25 Most Beautiful Castles in Europe

Many of the most stunning castles in the world are in Europe. European castles have been famous for their magnificence and often beauty for centuries.

The primary purpose of a castle in Europe was to protect its owners – normally members of the local royal family. The difference between a European castle and a European palace is about its intent.

Was the building designed to protect its inhabitants or was it to demonstrate the power and wealth of its inhabitants? If the latter, the structure is deemed to be a palace.

A key differentiator of a castle and a palace is that castles are fortified. Castles are also far more likely to have moats and super thick walls. Both castles and palaces can feature turrets, high towers and slits in the walls.

Generally, but not always, palaces tend to be more ornate than castles. As they are displays of wealth the materials with which they are built tend to be more about decadence and beauty versus the more functional purpose of a castle.

Confusingly, in France, many palaces and castles are called Chateaux. These tend to be large country houses that in other countries could be called palaces or castles. They are often some of the most famous landmarks in Europe.

So, for the purposes of this post if the primary purpose of a French Chateau appears to have been to protect its inhabitants I have considered it to be a castle.

Now that we are clear here are 25 gorgeous castles in Europe.

1. Windsor Castle England

Lovely Windsor Castle is The Queen’s home away from home in the United Kingdom and was also where Harry and Meghan were married.

Windsor is just over 25 miles west of London and easily reached by train on a 35-minute journey.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The chapel is open to visitors Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

⇒ As Windsor Castle is a working palace it is subject to last-minute closures. It is generally open most days between 10 am and 4 pm and closes at 3 pm in the Winter. Buy your Windsor Castle tickets ahead online to skip the queues.

2. Neuschwanstein Castle Germany

This 19th-century castle sits above the village of Hohenschwangau in the southwest Bavarian area of Germany. This German castle is perhaps best known as being the inspiration for the castle in Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.

King Ludwig II commissioned Neuschwanstein castle as a retreat and in honour of the German musician Richard Wagner. The King personally funded the castle and intended for it to be his home. The town of Hohenschwangau was his childhood home.

I am not sure exactly what it was that Wagner got out of the deal!

Ludwig commissioned a stage designer rather than an architect to bring to life his vision. Alas, Ludwig only spent 11 nights in the castle before he died and the castle was opened to the public just seven weeks after his death.

Today Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany receives over 1.3 million visitors per annum. It is open virtually every day of the year (exceptions are Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day) with changes in opening hours depending on the season.

3. Edinburgh Castle Scotland

There can be few castles in the world as magnificent as Edinburgh castle! It perches literally on the top of Edinburgh on Castle Rock. Don’t leave Edinburgh without visiting Edinburgh castle. 

Human occupation of Castle Rock in Edinburgh Scotland can be traced back to the Iron Age. A royal castle first appeared in the 12th century and by the 17th century, this Scottish castle had become a military barracks.

Today Edinburgh Castle is the most popular paid tourist attraction in Scotland and the second most popular paid attraction in the United Kingdom with over 2.2 million visitors.

Highlights of a trip to Edinburgh Castle are seeing the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Royal Apartments and the gorgeous little St Margaret’s Chapel. Edinburgh Castle also provides stunning views over Edinburgh.

And at 1pm every day Mons Meg, the cannon at Edinburgh Castle, takes fire.

4. Warwick Castle England

This medieval English castle was developed from a wooden fort built by William the Conqueror in 1068. Today Warwick Castle England and its grounds cover 64 acres.

In 2007 Warwick Castle was purchased by the Tussauds Group and is now operated as an entertainment venue. There are a big range of activities and events on offer.

There are live shows, it is possible to stay overnight at this castle in England, afternoon tea is on offer and for those who prefer more gruesome activities, there is a Castle dungeon.

Warwick Castle is in the town of Warwick which is about a 2-hour drive from London. The castle is open every day of the year apart from Christmas.

Closing times vary depending on the time of year. There are different types of tickets with entrance to the Dungeon requiring a different ticket type.

5. Cardiff Castle Wales

Did you know that Wales has more castles than any other country in Europe? I was very surprised to read that.

Cardiff Castle is very impressive and one of Cardiff’s top attractions. I probably shouldn’t write this but I didn’t find the inside of the castle itself that interesting.

But the Welsh capital’s castle is beautiful as are the grounds and very photogenic – especially with that moat around the castle.

