Europe is peppered with incredible castles, spanning a variety of eras and architectural styles. From Sleeping Beauty’s castle come to life in Germany to a spooky Dracula castle in Romania, these structures are filled with mystery and myth, and have captured people’s attention for centuries. Hidden in mountains, perched on hillsides and nestled on lakes, these are the best castles in Europe.
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Bran Castle, Romania
As castles go, Bran is probably one of the spookiest. The medieval fortress in Transylvania became known as Dracula castle, despite Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, never having visited Romania. Today the castle, with its eerie turrets and stunning hilltop location, remains synonymous with the legendary vampire.
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Bran Castle, Romania
Bran Castle is now used to exhibit furniture and artifacts collected by Romania’s late Queen Maria. However, in 2016 two vampire fans became the first people to spend the night in Bran Castle after winning an Airbnb competition. The Canadian siblings slept in velvet-lined coffins and despite some people’s fears, they survived the night.
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Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
King Ludwig II of Bavaria built Neuschwanstein Castle in the 19th century to use as a private retreat from public life. The castle’s stunning architecture, complemented by its hilltop location, isn’t rivaled by many others and is arguably one of the continent’s most famous. Not many know that its dreamy towers and turrets, which could have been plucked straight from a fairy tale, served as inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.
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Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Despite its old-world design, Neuschwanstein Castle was extremely modern upon its completion, with central heating and even a telephone line. Nevertheless, its interiors show Ludwig’s desire to escape into a world inspired by the operas of German composer Richard Wagner, of whom the king was a devoted fan and patron. Much of the art inside depicts the kings, poets and knights that appear in the composer’s work.
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Peleș Castle, Romania
The picturesque Peleș Castle was constructed in the 19th century for Romanian King Carol I, who fell in love with the Carpathian Mountains and decided to build a summer retreat here. It’s not a modest affair, either. The building in Sinaia, central Romania, is a striking mix of Neo-Renaissance and Gothic Revival architecture.
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Peleș Castle, Romania
There are more than 170 rooms in Peleș Castle, brimming with furniture and intricate details. Some have even been decorated to reflect different cultures, from the Florentine Room to the colorful Turkish Parlour. Pictured here is the magnificent, wood-paneled dining room.
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Bojnice Castle, Slovakia
Standing on the site of a medieval 11th-century castle, Bojnice Castle’s romantic appeal and fairy-tale setting is one of the most beautiful not only in Slovakia, but in all of central Europe. Once home to famous Hungarian noble families, the current castle took its shape at the end of the 19th century and much of its exterior follows the patterns of chateaux of the Loire in France.
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Bojnice Castle, Slovakia
Today, the castle is normally a favorite among tourists, thanks to its brilliant museum displaying original furniture and the art collection of the last family to inhabit it. Visitors can also head underground to see the dripstone cave underneath the castle and enjoy the extensive landscape park that’s home to a 600-year-old lime tree and the Bojnice Zoo – one of the oldest in Slovakia. It’s also renowned for its festivals, namely the Castle Fairytale, Summer Music Festival and the spooky International Festival of Ghosts and Spirits.
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Hever Castle, England, UK
Once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII’s second wife and mother of Elizabeth I, this magnificent castle is tucked away in the quiet village of Hever. It has a long history, dating back as early as the 13th century. After it was owned by the Boleyns, it later came under the ownership of another of Henry VIII’s wives, Anne of Cleves, when their marriage ended in divorce.
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Hever Castle, England, UK
The staircase gallery is one of the castle’s most stunning features. Built in 1506, it contains a rare portrait by French Renaissance painter and miniaturist François Clouet, depicting Mary Queen of Scots in mourning over the death of three close family members. It is believed that during Henry VIII’s courtship of Anne Boleyn, he stayed at the castle several times. The lavish bedroom reportedly has the oldest ceiling in the castle, dating from 1462.
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Wartburg Castle, Germany
Nestled on the edge of the Thuringian Forest, Wartburg Castle rises out of a high bluff, overlooking the town of Eisenach. First built in 1067, the oldest surviving section is the 12th-century great hall, but nearly every century has left its mark with a new addition or restoration. It was the first German fortress to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Wartburg Castle, Germany
Aside from its stunning location, the castle has a significant history as the seat of the Landgraves of Thuringia and as the place where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German. Today, part of the castle houses The Romantik Hotel at Wartburg and a restaurant with breathtaking views across the forest to the Rhön Mountains.
