Top 10 Most Beautiful Castles In The World

Sally Polly September 18, 2021 | 21:56

Europe is the home to many beautiful places and architecture, with a long rich history. Here is top 10 most beautiful castles in the world.

Top 10 most beautiful castles in the world

Visiting these castles is like diving into our history. Discover the history of kings, of alliances and vendettas, the history of European territories, of wars, regions and nations, the history of those families who have made and unmade Europe. Discover the most beautiful castles in Europe.

What is it about castles that are so alluring to travelers? Aside from getting us one step closer to living out our fairytale fantasies, the staggering structures showcase some of the world's best architecture, most stunning landscapes, and maybe even a ghost story or two. There's perhaps no better place on earth to find awe-inspiring castles than in Europe, where it seems like you can't visit a city or take a road trip without stumbling upon some sort of royal dwelling. Here you'll find medieval stone walls, sky-high towers, and bridges arching over glittering moats, everywhere from the Scottish Highlands and the Bavarian Alps to the Mediterranean coast.

The List of Top 10 most beautiful castles in the world

10. Eilean Donan Castle

9. Culzean Castle

8. Castello di Miramare, Italy

7. Hohenwerfen Fortress, Austria

6. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

5. The Hohenzollern Castle

4. Bled Castle, Slovenia

3. The Castle in Love with the Wind

2. The Alcazar Castle

1. The Palace of Pena

What are the top 10 most beautiful castles in the world?

10. Eilean Donan Castle

Photo: GetYourGuide

Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most recognised castles in Scotland, and probably appears on more shortbread tins and calendars than any other. It is, without doubt, a Scottish icon and certainly one of the most popular visitor attractions in the Highlands. When you first set eyes on it, it is easy to understand why so many people flock to its stout doors year after year. Strategically located on its own little island, overlooking the Isle of Skye, at the point where three great sea-lochs meet, and surrounded by the majestic splendour of the forested mountains of Kintail, Eilean Donan’s setting is truly breath-taking.

Following their arrival in the ample car park, visitors arrive at the bright modern visitor centre which houses the Ticket Office, Gift Shop and Restaurant. The entire operation is operated by the Conchra Charitable Trust which was established back in the 1980s by the MacRae family, who own the castle, and whose primary role is to preserve the building and its artefacts for the nation and future generations.

9. Culzean Castle

Photo: Europeanbestdestinations

Once the playground of David Kennedy, 10th Earl of Cassillis – a man who was keen to impress with his wealth and status – the park is planted with conifers and beech, sculpted around miles of sandy coastline dotted with caves, and finished off with a Swan Pond, an ice house, flamboyant formal gardens and fruit-filled glasshouses.

The castle itself is perched on the Ayrshire cliffs. It was designed by Robert Adam in the late 18th century and is filled to the turrets with treasures that tell the stories of the people who lived here. Take a guided tour and learn about the best features of the castle, including Adam's masterpiece, the oval staircase, as well as the fine collection of paintings and furniture.

Culzean also has a strong link with President Eisenhower, as the top-floor apartment was presented to him for his lifetime in recognition of his role during World War II. Now, you can stay in the impressive Eisenhower Apartment as a paying guest.

Culzean Castle is the perfect place for a day out whether you're a keen walker, enjoy admiring gardens, have an interest in architecture or just enjoy soaking up some history. And for our younger visitors, run wild in the new Adventure Cove and Wild Woodland play areas.

In the castle tea room - Fo'c'sle - you can enjoy soup, sandwiches and a delicious slice of cake, or indulge in afternoon tea while taking in the magical views overlooking the Firth of Clyde.

8. Castello di Miramare, Italy

Photo: The Travel Hacking Life

This majestic white castle, the beloved home of Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg (brother of Emperor Franz Joseph), overlooks the sea and is surrounded by a huge park full of rare and exotic tree species collected by the Archduke himself in his scientific expeditions around the world aboard the frigate Novara.

The Castle was built for Maximilian, who fell in love with the view of the small bay and decided to build his home here, where he lived with his wife Charlotte of Belgium.

Maximilian and Charlotte were able to enjoy their beautiful castle for only four years or so before leaving for Mexico, where Maximilian was crowned Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, only to be executed by firing squad in 1867.

Legend has it that Charlotte, mad with grief, still wanders in the park calling his name.

