FAIRY TALE CASTLES AND CHATEAUS

CHATEAU DE CHILLON, SWITZERLAND

This island castle located on the shore of Lake Geneva is one of the

best preserved medieval castles in the world. It consists of 100

individual buildings that were gradually linked together.

BODIAM CASTLE, ENGLAND

Built in 1385, the Bodiam Castle was built as protection against

French soldiers in the Hundred Years´ War.

CHATEAU DE CHAMBORD, FRANCE

The largest chateau in the Loire Valley, Chambord is one of the

greatest examples of French Renaissance and originally served as

a hunting lodge for the famous French king Francois I.

PREDJAMA CASTLE, SLOVENIA

This renaissance castle was built into a rock near the town of Postojna,

Slovenia. It was built in the stone wall to make access to it more difficult.

There is also a secret shaft leading out of the castle.

BRAN CASTLE, ROMANIA

Situated almost in the middle of Romania, this stronghold is among

the most famous castles in the world. Ironically, there’s nothing

special about the construction, rather it’s the story associated with the

castle that makes it a hot spot for tourists. Legend has it that this Castle

is the home of the titular character in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. However,

there’s no real evidence that Bram even knew of this castle when

he was writing the story.

CHATEAU DE WALZIN, BELGIUM

Built on a rocky cliff high above the river Lesse near Dinant, Belgium,

this secluded chateau is one of the most picturesque medieval

European monuments.

KARLSTEJN CASTLE, CZECH REPUBLIC

This Gothic castle was built by Charles IV – the Holy Roman Emperor

and Czech king. One of the most famous castles in Central Europe,

Karlstejn has also been featured in several fairy tales and movies.

SEGOVIA CASTLE, SPAIN

This monumental stone fortress located near the town of Segovia,

Spain, is one of the most famous castles in the Iberian Peninsula.

Thanks to its distinctive shape, it became one of the inspirations for

Disney´s Cinderella Castle.

DUNNATOR CASTLE, SCOTLAND

The ruined medieval castle occupies an area of about 3.5 acres on a

rocky cliff in the north-eastern part of Scotland. You may recognize this

castle from the 1990 movie “Hamlet” with Mel Gibson.