Now that it’s no more secret that you all love castle, and you have enjoyed the
part – 1 of Beautiful Castles Around The World, it’s time to release part – 2 which has even more beautiful castles. I know, you can’t wait to see those pictures, so I will not write and spoil the mood. Here you go, presenting part-2!!
1. Cochem Castle, Germany
Cochem is a picturesque small town located in Rheinland-Palatinate. It is surrounded by vineyards and hills. Above the town stands the breathtaking Cochem Castle. If you take a visit to the castle you have fantastic views over Cochem and the Mosel River. Walking around the castle makes you feel like you are in a fairy tale story. It’s a magic place.
2. Karlstejn Castle, Czech Republic
Located about 35km from the capital city of Prague lies the 14th Century Gothic castle of Karlstejn, the most visited and most famous castle in the Czech Republic. Built by Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, Karlštejn served as a place for safekeeping the Empire coronation jewels, holy relics and other royal treasures. It’s the perfect place for a day trip away from the city, set in the beauty countryside with some great hiking trails in the surrounding protected forests. It really is something out of a Disney film!
3. Château de Pierrefonds, France
The Castle at Pierrefonds towers majestically above the sleepy town below. Wander around the copious, well-tended gardens and look out around the surrounding hillside onto the forest of Compiegne before marvelling at the outstanding beauty of the architectural delight lovingly being restored to resemble the plans of architect Viollet-Le-Duc. Inside you cross over the draw-bridge and enter a large courtyard before heading into the various buildings to look around the vast orate rooms where you can ponder over the various knightly coats of arms still present on the walls before heading down into the dungeon and the underground cemetery to explore.
4. Himeji Castle, Japan
Himeji castle was the most beautiful castle I visited during my trip to Japan, especially during sakura bloom in spring. It is just 15 minute walk from Himeji main railway station and can be visited on the way to Hiroshima or during day trip from Osaka or Kyoto.
5. Castle Osterstein, Germany
Castle Osterstein in Zwickau has probably not been on a list for castle tours for the last 250 years. Having been the former noble castle of the city of Zwickau it served as a prison for almost 200 years and “housed” amongst others Karl May, August Bebel and Rosa Luxemburg. I only remembered it as a large ruin on the corner of Zwickaus’ old town. Then quite surprisingly about 3 years ago I came back to Zwickau and there it was, fully restored and an impressive addition to Zwickaus cityscape.
6. Vaduz Castle, Liechtenstein
By far, the most beautiful castle setting we’ve ever seen is Vaduz Castle in Liechtenstein. Perched high on the cliffs over the capital of this small country, Reigning Prince Hans-Adam II and his son Hereditary Prince Alois still live in their ancestral home. Unfortunately, that means it is not possible to visit inside the castle, however, you can hike up to the castle’s walls for the stunning views of the surrounding Alps. While many castles in Europe have taken on the feeling of tourist spectacles, Vaduz Castle still retains the charm of a true royal residence.
7. Château de Chillon, Switzerland
Chateau de Chillon is a beautiful Island Castle located on the shore of Lake Geneva. According to the Castle´s website this is the “Most visited historical monument in Switzerland”.The rocky island on which the castle is built, was both a natural protection and a strategic location to control the passage between northern and southern Europe.
By Banu from Through My Lens
8. Bran Castle, Romania
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| Photo via 500px / Binary Mind |
So, there’s this amazing, mysterious 12-century castle we want to tell you about – Bran Castle, a.k.a. Dracula’s Castle. Often considered as a major Romanian attraction, it was made famous only in 1897, after an Irish novelist Bram Stoker set his masterpiece book Dracula there. Interestingly, we never visited the place, but consistent English libraries and his own grotesque imagination were enough for the writer to portray Bran Castle as “a vast ruined castle, from whose tall black windows came no ray of light, and whose broken battlements showed a jagged line against the moonlit sky.” In reality, the castle belonged to various knights, kings and regimes. Nowadays the remaining royal heirs, well into their 70’s, are trying to sell it for $80 million. If this story got you excited – you can be the next Dracula!
9. Dunollie Castle, Scotland
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| Photo via Flickr / Arjayempee |
After 5 months of visiting all sorts of castles in Europe, we ran across the what looked to be the remains of a castle over looking the bay in Oban, Scotland. There was no signs or admission fee’s just us and the castle. Know as Dunollie Castle, it was the ancestral home of Clan MacDougall. Also thought to be the Capitol of Scotlond in the 7th and 8th centuries. You could easily imagine the days of it’s glory as we explored the ruins. Dunollie Castle has remained one of my favorite castles in Europe.
10. Pembroke Castle, Wales
A beautiful medieval castle in West Wales, this has been the birthplace of Henry VII. The castle and its massive walls sit on River Cleddau. There’s mammoth history related to the castle and its dark secrets which are really interesting if we go on guided tour. There’s plenty of staircase, Castlekeep tower for a viewpoint, and a spiral stairway that takes you beneath the castle to a cave known as Wogan Cavern. A walk around the banks of the river provides fantastic views of the castle.
So that brings us to the end of Part -2 of this collaborative effort. Many thanks to all the enthusiastic travel bloggers and photographers for showing interest in featuring in our post and sharing lovely castle pictures. Thanks again!
Have you visited any of these castles? Which is your favourite one?
Alli Blair
LOVE number 4! 🙂
Country Hopping Couple
Thanks 🙂
Skidy1
Awesome! I have always loved castles, I used to love drawing make-believe castles when I was younger. Bran castle in Romania looks spectacular – Love the oranges of the tiled roof and surrounding greenery.
