Historic castles of the world

Royal castle from the 19th century with white limestone facades and blue towers built on a mountain in the Alps.

Granite island with religious buildings and fortifications from the 8th century, surrounded by tides.

Military fortress on an extinct volcano with stone walls and royal jewels from the 12th century.

French Renaissance castle with 440 rooms, 84 staircases and 365 chimneys, built in the 16th century.

The 13th-century Moorish complex combines palaces, gardens, and fortifications on a hill overlooking Granada city.

Former residence of the Dalai Lama in Lhasa.

Largest ancient castle complex in the world.

Official residence of the English monarch.

This historic fortification from the 14th century features traditional Japanese construction with multiple stories and white exterior walls.

The 17th-century French royal palace contains 2300 rooms, large halls of mirrors, and geometrically designed gardens.

This black castle from the 16th century features six floors, steep stairs, and original wooden constructions.

This hilltop castle from the 12th century stands on a rock spur and contains original preserved furniture and armor.

This medieval fortress stands on a rock and was built in the 14th century as a border post. The structure inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula novel.

This medieval fortification was built between 1283 and 1289. The walls are up to 4.5 meters thick and feature eight towers.

This 12th-century castle was renovated in French style during the 19th century. It now houses a museum with medieval art.

This fortress was built in the 13th century within a 123-meter-high cliff. A cave beneath the castle served as an escape route.

Built between 1873 and 1914, this castle combines German Neo-Renaissance style with traditional Romanian architecture. It contains a collection of arms and armor.

This 13th century fortress is the largest brick castle in Europe. The Teutonic Order used it as their headquarters.