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I’m not sure if guys felt the same way growing up, but as a young girl, I would often daydream about being a princess in a castle. Looking out the tall windows, feeling the breeze flowing through, and seeing fields stretching all around me — that’s any girl’s Roman Empire.
But of course, we don’t always think about the fact that modern toilets didn’t exist, there were no proper vaccines, and that a full-immersion bath was a rare luxury. But hey, at least they got to spend their time in beautiful castles with no heating or AC. Well... actually, maybe we’ll pass. At least we can still romanticize that era by looking at these beautiful pictures of historical castles that we’ve gathered.
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#1
Castle Of Isola Di Loreto, Iseo Lake, Italy
DennyS (denzoren) 8 hours ago
New dream house unlocked. Isolated, got trees, got a coast, got a castle...perfect.
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#2
One Of The Most Impressive Defensive Castles: Beaumaris Castle, Wales
#3
Bojnice Castle, Slovakia
If you enjoy exploring historical landmarks, it probably won’t surprise you that most of these castles are concentrated in Europe. After all, the oldest standing stone structures are also found in this region, and, all things considered, castles really aren’t that old — at least compared to the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But what you may not know is that studies show the highest number of castles is actually in France, not the United Kingdom. The Western European country is home to approximately 45,000 castles, followed by Germany with around 25,000. But there’s a reason the United Kingdom has such a strong castle reputation, aside from the British Royal Family: Wales alone has the highest concentration of castles per square mile in Europe. Oof.
#4
Sommersdorf, Germany. A Remote And Widely Unknown But Picturesque Castle. Mainly 15th Century, Major Restoration Around 1650
#6
Hochosterwitz Castle (German: Burg Hochosterwitz)
Roman Arendt 9 hours ago
To avoid misunderstandings: It's in Kärnten, Austria. It's really impressive. And the views are stunning. Obviously.
To absolutely no one’s surprise, the oldest castle in the world is also in France. It’s the Château de Doué-la-Fontaine, located in the Loire region. It was originally built as a timber-and-stone manor house by the Count of Blois before being converted into a massive stone keep. Today, it’s considered the oldest standing stone castle keep in the world, dating back to around 950 CE.
But of course, no one lives here anymore. Today, it’s an archaeological site and an open-air historical ruin, with no roof and even parts of its walls missing. As a tourist, you can still visit the site, but unfortunately, it doesn’t offer overnight stays due to its deteriorated state — unlike many of the castles on this list.
#7
Bouzov Castle, Czech Republic
#9
Le Château De Tonquédec, Fr [oc]
But of course, if you did want to live in a castle instead of just renting one for a night, you absolutely could. Listings show that France alone accounts for 65–70% of all castles listed for sale worldwide, and the country appears to be very accepting of private sales and the restoration of these historic properties. In fact, in some places, buying a castle is cheaper than buying an apartment in Paris or New York.
Italy and Germany also have their fair share of castles that aren't publicly owned and can be purchased. Just keep in mind that many countries have strict heritage preservation laws. Even hanging a nail on the wall may require government approval, which could leave you with a castle that's a little too cold or a little too warm — just like back in the day, so at least it’ll be accurate.
#10
Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany [oc]
#11
This Castle Was Literally Built To Be Impossible To Attack
Unless, of course, you’re royalty and can do things a little more freely because, well, that just might have been your family’s home for a few centuries. Much like the British royal family. To no one’s surprise, historians say the longest continuously lived-in castle in the world is Windsor Castle. King Charles III and Queen Camilla live in the 11th-century castle, which was founded by William the Conqueror. So no, they don’t live in Buckingham Palace — though the King does work there.
But they’re hardly the only royal family still living in their ancestors’ homes. The King and Queen of Sweden live at Drottningholm Palace, which dates back to the 17th century (though about half of the palace is open to the public). Meanwhile, the royal families of Liechtenstein, Monaco, and Denmark also continue to live in historic castles or palaces that have belonged to their families for generations.
#14
Château De Pierrefonds, France
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 2 hours ago
"The Château de Pierrefonds is an imposing fortified castle built at the end of the 14th century, which stands in the French commune of Pierrefonds, in the department of Oise, in the Hauts-de-France region, on the southeastern edge of the Compiègne forest, north of Paris."
#15
Norman Gate, Peterborough, UK Built 1177-1194 (Some Of The Oldest Working Doors In The Country)
Of course, nowadays most people (well, the wealthy and the elite) opt to live in their own mansions, which are practically the modern-day versions of castles. Well, minus the fortified walls built to withstand military sieges. Or a lord, king, queen, or duke living there. Or a keep. But I'm sure they have their fair share of unique features that our tax bracket will never know.
And personally, I've always loved visiting castles. Whether it's knowing I'm walking on stones that have literally stood through history and were once walked on by people centuries ago, or just the whimsy of it all, it's a really unique experience. But what about you? Have you ever visited a castle? If so, which one? Or if not, which one on this list would you most like to visit?
#16
Château De Menthon-Saint-Bernard, France
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 2 hours ago
"Nestled in a deep park, the Château de Menthon is one of the architectural jewels of Savoy. It is also a very much alive home, still occupied by the same family for almost 1000 years."
