00:00Built by kings and queens to protect and rule their realms, castles had not only to be able
00:23to withstand attack, but to project their wealth and power.
00:27As such, sturdy keeps and imposing walls were erected alongside marvelous palaces full
00:33of ornate and elaborate chambers and throne rooms.
00:36These castles were often built at strategic and spectacular settings at the mouths of
00:40valleys, at the entrance to mountain passes, or on glittering lake shores.
00:45Add in the weight of history, and these amazing structures set amongst breathtaking scenery
00:50make for some of the most beautiful castles in Europe.
00:57Number 12.
01:11Trakai Island Castle.
01:16As the name indicates, this magnificent castle is set upon a small island with the sparkling
01:21waters of Lake Galvi surrounding it.
01:24Built just outside of Vilnius, the imposing red-brick fortification was once of the utmost
01:30strategic importance to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
01:33First erected in the 14th century, the castle and its magnificent ducal palace were restored
01:39to their original look and style in the 1960s.
01:42The Gothic and Romanesque features of the island castle look particularly arresting
01:47when viewed from across the shimmering waters of the lake.
02:11Number 11.
02:12Corvin Castle.
02:17Built in a marvelous Gothic Renaissance style, Corvin Castle in Transylvania is one of the
02:22largest castles in the whole of Europe.
02:25Set on a hilltop overlooking a river, the 15th-century fortress proudly boasts a number
02:30of lofty towers as well as impregnable walls and a sturdy drawbridge.
02:35Numerous myths and legends swirl around the Romanian castle.
02:38Its attractive and fairytalesque look has seen it featured in numerous television shows
02:43and films.
03:08Number 10.
03:38Conwy Castle.
03:43Located in the north of Wales, Conwy Castle was built all the way back in 1283 by Edward
03:48I of England, who was attempting to conquer his unruly neighbors.
03:53Set at a strategic spot on the banks of the River Conwy, the imposing castle played a
03:57crucial role in many battles and wars for centuries to come.
04:01Featuring not only two hulking barbicans but eight large and impenetrable towers, the castle
04:07is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of military architecture in Europe.
04:33Number 9.
04:34Swallow's Nest.
04:39The delightfully named Swallow's Nest can be found perched dramatically on the edge
04:43of a clifftop in the Crimean Peninsula.
04:46Overlooking the shimmering waters of the Black Sea, the daintily decorated castle was built
04:51in 1911 following very romantic neo-Gothic designs.
04:55Having featured in numerous films in Soviet times, the Swallow's Nest is now a popular
05:00place to visit amongst tourists, who come to ogle at its precarious setting, refined
05:05architecture and the stunning views.
05:30Number 8.
05:41Cochum Castle.
05:46Set in a scenic spot overlooking the town of Cochum, the castle of the same name is
05:51surrounded by rolling green hills, with lush forests and vineyards all around it.
05:56While a castle has stood on the same hilltop since at least the year 1130, the original
06:01was destroyed by the marauding troops of Louis IV in 1688.
06:05Restored and rebuilt in a gorgeous Gothic revival style, the current castle is now a
06:10popular tourist attraction in the German Rhineland.
06:13While Cochum Castle is fascinating to explore, the views from its turrets and towers of the
06:18valley and river below are just as spellbinding.
06:42Number 7.
06:43Spiess Castle.
06:48Located in the northeast of Slovakia, Spiess Castle has dominated its surroundings ever
06:53since it was built in 1241.
06:55Due to its cultural and political importance to the Kingdom of Hungary, the castle kept
07:00growing in size until it became the enormous fortress it is today.
07:04Boasting impressive and imposing stone walls and towers, as well as a wonderful Romanesque
07:09palace, Spiess Castle now serves as an educational museum.
07:13With commanding views out over the hills and valleys to be enjoyed from its battlements,
07:18this magnificent fort is not to be missed out on when in Slovakia.
07:39Number 6.
07:43Hohenzollern Castle.
