strengthened and completed, and now they are tourist attractions. Thousands of ancient structures are scattered all over the world, but these very old castles are a separate page of history…

Killily Castle, Northern Ireland. Founded in 1180

Killili Castle is the main attraction of the village of the same name in Northern Ireland. The oldest parts of it date back to 1180, which is why it is believed that this is the oldest castle in the country. King James I granted the land on which the castle stands to James Hamilton, who later became the first Viscount Clanab. He then built a high castle surrounded by a wall.
Since 1625, the castle has been the family home of the Hamilton family. In 1666, James Hamilton's son, Henry, restored the estate, added another tower, and erected a long fortified wall in front of the castle. This is how we see Killili today.

Alcazar in Segovia, Spain. Founded at the beginning of the 12th century

The Alcazar of Segovia was once an Arab fortress built on the remains of a Roman fort. The earliest mention of it dates back to 1120. At this time, the city was recaptured by King Alfonso VI. During the reign of King Alfonso VIII and his wife Eleanor of England, the Alcazar was their main residence. They rebuilt the ancient outpost and made it what it is today.
The castle remained one of the most important fortresses for the monarchs of Castile until they moved the capital to Madrid. In 1882, the castle was restored to its original state, and in 1896 King Alfonso XIII gave it to the Ministry of War for use as a military college.

Rochester Castle, Kent, South East England. Founded in the late 1080s

Rochester Castle was built in the late 1080s after William II asked Bishop Gandalf of Rochester to build a stone castle here so that he could control the crossing of the river. This stone building is one of the first of its kind in England, because many of the country's early castles at that time were built according to the motte and bailey type (mound-palisade castle).
In 1127, the Archbishop of Canteburi began the construction of the temple, which is considered one of the best preserved in England and France. Exactly this high building in Europe. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the castle was restored and opened to the public.

. Founded in 1077

The first fortress of Hohensalzburg Castle was built in 1077 by Gebhard I of Helfenstein, who was the archbishop at the time. And although he was expelled, his successors completed the construction. During the reign of the Holy Roman Empire, the archbishops of Salzburg continued to expand the castle to protect their power and interests. Around 1500, Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach completed the construction. And today we see the castle as it was at that time.
Despite the fact that the castle was built as a fortress, it was besieged only once in 1525 - during the peasant war in Germany. At the end of the 19th century, the castle was restored and has been a popular tourist attraction ever since.

Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England. Founded in 1070

Although there was a royal residence in Windsor in Saxon times (around the 9th century), the construction of the first castle began around 1070, after the invasion of England by William the Conqueror. Since the reign of King Henry I, the castle has been the residence of the reigning monarchs of England. This is the oldest royal residence in Europe.
Initially, the castle was built according to the "motte and bailey" type, but stone fortifications were gradually erected. When Henry III came to power, he built a magnificent royal palace on the castle grounds, and Edward III made it even more grandiose. Windsor Castle is still owned by the English royal family and is a popular tourist attraction.

Reichsburg Cochem, Germany. Founded in 1000

Reichsburg Cochem or Cochem Castle is one of the oldest castles in the world. It is believed to have been built around the year 1000 by the Count Palatine of Ezzo. The earliest documentation of the castle appeared in 1051, when Richesa, the eldest daughter of the count palatine and former queen of Poland, gave the castle to her nephew, count palatine Henry I.
In 1151, the castle officially became an imperial residence after King Conrad III occupied it by force. In 1688, the castle was partially destroyed by the army of the French King Louis XIV, and in 1868 it was rebuilt. Since 1978, the castle has been owned by the city of Cochem.

Citadel of Aleppo, Syria. Founded in 3000 BC

Aleppo Citadel is one of the oldest and largest castles in the world. It is located on top of a hill in ancient city Aleppo, which is an object world heritage UNESCO. The fortress of the citadel was built before 3000 BC. BC, but most of the buildings were probably erected during the reign of the Ayubid dynasty in the 12th century.
In the early 2000s, the Aga Khan Cultural Foundation, in collaboration with the Aleppo Archaeological Society, carried out extensive conservation work at the citadel. Unfortunately, in last years it has been severely damaged by the ongoing war.

