The Top 5 Castles/Forts in Europe

[KleinTeef]

These are, in my opinion, the most stunning castles ever constructed in Europe. I've been fascinated by them and their history.

Enjoy!

#5 - Neuschwanstein Castle : Schloss Neuschwanstein

This place is found on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. I bet it gets eerie at night!

#4 - Le Mont Saint-Michel

I've actually been to this place last Summer, and it's just as magical as it looks on this picture. Word of warning though, do not get caugh up in the tide! It's located by Brittany (Bretagne), due north of Rennes in South-West France.

#3 - The Tower of London

Possibly a bit of a biased decision, but the Tower of London makes it into my top 3. The red you see in the ditch/trench around the castle are actually hundreds and thousands of ceramic poppies, each symbolising a fallen WW1 soldier. As a born and bred Londoner, I'm very proud of my British heritage.

#2 - Castel dos Mouros

Unfortunately I couldn't get a good aerial picture of this beast of a castle, but this should do. This place just exemplifies what castles should be: IMPENETRABLE. This place has a fantastic view of the sea as well as a stunning view of the Portuguese Algarve. Located only a few miles from Lisboa, you should take your chances!

#1 - Alnwick Castle

You may have already guess where this was going, but yes, my #1 castle is Alwick Castle (a.k.a that muverfookin' Hogwarts place). This is where J.K.Rowling imagined the famous school of witchcraft and wizardry so many of us would love! It's found in the North of England between Edingurgh and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Well there you go folks, I hope you enjoyed and cultured yourself with what truly marks us Europeans. If you've got any castles of your own you want to share, please feel free to post some pictures!!

[Hannah591]

Wales is the best place for castles, it has more castles per 100sm than any other country. I've been fortunate to work in and visit loads of them!

I've been to Ruperra castle which is for sale but is a ruin. It was used as a hospital for soldiers in WW1. It's only 18 minutes away from me.
www.ruperratrust.co.uk/images/Ruperra%20Castle.jpg

I worked in Caerphilly Castle - 21 minutes away
upload.wikimedia.org/.../...astle_January_2011.jpg

I worked in St Donats Castle - the biggest and most beautiful for me and the most haunted place I've been to.
static.bbci.co.uk/.../....292000.168000.2.1986.jpg

Cardiff Castle is 18 minutes away.
www.castlexplorer.co.uk/wales/cardiff/cardiff2.jpg

I drive past this every day - Castell Coch (Red Castle). I need to visit it and it's only 19 minutes away.
www.urban75.org/photos/wales/images/coch01.jpg

It's lovely seeing such amazing, beautiful castles almost everyday and being surrounded by them. I went up a mountain the other day and you can see at least two castles every time. Wales is definitely the castle capital - I love it. :)

[KleinTeef]

Ireland has good castles too.

My family used to own Wilton Castle www.buildingsofireland.ie/.../...lton%20Castle.JPG

It got burnt down by the IRA though.

Welsh castles are great though!

[Hannah591]

They must be rich! That's a shame, damn IRA!

[meatballs21]

I used to live one street away from Caerphilly Castle. Pissed in the moat one night too while drunk.

[AleDeEurope]

I think you forgot about the Alcazar de Segovia, it inspired the castle in the Cinderella movie.

d11167mnqqnee4.cloudfront.net/.../...47qm5mh2.jpeg

[dipta]

I love castles so I came here to see your recommendations. Didn't expect to see a Portuguese castle making the list, but I wanna go to Sintra one day as well.
Are you sure it's the Algarve you can see from there? Because it's quite far away.
www.tintazul.com.pt/.../sintra-mouros-tom.jpg

[KleinTeef]

That's what's so magical about Castel Dos Mouros :) The view is astonishing!.

[DragonWolf]

Nice ones :D

Here are some castles in The Netherlands...
De Haar
defotograaf.eu/.../JVH_7555.jpg

Muiderslot:
www.stedentripper.com/.../muiderslot.jpg

[Anonymous]

The only castle I've ever been to is here in the states. In fact, it's here in my state, Ohio, in a city called Wiloughby Hills, called Squire's Castle. It's so broken down now that it's 2nd floor is now completely gone. The coolest thing about the castle is that the guy who lived there, his wife, is rumored to haunt the place. The tale is that she died of a broken neck in the place but the reality is that she died much later, after the castle had been purchased. Still kind of creepy to think about, especially since I've been inside the place. The library in that city often holds history seminars about the castle, held inside

[Eridan]

Karlstein - Central Bohemia (Czech Republic)
www.czechtourism.com/.../...tejn-castle-1.jpg.aspx
That's just one among many here.

[fuentesdeamor]

Beautiful!! I was thinking about writing a myTake about castles myself!! :D Very good, Thank you. I've been to your country and I have to say that I think of it almost everyday!! Great People and absolutely beautiful :))

[Zorax]

Sisak castle in Croatia: www.cityportal.hr/.../sisak-utvrda-620x400.jpg

[koullaras]

I wanted to post a picture of the walls of the city I live in but there is no picture that completely contains them.

[Red_Dragon]

I love #5. As a vampire I must find me a castle like that to live in :P

[YourFutureEx]

Time to book tickets for Germany & France :)

[TheoryOfAvarice]

Mont Saint-Michel is a monastery... not a castle.

But anyways, Schloss Neuschwanstein looks incredibly beautiful!

[KleinTeef]

It's a fort too.

[songofthesparrow]

damn they r so pretty! i love the photos!

[pooper89]

You should have included the Fortress in Salzburg

[KleinTeef]

"These are, in my opinion, the most stunning castles ever constructed in Europe"

[pooper89]

You should've included the Hohensalzburg Fortress

[GoldCobra]

wow this was cool. #4 looks sick

[Accipiter]

They don't build them like they used to

[kangy]

I love #4 and #5
so beautiful

[sagari]

They're beautiful no doubt about it!