Top 25 Most Beautiful Castles in the World

Posted in Features on January 23, 2008

By Sarah Scrafford

Everyone seems to know that the most luxurious castles are located in Europe. Or, are they? As we traveled the world we learned that castles exist everywhere. From South Africa to Louisiana and from New Zealand to Iran, a curious traveler can find a castle in just about every corner in the world.

Just to prove this theory to you, we’ve gathered twenty-five amazing castles from around the world for your perusal. This selection represents some of the most intriguing castles in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America, and from around the world. The oldest castle is being restored in Iran after an earthquake destroyed eighty percent of its buildings. The newest castle was built during this century on a stretch of private land on the Sinai coast. No matter when these castles were built, most of them are available to book for special events or as tourist venues. So, you can always visit to see if the royal lifestyle is up your alley.

Although numbered, this list is not in any particular order. So, the numbering does not indicate that we favor one castle over another or that they are listed in order of quality, size, or historic value.

Europe

It seems that you can’t turn around in Europe without bumping into a castle. Europe is the heart of pomp and circumstance, and every country holds amazing stories about their palaces and fortresses. But, if you can visit Europe only once, the following castles are on the “must see” list for your trip. Once you see them, you’ll realize that photographs don’t do justice to the sheer size and luxury that were bestowed on these current and former residences.

Windsor Castle: If you plan to visit England, you’ll discover that you could spend months visiting all the castles on this island. However, Windsor Castle is probably the most well known castle in the world, as – together with Buckingham Palace in London and Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh – it is one of the official residences of England’s Queen and the largest occupied castle in the world. This building and its complex have provided a home and fortress for royalty for over 900 years. Originally made of wood, the castle was built for William the Conqueror to guard the approach to London. The site sits above the River Thames, on the edge of a Saxon hunting ground and one day’s march from the Tower of London. Visitors can walk around the State Apartments, which are extensive suites of rooms at the heart of the working palace. Once you’re through with this castle, you can visit some of the top castles in Britain listed at the Travel Channel. Those castles all come highly recommended, but don’t forget to visit some of the smaller castles such as the one located in Dolwyddelan, Wales. This castle is a lovely place to visit along the road from Betws-y-Coed to the western coast and provides a chance to view Mount Snowden, the highest mountain in Wales.
Castello di Strassoldo di Sopra: While there are more magnificent and famous Italian castles, this choice is far from the maddening tourist crowd. This castle is the ‘upper’ castle, which is located near the Castello di Strassoldo di Sotto (“lower” castle), and both castles are located in northeast Italy. Both castles also are privately owned by the Strassoldo family and have been in this family for almost one thousand years. Since they’re privately owned, they aren’t open to the public; however, the owners open their halls for two fascinating exhibits in the spring and fall each year. Additionally, important wedding banquets and other memorable events are personally organized by the owners. The castle’s splendid and fully furnished halls can host several hundred people, while the park can be used for open air buffets and wonderful photos. The owners of the Castello di Sopra have recently restored a fifteenth-century small house called “la Vicinia,” which they rent out overnight. This building and the castle are located in the heart of a lovely medieval village, surrounded by a centuries-old park that’s fed by spring waters.
Frankenstein Castle: Darmstadt, Germany is home to the setting for Mary Shelley’s Gothic horror novel, Frankenstein. This castle was the 18th century home of Lord Konrad Dippel Von Frankenstein. There are many theories about Dippel, including one that he sold his soul for eternal life. In reality, Dippel was a highly controversial alchemist in whose laboratory the colour Prussian Blue was discovered. Maybe his enemies tried to ruin his reputation with the legend about the monster created in his laboratory. Visit Frankenstein Castle during Halloween to get the maximum scare factor, as an elaborate monster-themed theater show is performed, along with actors who lurk in the castle shadows. If this castle isn’t enough for you, you can visit a few other German castles that might tickle your luxury bones.
Bran Castle: This is another castle that the faint of heart might want to avoid! Commonly known as Dracula ‘s Castle, the Bran Castle was originally a stronghold built by the Knights of Teutonic Order in 1212. The first documentary attestation of the Bran Castle is the act issued on 19 November 1377, giving the Saxons of Kronstadt (Brasov) the privilege to build the Citadel. The building started in 1378 as a defense against Turks and later became a customs post on the pass between Transylvania and Walachia. From 1920 the castle became a royal residence until the expulsion of the royal family in 1948. Today it functions as a very attractive museum of medieval arts. The official Romanian site will provide you with the lowdown on this country’s castles, so be sure to visit that site if you plan to visit Romania.
Château de Versailles: This castle complex is Louis XIV’s masterpiece, a structure so magnificent that the state treasury was almost depleted during its construction. Also known as the Palace of Versailles, and located now on the edge of Paris, this palace became home to French nobility during the seventeenth century. As the complex grew through four “building campaigns,” Versailles became the center of French government. Louis XIV lived at Versailles, and government offices, homes of thousands of courtiers and their retinues were built there, and nobles of a certain rank and position spent time each year at the court complex. Louis XIV’s attempt to centralize the French government succeeded, as few could match the ostentatious glamour represented by Versailles. Visitors now can visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site and view luxuries such as the Hall of Mirrors (pictured here) and the magnificent gardens among other features. The official Web site also contains a gallery and podcasts where individuals can learn about the castle before they actually visit. If this castle isn’t enough for you, then visit this list of French castle sites.

Middle East

The most significant castles in this region include those created by the European Crusaders who arrived in the Middle East during the Middle Ages to protect Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulcher. All total, eight crusades were carried out between 1096 and 1270, and an entire network of castles was built during this era that stretched from deserts in south Jordan to northern Asia Minor Mountains. You can gain access to a map that shows the sites of the Crusader castles located in the Levant.

What this map doesn’t show is the large percentage of castles built upon Byzantine architecture and with a strong influence from Armenian art. These castles often influenced European architecture, which borrowed upon this Greco-Armenian influence. On the other hand, an enterprising traveler could use this guide to soak in more than a handful of castles during a short trip. We chose five of the best castles within this region that we feel you shouldn’t miss – including one that was built recently.

