As I’m a huge fan of castles, I couldn’t miss out on an article showcasing the most beautiful castles around the world.
Needless to say, an endless list of castles could be mentioned. And of course, there are some that didn’t make the list, though they certainly deserve a spot. But choices had to be made…
Table of Contents
15 most beautiful castles in the world
Neuschwanstein Castle
Perched on a rock ledge above Alpsee and Pöllat Gorge, this castle is Germany’s most photographed building and one of the top tourist destinations.
Located in the southern part of the country, it was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria to realize his childhood dreams. Admiration for Richard Wagner led him to decorate some rooms and fixtures with characters from the composer’s operas.
The castle’s design was inspired by medieval knightly castles. Its fairy-tale appearance also inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella castles.
Château de Chambord
Built in the 16th century in France’s Loire Valley, this castle mixes Renaissance artistry with traditional medieval French architecture, making it one of the most beautiful French castles. Chambord is the largest of the Loire Valley castles.
It served both representative and residential purposes along with several other castles. Its dimensions are impressive: the north facade is 156 meters long, and the side facade is 117 meters. The castle contains 426 rooms, 282 fireplaces, 77 staircases, and 800 sculpted columns.
Its double helix staircase in the main building is considered an architectural masterpiece, twining upward through three floors.
The castle is surrounded by a 5250-hectare (about 1000 hectares accessible to the public) deer park.
Hearst Castle
While the USA is not known for its castles, this one is worth mentioning. Located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, on a hill 8 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean.
The complex was built by American media mogul William Randolph Hearst in the early 20th century and served as his residence. The entire complex covers more than 8300 m². The largest house, Casa Grande, has about 115 rooms over four floors.
The buildings blend numerous architectural styles. The main building is largely inspired by the 16th-century Spanish cathedral (Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor, Ronda). Here, Hearst displayed part of his rich art collection.
Windsor Castle
The world’s largest castle still in use, dating from the time of William the Conqueror. The castle covers approximately 45,000 m².
It is one of the most important residences for the British royal family. Most kings and queens of England and the United Kingdom have had an influence on the castle’s construction and development. Over the centuries, it has been expanded with vast halls and grand apartments.
It covers 52,609 square meters, combining the characteristics of a fortress, a palace, and a town. It primarily exhibits Georgian and Victorian styles but shows Gothic features in a modern setting.
Its most famous part is St George’s Chapel, the chosen burial site for the British royal family and the venue for numerous royal weddings.
Alhambra
A Moorish fortress and palace in Granada, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
The complex includes parts created by Moors and Christians: the Alcazaba, the Nasrid Palaces, and the Generalife are the work of Arabs, while the Palace of Charles V and the Church of St. Mary were built by Christian Spaniards.
Alhambra’s intricate decorations, delicate carved plasterwork, and richly tiled surfaces are exceptionally beautiful. This complex is a standout example of Islamic art.
Himeji Castle
Japan’s – and arguably the world’s – most beautiful and strongest fortress castle. Known as the White Heron due to its brilliant white walls seen from afar, it was among the first Japanese sites to be included in the World Heritage list in 1993.
This 17th-century building is an excellent example of the development of Japanese castle architecture and defense technologies. Its main keep, which appears five-storied from the outside but has seven stories inside, is connected to three other towers, surrounded by three outer courtyards.
Schönbrunn Palace
Not only one of Vienna’s but also one of Austria’s most famous historical monuments and tourist attractions.
This Baroque-style palace was built in the 1700s and became the summer residence of the Habsburg rulers during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa.
The palace has over 1400 rooms, richly decorated interiors, and historic furnishings. It blends Baroque, Rococo, and Biedermeier styles, creating a harmonious ensemble.
Its park is dominated by the French formal garden style, integrated with natural landscape elements. Attractions include the Neptune Fountain, the famous maze, and the Rose Garden, which showcases hundreds of rose varieties. One of the most notable buildings is the Gloriette, an imposing pavilion on a hilltop offering a splendid panorama of the palace and Vienna.
Versailles Palace
Located about 20 kilometers west of Paris, it is one of the world’s most famous castles, now operating as a museum and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Originally built by King Louis XIV in the 17th century as a symbol of French royal power and wealth, it was the residence of the French kings from 1682 until the Revolution in 1789.