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Kronborg Castle, Denmark
Immortalized by Shakespeare as the setting for Hamlet, Kronborg is Denmark’s most famous castle and also one of the finest Renaissance castles in northern Europe. Built, burned to the ground and rebuilt several times since 1420, the castle occupies a vital strategical position at the head of the Øresund Sound, overlooking the Baltic Sea.
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Kronborg Castle, Denmark
Located at the point where the distance between Denmark and Sweden is the shortest, the castle is also notable for its star-shaped outer wall. Throughout history it’s been used as a royal residence, a prison and even a garrison, but today it’s a museum and the home of Shakespeare Festival that typically takes place every summer.
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Caernarfon Castle, Wales, UK
Although Wales has plenty of landmark castles, Caernarfon Castle, in the historic town of Caernarfon, stirs the imagination like no other. Often cited as one of the country’s most impressive fortresses, it has UNESCO World Heritage Site status and is also notable for its royal connection – it was used for the investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1911 and again in 1969.
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Caernarfon Castle, Wales, UK
Built under the orders of Edward I in the 1200s, the mighty medieval fortress perches at the end of the Menai Strait and is particularly renowned for its hefty walls and unusual polygonal towers. Today, it’s typically open for visitors and houses The Royal Welsh Fusiliers Museum.
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Gripsholm Castle, Sweden
A short drive west from Stockholm lies the idyllic Lake Mälaren and the small town of Mariefred, home to the impressive Gripsholm Castle. Built in 1537 by Gustav Vasa, the king of Sweden at the time, it was used as an official residence by the Swedish royals until the 18th century and has since become a museum. Today, as well as an extensive collection of furniture and interior decorations, it houses the Swedish National Portrait collection, featuring prominent Swedes, from Gustav Vasa himself to Benny Anderson of ABBA fame.
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Gripsholm Castle, Sweden
Also home to the royal deer at the Hjorthagen nature reserve, Gripsholm has another, slightly stranger claim to fame. It houses the Lion of Gripsholm Castle – a historical taxidermy gone horribly wrong – whose comically unrealistic face has become somewhat of an internet celebrity. The story goes that King Frederick I was gifted a lion in 1731 by the Bey of Algiers. When the lion died, the taxidermist was tasked with stuffing and mounting it but he hadn’t actually seen a live lion before.
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Orava Castle, Slovakia
Perched on a high rock overlooking the Orava river, the namesake castle looks like it’s been picked straight out of a fairy tale. As with most Slovak castles, it was built at the site of a former medieval fortress in the 13th century and over the centuries was inhabited by aristocrats, county heads and noblemen, protecting an important route to Poland and serving as the military center for the region.
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Orava Castle, Slovakia
The castle was badly damaged in a fire in 1800 and it wasn’t until after the end of the Second World War that it underwent a restoration project that saved it from inevitable destruction. With a jaw-dropping 754 stairs and 154 rooms, the various parts of the castle are connected via an intricate system of gates, tunnels and underground passages. Visitors can normally explore some of the surrounding area as well, thanks to the Orava Forest Railway – one of the very few narrow-gauge switchback railways still operating today.
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De Haar Castle, Netherlands
The biggest and most luxurious in the Netherlands, De Haar Castle in Utrecht is mentioned in historical records as early as 1391, but the castle that stands today was rebuilt in 1892. Etienne Gustave Frédéric Baron van Zuylen van Nyevelt van de Haar inherited the crumbling castle and spent 20 years restoring it with the backing of his wife’s family, the Rothschilds, and the help from famous architect Pierre Cuypers.
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De Haar Castle, Netherlands
De Haar’s interior is decorated with richly ornamented woodcarving, mirroring Roman Catholic design at the time, and there are 200 rooms and 30 bathrooms. The interior also features items from the Rothschilds’ collections, including porcelain from Japan and China as well as Flemish tapestries and paintings. The castle is situated in beautiful parkland with meticulously landscaped gardens.
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Highclere Castle, England, UK
Downton Abbey might be set in a fictional Yorkshire country estate of the same name, but the Jacobean Revival-style building really does exist in real life. Highclere Castle, used for the exterior shots in the TV series and film, was built in the 19th century by architect Charles Barry. The 5,000-acre estate is actually located in Hampshire, close to the town of Newbury in Berkshire.