Krak des Chevaliers: T.E. Lawrence once described this castle, located in Syria, as “the best preserved and most wholly admirable castle in the world.” It is the easternmost of a chain of five castles intended to secure the Homs Gap, atop a 650-meter-high hill along the only route from Antioch to Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea. This castle and Beaufort, located in Lebanon as well, were the most important connection castles in the Middle East and they planed a major role in coastal defense for the Crusaders. In 1142 the castle was given by Raymond, Count of Tripoli, to the Knights Hospitallers, and it was they who, during the ensuing fifty years, remodeled and developed it as the most distinguished work of military architecture of its time. The castle remains one of the most complete pieces of military architecture dating from this period, and it holds some of the best preserved Crusader frescoes in the world. The complex contains two concentric walls that sandwich a ditch. The outer wall is an impressive three meters in width, and originally featured a dry moat and drawbridge and was designed to be able to withstand a siege lasting up to five years. Three of the eight round towers were built following the Crusades. Additionally, a chapel within this complex was later converted into a mosque.
Castle Zaman: Castle Zaman is perched atop a desert cliff midway between Taba and Nuweiba in Sinai. The simple architecture provides amazing views over the Gulf of Aqaba, and into Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The exact site signifies a landmark on the ancient road that connected St. Catherine’s Monastery with Jerusalem. But, while a distant perspective might fool your eyes into believing this is an ancient ruin, Castle Zaman was built along a local theme to accommodate the contemporary tourist market. Used for honeymooners, parties, film or fashion shootings, the castle and its amenities are available for rent on a weekly or daily basis depending upon availability. Zaman’s private beach, with its pristine sand and crystal clear waters, is the only virgin beach left in the Taba and Nuweiba area.
Arg-é Bam Castle: This enormous citadel, situated on the famous Silk Road, was built some time before 500 BCE and remained in use until 1850 CE. It is not known for certain why it was then abandoned. Located in Bam, Iran, this castle is the largest adobe building in the world. The entire building was a large fortress in whose heart the citadel itself was located, but because of the impressive look of the citadel, which forms the highest point, the entire fortress is named the Bam Citadel. It is listed by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage Site, but an earthquake in 2003 destroyed more than 80 percent of the buildings. However, since it is a World Heritage site, several countries – including Japan, Italy, and France – have joined forces to reconstruct the buildings. The World Bank has also granted a large sum of money to the restoration project.
Rhodes Castle: The Island of Roses, or Rhodes, is famous for its historic Medieval town, great shopping, and the site of the Colossus of Rhodes. This ‘castle’ was built within the Old Town walls at the beginning of the 13th century CE by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. The building is comprised of 205 rooms and a conference area that hosts summits for European and world leaders. Today it attracts visitors from around the world as it houses the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes. Rhodes lies between Crete and the near East along the Aegean ocean. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and popular even among the Greeks as a holiday retreat. Rhodes holds about sixty thousand permanent residents, and it is the financial and cultural center of the southeastern Aegean area. The excellent tourist infrastructure that includes a wide variety of entertainment makes Rhodes a popular destination.
Kolossi Castle: The Kolossi Castle is stronghold located a few kilometers outside the city of Limassol on the island of Cyprus. It held a great strategic importance and contained production of sugar, one of Cyprus’ main exports in the Middle Ages. The original castle was built about 1210 by Frankish military when the land of Kolossi was given by King Hugh I to the Knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem (Hospitallers). It is a stone fortress and the baseground was probably used as a store with two underground cisterns. You’ll enter the first floor via a suspended bridge, and on the south wall of one of the two lower rooms there is a wall painting representing the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the Blason Magnac, which is testimony to the royal devotional use of this room. The next room with the fireplace was likely to be the main dining and reception room. On the second floor there are two more rooms, which were used for lodging. On the roof of the monument, a scalding bowl and loopholes bring the thought of the visitor back to medieval sieges, along with the thought of boiling oil. Former inhabitants of this castle include Richard the Lionhearted and the Knights Templar.

Asia

Like the Middle East, you can find maps that show castle locations throughout Asia. One map, which illustrates castle locations in Japan, clearly demonstrates the proliferation of these Oriental castles in the southern region of the islands. You also can learn about Japanese castles on a site written by a person who has visited over thirty Japanese castles. Maps for Chinese castles are few and far between, but this country’s marvelous architectural structures are beginning to enjoy global attention. Korea also holds a number of castles. Most of these buildings were created as fortresses with entire cities built within their enclosures, but many ‘castles’ in this region consist of temple-cities as well.

Forbidden City: As the seat of supreme power for over five centuries from 1416 to 1911, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, contains four high towers on the four corners of the city wall. This is a fort that contains a city, and the walls are approximately one meter thick. Landscaped gardens and many buildings (whose nearly 10,000 rooms contain furniture and works of art), constitute a priceless testimony to Chinese civilization during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty in Shenyang consists of 114 buildings constructed between 1625–26 and 1783. It contains an important library and testifies to the foundation of the last dynasty that ruled China before it expanded its power to the center of the country and moved the capital to Beijing. This palace then became auxiliary to the Imperial Palace in Beijing.
Himeji Castle: Himeji Castle was originally built in 1346 by Akamatsu Sadanori as a fortification against local shoguns. However, the castle has never seen battle, so it is the best preserved example of medieval castle architecture in all of Japan. Himeji is a hill castle that employs the surrounding geography as a bulwark against an enemy attack. The three moats – inner, middle, and outer – served as three lines of defense. The building has expanded over the centuries, and now stands intact on a hill in the center of Himeji City. It is surrounded by a tangled network of spiraling paths and high white walls and, in Japan, it is known as ‘White Heron Castle.’ In 1931 it was designated a national treasure. After several aborted attempts, restoration work began in 1956 and was completed in 1964. It 1993 it was put on the list of UNESCO World Cultural and Heritage Sites. The castle is said to be haunted by a servant girl named Okiku, who is said to have spurned a wealthy warlord’s attention in favor of her true love.
Gyeongbokgung or Gyeongbok Palace: While Seoul, Korea, contains five castles (or, palaces), this building may be the largest and most spectacular palace in Korea. It was originally built in 1395 by Korean architect Do-jeon. King Taejo then added on to the building to make it the main palace of the Joseon dynasty. The Japanese burned the building during an invasion in 1592, and it was left in ruins until King Gojong restored the area in 1868. At one time there were 330 buildings in the palace complex. Many of these are being reconstructed. It is said that the Korean alphabet, known as Hangeul, was created inside this palace during the fifteenth century under the reign of King Sejong.
Angkor Wat: The ruins of Angkor Wat are located amid forests and farmland to the north of the Great Lake (Tonle Sap) and south of the Kulen Hills, near modern day Siem Reap in Cambodia. Although not a castle per se, Angkor represents the seat of the Khmer empire that flourished in this region from approximately the ninth to fifteenth centuries. This period of rule began when the Khmer Hindu monarch Jayavarman II declared himself the “universal monarch” and “god-king” of Cambodia in about 802 CE until 1431 CE, when Thai invaders sacked the Khmer capital and caused its population to migrate south to the Phnom Penh area. The temples are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the main building, Angkor Wat, is said to be the world’s largest single religious monument. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored, and together they comprise the most significant site for Khmer architecture. With the help of satellite photographs and other techniques, an international team of researchers concluded in 2007 that Angkor Wat was the largest preindustrial city in the world, with an urban sprawl of 1,150 square miles. The closest rival would have been the Mayan city of Tikal in Guatemala, which was roughly fifty square miles in total size.
Malacca A’Famosa: When you go to the Web site linked here, you might wonder where the castle went. Well, for the most part, all that’s left of this sixteenth-century Portuguese fort is a tiny gate called the Porta de Santiago. In 1511 a Portuguese fleet arrived in what was then known as Melaka in Malaysia, under the command of Alfonso de Albuquerque. His forces attacked and successfully defeated the armies of the native Sultanate, and Albuquerque built a fortress near the sea. This commander believed that Melaka would become an important link between Portugal and China along the Spice Route. As Melaka’s population grew, the fort was expanded around 1586. The fort changed hands in 1641 when the Dutch drove the Portuguese out of Malaysia. The property changed hands once again in the early nineteenth century when the Dutch handed it over the British to prevent Melaka from falling into Napoleon’s hands. Knowing that they would need to hand the property back to the Dutch at the end of the Napoleonic wars, the British tried to make the entire city useless. Sir Stanford Raffles, Singapore’s founder, convinced the British to allow the population to remain, but all that remains of the buildings was the gate that stands today.

North America

Yes, Virginia – castles do exist in North America. Canada holds the largest castles on this continent, but there is something to be said about a castle that’s small enough to serve as a fishing camp. The following five castles represent a handful of approximately one hundred castles scattered throughout this continent.