The garden significantly enhances the palace’s importance and grandeur. Consisting of three parts, the garden spans approximately 800 hectares and exemplifies the French formal garden style, featuring stunning symmetry, precisely trimmed hedges, sculptures, and grand water features.
Topkapi Palace
Located in Istanbul, it served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire between 1465 and 1853.
The palace complex was built in the mid-15th century by order of Sultan Mehmed. It includes numerous courtyards, buildings, and gardens, which are impressive examples of Islamic and Turkish architectural styles.
Today, it operates as a museum where visitors can view rich Ottoman treasures, ancient weapons, porcelain and glassware, as well as the personal belongings of the sultans.
Casa Loma
Located in Toronto, Canada, this Neo-Gothic style building with its lavish decorations, imposing towers, and extensive sculptures recalls true European castles.
Among its 98 rooms, you can find a large armory, a grand ballroom, and a secret tunnel. Once the home of some of Canada’s wealthiest people, it now serves as a museum and event center.
Royal Palace of Caserta
Formerly the residence of the Bourbon kings of Naples, located near Naples in Caserta.
It was the largest European construction of the 18th century. With its grandeur, dimensions, and associated gardens, it is one of the most grand and largest royal palaces in Europe.
Its interiors are a mix of Baroque and Rococo styles. The building contains 1200 rooms and 56 staircases. The facade features three entrance halls, with 243 windows. The most distinguished interior part is the Appartamento Reale, the royal apartment, which is richly decorated with frescoes, gilded adornments, and refined stucco.
The garden is also spectacular, stretching for several kilometers with waterfalls, fountains, and meticulously maintained vegetation. The Great Waterfall at the end of the garden starts at the highest point of the park and descends towards the palace, providing a breathtaking view.
Royal Palace of Caserta: Italy’s Versailles and the Masterpiece of the Bourbons
Mysore Palace
Located in the city of Mysore, India, this palace is one of the grandest and most visited royal palaces in the country. The building, rich in complex forms, is a prime example of Indo-Saracenic architecture, which mixes Muslim and Rajput styles with Gothic decorations. It features finely curved arches, domes, projecting bay windows, and columns ranging from Hindu to Byzantine styles.
Its interiors are adorned with masterfully carved doors, delicate candle holders, stained glass ceilings, and wall frescoes depicting scenes from Indian epics. Notable rooms include the ornately ceilinged Durbar Hall with numerous carved pillars and the Kalyana Mantapa or wedding pavilion, which has a floor covered with enameled tiles.
During the Dasara festival, the entire building and surrounding areas are brilliantly illuminated, and various cultural events are held on the grounds in front of the palace.
Balmoral Castle
This estate in Scotland was purchased by Queen Victoria and her spouse, Prince Albert, and remains a favorite summer residence of the royal family.
Though referred to as a castle, it appears and functions more like a Victorian-era, neo-Gothic inspired, Scottish baronial style country house. The seven-story tower is inspired by medieval defensive tower houses, while the corner towers evoke 16th-century French chateau architecture. Additional Scottish baronial features at Balmoral include stepped gables, dormer windows, and a crenellated porte-cochère.
The castle’s significance is highlighted by its appearance on the reverse side of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s £100 note and as the place where Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022.
The most beautiful castles and fortresses in Scotland
Magdalena Palace
This iconic building in Santander, northern Spain, was used as a royal summer residence in the 20th century.
The vast palace, stretching nearly 90 meters in an east-west direction, faces south and is located on the highest point of the Magdalena Peninsula, from which it gets its name.
The palace blends elements of Neo-Renaissance and English styles.
Potala Palace
Perched atop the rocky Red Hill west of Lhasa city, at an elevation of 3,630 meters, stands this massive complex.
It once served as the seat of the Tibetan government and residence of the country’s leader, the Dalai Lama. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site in 1994, describing it as „simultaneously a fortress, temple, monastery, and school, the epicenter of political and religious life in the region, and a splendid example of Tibetan art at its most sophisticated”.
The 13-story structure is approximately 118 meters high, covering an area of 130,000 square meters, and reportedly consists of exactly 999 rooms.
Today, Potala Palace serves as a museum and pilgrimage site. Its labyrinthine rooms and sanctuaries are connected by numerous doors, corridors, and staircases. Its halls and long galleries are adorned with brilliant wall paintings and colorful silk embroideries of Tibetan Buddhist art, along with nearly two hundred thousand sculptures.