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Highclere Castle, England, UK
Many scenes were also filmed inside, so fans might recognize the rather grand entryway with its sweeping staircase and intricate internal balconies. The country estate actually belongs to Earl and Countess Carnarvon. The castle’s 200-plus rooms are filled with antiques and enchanting details, such as the frescoed ceiling in the Music Room. The incredibly detailed scenes, painted by Francis Hayman in 1740, depict Athena, goddess of war, wisdom and the arts.
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Chillon Castle, Switzerland
One of Switzerland’s most popular historic sites, the picture-perfect Chillon Castle is nestled on an island on the edge of Lake Geneva. The castle dates back to the 11th century and it served as the summer residence for the Counts of Savoy from the 1200s until the 16th century, when it was converted into a prison, though a jail existed in the castle from the 13th century onwards.
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Chillon Castle, Switzerland
The prison was known to be particularly notorious, and François de Bonivard is its best-known prisoner. Immortalized in Lord Byron’s poem, The Prisoner of Chillon, the devout scholar was imprisoned for his heretical Protestant beliefs. As the poem goes, he remained there for six years chained to a pillar. However, in reality, it was only six months.
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Alcázar of Segovia, Spain
The first historical record of this imposing fort’s existence dates to the 12th century, but the majority of the construction was probably completed by King Philip II in the 1500s. Rising high above the city of Segovia, it’s best known for its unusual design – the Alcázar is shaped like the bow of a ship.
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Alcázar of Segovia, Spain
The breathtaking building has been used as the royal court, a prison and a military college throughout its long life, and today it serves as an artifact-packed museum. The Hall of the Galley (pictured) is in-keeping with the ship theme of the Alcázar, since it’s designed in the shape of an inverted ship hull.
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Windsor Castle, England, UK
The largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, Windsor Castle has been home to English and British monarchs for nearly a thousand years. Today, Queen Elizabeth II spends weekends and carries out certain formal duties here. Originally developed by William the Conqueror after his Norman conquest of 1066, it’s also the final resting place of many monarchs including Henry VIII, Charles I and George V.
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Windsor Castle, England, UK
Several areas of the castle are usually open to visitors year-round, but, since it’s a working royal residence, it may at times be closed for special events with little forward notice. For example, in 2018 the castle’s St George’s Chapel was the venue for the weddings of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle, and Princess Eugenie to Jack Brooksbank.
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Predjama Castle, Slovenia
Dramatic Predjama Castle is tucked within the mouth of a cave in Slovenia, and it’s almost difficult to see where the rock ends and the weather-worn fortress begins. This dramatic 13th-century structure, jutting out from a 404-foot-high (123m) cliff, is rumored to have influenced George R.R. Martin, the author whose novels inspired hit TV series Game of Thrones.
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Predjama Castle, Slovenia
It’s hailed as the largest cave castle in the world by the Guinness World Records, with a tangle of medieval-style rooms and a complex network of caverns opening out below it. Legend has it, a knight named Erasmus of Lueg took over the castle in the 15th century and used a series of intricate cave tunnels to steal from the rich and give to the poor, just like Robin Hood. A servant eventually betrayed him, leading to his death.
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Prague Castle, Czech Republic
Prague Castle is quite the feat. Covering an area of around 750,000 square feet (69,677sqm), the complex is one of the largest of its kind in the world, home to Gothic-style St Vitus Cathedral, as well as several other churches. Dating from the 9th century, the site acts like an architectural textbook for the last millennium and, unsurprisingly, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Prague Castle, Czech Republic
Stunning halls and staterooms fill the castle, brimming with Rococo details, vast fireplaces and priceless paintings. The Rudolph Gallery (pictured) is one of the most striking of them all, with its great arches, chandeliers and mirrors. It was first built in the 16th century, but the stuccos you can see here were only added in the 19th.
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Malbork Castle, Poland
The formidable Malbork Castle was built in the 13th century by the Teutonic Knights, a group of German Catholic crusaders, and at the time of its completion was the largest brick castle in the world. Malbork served as a residence for the Polish royal family until it was occupied by the Swedes in the 17th century and then by the Germans during the Second World War.
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Malbork Castle, Poland
The castle suffered severe damage during the Second World War, but at the end of the conflict, it was returned to Poland. Careful restoration work began in 1962 and then again in 2016 when it was returned to its former glory. Today, intricate vaulted ceilings, columns and museum displays hide inside its hulking brick exterior.