Chapultepec Castle: When you’re in Mexico City, Mexico, look up on the tallest point in the middle of Chapultepec Park. You’ll discover a building that has been used as a military academy, an imperial palace, an observatory, and a museum. It currently houses the Mexican National Museum of History, but you may recognize it as the 1996 film location for the Academy Award-nominated movie, William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet starring Leonardo DiCaprio. It is the only castle in North America that was occupied by European sovereigns. Viceroy Bernardo de Gálvez ordered the construction of a country house on Chapultepec Hill in 1785. After a series of misfortunes and conspiricies, the municipal government of Mexico City purchased the building in 1806. The building went through more occupations and periods of disuse before President Lázaro Cárdenas decreed a law that established Chapultepec Castle as the seat of the National Museum of History (Museo Nacional de Historia) with the collections of the former National Museum of Archaeology, History and Ethnography.
Hearst Castle: On the other side of the U.S. in California, you can find the home of newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst. Located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, construction on this home began in 1919 on a 40,000 acre ranch that Hearst inherited from his father, George Hearst, and that was purchased originally in 1865. San Francisco architect Julia Morgan designed most of the buildings, but the estate was never completed during Hearst’s lifetime. He would tear down structures and rebuild them at a whim, making it difficult to complete the estate while Hearst had a hand in it. Additionally, the estate is a mix of architectural fancies that Hearst enjoyed on his European trips. The facade is modeled after a sixteenth-century Spanish cathedral, while the outdoor pool features an ancient Roman temple front that was transported wholesale from Europe and reconstructed at the site. The indoor pool, shown here, is modeled after Roman baths with gold mosaic tiles. The castle was donated by the Hearst Corporation to the state of California in 1957, and it is a Sate Historical Monument and a National Historic Landmark open for public tours.
Casa Loma: Located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, this castle was the former estate of Sir Henry Pellatt, a prominent Toronto financier, industrialist and military man. Construction on this castle began in 1911, and it took 300 men and nearly 3 years to complete at a price of over three million dollars. Pellatt enjoyed the castle for about one decade before he declared financial ruin. The city seized Casa Loma in 1933 for $27,303 in back taxes. While one critic called the mansion “a mixture of 17th century Scotland and 20th Century Fox,” many visitors tour the decorated suites, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel, towers, stables, and five-acre estate gardens. The house was commissioned to Canadian architect. E.J. Lennox and, at 98 rooms, it was the largest private residence in North America upon completion. Many of the rooms were left unfinished, and today serve as the Regimental Museum for The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada.
Frontenac Castle: The Frontenac Castle is actually a Fairmont Hotel that is located in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, about one-half mile from Quebec’s parliament. Although the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is actually a hotel, it is as symbolic to Quebec as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. This Renaissance style castle was build in less than a century by the Canadian Pacific Railway company. With its castle-like architecture and turrets, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac plays a huge role in the heart of the city’s activities, and it has been designated a United Nations World Heritage Site. It may be difficult to book a room in 2008, as this year represents Quebec’s 400th anniversary.
Fisherman’s Castle: Anyone who’s driven along I-10 between the Mississippi-Louisiana border and New Orleans in the United States has seen this small and simple castle sitting on the other side of Irish Bayou. Contractor Simon Villemarrette built the ‘home’ in 1981 and he based it upon a fourteenth-century French castle. He purposely built the castle with round turrets and with enough concrete to withstand 140 mph wind gusts. Unfortunately, Villemarrette died before he could occupy the home. This building did survive Hurricane Katrina in 2005 with little damage other than the chunks cut from the sides by flying debris. Jon Digman currently resides in the home as a caretaker, but it’s unknown who owns the home or what the future of this castle holds. The image shown here was taken in 2007, so it’s obvious that any damage created by Hurricane Katrina has been repaired. This little replica goes to show that any home can be a castle.

Around the World

The following castles aren’t as grand as those found in Europe or even in the Middle East or in Asia. But, for their owners and inhabitants, they represented all that was powerful, protective, and princely. And, the castle in Colombia, South America, would rival many European castles in sheer size. Many of the ‘castles’ located around the Caribbean were forts that housed a city complex complete with soldiers. On the other hand, some of the castles shown here were meant as private homes. Yet, these latter buildings are spacious enough to host large functions.

Stollmeyer’s Castle: Modeled after a wing of Balmoral Castle in Scotland, and created by the Scottish architect, Robert Gillies from the firm of Taylor and Gillies, this fantastic residence is definitely under Scottish influence. However, it’s located far from Scotland, as the home is located in Port-of-Spain in Trinidad. The wife of the original builder, Charles Fourier Stollmeyer, did not like the house, so it was passed to the Stollmeyer’s son, Conrad C. Stollmeyer. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Stollmeyer lived at the house until their deaths in the 1960s, and the house then passed to the Stollmeyers’ only son, Dr. John Stollmeyer. In March, 1972, John Stollmeyer sold the home for $215,000 to Jesse Henry A. Mahabir, an insurance executive. The building was to be used for residential purposes only. The building was acquired from Mr. Mahabir by the Trinidad and Tobago Government in 1979. If you’re visiting Trinidad and Tobago, you might want to take in this home as well as six others that make up this country’s Magnificent Seven architectural treasures.
Larnach Castle: Visiting New Zealand? If you plan to spend any time in this area, then you’ll want to visit this country’s one and only castle. Australian-born William Larnach, merchant baron and politician, built this home for for his first wife in 1871. Over 200 workmen spent three years building the Castle shell and master European craftsmen spent a further 12 years embellishing the interior. Larnach spared no expense on this dream home, which features the finest materials from around the world. The building is the centerpiece of a 35-acre property atop a hill midway along the Otago Peninsula, eight miles from the city of Dunedin on the east cost of the country’s South Island. Still privately owned, the Barker family celebrated their 40th anniversary with Larnach Castle in 2007. Weddings, balls, official and formal functions and celebrations are held often in the home’s 3,000 square foot ballroom. But, be aware that this castle is haunted by both the first and second Mrs. Larnachs, and daughter Katie. The specter of Larnach himself might linger, as he shot himself in the head in 1898 when he learned that his young third wife was embroiled in an affair with one of Larnach’s sons from his first marriage.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro: Over two million visitors a year explore theme windswept ramparts and pageways in this fortress/castle, where the history of 400 years of Spain in Puerto Rico comes alive. Begun in 1539 by Spanish settlers to defend the port of San Juan, El Morro’s architecture follows well established Spanish military fortification design principles. Similar Spanish fortifications from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries can be seen on islands throughout the Caribbean and in Florida in the U.S. Named in honor of King Philip II of Spain, the Castillo was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1983 and is part of San Juan National Historic Site.
Castle of Good Hope: The Castle of Good Hope was built in Cape Town, South Africa, between between 1666 and 1679, which makes this castle complex the oldest surviving building in this region. The current pentagonal fortification replaced a small clay and timber fort built by Commander Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 upon establishing a maritime replenishment station art the Cape of Good Hope for the Dutch East India Company, better known as the VOC (Verenigde Oos-Indische Compagnie). In 1936 the Castle was declared a National Monument. As a result of an extensive, ongoing restoration and conservation program launched in the 1980’s, the Castle of Good Hope remains the best preserved of its kind built by the VOC in regions where it had interests. The Cape of Good Hope houses the regional headquarters of the South African Army in the Western Cape, the famous William Fehr Collection of historic artworks, the Castle Military Museum and ceremonial facilities for traditional Cape Regiments.
San Felipe Castle: Castillo de San Felipe, Cartagena, Colombia, South America, was founded in 1533. This forted castle is a walled city and a World Heritage site. It took slave labor over a century to build this fortress that dominates the landscape and that protected residents from pirates. The fortress is thought to be Spain’s most successful military engineering project in the Americas. Built from red brick and concrete, this citadel is designed so even if one part of the fortress fell to invaders (which never happened), the defenders could fire from another part. Its size is startling, and visitors begin to realize this building’s magnitude when they begin to explore the underground tunnel network.

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Maximus
January 24, 2008

What Happened to all the castles in India. and I guess they have enormous castles, in mysore, Jaipur, Udaipur and all over north India.
Andy of HoboTraveler.com
January 24, 2008

Good job, nice list, these type of list are inherently close to impossible to do…

How does a person go see,
“Top 25 Most Beautiful Castles in the World”

India has a problem on the Beauty word, then how doe the word Fort and Castle differ.

A nice list, like the UNESCO sites a good list of what not to accidentally miss when you enter a country helps the boys like me travel the planet and see what above the herd.

I truly enjoy any site that attempts the task of saying what is teh best 25 or 10 or whatnot. It is a task whereby people start to throw verbal stones. I see this as a worthy task. Keep up the good work, I will search for Castles in Africa when I go back.