Which castle inspired Pyotr Tchaikovsky to create Swan Lake? Where was Indiana Jones filmed? How do ancient European castles function today? Lovers of mystical landscapes, romantic trips and mysterious legends! Our material - especially for you!

Eltz (German: Burg Eltz) is a castle located in Rhineland-Palatinate (commune Wierschem) in the Elzbach river valley. Together with the palace, Bürresheim is considered the only building in western Germany that has never been destroyed and captured. The castle was not damaged even during the wars of the 17th and 18th centuries. and events of the French Revolution.

The castle has been perfectly preserved to this day. It is surrounded by a river on three sides and rises on a rock 70 meters high. This makes it consistently popular with tourists and photographers.

Official site

Bled Castle, Slovenia (XI century)

One of the oldest castles in Slovenia (Sloven. Blejski grad) is located on top of a 130-meter cliff near the lake of the same name near the city of Bled. The oldest part of the castle is the Romanesque tower, which was used both for housing and for defense, and for monitoring the surroundings surrounding the castle.

During the Second World War, the headquarters of the German troops was located here. In 1947, a fire broke out in the castle, due to which some of the buildings were damaged. A few years later, the castle was restored and it resumed its activities as a historical museum. The museum's collection includes clothing, weapons and household items.

Official site

(XIX century)

The romantic castle of King Ludwig II is located near the town of Füssen in southwestern Bavaria. The castle was the inspiration for the construction of the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris. Neuschwanstein (German: Schloß Neuschwanstein) is also featured in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as a castle in the fictional land of Vulgaria. The view of Neuschwanstein was fascinated by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. According to historians, it was here that he got the idea to create the ballet Swan Lake.

Neuschwanstein Castle is featured in the films Ludwig II: The Brilliance and Fall of the King (1955, dir. Helmut Keutner), Ludwig (1972, dir. Luchino Visconti), Ludwig II of Bavaria (2012, dir. Marie Noel and Peter Zehr).

The castle is currently a museum. To visit, you need to buy a ticket at the ticket center and go up to the castle by bus, as well as on foot or in a horse-drawn carriage. The only person who "lives" in the castle on this moment and is its guardian - watchman.

Official site

The castle in Livorno got its name from the fact that the local coast is known as Boccale (Pitcher) or Cala dei Pirati (Pirates' Bay). The center of the modern Castello del Boccale was an observation tower built by order of the Medici in 16th century, presumably on the ruins of an older structure from the period of the Pisan Republic. During its history, the appearance of the castle has undergone changes more than once. In recent years, a thorough restoration of the Castello del Boccale has been carried out, after which the castle was divided into several residential apartments.

The legendary castle (rum. Bran Castle) is located in the picturesque town of Bran, 30 km from Brasov, on the border of Muntenia and Transylvania. Initially, it was built at the end of the XIV century by the forces and means of local residents for exemption from paying taxes to the state treasury for several centuries. Due to its location on the top of a cliff and its trapezoidal shape, the castle served as a strategic defensive fortress.

The castle has 4 levels connected by stairs. During its history, the castle has changed several owners: it belonged to the ruler Mircea the Old, the inhabitants of Brasov and the Habsburg Empire ... According to legend, during his campaigns, the famous governor Vlad Tepes-Dracula spent the night in the castle, and its surroundings were the favorite hunting ground of the ruler Tepes.

Currently, the castle belongs to the descendant of the Romanian kings, the grandson of Queen Mary, Dominic of Habsburg (in 2006, according to the new law of Romania on the return of territories to the previous owners). After the transfer of the castle to the owner, all the furniture was taken to the museums of Bucharest. And Dominic Habsburg had to recreate the decoration of the castle, buying various antiques.

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Official site

Alcazar Castle, Spain (IX century)

The fortress of the Spanish kings Alcazar (Spanish Alcázar) is located in the historical part of the city of Segovia on a rock. Over the years of its existence, the Alcazar was not only a royal palace, but also a prison, as well as an artillery academy. According to archaeologists, even in ancient Roman times, there was a military fortification on the site of the Alcazar. During the Middle Ages, the castle was the favorite residence of the kings of Castile. In 1953, the Alcazar was turned into a museum.