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Alhambra, Spain
Built between 1238 and 1358, Granada’s sprawling Alhambra is an impressive Moorish masterpiece. The name Alhambra comes from an Arabic phrase meaning red castle and was given due to the reddish hue of its towers and walls. It was described as “a pearl set in emeralds” by Moorish poets, referring to its location within the woods.
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Alhambra, Spain
The Alhambra served as a royal palace and its exquisite gardens are home to many beautiful walkways and fountains. A fortress complex rather than a standalone building, Alhambra consists of a castle, several courts and halls, and a collection of outlying buildings.
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Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, UK
Edinburgh Castle is arguably one of the city’s most famous sights, with its imposing battlements overlooking the city’s Old Town. The castle dates back to the 12th century and has been attacked so many times, it earned the dubious accolade of being the most besieged place in Great Britain. Today, the castle and its grounds are normally open to visitors.
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Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, UK
Many royals have called the castle home including King Malcolm III of Scotland and his wife Saint Margaret of Scotland – St Margaret’s Chapel is a tribute to the late queen and the oldest existing part of the site. Inside, the Great Hall, built for James IV in 1511, is the castle’s glorious centerpiece.
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Pena Palace, Portugal
It might be called a palace, but it is in fact a castle, and few are so heart-flutteringly pretty as Pena Palace. Its butter-yellow turrets and brick-red towers rise above the treetops in hilly Sintra, just outside Lisbon. The multicolored beauty, an example of 19th-century Romanticism, was commissioned by King Ferdinand II and completed in 1854, and has been home to Portuguese royals through the years.
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Pena Palace, Portugal
The exterior and grounds are filled with storybook details, from tiny gargoyles to hidden pathways weaving through forest. The striking interior isn’t far off its lavish fairy-tale exterior either. The dining room and adjoining pantry, for example, have vaulted ceilings and walls covered with intricate tiles.
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Alnwick Castle, England, UK
Nestled behind the pretty northeastern market town of Alnwick, this majestic medieval castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England. Alnwick has been home to the Percy family for over 700 years and is the current seat of the 12th Duke of Northumberland, Ralph Percy.
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Alnwick Castle, England, UK
Inspired by the lavish buildings of Italy, the Renaissance-style state rooms feature richly decorated ceilings, carved doors and marble fireplaces. The castle also has one of the country’s most impressive private furniture and art collections with works by J. M. W. Turner, William Dobson and Canaletto.
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Moszna Castle, Poland
Thanks to Moszna Castle’s jaw-dropping 365 rooms and 99 turrets, it would be possible to spend every day in a different room over the course of a year, if you wished. Constructed in the 17th century, the castle is situated within a park covered with canals, meadows and even a forest.
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Moszna Castle, Poland
In 1945, Moszna was occupied by the Soviet Red Army and its owners fled to Germany. The occupation caused significant damage to Moszna’s interior furnishings, but the castle has since been restored. The opulent site was also briefly used as a hospital following the Second World War, and today it houses an art gallery.
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Vianden Castle, Luxembourg
Constructed on the site of a Roman castle between the 11th and 14th centuries, this mighty fortress has a string of impressive rooms, including a dinky chapel dating to the 12th century. It has had an extremely diverse mix of owners too, ranging from the Counts of Vianden to a spice merchant.
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Vianden Castle, Luxembourg
The castle fell into ruin after one owner began selling it off in parts, but thankfully it returned to the hands of the Luxembourg royal family in the 19th century. Members of the Luxembourg resistance even used the castle during a battle against the Nazis in 1944. Highlights today include the gorgeous wood-clad dining room (pictured).
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Trakai Island Castle, Lithuania
Lithuania’s Trakai Island Castle occupies a stunning location in the center of Lake Galvė. The castle was built in the 14th century and is the only Gothic island castle in Europe. It has served many purposes in its lifetime, going from fortress to residence to a prison. Sadly, in the 17th century, the castle was damaged in conflict and fell into disrepair.
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Trakai Island Castle, Lithuania
The castle was reconstructed after the Second World War and completed in 1961, showcasing its unique architecture exactly as it was originally intended. The inside is as impressive as the outside too – this photo shows the stone walls and artwork of the castle’s chapel.
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Glamis Castle, Scotland, UK
The turreted Glamis Castle in Scotland and the site where it sits are teeming with more than 1,000 years of history. A castle with royal roots, Glamis was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, whose parents were Lord and Lady Glamis. It was also the birthplace of her second daughter Princess Margaret, the first royal baby born in Scotland since 1600. Shakespeare fans may recognize the castle’s name – it was the home of the titular character in the play Macbeth.