Their home, a splendid example of an aristocratic 19th century residence, retains all its original interior furnishings.

The beauty of the castle and the park, together with the sad and romantic story of the young imperial couple, still fascinates tourists all over the world and has made it one of the most visited destinations in Europe.

7. Hohenwerfen Fortress, Austria

Photo: Locationscout

The 900-year-old Hohenwerfen Castle is surrounded by an extraordinary landscape. A former defensive bastion, it is enthroned high above the Salzach River Valley, offering exciting experiences for visitors in search of adventure and culture.

Hohenwerfen Castle promises a unique adventure, and it delivers! Aside from guided tours of the castle, including its exhibition of ancient weapons, a stylish castle tavern and the Knights' Store, it is the historic State Falconer's, with its daily falconry shows, that is an absolute magnet for visitors. The first Austrian Museum of Falconry, including a bird-of-prey theme path, is also located up at the castle.

The extensive events calendar at Hohenwerfen Castle is constantly being expanded and refined. An array of special programmes, including fairy-tale hikes, theatrical productions, folklore afternoons as well as medieval events, special falconry shows and "Mystical Nights" make this castle an appealing destination throughout the year.

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6. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Photo: Getty Images

When work began to build Neuschwanstein Castle in 1869, Ludwig II brought together elements from Wartburg Castle and from the fictional Castle of the Holy Grail from Wagner's opera 'Parsifal'. As a king without any real power, he decided to devote more of his time to the fine arts. He created his own fantasy world of myths and fairytales, as can be seen in the Singers' Hall – a combination of the singers' hall and banqueting hall at Wartburg Castle, only larger and more magnificent. The only difference being that no singing or banqueting ever took place here.

The Throne Room reaches heights of 15 metres and dazzles with extravagant decor in a gold and blue colour scheme. Ludwig II, however, focused most of his attention on the Hall of the Holy Grail, which saw him follow up his longing for the Middle Ages with the latest technology of the time. The King reverted back to the Middle Ages at meal times too, with scenes from the Wartburg Singers' Contest adorning the walls in the dining hall. The grotto, with its small waterfalls and colourful lighting, is another highlight that is supposed to create the impression of a stalactite cave.

5. The Hohenzollern Castle

Photo: All That's Interesting

Something of a Romanticist on the throne, King Frederick William IV of Prussia had a love of the fine arts and a poetically sentimental attachment to the Middle Ages. And that's probably why he commissioned Friedrich August Stüler, a top architect in Berlin at the time, to reconstruct the ruins of his ancestors' castle. He brought the overriding ideal vision of a medieval knight's castle to life – it may have been a bit behind the times but it is still stunning and overwhelmingly beautiful to this day.

The cornerstone was laid in 1852 and the reconstruction project was finally completed in 1867. The castle has 140 rooms in total, with highlights including the library with its incredible murals, the King's bed chamber, a family tree room and the Queen's room known as the Blue Salon. The interior design is splendid with its gilded coffered ceiling, stunning marquetry flooring and portraits of Prussian royals. And for anyone who isn't so bothered about monarchy ideals, the castle's own brewery makes its own beer called PREUSSENS.

4. Bled Castle, Slovenia

Photo: Pinterest

One of the most popular and recognizable Slovenian destinations is the alpine town, Bled. As picturesque as a destination can be, Bled is one of the most striking Alpine resorts going and offers something for all manner of visitors, be they old, young, those in search of activity or in search of relaxation. Known also as the “true Slovenian fairytale” is most famous for its lake in the middle of an island and its delicate dessert Blejska kremšnita or Bled cream cake.

Perched quite dramatically high up on a cliff overlooking the lake and town, Bled Castle is the stuff of children’s dreams. First mentioned in the year 1011, it is officially the oldest castle in Slovenia having celebrated its one thousand year anniversary in 2011. Built and added to haphazardly over the centuries, nowadays the castle is a photogenic mash of styles. Of the many sights located on the castle’s premises, you can visit a small but informative museum of the region’s history from the first human settlements till the present day, a 16th-century chapel, the wine cellar, an herbal gallery, a recreated Gutenberg printing press (that still sees heavy work printing souvenirs for visitors) and of course a restaurant with breathtaking views of the lake below and mountains beyond.