Currently, it remains one of the most visited tourist destinations in Spain. A museum has been opened in the palace, which exhibits furniture, interiors, a collection of weapons, portraits of the kings of Castile. 11 halls and the most high tower- Tower of Juan II.

Chambord Castle, France (XVI century)

Chambord (fr. Château de Chambord) is one of the most recognizable castles in France, architectural masterpiece the era of the Renaissance. The length of the facade is 156 m, the width is 117 m, the castle has 426 rooms, 77 staircases, 282 fireplaces and 800 sculpturally decorated capitals.

According to historical research, Leonardo da Vinci himself took part in the design. Since 1981, it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Since 2005, the castle has had the status of a state public and commercial enterprise. On the second floor of the castle there is now a branch of the Museum of Hunting and Nature.

Official site

Windsor Castle, UK (XI century)

Situated on a hill in the Thames Valley, Windsor Castle has been a symbol of the monarchy for more than 900 years. Over the centuries, the appearance of the castle has changed in accordance with the capabilities of the ruling monarchs. It acquired its modern look as a result of reconstruction after a fire in 1992. The castle occupies 52,609 square meters and combines the features of a fortress, a palace and a small town.

Today, the Occupied Royal Palaces Estate organization (residential royal palaces) owns the palace on behalf of the nation, and the Royal Household department provides consumer services. Windsor Castle is the largest residential castle in the world (about 500 people live and work in it). Elizabeth II spends a month in the spring and a week in June at the castle to participate in traditional ceremonies associated with the Order of the Garter. About a million tourists visit the castle every year.

Official site

Corvin Castle, Romania (XIV century)

The family nest of the Hunyadi feudal house in the south of Transylvania, in the modern Romanian city of Hunedoara. Initially, the fortress had an oval shape, and the only defensive tower was located in the northern wing, while on the south side it was covered with a stone wall.

In 1441-1446, under the governor Yanosh Hunyadi, seven towers were built, and in 1446-1453. laid the chapel, built the main halls and the south wing with utility rooms. As a result, the appearance of the castle combines elements of late Gothic and early Renaissance.

In 1974 the castle was opened to visitors as a museum. Tourists are escorted to the castle along a gigantic bridge, they are shown a vast hall for knightly feasts and two towers, one of which bears the name of the monk John Capistran, and the second is the romantic name "Do not be afraid."

They also say that it was in this castle of Hunyadi that Dracula, who was dethroned from the throne, was kept for 7 years.

Official site

Liechtenstein Castle, Austria (XII century)

One of the most unusual castles in terms of architecture (German - Burg Liechtenstein) is located on the edge of the Vienna Woods. The castle was built in the 12th century but was destroyed twice by the Ottomans in 1529 and 1683. In 1884 the castle was restored. Another damage was done to the castle during the Second World War. Finally, in the 1950s, the castle was restored by the citizens. Since 2007, the castle, like more than 800 years ago, has been run by the relatives of its founders - the princely family of Liechtenstein.

The modern popularity of Liechtenstein Castle is associated with the theater festival of Johann Nestroy held here in the summer. The castle is open to visitors.

Official site

Chillon Castle (Fr. Château de Chillon) is located near Lake Geneva, 3 km from the city of Montreux, and is a complex of 25 elements from different eras of construction. Location and construction features allowed the owners of the castle to fully control the strategically important road that ran between the lake and the mountains. For a certain period of time, the road to the St. Bernard Pass served as the only transport route from Northern Europe to the South. The depth of the lake provided security: an attack from this side was simply impossible. The stone wall of the castle facing the road is fortified with three towers. The opposite side of the castle is residential.

Like most castles, Chillon Castle also served as a prison. Louis the Pious kept Abbot Vala of Corvey imprisoned here. In the middle of the XIV century, during the plague, Jews were kept and tortured in the castle, who were accused of poisoning water sources.

Chillon Castle is the scene of George Byron's poem The Prisoner of Chillon. The historical basis for the poem was the imprisonment in the castle on the orders of Charles III of Savoy Francois Bonivard in 1530-1536. The image of the castle was romanticized in their works by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Percy Shelley, Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas.