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Glamis Castle, Scotland, UK
There are some mysterious legends surrounding the property too. The best-known tale about the castle is the Monster of Glamis, a cruel name given to a disfigured child who was born into the Lyon family and was supposedly locked away in a secret chamber. The ghost of the Monster of Glamis is believed to still haunt the castle to this day.
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The Castle of Ravadinovo, Bulgaria
This whimsical castle in Sozopol is the stuff of dreams and fairy tales, and its alternative name – In Love with the Wind – only adds to its charm. It was designed by Georgi Kostadinov Tumpalov, who worked with a team of builders to craft the medieval-style structure from 20,000 tons of stone.
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The Castle of Ravadinovo, Bulgaria
The fantastical exterior, rich with detail and surrounded by grounds with impressive topiary, is the highlight. There’s even a zoo, art gallery and winery on the estate. The rooms and outbuildings are equally surreal, filled with taxidermy, armor and intricately carved wooden furniture.
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Leeds Castle, England, UK
Surrounded by over 500 acres of parkland, five miles (8km) southeast of Maidstone, lies the beautiful Leeds Castle. From a Norman stronghold during the 11th and 12th century to a Tudor palace, the castle has a history that spans centuries. In 1665, the property was leased to the government to keep Dutch prisoners of war who then set it on fire. The castle remained in a state of disrepair for around a century until 1748 when Robert Fairfax renovated it. Eventually, in 1823 new owner Wykeham Martin demolished the original main house and replaced it with a Tudor-style structure.
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Leeds Castle, England, UK
Not much has changed of the castle’s exterior since then. During the 1920s, Leeds Castle underwent another makeover, this time by Anglo-American heiress Lady Baillie, who would be the property’s last private owner. A 16th-century-style carved oak staircase from France was added to the castle as well as a cinema and swimming pool, while zebras and llamas were brought to graze on the grounds. In the 1930s, the castle played host to European royalty, celebrities and statesmen, famed for its luxurious interior and Lady Baillie’s lavish hospitality.
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Egeskov Castle, Denmark
Built in the mid-16th century, Egeskov Castle, on the Danish island of Funen, is one of Europe’s finest Renaissance buildings, and was originally constructed for defense purposes. During the last 400 years, it has belonged to various families who have all lived in the striking structure. Today, it’s surrounded by an impressive garden and boasts the best-preserved moat in Europe.
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Egeskov Castle, Denmark
The castle is also Europe’s best-preserved Renaissance water castle and while most of it is normally open to public (in fact, there are five museums within the castle), some areas are still used privately by Count Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille and his wife Caroline, the niece of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. There are two museums, featuring vintage automobile and motorcycle collections as well as a fascinating collection on flying vehicles.
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Bled Castle, Slovenia
As if Slovenia’s Lake Bled needed anything else to make it more beautiful, there also happens to be a castle here, overlooking the glistening water and dense forests. A medieval castle built on a precipice above the city of Bled, it’s often regarded as Slovenia’s oldest castle and is also one of the most-visited attractions. First mentioned in writing in 1011, the castle’s oldest surviving part is the Romanesque tower. Throughout the Middle Ages and during the Renaissance period, many improvements were made, making the castle a unique amalgamation of styles.
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Bled Castle, Slovenia
A scenic forest trail leads its way up to the castle with some of the best views of the lake. Inside there is now a museum celebrating the history of Bled, from the first settlements to present day, as well as a restaurant and a wine cellar. Visitors can also see a reconstruction of Gutenberg’s printing press and typically, demonstrations showcase how it worked and was used after its inception.
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Hohenwerfen Castle, Austria
You might well recognize the 900-year-old Hohenwerfen Fortress: it featured in the background of the famous musical The Sound of Music. First constructed around 1077, the castle has gone through many renovations over the years, from its birth as a simple wooden structure to the fortified building it is today. It has been used as everything from a stately home to a military training center and even a police school.
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Hohenwerfen Castle, Austria
Standing 2,044 feet (623m) above sea level, it’s a serious sight to behold. The discovery trail leads visitors through a kitchen courtyard, residential quarters and arsenal, among others, explaining what life was like in the castle when it was inhabited. For an even more thrilling experience, the castle is home to a historic regional falconry center and usually there are regular birds of prey shows with falcons, vultures and eagles showing off their skills several times a day, from April to November.
