When you cross a drawbridge to a castle you're crossing a bridge into the past. The stories of castles are often the history of a city or country. I love scheduling castle tours for clients. There's something for everyone in these stories - gory battles won and lost, great loves, and ghostly hauntings. When you're in a destination with a stunning ages old castle - it's a good idea to add it to your list!
Bran Castle, Romania
This castle is most famous for its connection to Bram Stoker's character Dracula. But the castle has a long and storied history that goes beyond the lore of Dracula. Bran Castle is a national monument and landmark in Romania. The fortress is on the Transylvanian side of the historical border with Wallachia. It has a REALLY cool history that is detailed perfectly on the official website. Out of all of the castles I researched this one has the most in-depth and interesting website - check it out!
I love history, books, and stories of how authors get their ideas and turn them into fiction. The story behind this castle has it all. Bram Stoker’s character, Dracula, is a Transylvanian Count with a castle located high above a valley perched on a rock with a flowing river below in Transylvania. This character is often confused with Vlad Tepes, a Walachian Prince with a castle, who was described by some historians as bloodthirsty (for mostly political reasons). Vlad Tepes also had a number of associations with Bran Castle.
Because Bran Castle is the only castle in Transylvania that fits Stoker’s description it is known throughout the world as Dracula’s Castle. It is interesting to note that Bram Stoker never traveled to Transylvania. The descriptions in his book were likely based on a book he read about Transylvania written by author Charles Boner.
Adding to the inspiration were the beliefs of some of the villagers of Bran. They believed in ghosts, evil spirits, and people whose souls left their bodies at night and haunted the village. (Also cool to read about). Ideas for Dracula can be traced back to these stories and this castle.
Schwerin Castle, Germany
Schwerin Castle houses the German parliament, is located approximately 60 miles East of Hamburg, and has been compared to the iconic Neuschwanstein Castle. (Which tells you it's going to be a gorgeous place to visit). However, another reason it's a popular tour is that legend has it that Schwering is haunted by a friendly gnome ghost (yes, you read that correctly), named Petermännchen. They say he is dressed in 17th century clothes, and wanders around the underground halls unlocking doors. That legend put it on my list. It's also worth noting that the history of Schwerin begins in the Dark Ages, but it is shrouded in mystery - only referenced in notes of a Spanish traveler named Ibrahim Ibn Jacub who describes it as a fort. The fort was destroyed and eventually rebuilt in the 12th century. Finally in the 16th century it was added on to and eventually, it became the castle we see today.
Alhambra, Granada Spain
Alhambra is a huge complex and is Granada's most popular tourist attraction. It was first built by the Romans prior to the 700's. They saw the location as a great strategic site and took over the area. They would eventually be overpowered by the Moors who invaded the region in 711. The Alhambra complex was acquired and rebuilt by monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella after they defeated the Moors in 1492.
You can choose to walk through this one on your own, but there is SO much to see that a tour is recommended. Most tours take two and a half to three hours, but you can easily spend longer if you'd like. Note that for this one you need to purchase tickets months in advance - and make sure you're on time. It's not uncommon to be turned away if you're late for your assigned time.
Hohenzollern Castle, Germany
Hohenzollern Castle covers the entire summit of Mount Hohenzollern. It’s a huge complex that consists of 4 main parts - military buildings, palatial buildings, chapels, and gardens. It’s located just south of the town of Hechingen and about 30 miles south of Stuttgart. This is the third castle to be built in this location, and was built between 1846 and 1867 at the direction of Frederick William IV of Prussia who visited the site and fell in love with the sunset he saw from the hilltop.
Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
The 13th century Eilean Donan Castle is one to visit to learn about the history of the Scottish Highlands. Situated by the village of Dornie on the main tourist route to the Isle of Skye, the castle is an iconic image of the Scottish Highlands. The "island of Donnán" is believed to be named after Donnán of Eigg, a Celtic saint martyred in 617 . There is some evidence that a Pictish fortress existed in the location during the 6th century, but the Medieval castle was built for Alexander II in the 13th century as defense against Vikings who were raiding Northern Scotland.
While the castle has a storied history - it does stand today as a "rebuild" of sorts. It was abandoned for over 200 years, and it wasn't until the island was bought in 1911 that it began to be restored. The restoration took twenty years, and was completed in 1932.
Some stay to skip this tour because it's become so popular that it's overcrowded and therefore not worth it. While I don't know that I would build a trip around it, it is beautiful, as are the grounds, and I certainly think it's worth a stop if you're going to be passing by the area.
Ok, folks - which castles did I miss? Where have you been that you think I should have added to the list? Comment and let me know!
If you missed Part 1 of our Can't Miss Castles list you can read it HERE.
You can also go back to previous blogs and read about other castles we've discussed here: Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh Scotland, Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød, Denmark, and Glamis Castle in Angus, Scotland.
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