Official site

Hohenzollern Castle, Germany (XIII century)

Hohenzollern Castle (German: Burg Hohenzollern) is located in Baden-Württemberg, 50 km south of Stuttgart, on top of the Hohenzollern mountain at an altitude of 855 meters. During the years of its existence, the castle was destroyed several times.

Some of the most famous relics kept in the museum are the crown of the Prussian kings and the uniform that belonged to Frederick the Great. From 1952 to 1991, the remains of Frederick I and Frederick the Great rested in the castle museum. After the reunification of East and West Germany in 1991, the ashes of the Prussian kings were returned to Potsdam.

At present, the castle belongs to 2/3 of the Brandenburg-Prussian Hohenzollern line and 1/3 of the Swabian-Catholic line. Every year it is visited by about 300 thousand tourists.

Official site

Walsen Castle, Belgium (XI century)

The legacy of the Middle Ages, European castles today are shrouded in a veil of legends, traditions and real dramatic events. Their thick stone walls remember sieges, internecine wars, intrigues and romantic stories. Their sumptuous or, on the contrary, ascetic interiors excite the imagination, which, having played out, takes away into the world of the knights of King Arthur, Lohengrin and Dracula. And, in general, at this moment it doesn’t matter whether these characters actually existed.

Abbey of Mont Saint Michel

Bran Castle, Transylvania, Romania

Bran Castle, 30 kilometers from the city of Brasov, is one of those places whose mythological history has overshadowed the real one, I must say, very rich. Thanks to the novel by the Irishman Bram Stoker, published in 1897, Bran became "the same" castle of Count Dracula, the most popular bloodsucker of mass culture and the main vampire of all times and peoples. Yes, there is a deadly negative charm in this image: “He had an energetic, original face, a thin nose and some special, strangely shaped nostrils; an arrogant high forehead, and hair that grew scantly and at the same time in thick tufts near the temples; very thick, almost meeting on the forehead eyebrows. The mouth, as far as I could see under the heavy moustache, was resolute, even cruel in appearance, with extraordinarily sharp white teeth protruding between the lips, the bright color of which struck with its vitality in a man of his age. But what struck me the most was the unusual pallor of the face. However, one should not associate Stoker's Dracula with his prototype, the 15th-century Wallachian prince Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad Dracula. Although the governor did not differ in special humanity, he was not a bloody despot, as he appears in the annals, either. The executions of the boyars after Tepes came to power in Transylvania - quite in the spirit of that by no means vegetarian time and internecine struggle, he himself was also attempted more than once. Vlad Dracula has an indirect relationship to Bran Castle: dissatisfied with the refusal of the German merchants of Brasov to obey the trading rules established by him, he repeatedly organized military campaigns against the obstinate city. However, no written evidence of his capture of the castle has been preserved.

Chillon Castle, Montreux, Switzerland

Chillon stands in the bosom of the waters;

There, in the dungeon, seven columns

Covered with damp moss.

A sad light dawns on them.

Unlike Bram Stoker, who used some of the features and fragments of the biography of Vlad Dracula to create an image, Byron in The Prisoner of Chillon poeticized the real story of a prisoner of a gloomy castle on the shores of Lake Geneva. The basis of the poem, written by him in two days in June 1816, based on fresh impressions from visiting this place with his friend Percy Bysshe Shelley, was the events of the 16th century. The prototype of the Chillon prisoner was the rector of one of the Geneva abbeys, Francois Bonivard, who opposed the persistent attempts of the Savoy Duke Charles III to seize power in Geneva. Bonivar spent six years in captivity and was released in 1536 by the Bernese. In fairness, in the centuries-old history of the castle, built in the middle of the XII century as the residence of the Savoy dukes, there were many dramatic episodes. So, in 1798, under the influence of the French Revolution, the French-speaking canton of Vaud, refusing to recognize the authority of the German-speaking Bern, proclaimed the Leman Republic. When French troops entered the canton, to which its inhabitants turned for help, the Chillon castle was turned into a warehouse of weapons and uniforms.