3. The Castle in Love with the Wind

Photo: European Best Destinations

In Love with the Wind – the castle with the magnificent structures made of marble and metamorphosed limestone from the fairy tales of a talented architect and dreamer, Georgi Tumpalov. The only newly built castle in Europe.

The Castle In Love with the Wind – a fairy tale near the sea. The place where the Castle is built is a unique natural phenomenon. Here, the wind loves the sun and always when the sun shines, there is a wind. On this bare field near the village, Georgi Tumpalov, an architect and developer, decided to make it child’s dream come true – to build a castle that exists only in fairy tales. But a dream never comes alone. Tumpalov attracted to the modest village of Ravadinovo, standing 6 km from Sozopol, enormous crowds of visitors from all over the world. The castle was awarded the prize for the most attractive tourist site of the year by the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association. In 2013, Walt Disney used its natural décor to make its movie the Sleeping Beauty. In 2016 the castle won the first prize of the international competition "A’ Design Awards 2016” in the category: "A Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design“.

2. The Alcazar Castle

Photo: Great Castles of Europe

The Alcázar of Segovia (literally "Segovia Fortress") is a medieval castle located in the city of Segovia, Castile and León, Spain. The fortress is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Rising out on a rocky crag above the confluence of two rivers near the Guadarrama mountains, it is one of the most distinctive castle-palaces in Spain by virtue of its shape – like the bow of a ship. The alcázar was originally built to serve as a fortress but has served as a royal palace, a state prison, a Royal Artillery College, and a military academy since then. It is currently used as a museum and a military archives building.

The Alcázar of Segovia, A Muslim era fort, which was itself largely replaced by the present structure, was built by the Berber Almoravid dynasty. The first reference to this castle was in 1120, around 32 years after the city of Segovia captured by Christian Spaniards (during the time when King Alfonso VI reconquered lands to the south of the Duero river down to Toledo and beyond).

The shape and form of the Alcázar was not known until the reign of King Alfonso VIII (1155–1214), however early documentation mentioned a wooden stockade fence. It can be concluded that prior to Alfonso VIII's reign, the Muslim era structure was no more than a wooden fort built over the old Roman foundations. Alfonso VIII and his wife, Eleanor of England, made this alcázar their principal residence and much work was carried out to erect the beginnings of the stone fortification we see today.

1. The Palace of Pena

Photo: European Best Destinations

The Pena Palace (Portuguese: Palácio da Pena) is a Romanticist castle in São Pedro de Penaferrim, in the municipality of Sintra, on the Portuguese Riviera. The castle stands on the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains above the town of Sintra, and on a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon and much of its metropolitan area. It is a national monument and constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th-century Romanticism in the world. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. It is also used for state occasions by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other government officials.

The castle's history started in the Middle Ages when a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena was built on the top of the hill above Sintra. According to tradition, construction occurred after an apparition of the Virgin Mary.

In 1493, King John II, accompanied by his wife Queen Leonor, made a pilgrimage to the site to fulfill a vow. His successor, King Manuel I, was also very fond of this sanctuary, and ordered the construction of a monastery on this site which was donated to the Order of Saint Jerome. For centuries Pena was a small, quiet place for meditation, housing a maximum of eighteen monks.

In the 18th century the monastery was severely damaged by lightning. However, it was the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755, occurring shortly afterwards, that took the heaviest toll on the monastery, reducing it to ruins. Nonetheless, the chapel (and its works of marble and alabaster attributed to Nicolau Chanterene) escaped without significant damage.

For many decades the ruins remained untouched, but they still astonished young prince Ferdinand. In 1838, as King consort Ferdinand II, he decided to acquire the old monastery, all of the surrounding lands, the nearby Castle of the Moors and a few other estates in the area. King Ferdinand then set out to transform the remains of the monastery into a palace that would serve as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family. The commission for the Romantic style rebuilding was given to Lieutenant-General and mining engineer Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege. Eschwege, a German amateur architect, was much traveled and likely had knowledge of several castles along the Rhine river. The construction took place between 1842 and 1854, although it was almost completed in 1847: King Ferdinand and Queen Maria II intervened decisively on matters of decoration and symbolism. Among others, the King suggested vault arches, Medieval and Islamic elements be included, and he also designed an ornate window for the main façade (inspired by the chapter house window of the Convent of the Order.

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To know more about top 10 oldest castles in the world that you should visit once in your life, keep reading the article below.