The part I most enjoyed was walking the tunnels that were used during WW2 for raids – one of the fun things to do in Cardiff. The city asked the owner of the castle to open it up to the city’s residents for protection.

Today the spirit and feel are kept going with the use of WW2 era music and posters.

The cost of a ticket to Cardiff Castle includes a free audio guide and map. The castle offers a range of specialist tours which I didn’t have time to do.

The most popular is the House Tour which takes you inside Cardiff Castle’s decadent rooms. These tours run every day on the hour and last just under one hour.

There is also a tour that covers parts of the Castle that have been used in tv shows.

6. The Palace of Pena Sintra Portugal

Beautiful Sintra is a hilltop town only 45 minutes from Lisbon. The Pena Palace of Sintra is a stunning romanticist castle. The castle sits at the top of the town and looks down over Sintra.

A UNESCO World heritage site, Pena Palace’s history starts in the Middle Ages. For many centuries the site was a quiet monastery and after a fire in the 18th century it was left a wreck.

In 1838 the site was acquired by King consort Ferdinand II. He decided to transform the former monastery into a summer palace for the Royal Family of Portugal. This was then the transformation to a Romantic style castle took place.

In 1889 the castle was purchased by the Portuguese state and it was transformed into a museum after 1910.

Pena Palace is at the top of a hill so luckily a bus runs from the train station for those not keen to walk. There are two types of tickets: one for the park and one for both the park and the inside of Pena Palace.

If you are just keen to see the colourful buildings and terraces these can be seen with the cheaper Park ticket. However, the interiors are quite fantastic and worth a look.

7. Alcazar of Segovia Castle Spain

Alcázar de Segovia is one of the most fascinating Spain famous landmarks. Located in the city of Segovia, this stunning medieval castle is perched high on a rocky crag. The location provides breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

The layout is unique, as it adapts to the hill on which it’s set. The design is so magical it’s said to have inspired Walt Disney in his castle construction.

Tours of the Alcázar are open to the public. Visit the beautifully restored interior and admire the ornate ceilings, beautiful tapestries and impressive armoury.

8. Hohenzollern Castle Germany

Located in south-west Germany, just south of Stuttgart, Hohenzollern is a hill top castle. The first castle on this mountain was built in the 11th century. The current version of the castle was built between 1846 and 1867.

Today over 350,000 visitors head to Hohenzollern Castle annually and it is one of the most visited castles in Germany.

Hohenzollern Castle is open all year round and closes only on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (there is also a Christmas market at the castle during December).

The castle is outside of Stuttgart so you will need some form of transport to get there. It is possible to buy a ticket for just the grounds and the catacombs or to pay extra for a guided tour of the interior.

9. Conwy Castle Wales

Conwy Castle was built by Edward I between 1283 and 1289. It was part of a project to convert Conwy into a walled town. Conwy Castle was involved in quite a few battles over the next few centuries.

Once Parliamentary armies conquered the area, the castle was stripped for iron and other elements to prevent it being used again in any further revolutionary activities.

Now a UNESCO world heritage site, restoration work was carried out the in second half of the 19th century to turn the castle into a tourist attraction.

Conwy Castle has a spectacular setting at the entrance to the town of Conwy via the Conwy suspension bridge. Its spiral staircases have been restored so you can walk around the castle and enjoy the views.

10. Culzean Castle Scotland

Culzean Castle is big. The size of the grounds of this castle is quite staggering. The castle was built between 1777 and 1792. It overlooks the Firth of Clyde on the Ayrshire Coast of Scotland – a stunning location.

The castle went through a major refurbishment and re-opened in 2011. The refurbishment was funded by William Lindsay, an American millionaire. He was fascinated by the fact that Dwight Eisenhower had spent holidays at Culzean Castle.

It will take several minutes to drive through from the castle entrance to the parking area. Once out of the parking area there is a large complex with the Home Farm Restaurant. There are 40 buildings across the Culzean Castle estate.

There are then a couple of paths you can follow to Culzean castle itself. There are castle tours – don’t miss the knife collection.

A great Instagram opportunity is the little boat launch. There are also several other walks etc throughout the grounds of Culzean Castle.

