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29 Beautiful Fairy Tale Castles

Castles have always been a stunning architectural achievement. Whether to demonstrate power, swagger or to protect, palaces and fortresses remain the breathtaking landmarks, visited by crowds of tourists. See our list of 29 castles from around the world – which one would you like to see?

29. Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California, USA

Top Castles-Hearst-Photo by Ellen Yeates

Photo by Ellen Yeates

28. Mystras, Greece

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Photo by Unknown

27. Eilean Donan, Loch Duich Island, Scotland

Top Castles-Eilean Donan-Photo by Dirk Sachse

Photo by Dirk Sachse

26. Hohenzollern Castle, Germany

Top Castles-Hohenzollern-Photo by Berthold Steinhilber

Photo by Berthold Steinhilber

25. Ghardaïa, Algeria

Top Castles-Ghardaïa

Photo by Unknown

24. Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau, Bavaria, Germany

Top Castles-Neuschwanstein

Photo by Unknown

23. Lake Bled, Bled, Slovenia

Top Castles-Lake Bled-Photo by Cory Schadt

Photo by Cory Schadt

22. Cochem, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Top Castles-Cochem-Photo by Jan van de Maat

Photo by Jan van de Maat

21. Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal

Top Castles-Quinta-Photo by Vítor Ribeiro

Photo by Vítor Ribeiro

20. Vischering Castle, Lüdinghausen, North Rhine-Westfalia, Germany

Top Castles-Vischering

Photo by Unknown

19. Trakai, Lithuania

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Photo by Unknown

18. Ideal Palace, Hauterives, France

Top Castles-Ideal Palace

Photo by Unknown

17. Pena Palace, Sintra, Portugal

Top Castles-Pena-Photo by Thomas Muller

Photo by Thomas Muller

16. Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Top Castles-Jodhpur

Photo by Unknown

15. Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Top Castles-Dunnottar

Photo by Unknown

14. Hohenwerfen Castle, Werfen, Austria

Top Castles-Hohenwerfen

Photo by Unknown

13. Carcassonne, France

Top Castles-Carcassonne

Photo by Unknown

12. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland

Top Castles-Edinburgh

Photo by Unknown

11. Moritzburg Castle, Germany

Top Castles-Moritzburg

Photo by Unknown

10. Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France

Top Castles-Château de Chenonceau

Photo by Unknown

9. The Citadel of Qaitbay, Alexandria, Egypt

Top Castles-Qaitbay-Photo by Nadem Mohamed

Photo by Nadem Mohamed

8. The Swallow’s Nest, Yalta, Ukraine

Top Castles-Swallow's Nest

Photo by Unknown

7. Herstmonceux Castle, East Sussex, England

Top Castles-Herstmonceux

Photo by Unknown

6. The Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland

Top Castles-Cashel

Photo by Unknown

5. The Alhambra, Andalusia, Spain

Top Castles-Alhambra-Photo by Carlos Luque

Photo by Carlos Luque

4. Castel Sant’Angelo, Rome, Italy

Top Castles-Castel Sant’Angelo-Photo by Domingo Leiva

Photo by Domingo Leiva

3. Lichtenstein Castle, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Top Castles-Lichtenstein-Photo by Steve Swope

Photo by Steve Swope

2. Matsumoto Castle, Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Top Castles-Matsumoto

Photo by Unknown

1. Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy, France

Top Castles-Mont Saint-Michel

Photo by Unknown

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