25 of Europe’s most beautiful castles

Hohenzollern Castle, Germany. Image credit: Instagram.com/_alexanderwieck

Europeans are spoiled for castles. No question. On road trips through their homelands it’s normal for French and German citizens to pass turreted palaces and fortresses hundreds of years old. No big deal. For them. An Australian on the same trip would be wide-eyed, demanding to stop and explore each exotic UNESCO World Heritage site.

Corvin Castle, Romania. Image credit: Instagram.com/detkodave

If the walls of Europe’s castles could talk, what stories they would tell. The buildings house grand ballrooms and dining spaces, as well as secret tunnels and dark dungeons. Beneath Predjama Castle in Slovenia there is a concealed passageway through a cliff, historically used for smuggling and escapes. Vlad the Impaler (also known as Vlad Dracula) was held prisoner in Corvin Castle in Romania in the 15th century for his violent crimes. During the Republic Revolution of 1910, the last Queen of Portugal slept at Pena Palace one final time before leaving her country in exile the next day.

Pena Palace, Portugal. Image credit: Instagram.com/natali_dreamer

Decisions that changed the course of history were made in these rooms. Love affairs that led to heirs began in these gardens. Powerful people, both good and bad, made their mark on the world from privileged places within these buildings.

Scroll down for more must-see castles of Europe, all of them rich in beauty and history.

Predjama Castle, Slovenia
Image credit: Instagram.com/tripadvisor

Alcázar de Segovia, Spain
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Ashford Castle, Ireland
Image credit: Instagram.com/sergiu.cc

 

Astypálaia Castle, Greece
Image credit: Instagram.com/george_kormpos

Bojnice Castle, Slovakia
Image credit: Instagram.com/barborra_m

Castel del Monte, Italy
Image credit: Instagram.com/paky_cassano

Castello Di Miramare, Italy
Image credit: Instagram.com/fede_puppin

Château de Chambord, France
Image credit: Instagram.com/leroilouisxiv

Château de Chenonceau, France
Image credit: Instagram.com/if_estonie

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
Image credit: Instagram.com/dnevnadozalepog

Książ Castle, Poland
Image credit: Instagram.com/ania_indreamland

Kylemore Abbey, Ireland
Image credit: Instagram.com/veroguia

Lichtenstein Castle, Germany
Image credit: Instagram.com/danielwantstotravel

Mir Castle, Belarus
Image credit: Instagram.com/the_adventures_of_ricardo_rory

Mont Saint-Michel, France
Image credit: Instagram.com/jack_anstey

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Image credit: Instagram.com/hoptale.inc

Peleș Castle, Romania
Image credit: Instagram.com/adrianabelmega

Schwerin Castle, Germany
Image credit: Instagram.com/journeygrub

Trakai Island Castle, Lithuania
Image credit: Instagram.com/degutiss

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Image credit: Instagram.com/sirinakgun

Örebro Slott, Sweden
Image credit: Instagram.com/enfjalljennie

Prague Castle, Czechia
Image credit: Instagram.com/romantic.prague