Country Hopping Couple
Yes, Bran Castle is indeed gorgeous.
Jessica Bowler
I haven't visited any of these castles, but I would love to! Castles are so much fun to visit. My favorite one on this list is the Château de Pierrefonds, France, I think…although they are all so pretty.
Country Hopping Couple
I have visited a few of the castles, but there's always beautiful castles still waiting to be explored.
Sammi Wei
Love all of these! I've never visited a castle before so I'm fascinated by all of them. I love the ones that are on the hill or cliffside, they must have just stunning views!
Country Hopping Couple
The one's on the top of the hill or by cliff are just my favourites too! They kind of give a dramatic feeling altogether!
Hannah
Love castles- I visit as many as possible when I travel. I was at Chillon last year- very fairytale-esque on the lake under the mountains. Loved it!
Country Hopping Couple
I loved Chillion castle too. Especially the blue waters on which they stand just mesmerizes us.
Karen Warren
I love castles, but I haven't visited any of these. Vaduz has been high on my wish list for a long time though. Lovely pictures!
Muriel
Sadly, when I was in Japan, Himeji was still under construction. But what a wonderful list of castles! So much history and amazing architecture.
Simply Alexandra // My Favorite Things
I have such a fondness for castles. It really shouldn't be a surprise I suppose since I was such a girly child. Always the one in the princess costume. But as an adult I can't help but want to explore these places not only for their majesty, but also their history and culture! What a great list! I will have to check out part 1. We visited a chateau in Quebec City. Which is not technically a castle, but is referred to as such. And it was stunning. 🙂 Himeji looks so gorgeous. Really they all do! Thank you for sharing! -Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
The Trusted Traveller
They are all so stunning! I've been to a few, one of them was Himeji but it was covered in scaffolding when I was there last year. Dissappointing but the ramparts and gardens were still beautiful.
Chris Boothman
A gorgeous collection of castles here! We love exploring them whenever we visit places that have iconic castles and these are a great array that we will add to our list.
Dave Cole
Gorgeous collection! I'm very intrigued by Vaduz Castle in Lichtenstein – maybe because it's still used as a residence. Need to find a way in somehow.
Destination Infinity
I think that castle from France is too good. I love the design 🙂
Destination Infinity
Michael Huxley
Some amazing choices there, I love castles myself! I can't believe you missed off Neuschwanstein Castle though! 🙂
Brianna Simmons
Wonderful pcis! If you like the setting of Castle Valduz you should take a look at Hohenwerfen in the Austrian Alps.
coffeetimesweety
Beautiful! I love the Japanese castle, so nice with all the blooms. And Vaduz Castle, incredible that people still live there!
Bianca Malata
Really stunning and I think they are all going on my list of castles and palaces to see.
Middle-Eastern Weekend |Tales From Tel Aviv
katefrankiebrennan
I really want to go to 'Dracula's' castle in Romania! So many of these look like scenes from Game of Thrones for me, I love that show. Beautiful architecture and I really love finding out the history and the inspiration for them
just jeanette
Would love to be whisked away to one of these amazing castles!! Very nice!!
Simone Findlay
Amazing! Great series and collaborative posts. Really enjoying them!
Antonette Spaan
You missed the prettiest one: Neuschwanstein … very personal ofcourse but that one is great for its setting mostly. We didn't go in as the queue was about 3 hours though. The other ones you mentioned look great too, none I've seen yet but who knows. The Cochem one is relatively close to where I love and looks awesome!
City Sea Country
Great collection of castles. I don´t even miss the Neuschwanstein Castle here. The Cochem Castle looks beautiful. Never heard of it before altough I live close to Germany.
perpetuallyperipatetic
Wow!!! These are lovely. I just went and looked at Part 1 also, and I must say all of them are gorgeous. The only one I've visited is Bran Castle, and, unfortunately, it was rather underwhelming. It has pretty much nothing to do with Dracula, except one room with some text about the legend and Vlad the Impaler, on whom Dracula is supposedly based. Disappointing 🙁
Rashad Pharaon
These are just ridiculously gorgeous lol why was I not born a prince in the days of old?
emilyluxton
So many gorgeous castles! I love number 8 – if only I had a spare 80 million under my mattress!!
Taran Ramshaw
Really cool, my fave is vaduz castle!! It looks great with the lights on it, and the forest surrounding 🙂
Travelling Weasels
I like that first German one the best, I'm going to check if we're near it now! We're going to be staying near the Bran Castle in July 😀
Samantha Hussey
Firstly thank you for allowing me to get involved in your post! You have a great collection of castles here! I am hoping to visit quite a few in Germany including Cochem Castle soon! 🙂
Bob R
Of these Karlstejn looks most appealing. 🙂
The Caffeinated Day Tripper
I would buy Bran Castle in a second if I had the funds. I've read up on it a lot over the years and am fascinated by it. Love seeing it on your list 🙂
Nina (travelboulevard.be)
Waauw, what a great selection! I absolutely love castles (the one in France looks like a dream); when I was I child I used to play in an abandoned little castle in my hometown. At least, I thought it was a castle. When I grew up, I realized it was just a very big house! 🙂 Anyway, it was a castle to me and have loved castles ever since. 🙂
Don't Forget To Move
I can't say I've visited a lot of castles, but I really want to now. Especially after seeing all the awesome castles on display. I'm a massive Game of Thrones fan so this is all I picture haha.
Elena Nacheva
I loved number 8! It is probably not far from my hometown 🙂
Brad Frankel
They're so amazing, and love how different they all are. Great photos.