Note: Nice to see Angkor Wat as deemed a Castle, or even a Fort, because as an Archeology site I think it is not so great. But as a Castle this is top grade, complete with Moat and Water supply.

Andy in the Philippines and soon back to Africa.
Andy of HoboTraveler.com
Thrifty Karen
January 24, 2008

Beautiful! Maybe I can visit some of these places one day.
Carla
January 24, 2008

Stunning pictures. I would love to visit them all!
Padraig
January 24, 2008

No castle Neuschwanstein (http://www.neuschwanstein.de/)? Seeing as how it was even recommended as one of the new “wonders of the world” that’s pretty surprising. Definitely more important than Frankenstein’s castle (and inspiration for Disney’s “castle”).
Esben
January 24, 2008

Really nice post, but like Maximus I can’t believe there is not a single fort from India??? I can think of at least 2 or 3 mighty Indian forts deserving to be on this list. The forts of Agra, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer come to mind.

Here’s the fort in Jaisalmer for instance: http://eagersnap.blogspot.com/2007/06/welcome-to-jaisalmer.html

And Jodhpur: http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7597/1046/1600/Esben%20Fort%20of%20Jodhpur.jpg
Alex Shalman
January 24, 2008

Yea, this really makes me want to add some castles to my bucket list. Gorgeous.
Miss Cellania
January 24, 2008

Mont Saint-Michel? Taj Mahal? Palacia de Pena?
fatlester
January 25, 2008

My father used to own the fisherman’s castle near New Orleans. He bought it at an auction for $39,000. There was a coffin in the basement when first moved into it. That place is pretty spooky to stay in at night, and at least a dozen people claim to have witnessed poltergeist activity.

The brackish water makes for some terrific fishing. I’ve caught many nice bass and redfish in the ponds around that castle.
Robert T Bruce
January 25, 2008

Actually England is not an island because it has Scotland and Wales attached to it – what do you think Great Britain is..just another name for England?
Alexander
January 26, 2008

Neuschwanstein Castle?
Jeffrey Smith
January 26, 2008

I’d have to wonder how you define “castle”. Sorry, but you’d best go back to the drawing board on this one.
Filipe
January 27, 2008

Castles in the US ? Built in 1981 ? Beautiful ? You must be joking right ?
Caki
January 28, 2008

And what about Carcassonne???
I don’t see any link to this beautifull castle?
–> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcassonne
David stoddard
January 28, 2008

There’s a really interesting “castle” in Fergus Falls, MN (US) which is a former asylum. It’s in real danger of being torn down. See the photos at:

http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/buildings/fergusfalls.html
PJsTravelinTexas
January 29, 2008

Love this post. This has got to be one of my top ten dreams – traveling the world and visiting castles! Actually I think I could combine two of my ultimate trips in one and visit the castles in New Zealand. I actually didn’t realize they had many there – all I’ve seen of New Zealand is the background scenery for some of the most breathtaking movies I’ve ever seen (i.e. Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Waterhorse, and so on). Thank you for this list – it gives me an excellent starting point for research.
Paige aka PJsTravelinTexas
Reader
January 29, 2008

Only an ignorant idiot would not include Castle Neuschwanstein and Linderhof both of which should probably be #1 and #2 on any list of castles … what a moron!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Neuschwanstein_Castle_LOC_print.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Linderhof-1.jpg
foxnomad
January 30, 2008

I’m not a big fan of castle travel personally, but you do highlight some great places and (non-traditional) castles outside of Europe that peak my fancy a bit.
Anne
February 05, 2008

I personally select and visit the most wonderful castles and manors where you can stay in Europe. For a wonderful holiday! Please visit http://www.book-a-castle.com, you will not regret it.
girl
February 11, 2008

I love these pics! but some of the castles aren’t that pretty. a few are really ugly! but most are BEAUTIFUL!!!
dawud
February 25, 2008

I would love to visit them beatiful place.
Bosnia castles is very beatiful!
samira
February 26, 2008

Neuschwanstein Castle?

most beatiful
gretings from Bosnia
jadawin
February 28, 2008

Ridiculous…
Evacuate the burgs of the Rhine, the chateaux of the Loire or the Egyptian palaces, to try to convince of the interest of à “mansions” build yesterday… i am spechless
brigadier
March 28, 2008

Seems that you have never been in Spain… pity.
Tamara
April 08, 2008

How breathtakingly beautiful. Great post. Thank you.
Tamara ZumMallen
Bhavin Pandya
April 24, 2008

There are plenty of big and gorgeous castles in India. The royal state of Rajasthan has glorious caltles telling the story of valour of the worriors who fought throught out their life. Why dont you cover those castles in your list. Please dont miss India. I am the second person to give this comment.
ak
May 05, 2008

those r nice but there needs to be older castles if that is possible.
ak
May 05, 2008

I like this website. just for ur info
…
ak
May 06, 2008

i’m board just to let u know what up peeps
asdkl; a
May 06, 2008

lol! this is fun!
ak
May 07, 2008

hey hair time
MZONKE
May 10, 2008

they are all ugly DUDE! SORRY TO TELL A TRUTH.
Cole`
May 28, 2008

Honestly these are beautiful castles, but there are MANY others
such as
Neuschwanstein
Many of the castles that Queen Elizabeth I lived in or owned
Whitehall, Hampton Court, Greenwich, Richmond, Westminster, St James, Windsor Castle, and towards the end of her reign, Nonsuch. The Queen would usually retire to Whitehall for Christmas, and after a few weeks would move on to another palace such as Richmond or Greenwich before moving to Windsor for Easter and the Maundy ceremony that the Queen participated in every year. St George’s Day was also celebrated at Windsor.

Palace of Versailles in France Marie antoinettes palace, where she escaped the first mob that led to her death.

Queen Isabella of Castil
El castillo de la Mota
ifeanyi aroh
May 28, 2008

i love them and love to there.
Mlungisi Dube
June 05, 2008

These places are real woderful.There seem exotic and magnifecent,especially castello distrasoldo di sopra.I did lke to have such a castle one day.
Mark
June 06, 2008

Umm…..nice castles! but i live in spain and there are some nicer castles here in Spain that in some of those places!
Alweena Anjum
June 12, 2008

Grt pics n beautiful castles !!!!!
Awosome pics grt work keep going!!!!!!!
Bearmountainbooks
July 04, 2008

For those of you that live in Spain–or have been there–what are the most beautiful castles? And are they open to visitors?

Thanks!
Matt
July 19, 2008

Sorry, I think there a lot of structures included here that aren’t actually castles. Also, there are many much nicer castles that were missed. Perhaps a better title would be something like. “25 Old structures that I like”
Clarissa
August 26, 2008

The Versailles is the biggest and grandest by far. I have been all over Europe and Asia and the Middle East and this one is really the champi. There are too many castles in Europe to list all of the best ones which is why Euope really dominates the list. But what I enjoyed just as much are the churches, many of which easily compete with the castles for opulence. The Duome of Florence, Italy comes to mind which has the most amazing exterior and of course the church to end all churches, the Vatican.
PJ
August 28, 2008

Many good comments – but what’s our definition of a castle? Cambridge Dictionary says : a large strong building, built in the past by a ruler or important person to protect the people inside from attack. Mmmh? Taj Mahal, Alhambra, Chateau des Versailles (are really palaces so must be ruled out). Schloss Neuschwanstein, Tower of London, Windsor, Alcazar, Angor Wat (not sure? – they seem a bit of both castle and palace). But real castles, build for fortification – still difficult to decide. Himeji or Matsumoto in Japan? Mehrangarh in India, Arg-e-Bam in IRAN (before the disaster) or Krak de Chevaliers? – Krak must win – surely? it is the most definatvie blueprint of a castle in the world. If you forget practicality , and think romance and beauty then it must be Eilean Donan in Scotland.
PJ
August 28, 2008

Just reading the previous coments – PJ from Texas USA and PJ from UK are NOT same people. PJ Texas USA thinks that there are medieval castles in New Zeland (LOL).Why so many Americans dont know the world, or history, or even geography? Castles in NZ – nice one USA. Bronze medal if you are lucky.
Minouise
September 12, 2008

We’ve just returned from Germany and may I say….

AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE AND A WONDERFUL HISTORICAL COUNTRY!!!

I can imagine that there are beatiful castles all around the world.

While in Germany, we visited the Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavaria Area at the foot of the Alpes and I must say it is deffinately worth a visit when you are touring Germany.

According to the guides, webpages and mag’s the Cinderella Castle in Disney World is based on the Neuschwanstein Castle – it is indeed a fairytale castle!!!

Would love to visit all the castles in the future that you have listed on this website.

Regards
Minouise
South Africa
Sandro
September 27, 2008

I’ve visited The Alhambra, Alcazar de Segovia, Castillo de Peñiscola, Castillo de Bellver and Castillo de Coca. And dozens of other minor castles, in Spain you can visit almost all the castles.
Rebekah
October 05, 2008

I hate to say it but Lanarch Castle (New Zealand) is not actually a castle, despite being labelled as New Zealands only. It is actually just a big mansion. I found this out on a tour (I live in Dunedin) that I went on earlier this year. I guess that makes a space on the list for another castle.
Devender
October 22, 2008

Fuck racist bastards, India and Pakistan has 1000 times betters castles.
Devender
October 22, 2008

This really is a shame, I cant imagine how these castles can be top 25 while alone Pakistan there are 25 castles better then this.

All bull shit
M.Nadeem
October 29, 2008

good collection of old civilization
Kim
November 14, 2008

If you’re talking about “THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CASTLE IN THE WORLD” then you’re talking about none other than NEUSCHWANSTEIN !!! And it’s not even in the list.

Devender,
Your message annoyed me a lot. India and Pakistan has castles “1000 TIMES” better than the castles like Windsor and Versailles???? I suggest you go see them personally, I had been there, so I can tell. Better check first than being an idiot. Pakistan’s “castles” only looks nice because of the mosaic, but other than that, none!
csbalamin
December 05, 2008

all kind of free images is here only for you freeimages2000.blogspot.com
Rachel
December 11, 2008

I have absolutely fallen in love with the Stollmeyer Castle. If ever there was love at first sight it is now. I intend to buy that castle one day, or at the very least, have an architect reconstruct it exactly. Thank you for putting these pictures here. Please don’t bother to email me, the email I put is fake.
Jutta
January 11, 2009

u forgot the most beautiful castle of them all, Neuschwanstein Castle!
secret
February 04, 2009

theese catles were amazing thank you people for posting them on the web!!!
gangang
February 11, 2009

pikima la
gangang
February 11, 2009

pukima la nenek mu la…..
gangang
February 11, 2009

hey ak u r stupid…
RJ
February 13, 2009

The number one castle which is found in Europe is so wonderful. I’d like to go there!!!
RJ
February 13, 2009

Please do upload more pictures…..
nicole
February 19, 2009

actually England is an Island
loser….
_nicole
kassie
February 20, 2009

i love your beautiful castles you got on the internet.
nicole
February 20, 2009

I love Glen Swanger
_love NiCoLe
nicole
February 24, 2009

hi!!!
nicole
February 24, 2009

i love my baby soo much…i dont think she knows…
nicole
March 03, 2009

I LIKE WATER
v ekvndskfvbdjyvjkdffvkdfhfvdfhvfbodfundfbufvnfvufdfdvouvgyouevbevbuncsdscmwocncneweoiufheruvfureygvncnerkcuhynercurehfrehfnvcucicmsiiowefyhuerhvndfdhvvuifeffygecfjerhftefvhfhkhkshgffrifwofhvkjfwijwfbffmnhfgjhkjxivbfbshnmnkifhkmnicburfgfvgvh jxisjfnfnjsen
March 03, 2009

hi
v ekvndskfvbdjyvjkdffvkdfhfvdfhvfbodfundfbufvnfvufdfdvouvgyouevbevbuncsdscmwocncneweoiufheruvfureygvncnerkcuhynercurehfrehfnvcucicmsiiowefyhuerhvndfdhvvuifeffygecfjerhftefvhfhkhkshgffrifwofhvkjfwijwfbffmnhfgjhkjxivbfbshnmnkifhkmnicburfgfvgvh jxisjfnfnjsen
March 03, 2009

hi nicole
janice siddell
March 18, 2009

i would truly love to visit all of these old castles around the world.try reading the outlanders series by d. gabaldan.
a girl
March 19, 2009

these castles are pimpin they a crunck yo yo yo home dog
grant
March 22, 2009

I have been to many castles ruined or not, many of them in Great britain.

I would have thought a good website like this would show all the great castles in Scotland, espeically because scotland has some of the oldest and famous castles in the whole world!!!

:p
Destiny
March 30, 2009

well researched but need to include more castles of india uk italy and more remote destinations.
fred
May 24, 2009

Your list include exclude whatever you want everyone has there own opinion on whats great and beautiful.
And please people check your spelling before submitting comments.
paddy
June 23, 2009

has helped me with my projet

Thanks
kelsey
July 13, 2009

it was horrible no jk it rocked ,get it?
Dr. Farooque Haider
July 29, 2009

What about Castles of Pakistan like one in Lahore?

Dr. Farooque Haider
Dr. Farooque Haider
July 29, 2009

What about castles of Pakistan?

Dr. Farooq Haider
Bartomeu
July 31, 2009

Which are your criteria? Where is the Neuschwanstein Castle?
Laura
August 31, 2009

How about Chillon Castle in Swtizerland? It is beautiful.
Tessie USA
September 02, 2009

Please do not fight over these castles, they are all world wonders. I love all of them. Thanks for sharing.
VEEANNE
October 13, 2009

you should include the prague castle, that’s also beautiful and elegavent…try to see for your self…
Jewbacca
October 26, 2009

Pakistan has good castles? LOL dems be sum guuder catsles on di enterwebz ya no.
grant
November 04, 2009

Pakistan has more beautiful mosques than of castles.
gerrica
November 17, 2009

for me the windsor castle is the best..but w8 wr is the neuswanstein castle in ermany
gerrica
November 17, 2009

windsor castle is one of the magnificent castle in the world…
and every one in this world wants to visit it…but the problem we can’t afford the transportation fee…ryt???
Sam
November 23, 2009

Where’s the Taj Mahal? It’s definitely way more attractive than some of these…
Eugenia
November 23, 2009

How come there are no Russian castles? We have some nice ones. Like the one in St. Petersburg. It’s beautiful. I guess these people don’t know…
Eugenia
November 23, 2009

Taj Mahal is located in Agra, India.
Sam
November 27, 2009

Haha. I meant “why isn’t it on the list?”
Thank you though.
noufal
November 27, 2009

i would like to watch the most beautiful things and crazy videos
Vanessa Curtz
November 29, 2009

No Neuschwanstein?? D:
Art and Literature
December 10, 2009

The information is very fruitful for those who love architecture…..thanks
moiz ahmed
December 15, 2009

these buildings are quiet good but most beautiful building is in pakistan :MINAR-PAKISTAN: VIST THIS ……….
moiz ahmed
December 15, 2009

MUZAFFARABAD LOVE U AND MISS U TOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH
yuri
December 24, 2009

nice job definitly.but little bit disappointed that there is not a single castle or monument from INDIA
Antofagasta
January 06, 2010

Wish you had taste…
Antofagasta
January 08, 2010

Oh yeah, up yours.
Dylan Nguyen
January 09, 2010

I love the Hemiji castle! I’m from Asia so I love Asian architecture! Forbidden City is also nice too!
Kat
January 21, 2010

Thanks for putting this together! (Can’t believe some of the comments on here..so rude!! Its based on opinion afterall.)

