Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Travel Guides
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2021

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2021. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
    • Travel Deals
    • Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Festivals and Events
    • Bus and Trains
    • Flight Deals
    • Budget Travel
    • Hotels and Resorts
    • Disney Vacations
    • Airlines and Airports
    • Ground Transportation
    • BookTandL.com
  • Travel Guides
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Trip Ideas
  3. Incredible Medieval Castles You Should Add to Your Bucket List

Incredible Medieval Castles You Should Add to Your Bucket List

By Steven Casale
July 23, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Dario Egidi/Getty Images
The castle many Americans are most familiar with is the one that comes before every Disney film. Castles herald a fairy tale with a happy ending, an architectural translation of a generic fantasy that has been embedded into our psyche since we were children.

No wonder we’re so obsessed with them.

As we get older, the truly fascinating nature of these structures reveals itself: in centuries past, they’ve doubled as fortresses and military barracks. They’ve concealed the secrets of some of the most influential people in history. They were built as symbols of wealth and victory, though their histories are often dark and violent.

And, architecturally speaking, castles are incredibly varied. Spain’s Alcázar de Segovia was built for a Moorish king, and its interiors are loaded with traditionally Middle Eastern shapes and patterns.  Portugal’s Palácio da Pena is romantic and flamboyant and in Denmark’s Funen Island, Egeskov Castle appears to rise out of the water.

And that’s just the beginning. Onward for the complete list.
Start Slideshow

1 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Egeskov Castle, Denmark

Credit: Walter Bibikow/Getty Images

On the Danish island of Funen is one of Europe’s best-preserved Renaissance water castles. Completed in 1554, Egeskov Castle was built on an entirely oak foundation, which, according to legend, took an entire forest to make. (The word egeskov means “oak forest” in Danish.) The castle grounds—which are surrounded by a moat—are known for their elaborate gardens, home to over 100 different plant species.

1 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Alcázar de Segovia, Spain

Credit: Adhemar Duro/Getty Images

At the confluence of two rivers near the Guadarrama mountains in Spain is Alcázar de Segovia, one of the country's most distinctive castles. It is known for its unique shape—like that of a ship’s bow. Originally built as an fort in the 12th century, it eventually became a preferred residence for the monarchs of the Kingdom of Castile for much of the Middle Ages, housing notable figures like Queen Isabella I. After the royal family moved to Madrid, the castle was used as both a prison and an artillery school, before being converted into the museum that it is today.

2 of 12

3 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chateau de Foix, France

Credit: Universal Images Group/Getty Images

In the southern French region of Ariège, the Chateau de Foix was once a refuge for the Cathars, a religious group persecuted by the Catholic Church. The castle overlooking the Pyranees is now home to a museum that documents the region’s past.

3 of 12

Advertisement

4 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Palácio da Pena, Portugal

Credit: John Harper/Getty Images

Portugal’s colorful Palácio da Pena is one of the country’s most beloved national sites. The structure’s red chapel, orange dome, and North African-inspired arches make the surrounding woodlands seem magical. The best part? It’s just a short train ride from Lisbon.

4 of 12

5 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Himeji Castle, Japan

Credit: Sergio Lora/Getty Images

Himeji Castle in the Hyōgo Prefecture is one of Japan’s most stunning examples of feudal period castle architecture. Though the castle dates to 1333, its bones havve undergone many renovations; today it’s made up of a network of 83 buildings. Known for its elaborate white façade, the castle is oft referred to as “White Egret Castle.”

5 of 12

6 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Malbork Castle, Poland

Credit: Christian Kober / robertharding

Where in the world is the largest castle? Malbork, Poland. The Teutonic Knights, a Catholic religious order involved in the Crusades, built this brick behemoth in the 13th century. Following the Middle Ages, the castle was home to Polish kings. Much of the castle was destroyed during the German occupation of Poland in World War II, though it has since been restored.

6 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Hohensalzburg Castle, Austria

Credit: Dave Long/Getty Images

The Archbishops of Salzburg built Festung Hohensalzburg, one of Europe’s largest medieval castles, in the period of the Holy Roman Empire. In the 19th century, the castle was made accessible via the Festungbahn cable car, which climbs the side of the hill right to the castle. Distinctive features include the decorated Golden Chamber and the Salzburg Bull, a large organ of over 200 pipes.

7 of 12

8 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Tintagel Castle, England

Credit: Wilfried Krecichwost

This castle off the coast of southern Britain is often cited as the place of King Arthur’s (mythical) conception. Today is it owned by Prince Charles and attracts visitors looking to delve into the area’s ancient past.

8 of 12

9 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Corvin Castle, Romania

Credit: Walter Bibikow/Getty Images

In the Romanian city of Hunedoara is a castle that, according to local legend, houses a few spirits with unfinished business. The Gothic-Renaissance castle—known for its tall tours, heavily adorned balconies, and broad windows—was built in 1446 at the request of John Hunyadi, a Hungarian military leader. Lore has it that 12 Turkish prisoners were ordered to dig the castle’s well and would only be granted freedom when they reached water. Fifteen years later, when the well was finished, their captors broke the promise, and many have claimed that there’s a scribbling on the well wall that reads: “You have water, but not soul.”

9 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Eltz Castle

Credit: ullstein bild via Getty Images

Few structures from the Middle Ages survive, but this gorgeous castle endured wars with little damage—in fact, it’s looked pretty much the same since the 15th century, when it accommodated three noble families. Today, it’s still under the ownership of one of the original households (the Eltz’s), who have had it for 33 generations. And we’re not the castle’s only admirers: back when Germany’s national currency was the Deutsche Mark, its spires featured prominently on every 500-mark bill printed between 1961 and 1995.​

10 of 12

11 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Eilean Donan, Scotland

Credit: John Lawson/Getty Images

In the misty shoals of Scotland’s Highlands is a small island called Eilean Donan, which is home to a castle of the same name. The structure dates to the 13th century, when the castle kept watch over the meeting point of three lochs. Today it’s one of Scotland’s most visited spots.

11 of 12

12 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Castello di Moncalieri, Italy

Credit: Dario Egidi/Getty Images

Before the Italian Republic, there were the royals like the House of Savoy, whose reign stretched from Piedmont to Sicily. One of their many abodes was in Castello di Moncalieri, overlooking the Po River just outside of Turin. Originally a fortress built by Thomas I in 1100, the structure was turned into a palace during the 15th century.

12 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Steven Casale

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 12 Egeskov Castle, Denmark
2 of 12 Alcázar de Segovia, Spain
3 of 12 Chateau de Foix, France
4 of 12 Palácio da Pena, Portugal
5 of 12 Himeji Castle, Japan
6 of 12 Malbork Castle, Poland
7 of 12 Hohensalzburg Castle, Austria
8 of 12 Tintagel Castle, England
9 of 12 Corvin Castle, Romania
10 of 12 Eltz Castle
11 of 12 Eilean Donan, Scotland
12 of 12 Castello di Moncalieri, Italy

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Travel + Leisure Sites
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

View image

Incredible Medieval Castles You Should Add to Your Bucket List
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.