11. Eilean Donan Castle Scotland

The stunning Eilean Donan Castle is literally on the A87 road not far before it heads over to the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The castle is on a small tidal island that is located where three different lochs meet and it is extremely photogenic.

The area where the castle lies was first inhabited in the 6th century. It became a fortified castle for the first time in the 13th century. Four different versions of the castle have been built since then.

After lying in ruin for a couple of hundred years, the Eilean Donan Castle was restored and re-opened in 1932. The castle is open all year round, apart from Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the month of January.

It is possible to visit the castle inside with a paid ticket. However, the castle itself is just stunning from all angles and can be enjoyed – and photographed – without entry.

If you’re visiting the Isle of Skye you will pass Eilean Donan Castle on your way to Skye and on your way back. As the weather in Scotland can vary so much it is quite good to have two opportunities to see this beautiful castle in Europe.

12. Corvin Castle Romania

Dracula was said to have been imprisoned in this beautiful castle in Romania. One of the largest European castles, Corvin Castle was built on a hill in the 15th century.

The current castle has been somewhat “updated” to what modern architects think of when it comes to 15th-century gothic castles. This Romanian castle has been featured in several movies and tv shows and is associated with several legends, mostly concerning Dracula or Vlad the Impaler.

Corvin Castle is located in Transylvania, which is a 6-hour drive from the Romanian capital of Bucharest. The castle is open most days of the year, although on Mondays only in the afternoon. Tickets can be purchased on arrival.

13. Chenonceau Castle France

Chateau de Chenonceau is located in the Loire Valley in France on the River Cher. Whilst the first mention of the estate was in the 11th century, the current version was built between 1514 and 1522.

The stunning bridge over the River Cher was built between 1556 and 1559. Catherine de Medici took control of this French castle in 1559 and it became her favourite residence. The first-ever display of fireworks in France took place here in 1560.

Chenonceau Castle was taken over by the Germans during World War 2 and bombed by both sides of the war. Its restoration began in 1951.

Today this European castle is open every day of the year – opening and closing times vary with the seasons.

14. Castle of Gravensteen Belgium

This European medieval castle in Ghent Belgium dates back to 1180. Over the centuries, this location has held a prison, court, mint and cotton factory. It was restored between 1893 and 1903.

The name translates to Castle of the Counts. Castle Gravensteen features quite the collection of torture equipment if that is your thing. The castle has had a turbulent past which makes for an entertaining audio tour. Gravensteen Castle is open most days of the year.

15. Lake Bled Castle Slovenia

Few castles in Europe can beat Bled Castle in Slovenia when it comes to both location and view. This medieval castle in Slovenia sits on a hill top above the town of Bled and the beautiful Lake Bled.

First mention of the castle was 1011. The towers came in the Middle Ages and the chapel in the 16th century. It is the oldest castle in Slovenia.

Grab a skip the line ticket for Bled Castle to beat the queues. Your ticket will grant you access to the castle and the top tower and its stunning views.

16. Carcassone Castle France

I have left my personal favourite castle in Europe for last. When I was in my early 20s backpacking (ugh) around Europe I visited Carcassone Castle and was absolutely blown away by its size and scale.

Carcassone is a fully fortified city in France – it is a walled city – in the South of France 80 kilometres east of Toulouse. It is one of the oldest surviving medieval walled cities in Europe. Only just as it was nearly destroyed in 1849 when fortifications went out of fashion.

This caste in France joined the UNESCO list in 1997. It is possible to visit the walled city at no charge but there is an entry fee for Carcassone Castle.

17. Heidelberg Castle Germany

It is believed that the first foundations for what is now Heidelberg Castle were laid in the 11th century. Alas, Heidelberg Castle was to suffer from dreadful bad luck for centuries, from war and defeat to being struck by lightning. It appeared that it was Heidelberg Castle’s fate to always end up in ruin.

The beautiful city of Heidelberg has long attracted artists, writers and poets. During the 1800s, the ruins of Heidelberg Castle were idealized by the Romantic movement. Victor Hugo often wrote of its beauty.

Today Heidelberg Castle can be reached via a funicular or a relatively steep footpath of 315 steps.

18. Eltz Castle Germany

The first mentions of Eltz Castle date back to 1157. The castle was built strategically along the lower Eltz River, a tributary of the Mosel River. This fairy tale German castle was built on a 70 metre high rock providing views of both the Elzbach Valley and the River Eltz.