Abbey of Mont Saint Michel, Normandy, France

According to legend, the abbey on a rocky island at the mouth of the Cusnon River owes its appearance to St. Michael, who in 708 appeared three times to Bishop Ober, until he was finally convinced of the correctness of his interpretation of the sign from above. Since then, the mountain, called the Grave, bears the name of its heavenly patron - Mont Saint-Michel. In the 8th century it all started with a modest chapel, in 966, on the orders of the Duke of Normandy, a proto-Roman church appeared here, and over the course of the 11th-15th centuries the abbey was gradually expanded and rebuilt, including due to the destruction caused by a series of wars. In 1090, the abbey, in which the youngest son of William the Conqueror Henry took refuge, was besieged by his brothers William the Red and Duke of Normandy Robert Short Pants. At the beginning of the 13th century, the abbey was captured by the French king Philip Augustus, who, however, in atonement for his guilt before the monks and God, donated a large amount to the affected Benedictine monastery, thanks to which the Miracle was erected on the northern slope - a building in the Gothic style with an extensive cloister. During the French Revolution and the Second Empire, the abbey also served as a prison, and today Mont Saint-Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most touristic places in France. Its outlines can be seen in many films, including Terence Malick's To the Miracle (2012), whose story begins with a visit to the abbey by a couple in love going through a relationship crisis.

Hohensalzburg, Austria

It is the baroque towers and powerful walls of Hohensalzburg that form the textbook view of the Austrian capital, replicated in numerous photographs and postcards. One of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe, built in 1077 by Gebhard I, Archbishop of Salzburg, Hohensalzburg was significantly expanded in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. At the same time, a symbol of the fortress appeared above the main entrance - a lion with a beetroot in its paws. Over the centuries, Hohensalzburg, towering over the Old Town of the Austrian capital, has maintained a reputation as an impregnable bastion for enemies - and indeed, this is one of the few Austrian fortresses that has never been conquered. In 1977, for the 900th anniversary of Hohensalzburg, the Austrian Mint issued a commemorative coin depicting the castle. And in 2006, he appeared on the commemorative coins of the old Nonnberg Abbey, to which Salzburg owes its appearance.

Egeskov, Funen, Denmark

In its current form, Egeskov was built in 1554 - a rather turbulent time of the beginning of the Reformation and slowly smoldering feudal wars, so the castle house was by no means a whim, but an urgent need. Egeskov was erected in the middle of the lake on a foundation of oak piles - according to legend, it took a whole oak grove. The castle consists of two long houses connected by a thick defensive wall with a complex system of secret stairs to supply the inhabitants with water in case of a siege. Add to this machicolations on the outer walls, from which it was possible not only to fire at enemies, but also to pour molten resin on them and drop stones. Today, Egeskov, still owned by the descendants of Henrik Bije, who bought the castle in 1784, looks quite peaceful. At the end of the 19th century, it turned into a farm equipped with the latest technology, which it is to this day. In addition to impressive interiors, relating mainly to XIX century, the castle has expositions that tell about its daily, informal life.

Neuschwanstein, Bavaria, Germany

Despite the impressive view built at the end of the 19th century, Neuschwanstein, unlike real medieval castles, was built not to protect its owners, but as the embodiment of a childhood dream of a beautiful Middle Ages, the time of brave knights and beautiful ladies. In 1866, Bavaria, which fought in the Austro-Prussian war on the side of Austria, was defeated, as a result of which it lost part of the land, and King Ludwig II lost the right to lead the army in case of war and the status of a sovereign monarch. In 1867, having imagined himself as Lohengrin, a knight of the Holy Grail, as a child, he found solace in a world of dreams, the material embodiment of which were palaces and castles - his small kingdom, in which he was the sole ruler. The Bavarian king was a fanatical admirer of Richard Wagner's music and a generous patron of the composer, and Neuschweinstein's interiors became large-scale illustrations for his operas. In addition to Wagnerian motifs, the image of a swan appears in the design of each room in one form or another - which would subsequently inspire Pyotr Tchaikovsky to create Swan Lake. A little later, the sight of the castle will enchant one of the main storytellers of the 20th century, Walt Disney, who uses the outline of the castle in the brand name of the company he founded.

