Castles evoke the child in all of us. We dream of knights, dragons, magic, and the battles between good and evil. But they are also historical artifacts with rich histories and significance within their regions and culture. When you visit castles you're not just looking at a pile of stones. You're learning about people and places that have come before you. You're hearing stories of the past that have created our present day - stories of love, life, fights for control of territories, and religious freedom and persecution.
They're an entryway into the past and the way of life for centuries of people. Everything in and around a castle is potentially a wealth of information of historical and cultural significance - and also, you may hear about dragons. 😜
Important to note that castles are defined as: "A large building, typically of the medieval period, fortified against attack with thick walls, battlements, towers, and in many cases a moat." So within a castle there are often palaces to explore as well. But for the purposes of this blog - I chose to stick with castles.
It was also difficult to pare down my list (because, you know, I'm wordy). So here we have Part 1 - with Part 2 to come next week!
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Neuschwanstein Castle is world famous as the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's castle in Disneyland. The castle is set on a cliff within the Bavarian Alps in Germany. Built for King Ludwig II it is one of the most visited castles worldwide, seeing upwards of 6,000 visitors per day. Advanced tickets are recommended - without them there is often a wait of several hours.
Mont Saint-Michel, France
This medieval castle was built on a high peak near Normandy and is considered one of medieval architecture's greatest achievements. It can only be accessed during low tide by walking over the causeway. Mont-Saint Michel was an important pilgrimage of faith during the Middle Ages. During the Hundred Years’ War, the Kingdom of England made repeated assaults on the island but were unable to seize it due to the abbey’s strong fortifications. Mont Saint Michel and its 11th century Benedictine abbey have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.
Hohenwerfen Castle, Austria
Hohenwerfen Castle stands above the Austrian town of Werfen in the Salzach valley, approximately 25 miles south of Salzburg. It is over 900 years old and promises a unique experience as far as visiting castles goes. Along with the more typical castle tours, this one also hosts the first Austrian Museum of Falconry and holds daily falconry shows. The flight demonstrations use various birds of prey including eagles, falcons, hawks, and vultures.
Bojnice Castle, Slovakia
This light pink sandstone castle made up of towers and turrets is the ideal fairytale castle, and is one of the most visited attractions in Slovakia. Rising above the town of Bojnce,The castle sits in a large park with many rare species of trees, including what is claimed to be the oldest lime tree (600 years old) in Slovakia. The first written record of the existence of the castle comes from a document written in 1113. Only the foundation of the original 12th-century fortification remains today, but in the early 20th century it was reconstructed using inspiration from the castles of France’s Loire Valley, and today it is a beautiful neo-baroque castle that deserves the attention it gets! Be aware that there is only one English tour per day (usually at 11:30 AM, but this should be checked prior to travel).
Prague Castle, Czech Republic
Prague Castle, now the official residence of the Czech president was likely founded circa 880 by Prince Bořivoj of the Premyslid Dynasty. It is known as an ancient symbol of the Czech State, the most significant Czech monument, and is one of the most important cultural institutions in the Czech Republic. It is the largest coherent castle complex in the world, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spread over 18 acres, there are fortifications, palaces, gardens and galleries to explore.
Caerphilly Castle, Wales
Due to its history of wars and rebellion, the Welsh country side is home to more castles per square mile than anywhere else in the world. The largest medieval castle in Wales was first built between 1268 and 1290 CE as a defense against Welsh attacks. Spannning over 30 acres there's a lot to see - including the south-east tower which slants at ten degrees (more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa), and is said to be a result of damage caused during 17th Century battles between Oliver Cromwell’s roundheads and King Charles I’s cavaliers. It was already a cool place to visit, but in 2019 the castle became home to a family of dragons as well as an interactive maze through the underground tunnels. This one should definitely be on your list!
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