In 1268, the Eltz family split into three branches and each had its own home in the castle. Today, the last brand of the Eltz family is the sole owner of the castle. The castle now consists of eight towers with living quarters around an inner courtyard.

Visitors can take a tour of Eltz Castle, which includes Knights Hall. After the tour, visit the Eltz family’s riches at the Treasure Chamber. Burg Eltz also has two restaurants and a gift shop.

19. Cochem Castle Germany

This beautiful castle on the Moselle River was originally constructed in the 12th century. However, it was destroyed by French King Louise XIV in 1689. Cochem Castle as seen today was rebuilt in 1868. The new owner Louis Ravene decided to create a neo-Gothic castle that would be a holiday home for his family.

In World War Two, the family was forced to sell the family castle to the Prussian Ministry of Justice and the Nazi government turned it into a law school. At the end of the war, the castle became the property of the state. In 1978 the city of Cochem sold the castle to a private company.

Today visitors can see Cochem Castle on a 40 minute tour after a steep 20 minute walk up the narrow paved road to its entrance. A shuttle bus is also available. Cochem Castle also has a restaurant called Sonnenterrasse or sun terrace.

20. Castel Sant’Angelo Italy

Built in 123 AD by Emperor Hadrian as a tomb for himself and his family, Castel Sant’Angelo has towered over Rome for nearly 2,000 years. The land on which Castel Sant’Angelo was built had been used for burial purposes since ancient times and this was seen as an excellent position because it was next to the Tiber River.

The building takes its name from the large statue of the archangel Michael on its terrace.

The castle was connected to the land by a bridge called “Helius”. Alas, Hadrian died before the tomb was finished so it was Emperor Antoninus Pius who completed the construction and used it as a sepulcher for the members of his family.

In the Middle Ages, the mausoleum was transformed into a fortress. Over the next ten centuries, it was modified many times as part of the city walls and today it is one of the must-see tourist attractions of Rome.

21. Dunluce Castle, Ireland

One of the most picturesque and romantic of the Irish Castles, Dunluce has a spectacular location on the dramatic cliffs of north County Antrim. The castle was built by the MacQuillan family around 1500. It was seized by the MacDonnell clan in the 1550s and became the seat of the earls of Antrim in the 17th century.

Today it is a key tourist attraction in the area. Don’t miss Magheracross Viewing Point for some great views of Dunluce Castle in its amazing location.

22. Carrickfergus Castle, Ireland

Another spectacular castle in County Antrim with a great location, Carrickfergus Castle sits on the northern shore of Belfast Lough. The castle played an important military role until 1928. It was besieged by Scots, Irish, English and even the French.

The castle is 800 years old and one of the best-preserved medieval structures in Ireland. Don’t miss the Great Hall at the top of the Great Tower.

23. Stirling Castle, Scotland

Stirling Castle was once the favourite residence of the Steward kings and queens who enjoyed elaborate celebrations at the castle. Today Stirling Castle is open to visitors and features costumed characters in the various roles that would have been in place in the castle in the 16th century.

The castle also has many fantastic sculptures and beautiful gardens. The restaurant at Stirling Castle, the Unicorn Cafe, has some fantastic views and there are three gift stores for some serious souvenir shopping.

24. Urquhart Castle, Scotland

Beautiful Loch Ness is of course home to the Loch Ness monster as well as the beautiful 1000-year-old Urguhart Castle, said to be the greatest castle in the Scottish highlands.

Today it is possible to visit the castle and to climb Grant Tower in the ruins. In addition to seeing a gloomy old prison cell there are some fantastic views over Loch Ness. For a great view of the castle head to the comfortable cafe.

25. Caerphilly Castle, Wales

Caerphilly is the largest castle in Wales and the second largest castle in Britain after Windsor Castle. It is built on a 30-acre site with towers, a maze, a dragon’s den, a Great Hall and much more. The design of the castle is based on a concentric ring of walls and it also has an extensive moat.

It was built between 1268 and 1271 by Gilbert de Clare. Caerphilly has received many attacks over the years but none broke its boundaries. An attack from Oliver Cromwell’s roundheads did manage to to hit one of the towers which still leans as a result.

The castle is open to the public – do book your tickets online ahead of your visit.