Cant wait to do some more travel

Thanks from Australia (beautiful place but not the best castles!)
steve svedka
January 22, 2010

these castles would not withstand my rath…..
steve svedka
January 22, 2010

Dear Atnofastaga, check your attitude at my moat… before i send my warlocks to get you… King Svedka…
Haider Lodhi
January 23, 2010

I think Lahore fort,Pakistan was a well deserving castle in top 10 ….
Doctor Frankenstein
March 14, 2010

I’m sorry, but if you read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, you will find that it is mostly set in Geneva, the Alps, Ireland and the Arctic. Maybe this is the Frankenstein that gave Shelley the idea for the monster’s creator, but I really don’t see what part of the novel was “set” there.

Perhaps you’re thinking of one of the many film versions?
vicky
April 05, 2010

trying to find the old van merkestien castle
renae
April 12, 2010

heyy britt i love
renae
April 12, 2010

U
renae
April 12, 2010

heeeyyyy babeeyyy!!! ,
rmmm i hate youuuu!!
SB
April 12, 2010

seriously…North America.
wth are you gonna see there, castles built in 1950 and McDonalds serving inside(maybe something interesting in Mexico’s old aztec fortresses/towers/cities).
if anyone wants to see castles Europe-Middle East-Asia are the only viable options.
ZSB
April 19, 2010

only some of these castles are worth talk about like the Arg-e Bam castle
Fernando Raimundo
April 25, 2010

It`s very relative to name the most beautifal castles in the world. Much more dificult yet when it seems very dificult to distinguish the difference between castle, palace, fortress or even temple or citadel.
For me and excuse the criteria is only this: my taste the most beautiful are: Neuchwanstein, Segovia Alcazar, Wawel in Krakow, Chambord, windsor and Pena castle in Portugal.
Thanks
Xenotypos
April 27, 2010

“Ridiculous…
Evacuate the burgs of the Rhine, the chateaux of the Loire or the Egyptian palaces, to try to convince of the interest of à “mansions” build yesterday… i am speechless”

+1000000, I can’t believe the amazing stupidity of this article.
Objectively and without any chauvinism, they are so many castles in Europe that it’s not even comparable (although other castles are respectable, I like especially Asia don’t take me wrong). Stop to try to “relativize” excessively, facts are facts.
And the list for europe itself is laughable… Versailles after three minors castles oO, wouahou (and I don’t believe that Versailles is less well known than Windsor, usa isn’t the world).
Where are Chambord, Neuschwanstein, Peterhof, CatherineII Palace O.O O.O ????
Oh my god, even now I can’t believe it.
cast;echick
April 29, 2010

castles are awsome. but i think number 4 should of been number 1 cuz it is the most beautiful in all the land;) hahahaha
chrisxx
May 20, 2010

i seen better
chrisxx
May 20, 2010

i like swords better
Sahrina butt
May 22, 2010

awesomic castles they are.and windson caslte is ma fav 1 m happy to find it on number 1.i will visit soon windsor and balmoral castles….
Riley
May 28, 2010

I like castles!
Joel
May 28, 2010

shut up riley
tanya
May 28, 2010

these pics are amazing
tanya
May 28, 2010

amazing pictures
tanya
May 28, 2010

cool pics
kristel fajoenebro
May 31, 2010

huuu, i was starstruck with all the castles all over the world. i wish i can visit 2 of them like the castle at Canada and in south Africa.HAHA
pauline
June 05, 2010

these castles are so beautiful
darcey
June 11, 2010

Didnt you forget Caerphilly castle??? Thats like the second biggest in europe and AMAZING!!! Ive been to see it a few times ive been to see windsor aswell and sure its bigger but caerphillys castle is just as pretty and interesting!! Don’t leave it in the dark!! Thanks xxx
Darcey
sahrina salman
June 26, 2010

i love like these beautiful castle whn my wife wid me.inshllah i will vist then.but my dream is i see u always in my arms just goona say i love u lot
Ingrid Firmhofer
July 02, 2010

I can´t believe that you are just use other people´s photos without even asking. The “San Felipe Castle” is my photo. I have a screen shot of this now and will look if my agency has it on stock. They will take care of the rest.

Sincerely,
Ingrid
Yume
July 23, 2010

Nice article, and kudos for picking castles from all regions of the world!
All you guys complaining that your favorite is not on the list… how about writing your own article, instead of bashing this one for not using your subjective definition of “castle,” or not favoring your patriotic sensibilities, or *gasp* daring to find beauty in a thing built during a century the author actually lived in?
Jan
July 24, 2010

Hello,

I would like to inform you about an interesting site of one
of the biggest and oldest Medieval Castle The Deserted castle near
Zvolen.
http://www.pustyhrad.com

It is in slovak, but soon will follow in english.

It would be
great if you could put it on your website

Best regards
Jan Beljak
Steph
July 28, 2010

Um..considering the Czech Rep has the most castles in it squale kilo you would figure you would put at leas one of them in. Not only that this listing is subjective to your opinion, maybe you should have thought about putting a different title to your article seeing as how this is a listing website. Just a thought.
Cameron
August 04, 2010

Indian Sub-continent has some amazing forts. Pick of the bunch are agra and Lahore Pakistan.
dopboy
August 17, 2010

can u plz tell me all of the answers to this
1)what were window in a castle used for?
2)what is a bailey?
3)why were towers built?
4)what was inside the castle?
5)what was employed to work in the castle?
6)what jobs did they do?
7)what were maids responsible for?
8)who guarded the castle?
9)what was the role of the huntsmen?
10)when did the feasts occur and what happened at the feast?

hey plz i need this answers plz.
Angelle
August 24, 2010

Wow, I am from Louisiana, United States. I did not expect the fishermans castle to be on this list, I drive past it at least 4 to 5 times a week. It is truly a beautiful place lol. I would love to visit most of these places when I am much older and retired! My favorite one is the Bran Castle.
Chris
August 28, 2010

What? No mention of Caerphilly Castle, the largest castle in Wales, built by the Normans, and besieged by Prince Owain Glyndwr himself!
wacko
August 29, 2010

what bout leeds castle
the best castle in europe
karen
August 31, 2010

it is very beautifull
kris
October 08, 2010

in nepal there is so many place to visit, you forgot to write it
jake
October 11, 2010

COOL CASTLE!!!!
cameron
October 11, 2010

these are such beautiful castles
eugene rey solibel
November 04, 2010

what about the fairy tail castle of neuschwanstei?
eugene rey solibel
November 04, 2010

what about the castle of hogwarts?
Emily
November 11, 2010

Hi, i just had my cousins send me this amazing Castle…
Castello di Miramare check it out it’s breath taking!!! The history is just as luring. Got to go visit it.
mahmud
November 29, 2010

Really it is very beautifull. Thanks.
Nina
November 30, 2010

To say the truth it was quit boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
umeed
January 11, 2011

AOA!and what,s about pakistanis castles????????????
JULES
January 29, 2011

Oh my god!!! Why can no one spell or use grammer correctly any more!!!
Caity
January 30, 2011

Wow, those are some cool castles. Where’s the one in Love Story by Taylor Swift? Lol jk(:
Katrina
February 16, 2011

What about lowensburg castle. Its really pretty, and a wonderful place to visit!:)
Lucy
February 18, 2011

And what about Prag castle? Its really important, and very old one in “Golden City”-Prague, isnť it?
suhas
February 26, 2011

Very strange collection, not a single castle of INDIA is mentioned. Author should read HISTORY and gather more information about castles.
Suzan
February 27, 2011

amazing !
gabixx
March 28, 2011

wow! those castle are beautiful! i heard that there were loads of amazing fairy tale style castles in russia. u have an awesome selection! xx
ANNA
April 14, 2011

ALL OF THEM ARE AWESOME,AMAZING,BEST COLLECTION ,BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE CASTES THAT ARE IN PAKISTAN KILLA RUKHTASS,BADSHAHI KILLA AND THE BEST IN WORLD TAJ MEHAAL IN INDIA.
ANNA
April 14, 2011