#18
Le Château De Villandry Et Ses Jardins Extraordinaires
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 2 hours ago
"The Château de Villandry is a grand country house located in Villandry, in the department of Indre-et-Loire, France. It is especially known for its beautiful gardens."
#19
Château De Challain, France
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 2 hours ago
"The Château de Challain-la-Potherie is a castle located in the French commune of Challain-la-Potherie, in Maine-et-Loire. Constructed between 1847 and 1854 in the neo-Gothic style, the Château de Challain-la-Potherie is a notable example of French architectural heritage."
#20
Chateau Chenonceau, France
Lee Gilliland 5 hours ago
It is well worth it to take a Loire cruise, as all the castles are close to the river and you get to tour each one.
#23
Kranichfeld Castle, Germany. First Mentioned In The 12th Century, It Was Transformed Into A Renaissance Style Castle In The 16th Century
#25
Château Du Haut-Kœnigsbourg 🇫🇷
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 2 hours ago
"The Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg, sometimes also Haut-Kœnigsbourg, is a medieval castle located in the commune of Orschwiller in the Bas-Rhin département of Alsace, France. Located in the Vosges mountains just west of Sélestat, situated in a strategic area on a rocky spur overlooking the Upper Rhine Plain, it was used by successive powers from the Middle Ages until the Thirty Years' War when it was abandoned. From 1900 to 1908 it was rebuilt at the behest of the German kaiser Wilhelm II. Today it is a major tourist site, attracting more than 500,000 visitors a year."
#28
[oc] Château De Fougères, Brittany, France - One Of Europe's Largest Medieval Fortresses
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 2 hours ago
"The Château de Fougères is a castle in the commune of Fougères in the Ille-et-Vilaine département of France. The castle was built on a naturally protected site, a rock emerging from a swamp surrounded by a loop of the Nançon river acting as a natural moat. It had three different enclosures: the first for defensive purposes; the second for day to day usages in peacetime and for safety of the surrounding populations in times of siege; and the last for the protection of the keep. In all it has an impressive 13 towers."
#32
Château De Trécesson, France
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 2 hours ago
"The Château de Trécesson is a medieval castle in the Brittany region of France. It is located in the commune of Campénéac near the Paimpont forest and on the edge of the military camp of Coëtquidan. It is a private property. The origin of Trécesson castle is lost in the mists of time. It was mentioned as the seat of the lords of Ploërmel and Campénéac from the 8th century. The Trécesson family is documented since the 13th century and its first known representative was the knight Jean de Trécesson, whose grandson was Constable of Brittany in the 14th century. Tradition places the construction of the site at the end of the 14th century, but it is more probable that the castle, in its present position, dates from the 15th century. At that time, around 1440, the last Trécesson heiress married Éon de Carné. He and his son François added the name of Trécesson to their own and undertook the transformation and rebuilding of the château."
#33
Querfurt Castle. The Typically German Wild Mix Of Structures From 11th To 19th Century. Main Towers From 12th, 13th, 14th Century Resp. A Rarity Is The Large Cruciform Romanesque Chapel Started In 1162
#36
Castle D’oultremont In France
#39
Château De Vincennes, France
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 2 hours ago
"The Château de Vincennes is a former fortress and royal residence next to the town of Vincennes, on the eastern edge of Paris, alongside the Bois de Vincennes. It was largely built between 1361 and 1369, and was a preferred residence, after the Palais de la Cité, of French kings from the 14th to 16th century."
#40
Beynac Et Cazenac, Dordogne France
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 2 hours ago
"The Château de Beynac is a castle situated in the commune of Beynac-et-Cazenac, in the Dordogne département of France. The castle is one of the best-preserved and best known in the region. This Middle Ages construction, with its austere appearance, is perched on top of a limestone cliff, dominating the town and the north bank of the Dordogne."
#42
Hiltpoltstein, Germany. Mostly 13th And 14th Century. Only Entrance Is The White Stair Tower In Front Of It That Had A Drawbridge At The Top Leading Into The Main Castle
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What do you think ?
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 2 hours ago
These were stunning! The chateau/castle in the town we just moved from which is several kilometres from here was built in 1137, so not as old as some of the ones here. They still do lovely tours of the chateau year round and have special events throughout the year. It's connected with Monaco somehow, so the royal family comes out every several years to check it out.
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 2 hours ago
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Araceli Levy 2 hours ago
My last salary was $8750, ecom only worked 12 hours a week. My longtime neighbor yr estimated $15,000 and works about 20 hours for seven days. I can't believe how blunt he was when I looked up his information, This is what I do..... 𝐉𝐨𝐛𝐀𝐭𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝟏.𝐂𝐨𝐦
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 2 hours ago
These were stunning! The chateau/castle in the town we just moved from which is several kilometres from here was built in 1137, so not as old as some of the ones here. They still do lovely tours of the chateau year round and have special events throughout the year. It's connected with Monaco somehow, so the royal family comes out every several years to check it out.
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 2 hours ago
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Load More Replies... Araceli Levy 2 hours ago
My last salary was $8750, ecom only worked 12 hours a week. My longtime neighbor yr estimated $15,000 and works about 20 hours for seven days. I can't believe how blunt he was when I looked up his information, This is what I do..... 𝐉𝐨𝐛𝐀𝐭𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝟏.𝐂𝐨𝐦
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