07:48Whether viewed emerging from the treetops which surround it or from amidst the clouds
07:52which swirl around its walls, Hohenzollern Castle always makes for an epic sight.
07:57Perched atop a prominent mount, the castle and Gothic revival palace exhibit some beautiful
08:02architecture, and the halls and chambers within are just as delightfully decorated.
08:08While the current castle was only completed in 1867, a fortress has stood upon the same
08:13mount since at least the 11th century.
08:16One of the most visited castles in the whole of Germany, Hohenzollern is still owned by
08:20the royal house of the same name.
08:38Number 5.
08:53Alcazar of Segovia.
08:59Shaped very much like the bow of a ship, the Alcazar of Segovia has long attracted sightseers
09:04due to its distinctive design and breathtaking setting.
09:08Indeed, the castle's magnificent keep and slim towers look particularly dashing considering
09:13they are perched atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the confluence of two rivers.
09:19Located in the center of Spain, its well-preserved palace is full of elegant rooms and halls
09:24that are covered in art and fine furnishings.
09:27Now a popular museum, the Alcazar of Segovia also has a well-equipped armory and collection
09:32of weapons for visitors to peruse.
09:58Number 4.
09:59Bran Castle.
10:04Commonly known outside of Romania as Dracula's Castle, Bran Castle certainly looks the part.
10:10The forbidding fortress lies hidden in a forest in Transylvania.
10:14Despite its eerie appearance, however, the castle only has tenuous links at best with
10:19the cruel and barbaric 15th-century ruler Vlad the Impaler, who inspired Bram Stoker's
10:24novel Dracula.
10:26Clever marketing ploy aside, Bran Castle is definitely worth visiting for its amazing
10:31architecture and beautiful setting in a lush valley.
10:34In addition to this, visitors can now enjoy exploring the castle's many rooms, which
10:39house the extensive art and furniture collection of Queen Mary.
11:26Number 3.
11:40Pena Castle.
11:45Certainly the brightest and most daringly designed castle on this list, Pena Castle
11:49really is as unique as they come.
11:52Awash with color, the vivid yellows and reds of its walls shine forth from its prominent
11:57hilltop setting in the Sintra Mountains just outside of Lisbon.
12:01Completed in 1854 in a Romanticist style, its imaginative design is a joy to gaze upon,
12:07and the views from its ramparts and gardens aren't half bad either.
12:11Taking in all its fantastic features and exotic and extravagant architectural styles is sure
12:16to be one of the highlights of any trip to Portugal.
12:46Number 2.
13:04Eilean Donan.
13:09Located at the point where three locks meet, Eilean Donan in Scotland is truly blessed
13:13when it comes to its spectacular setting.
13:16While the original castle is thought to have been built on the small island sometime in
13:20the 13th century, the current romanticized and reimagined reincarnation only dates to
13:26the 20th century.
13:27Although its crumbling gray walls and undistinguished features may not look quite as impressive
13:32as many other castles, it is its gorgeous surroundings that really set it apart.
13:37Having featured in countless films and television shows over the decades, Eilean Donan is certainly
13:42one of the most famous and recognizable castles in the whole of Europe.
14:42Number 1.
14:48Neuschwanstein Castle.
14:53Perched atop a forested mount with the majestic Bavarian Alps behind it, Neuschwanstein Castle
14:58looks as if it has just emerged from a book of children's fairy tales.
15:03Only completed in 1886, the castle's delightful design draws from both Romanticism architecture
15:09and Ludwig II's love and appreciation for the operas of Richard Wagner.
15:14Fittingly, the photogenic palace, with its beautiful towers and glorious entrance, actually
15:19served as the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland.
15:23Full of incredible artworks and precious paintings, the interior of the castle is no less exceptional.
15:40Number 2.
15:45Neuschwanstein Castle.
15:50Located on the outskirts of Neuschwanstein Castle, Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the
16:09most beautiful castles in the world.
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