ALL OF THEM ARE AWESOME,AMAZING,BEST COLLECTION ,BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE CASTES THAT ARE IN PAKISTAN KILLA RUKHTASS,BADSHAHI KILLA AND THE BEST IN WORLD TAJ MEHAAL IN INDIA.I WOULD APPRECIATE ABOUT THIS INFORMATIVE WEB SITE,ITS A SITE WHERE YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE WORLD’S BEST CASTLES THAT YOU CAN’T SEE IN REALITY,IT IS VERY GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR HISTORY AS WELL!
lexy
April 25, 2011

you all have got some big castles and they are very beautiful.
Bob
May 04, 2011

Windsor Castle is the most stunning, and amazing castle in the world.
raul
May 10, 2011

coooooooooooooooooooooooolll
Property Sale USA
May 26, 2011

This selection represents some of the most intriguing castles in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America, and from around the world. The oldest castle is being restored in Iran after an earthquake destroyed eighty percent of its buildings…..
james
May 28, 2011

FUCK OFF, MAN. WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT THESE STUPID CASTLES
peter
May 28, 2011

cool
peter
May 28, 2011

:O :<
peter
May 28, 2011

:0
caitlyn
June 03, 2011

cool
caitlyn
June 03, 2011
berthe
June 18, 2011

Where is the Taj Mahal
Dhivya Gowri Puspanathan
July 20, 2011

where is the Taj Mahal, all the castle is beautiful and nice.
J
August 15, 2011

Clearly someone doesn’t know the difference between a castle and a Palace. Several on the list are Palaces. The difference? Castles were build (in Europe) mainly up to the 14th century, in some cases up to the 17th century, and were fortifications. Palaces are just nice big houses that do not serve any defensive function.

So Neuschwanstein should not be on the list either, nor should Versaille, or any of the north american or around the world section. These are “castle-style” houses (and yes, read that with as much loathing in your voice as you can), or in some cases palaces, but not castles.
Elena
August 18, 2011

Umm…these castles are really amazing, but what about India? There are so many beautiful palaces and fortresses! Even Taj Mahal is not in the list? Interesing..
Tanuj Kumar Dutta
August 18, 2011

Ah who made this list? It seems someone who either lacks knowledge or a racist perhaps! Most of the so-called castles are not exactly castles. Not even “beautiful”. Surprisingly the list missed all Indian castles!! We have 100s & even the smallest one here is better than your number 1 castle. FUNNY LIST.
Vetra Whittington
August 23, 2011

I saw a post earlier that said they are all ugly. I will take any of them. LOL I did find one error in this, but I realize that you had a difficult task. The Castle in Canada—Casa Loma- the article says it took 3 years to build and was the largest private residience in North America. There is this LITTLE house in North Carolina called BILTMORE ESTATES that took 5 years to build by I believe George Vanderbilt that has over 200 rooms, a winery, stables, restaurants. pool, exercise room and bowling alley in the basement. I believe it is on 100 acres. Used to be 100,000 acres. Went to see a lot of the houses that were built in the gilded age (b4 the government decided we needed to pay all these taxes) in Newport RI—they were awesome, but if you see Biltmore House and then see those—it was a little disappointing. Thank you for your research and the awesome pics. Truly enjoyed the article and time spent on it.
K.J.Guey
August 23, 2011

I have read keenly the above narrations about castles of the world. Many put the question why a particular castle is not included in the list. It is obviously an impossible task. The writer has made his choice, that is all. the details are informative and has educational and tourist value. But I am surprised why no castle is chosen from India . There are hundreds. Remember Taj Mahal is not a castle. It is a tomb or burial place for Mughal Emperor Shahjahan and his wife.
Escort bayanlar
September 01, 2011

thanks goods
Just call me BOB!!!;)
October 17, 2011

Not close enough…BASICALLY these pics stink!!!!!!!!!!
ali sajjad
October 25, 2011

i like old castls nd forts lots beautiful castles in my country pakistan like kotdeji,ranikot,umerkot and many more must watch that.
kayla
November 21, 2011

these castles are amazing i would like to visit them one day:)
*
December 08, 2011

I’ve came for you to our conclusion that your head line “
Mulugeta
January 22, 2012

Where is Fasilides of Ethiopia? FYI: fasilides is one the oldest Castle in the world and you don’t know it what a shame!!!!!!!!!
Kaisa
February 07, 2012

Thank you very much!!! Very good record!
patrick canarias
February 29, 2012

wonderful and of course its so fabulous
lia11
March 21, 2012

lol love the picture and the ditials this did help me with my homework:)
lia11
March 21, 2012

hi every one
valentino
March 22, 2012

Less than 4 castles of your list maybe be OK to say beautiful, but MOST BEAUTIFUL?? No way!!!!

Have you ever seen the castles that you’ve mentioned??? I don’t think so….many of them are UGLY!!!

Frankenstein??? Haha…Lol. I stay in Germany for 6 years They have more then 2000 castles and even the ruins, are million times better than Fisherman’s Castle, Castello di Strassoldo di Sopra,Rhodes Castle,Kolossi Castle,ect, :
so wrong not to pick amazing castles like,
-Neuschweinstein
-Burg Hohenzollern
-Löwenburg
-Burg Eltz
-Albrechtsburg
-Sancousi,or
-Schloss Moritzburg

No place for magnificent castle in Prague, CZECH? Taj Mahal and Rajashtan’s castles in INDIA? sooooo….PITY!!
Wael Abed
March 28, 2012

Castle Zaman is unique, not only because of its location on of Sinai’s holy Sinai mountains or its view overlooking the Red Sea, but because it’s a work of only one man who lived there out of passion for adventure, architecture and fun. Also, the place offers supreme hospitality as one can spend a beautiful day there chilling-out and enjoying good food and music. At night, the place is magic.
AniL Kapoor
April 03, 2012

Amzingly stinking ASS holes – When you people have so many issues with this list then why the fuck you are wasting your time, first on watching this than second on give meaningless coments…if you people would have had in front of me i would have given you a tight SLAP.
AND if people know & love TAJ MAHAL(7th wonder of the world) so much than its understood that it holds a special place and have its own stand on the globle platform,not getting mentioned in the list doesnt matter.
samjhe – SALE CHUDAI KHANE
louse bait
April 27, 2012

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scharifa
May 03, 2012

why there is not any castle from india .there are much historical castle .
Amelia P
May 23, 2012

Seriously America!!! Typical Americans don’t know anything about history or the world! That’s why the whole world makes fun of u!!! How about Portugal it has one of the oldest castles and palaces in Europe just like Scotland and Spain!!! Go learn some history or Google it!! Seriously some of these on the list are ridiculous!!! I lived in America for a couple of years and the typical American mentality is that they have to be number one for everything and can’t be left behind…that’s why they mentioned “castles” in America!!! By the way they aren’t real castles!!! Mind you I met Americans that don’t even know Chicago is a city and think its a state lol gosh I love America but Americans can be very self centered to only think America is the center of everything and nothing else exists lol…i read all these comments and I’m not surprise to hear people complain about how racist they are!!! I’m European they were racist against me lol gosh they forget their ancestors are European lol typical American mentality!!
Amelia P
May 23, 2012

sorry about the previous comment made under my name….my friend that is visiting from europe is using my name and my computer to trash talk…I’m an American citizen and my apologies to everyone for the insults my friend made. Totally not funny :/ LOVE THE USA he loves it also but I’m sure he thought this was funny
Rod Schrock
July 20, 2012

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YEah
July 23, 2012

Why are people always fighting about such silly things? There is no such thing as the most beautiful or whatever, it’s just a personal preference. I disagree with many choices, but at least some less exposed castles were presented.
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September 17, 2012

Just extra this blog to my favorites. I obtain pleasure in appraisal your identifiable blogs and also wish you retain them arriving!
Ira Soldao
September 19, 2012