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Conwy Castle, Wales, UK
Built by the English monarch Edward I in the late 13th century, the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is Conwy Castle is certainly a breathtaking construction. Its seemingly endless circuit of walls add up to nearly a mile (1.6km) and are guarded by 22 towers. It has amazing views of the mountains and the sea, and typically plenty of family-friendly events are put on for visitors, such as medieval-themed weekends and spooky Halloween parties.
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Conwy Castle, Wales, UK
The castle is part of what’s known as The Ring of Iron (or Iron Ring of Castles). It was a series of fortifications and castles built to help Edward I with his conquest of Wales. He spent over $100,000 on all the castles, which is about $72 million in today’s money. All of these castles were tactically positioned either by the coast or rivers, and provided access to provisions of food and weapons.
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Miramare Castle, Italy
Built in the 19th century, this dreamy castle overlooks the Gulf of Trieste in northeastern Italy. Its grounds include an extensive cliff and seashore park that were designed by the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of the House of Habsburg. The castle was built for him and his family and the garden was landscaped to include tropical trees and plants.
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Miramare Castle, Italy
Throughout the Second World War, the castle kept exchanging hands frequently. First, it was converted into a Nazi headquarters building, then New Zealand troops entered Trieste and took control of the castle in 1945, which was swiftly followed by the British taking over and finally, the Americans. After the war, the castle was renovated and opened in 1955 as a tourist attraction. Today, it’s a museum with all the rooms still featuring the original furnishings, ornaments and furniture.
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Frederiksborg Castle, Denmark
The largest Renaissance residence in Scandinavia, Frederiksborg Castle is situated to the north of Copenhagen. It was built in the early 17th century by King Christian IV, but today, it’s home to the Museum of National History. What’s more, the castle’s old wine cellar has been converted into an area geared towards kids, with child-friendly displays and a picture trail.
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Frederiksborg Castle, Denmark
The castle suffered a devastating fire in 1859, which ruined most of the building. However, more than 300 paintings were saved and can now be seen in the castle’s museum. Reconstruction was publicly funded and today 70 rooms, plus the Chapel, the Rose Room and the Audience Room are included in the museum.
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Hohenzollern Castle, Germany
The ancestral seat of the imperial House of Hohenzollern, this imposing castle is located atop Mount Hohenzollern in southwestern Germany. The third castle to be built on top of the mountain, it was finished in 1867 as a family memorial. Later, in 1945 it briefly became the home of the former prince Wilhelm of Germany, son of the last Hohenzollern monarch Kaiser Wilhelm II.
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Hohenzollern Castle, Germany
Today, the castle is one of Germany’s most important sights. It holds many significant historical artifacts relating to Prussian history, like the crown of Wilhelm II, some personal effects of King Frederick the Great and a letter from US President George Washington, thanking Baron von Steuben (a Hohenzollern descendant) for his service in the American Revolutionary War. Pictured here is the interior of St Michael’s chapel, also part of the sprawling palace complex.
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Buda Castle, Hungary
A major Budapest landmark, the jaw-dropping Buda Castle was originally constructed in the 13th century, but the work didn’t stop there. Extensions and renovations were carried out over the next two centuries, and various refurbishments and repairs are still continuing today. It’s now home to several galleries, including the Budapest History Museum and the Hungarian National Gallery.
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Buda Castle, Hungary
As there is an extensive tunnel system underneath the castle and the castle district, there are, of course, many urban myths and legends surrounding them. One story says that during the Turkish occupation, women were built into the walls of the cellars and tunnels, and their cries can still be heard to this day. Another tale claims there were vampires residing beneath the tunnel, including the Black Count, believed to be Dracula himself.
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Eltz Castle, Germany
A beguiling fairy-tale castle, Burg Eltz in Western Germany dates from the 12th century and has remained in the Eltz family for an impressive 33 generations. The wonderfully romantic castle, which sits above the Elzbach River, is iconic in Germany and was featured on the 500 Deutsche Mark note from 1965 to 1992.
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Eltz Castle, Germany
The castle has its fair share of ghost stories, the most famous of which is the phantom of Countess Agnes. The countess was promised in marriage to the Knight of Braunsberg but during a feast to celebrate the match, she rebuffed her suitor, publicly humiliating him. Enraged by the rejection, the spurned knight organized an attack on the castle. After a valiant fight, she was struck by a crossbow and fatally injured, and her ghost is said to still haunt the castle.
