Love fairy tales? So do we! We’ve put together a list of 6 unbelievable castles that will fit right in to your royal bucket list.
1. Neuschwanstein Castle
Located in Schwangau, Germany, construction started in 1864 on top of the ruins of two previous castles, but it was not habitable until 1882. The castle was started as a home for “the swan king” (also known as “the fairy tale king”) Ludwig II of Bavaria, but he only ended up living in it for 172 days before his death in 1886. Seven weeks after his death it was opened as an attraction to the public, which it still remains today.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
2. Chateau de Pierrefondson
Located on the southeast edge of the Forest of Compiègne, northeast of Paris. Destroyed and rebuilt 3 times- Lastly restored and altered by architect Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century to transform it into an imperial residence for Napoleon III. Today it stands as beautiful as ever and will make you feel like you just stepped out of a story book.
View this post on Instagram
3. Pena Palace
A Romanticist castle in São Pedro de Penaferrim, Portugal who’s red and yellow façades will take your breath away. 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. It’s surrounded by a 200 hectare park with many points of interest, including flora from around the world-as was popular during the romantic period. We might just fall in love…
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
4. Gravensteen
Translated- “Castle of the Counts” This valiant castle is located in the Belgian city of Ghent. The current standing structure dates to about 1180. It was the residence of the Counts of Flanders until 1353, after which it was re-purposed a number of times; as a court, prison, mint and even as a cotton factory. It was restored over 1893-1903 and is now a museum and an amazing place to soak up almost 900 years of history!
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
5. Caerphilly Castle
A must-see for anyone interested in medieval history, Caerphilly Castle was built around the 13th century. It is considered a masterpiece of military planning and is surrounded by extensive artificial lakes, considered by some to be the most elaborate water defences in all Britain; as well as concentric walls, which where the first of their kind in the country. It occupies around 30 acres of land and is the second largest castle in Britain- and first on our bucket list.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
6. Mont-Saint-Michel
Perched on an island just a few hundred meters from land off France’s northwestern coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches sits a castle right out of your dreams. When the castle was originally built, the rising tide acted as a defence-popularly nicknamed “St. Michael in peril of the sea” by medieval pilgrims making their way across the sand flats. occasional flooding have created salt marsh meadows that are now used for grazing sheep. The well-flavoured meat caused by the diet of the sheep in the pré salé (salt meadow) makes whats known as salt meadow lamb, a local speciality found on the menus of restaurants nearby.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Which one of these brings out your inner King/Queen? Let us know in the comments below!