I do really love searching the most beautiful castles in world, they’re all impressive and unique . Hope to see 1 of them someday .
bilal ahmed chaudhry
November 18, 2012

beautiful list i like to visit windsor castle and forbidden city esp
bilal ahmed chaudhry
November 18, 2012

beautiful list i like to visit all of them esp windsor castle n forbidden city.
Zulema Holdcraft
December 19, 2012

Lovely just what I was searching for.Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.
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January 21, 2013

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Maria Loizou Raouna
March 16, 2013

I believe that Kolossi Castle is indeed one of the most beautiful castles in the world!!! It has a great history and the more you study about it, the more exciting it is!!!
Πολύκαρπος Κυπριανού
March 20, 2013

To κάστρο κολοσσίου είναι μεγάλο όμορφο και έχει πάρα πολλή ιστορία .
Ιεζεκιήλ Στυλιανού
March 20, 2013

Το κάστρο είναι το πρώτο πιο ομορφότερο κάστρο του κόσμου
και οι τοίχοι του κάστρου είναι τόσο στερεό γιατι και οι τοίχοι του αντέχουν ακόμα.
Κωνσταντίνα Μιχαήλ
March 20, 2013

Το κάστρο είναι πάρα πολύ όμορφο και έχει πάρα πολύ όμορφη ιστορία, είναι πράγματι ένα από τα σπουδαιότερα κάστρα. Έχει πάρα πολλούς ζωγράφους που πηγαίνουν και το ζωγραφίζουν. Είμαι πολύ χαρούμενη που μένω κοντά του. Γύρω του έχει πολλά όμορφα δέντρα και φυτά.
Simona Agapiou
March 20, 2013

Εγώ νομίζω πως το κάστρο Κολοσσιού ξεχωρίζει από μακριά. Όλοι πάνε εκεί για να κάνουν κάτι όπως να ζωγραφίζουν την ομορφιά του κάστρου, κάνουν βίντεο για να δήξουν πόσο ωραία είναι η ιστορία του. Από τα άλλα κάστρα αυτό ΞΕΧΩΡΙΖΕΙ :)))
Άννα Κωνσταντίνου
March 20, 2013

Εγώ Πιστεύω ότι το κάστρο του Κολοσσίου είναι το πιο γερό κάστρο από όλα τα άλλα κάστρα και έχει μια μεγάλη ιστορία και είναι όμορφο είναι το μοναδικό κάστρο που δεν βρίσκετε δίπλα σε λιμάνι.
Τζιόζεφ Ιωσηφάκης
March 20, 2013

Το κάστρο Κολοσσίου είναι ένα πάρα πολύ ωραίο κάστρο γιατί έχει δίπλα του τον ζαχαρόμιλο και είναι 11 χιλιόμετρα μάκρια από το κάστρο. Επίσης έξω από το κάστροέχει ένα δέντρο που είναι 200 ετών.
Παναγιώτης Πολυμνίου
March 20, 2013

Το κάστρο του καλοσίου είναι το πιο όμορφο κάστρο στο κόσμο και να σας πω για ποιούς λόγους 1 είναι πολύ στερεό γιατί οι τύχοι του είναι 1,5 μέτρο, η αυλή πανέμαρφη ειδηκά το μεγάλο δέντρο που είναι 200 χρονών γι’ αυτό σας λέω το κάστρο Κολοσσίου είναι θησαυρός
Λευτέρης Ελευθερίου
March 20, 2013

Το κάστρο μας του Κολοσσίου για εμάς είναι θησαυρός. Είναι το πιο ωραίο κάστρο από τα 25 ομορφότερα κάστρα γιατί το επισκέφηκα και μου άρεσε πολύ. Από έξω έχει ένα δέτρο που είναι 200 χρονών και το ζωγράφιζαν ζωγράφιζαν και το κάστρο μας φισικά.
Γιώργος Κλεάνθους
March 20, 2013

Το κάστρο Κολοσσίου είναι τόσο στερεο και βρίσκεται εδώ από το 1554 είναι υπέροχο! Επίσης υπάρχη ένα μεγάλο δέντρ που είναι 200 ετών!!!
Andreas Stavrou
March 20, 2013

Το κάστρο είναι μέσα στηνλίστα με τα 25 καλύτερα κάστρα γιατί είναι αλήθεια όμορφο αλλά και γιατί είναι και χοντροί οι τοίχοι του και επίσης έχει και ένα δέντρο 200 ετών που είναι ποί ψηλό από το κάστρο και κάποιοι τουρίστες πηγένουν και ζωγραφίζουν το κάστρο, το υδραγωγείο, το ζαχαροκάλαμο, εκείνο το δέντρα, τα τοίχοι που περνούσε ο ποταμός Κούρης, τα ερείπια του προειγούμενου κάστρο κ.τ.λ.
Λευτέρης Hλία
March 20, 2013

Το κάστρο του Κολοσσίου μας είναι όμορφο και είναι εκεί από το 1454 έχει και ένα δέντρο που είναι 300 χρόνων. Έχει και πόλους τουρίστες που έρχονται και ζωγράφιζαν.
Χριστίνα Κυπριανού
March 20, 2013

Το κάστρο μας Κολοσσίου έχει μια όμορφη αυλή με ένα δέντρο που είναι 200 χρονών. Αλλά ήρθαν ζωγραφεί να ζωγραφίσουν την αυλή του κάστρου Κολοσσίου επειδή είχε πολλά όμορφα λουλούδια και δέντρα. Το κάστρο κολοσσίου είναι ξεχωριστό από τα άλλα κάστρα που υπάρχουν είναι πολύ όμορφο το κάστρο Κολοσσίου μου αρέσει πολύ.
Denisa Tradafir
March 20, 2013

Εγώ σας προτείνω το κάστρο Κολοσσίου.
Denisa Tradafir
April 03, 2013

I think Kolossi castle is the most beautiful castle in the world. Its have a beautiful story.
Denisa Tradafir
April 03, 2013

Νομίζω ότι το κάστρο Κολοσσίου είναι ένα όμορφο κάστρο. Αλλά μπορεί να μην είναι και τόσο άσχημο κάστρο. Είχε μια πολύ μεγάλη ιστορία και έχει πολύ στερεούς τοίχους. Πολλοί ζωγράφοι έρχονται και το ζωγραφίζουν.
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September 28, 2013

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December 26, 2013

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April 03, 2014

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Aliya
May 26, 2014

Wow, but I cant believe there is none from Dubai.
Axel R.
September 19, 2014

Chapultepec Castle is awesome
Loise Saines
November 13, 2014

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Soumya Ranjan Pathy
July 14, 2015

Come to India. I will personally take you to our castles and palaces. You will be shocked. Then say about beauty. stupid moron!!!!
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January 18, 2016

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cy stapleton
June 19, 2016

I feel the two most beautiful have been left out – Neu Schwanstein and Hurst
JU TVYHH
February 03, 2017

I think Peterhof palace is the most bueutiful castle in Russia
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February 14, 2018

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Ramona Helf
March 12, 2019

Practicing Hindu’s, Muslims and Buddhists do not practice sex outside of marriage. A majority of Indians have conservative values. A majority of Americans do not. Indian films still rarely display physical affection while Hollywood has soft porn in mainstream films. India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and alongside China will grow as a world power in the emerging New World order. They will do so with long held conservative values. Whether those values stand or decay with success as they did in America is yet to be seen. But heathens and pagans the world over revere sex, marriage and relationships far better than Americans. You need only look at how the average Muslim woman conducts herself as compared to the average American woman to see what modesty in action is. As much as you are offended by young Americas perceiving Americas founding values as Muhammadian you seem to overlook that Christian values are the foundations for Muhammadian values. Christianity originates in the Middle East and is the inheritor of the firat Abrahamic tradition; Judaism and precursor to the last Abrahamic tradition; Islam.
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May 24, 2019

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