Scotney Castle, Kent, UK

Although the first written evidence of a certain castle of Scotney dates back to 1137, the oldest buildings that have come down to us, or rather the picturesque ruins left from them, date back to the end of the 14th century. In the 16th century, a magnificent building in the Elizabethan style appeared on the site of the fortified house with towers, and around 1630 the east wing was rebuilt in the Palladian spirit. Uninhabited already in the 40s of the 19th century, it remained a decoration of the garden and a living testimony to the long and eventful history of the castle. And the Hussey family, who then took over the estate, built a new castle, stylized as the era of King James I, the first representative of the Stuart dynasty on the English throne, who ruled in the first third of the 17th century. The castle was opened to the public only in 2007 - until that time it remained the residential building of the heiress of the family, Elizabeth Hussey. Full of paintings, antique furniture, books and photographs, it still has a homely, non-museum atmosphere. Around the castle - beautiful gardens, beech groves and moorlands.

Nestled among the green hills of Baden-Württemberg and crowning the old medieval city Heidelberg, Heidelberg medieval castle, is one of the most wonderful romantic sights in Germany. The first mention of the castle dates back to 1225. The ruins of the castle are one of the most important structures of the Renaissance tonorth of the Alps. Long years heidelberg castle wasthe seat of the countsPalatine, who were accountable only to the emperor.

2. Castle Hohensalzburg (Austria)

One of the largest medieval castles in Europe, located on Mount Festung, at an altitude of 120 meters, next to Salzburg. During its existence, Hohensalzburg Castle was repeatedly rebuilt and strengthened, gradually turning into a powerful, impregnable fortress. In the 19th century, the castle was used as a warehouse, military barracks and prison. The first mention of the castle dates back to the 10th century.

3. Bran Castle (Romania)

Located almost in the center of Romania, this medieval castle gained its worldwide fame thanks to Hollywood, it is believed that Count Dracula lived in this castle. Lock is national monument and main attractionRomania. The first mention of the castle dates back to the 13th century.

4. Segovia Castle (Spain)

This majestic stone fortress is located near the city of Segovia in Spain and is one of the most famous castles in the Iberian Peninsula. It was its special shape that inspired Walt Disney to recreate Cinderella's castle in his cartoon. Alcazar (castle) was originally built as a fortress, but served in as a royal palace, prison, royal artillery school and military academy. Currently used as museum and places of storage of military archives of Spain. The first mention of the castle dates back to 1120, it was built during the reign of the Berber dynasty.

5. Dunstanborough Castle (England)

The castle was built by the countThomas Lancasterbetween 1313 and 1322 at a time when relations between King Edward II and his vassal, Baron Thomas of Lancaster, became openly hostile. In 1362 Dunstanborough took over John of Ghent , fourth son of the king Edward III who significantly rebuilt the castle. During Wars of the Scarlet and White Roses the stronghold of Lancaster came under fire, as a result of which the castle was destroyed.

6. Cardiff Castle (Wales)

Situated in the heart of Cardiff city, this medieval castle is one of the most defining monuments of the Welsh capital. The castle was built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century on the site of a former 3rd century Roman fort.

This medieval castle dominates the skylineEdinburgh, capital of Scotland. The historical origins of the formidable Edinburgh Castle on the Rock are shrouded in mystery as it is mentioned in 6th century epics, appearing in chronicles before finally coming to the fore in Scottish history when Edinburgh established itself as the seat of monarchical power in the 12th century.

One of the most visited sites in southern Ireland, it is also one of the most intact examples of medieval fortifications in the world. Blarney Castle is the third fortress built on this site. The first building was wooden and dates back to the 10th century. Around 1210, a stone fortress was built instead. Subsequently, it was destroyed and in 1446 Dermot McCarthy, the ruler of Munster, built a third castle on this site, which has survived to this day.

The medieval castle of Castel Nuovo was built the first king of Naples, Charles I of Anjou, Castel Nuovois one of the most famous sights of the city.With its thick walls, majestic towers and impressive triumphal arch make it the quintessential medieval castle.

10. Conwy Castle (England)

The castle is a magnificent example of 13th century architecture and was built by order of King Edward I of England. Surrounded by a stone wall with eight round towers. Until our time, only the walls of the castle have survived, but they also look very impressive. Many huge fireplaces were used to heat the castle.