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  4. Beautiful Castles Around the World

Beautiful Castles Around the World

By Briana Fasone
April 24, 2012
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We dare you to find a traveler who’s left Scotland without at least a few castle photos. The countryside is riddled with hundreds of majestic, if sometimes crumbling, castles—and they capture our imagination like no other architectural wonder.

Take Scotland’s iconic Eilean Donan Castle. When illuminated at twilight, with the distant hills cast a shadowy black, it conveys all the intrigue associated with castles. This is just one of the eye-catching images we turned up when we searched the submissions of T+L community members to find their most beautiful and varied castle photos.

Some have the fairy-tale charm of 19th-century Neuschwanstein Castle, which actually inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle. T+L community user gikltd pulled back to capture its dramatic surroundings in Germany’s Bavaria region: thick woods, snowcapped Alps, and placid water. Meanwhile, in Japan, T+L community member bratbee79 gave added drama to the traditional flared tile roof of 14th-century Shuri Castle in Okinawa by shooting it from slightly below. 

Photography technique influences the look of other beautiful castles featured in our community album. We encounter Germany’s Cochem Castle from within thanks to a photo of an interior stained-glass window and a decorative wall panel. Alternatively, an expansive shot of fortress walls along the Dalmatian Coast of Dubrovnik highlights the castle’s impenetrable, intimidating nature as it towers on rocks above the Adriatic Sea.

Castles in Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, are naturally well represented.

Yet while we may not have royalty in the U.S., that hasn’t stopped the construction of beautiful castles on our side of the pond. A photograph of New York City’s Belvedere Castle, which offers panoramic views of Central Park, was submitted by raveille. (The castle’s name comes from the Italian for “beautiful view.”) 

Check out all the photos of enchanting castles (and a few palaces) around the world to find the one that most inspires you. And after your next trip, upload your photos for a chance to win T+L’s monthly photo contest and to be featured in a slideshow.
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Château de Chillon, Montreaux, Switzerland

Credit: djrphoto

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Jal Mahal, Jaipur, India

Credit: stevesol

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Versailles, France

Credit: januzzi

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Belvedere Castle, New York City

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Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City

Credit: tag

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Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

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Kylemore Abbey, County Galway, Ireland

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Catherine Palace, St. Petersburg

Credit: observer

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Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna

Credit: cityguy14202

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Leeds Castle, Kent, England

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Kronborg Castle, Denmark

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Château de Chambord, France

Credit: garmsr

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Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland

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Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

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Prague Castle, Czech Republic

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Hohenschwangau Castle, Bavaria, Germany

Credit: papasmurf

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Ross Castle, Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland

Credit: beccajean_14

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Alhambra, Granada

Credit: kemarnell

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Dubrovnik Castle, Croatia

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Shuri Castle, Okinawa, Japan

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Grand Palace, Bangkok

Credit: elliciaz

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Cochem Castle, Germany

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Cinderella's Castle, Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Florida

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Odawara Castle, Japan

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Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome

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Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland

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Windsor Castle, England

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Pena National Palace, Sintra, Portugal

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Cardiff Castle, Wales

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1 of 29 Château de Chillon, Montreaux, Switzerland
2 of 29 Jal Mahal, Jaipur, India
3 of 29 Versailles, France
4 of 29 Belvedere Castle, New York City
5 of 29 Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City
6 of 29 Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
7 of 29 Kylemore Abbey, County Galway, Ireland
8 of 29 Catherine Palace, St. Petersburg
9 of 29 Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna
10 of 29 Leeds Castle, Kent, England
11 of 29 Kronborg Castle, Denmark
12 of 29 Château de Chambord, France
13 of 29 Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland
14 of 29 Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
15 of 29 Prague Castle, Czech Republic
16 of 29 Hohenschwangau Castle, Bavaria, Germany
17 of 29 Ross Castle, Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland
18 of 29 Alhambra, Granada
19 of 29 Dubrovnik Castle, Croatia
20 of 29 Shuri Castle, Okinawa, Japan
21 of 29 Grand Palace, Bangkok
22 of 29 Cochem Castle, Germany
23 of 29 Cinderella's Castle, Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Florida
24 of 29 Odawara Castle, Japan
25 of 29 Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome
26 of 29 Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
27 of 29 Windsor Castle, England
28 of 29 Pena National Palace, Sintra, Portugal
29 of 29 Cardiff Castle, Wales

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Beautiful Castles Around the World
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