Subscribe to ListverseTop 35 Fairytale Castles
- Published December 23, 2007 - 74 Comments
Christmas Competition: 3rd Place. Congratulations to Mathilda for this excellent list – she has won the third prize of a $25 iTunes music card.
According to Wikipedia, “A castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. The term has a history of scholarly debate surrounding its exact meaning, but it is usually regarded as being distinct from the general terms fort or fortress in that it describes a building which serves as a residence of a medieaval monarch or noble and commands a specific territory.” I have chosen to use my own criteria for inclusion in this list, that being, if I were a princess in a fairytale,would I want to live there? As such, interior condition was not taken into consideration, exterior setting was very important, and any past gory history was ignored. I only included one per country so there are scores of equally beautiful castles which had to be excluded. (I did make an exception to the one per country rule for England, as I really, really want to live in one of the two shown.)
1. Baku’s Wedding Palace Azerbaijan
2. Schloss Anif Austria
3. Mir Castle Belarus
4. Gravensteen Belgium
5. Summer Palace China
6. Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca Cuba
7. Hluboka Nad Vltavou Czech Republic
8. Kronborg Castle Denmark
9. Leeds Castle England
10. Warwick Castle England
11. Fasilides Castle Ethiopia
12. Olavinlinna Finland
13. Chateau D’Usse France
14. Neuschwanstein Castle Germany
15. Eszterháza Palace Hungary
16. Khas Mahal India
17. Falak-ol-aflak Castle Iran
18. Kilkenny Castle Ireland
19. Bardi Castle Italy
20. Himeji Castle Japan
21. Petra Jordan
22. Vaduz Castle Lichtenstein
23. Muiderslot The Netherlands
24. Malbork Castle Poland
25. Belem Tower Portugal
26. Hunedoara Castle Romania
27. Kazan Kremlin Russia
28. Eilean Donan Castle Scotland
29. Alcazar of Segovia Spain
30. Orebro Castle Sweden
31. Chillon Castle Switzerland
32. Krak Des Chevaliers Syria
33. Rumelihisarı Turkey
34. Kamianets Ukraine
35. Boldt Castle United States
December 23rd, 2007 at 11:58 am
What a kick ass list! At first I thought the one per country rule was lame. After reading the list and seeing all the different countries represented I knew how wrong I was!
It does make you wonder at how some of the past lists would be different with a more world wide view.
And who knew there was a castle in the US!
Thanks for the list!
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Hey! I always try to keep a worldview in my lists
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Ooh I love this list! I’ve been a big fan of castles since I was a kid, growing up with Disney movies and fantasy novels and the like. I’d love to travel around and visit these wonderful places.
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:19 pm
this a great list! good job mathilda!! i can’t imagine the effort that went into this
i would have liked the hogwarts castle though
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Warwick! Ahhh, brings back memories of home ….
And I’ve been to Boldt Castle in the US. Tragic story behind that. It was never finished, because the man who was building it stopped all construction after his wife (the reason he was building the home in the first place) passed away. However, it is currently being rennovated, and it will be a sight to behold when finally finished!
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Wow!Loved some of those European castles.
dvhann: Some of Scotland’s castles were used as Hogwarts!
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Wow, this is an amazing list Mathilda! Great job!
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:52 pm
I have been to Leeds castle on this list – it is amazing – I think it is one of the only castles in England that still has a functioning moat.
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:56 pm
They’re so beautiful!
December 23rd, 2007 at 1:07 pm
The reason I wanted to travel to Europe is to see a real castle. Now I know I need not leave my country. Thanks and congrats for winning the contest, Mathilda
December 23rd, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Bravo…classic list..
December 23rd, 2007 at 1:25 pm
I am awe struck. These are really impressive. I have heard about half of these castles but have never seen pictures of them.
December 23rd, 2007 at 1:44 pm
I’d say Läckö castle is cooler that Örebro castle. Seriously, it’s on an island. An ISLAND, people!!!
http://www.artes.uu.se/events/summer05/pics/slides/Laeckoe%20castle.JPG
Also, I could swear #28 was pictured in the movie “Highlander”.
December 23rd, 2007 at 1:49 pm
i love the list and understand that its a long one, but some info on each one would have been cool, but ill get over it.
im just bahumbugging dont mind me.
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Castles? It would’ve been better if she explained for each castle what fairy tale story it was used for. At least she $25 for iTunes.
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Here are a couple more that really do it for me:
Malaga, Spain …
http://flickr.com/photos/atrium09/474334307/
Utrecht, Holland … http://flickr.com/photos/bsidez/218386435/
Penny
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Them I called “virus”.
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:48 pm
that one in Denmark looks like a detention center
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:52 pm
A lot of these aren’t actually castles, more like mansions or palaces. They all are quite awe-inspiring, though.
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:59 pm
I LOVE Leeds Castle….. My school leavers ball was there. It was an absolutely magical evening and it is a truly beautiful castle
December 23rd, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Neuschwanstein =
December 23rd, 2007 at 3:47 pm
those are some awesome castles lol i wanna see one in real life
December 23rd, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Very nicely done, Mathilda, and congrats! I’ve been to the American entry, in fact: Boldt Castle is on Heart Island in the Thousand Islands, just outside the harbor of Alexandria Bay, NY, which is a mere six-hour drive from my hometown of idyllic, tropical Buffalo. The castle is indeed cool, and huge, and boats go out to it every foty minutes or so — it’s a big tourist attraction. The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority is financing renovation with tolls over the bridge of the same name, so it’s not coming out of our taxes (about the only thing I can name that ISN’T); so far they’ve fixed up the power house (the smaller castle in the foreground of your picture, which contains a very old generator setup which can be powered by water or Diesel, I believe) and the ground floor of the castle itself, which is all this Bavarian black wood paneling and carving. The rest of the castle is in wretched condition, however, with flaking plaster and graffiti everywhere, going back to the 1920s, when apparently there was a fad for scrawling your own address on the walls of great tourist draws and inviting people to drop you a line. (Sure, like: “Hi! Just wanted to write and tell you what an anencephalic asshole you are for ruining Boldt Castle, you and an army of other pinheads like you. Love, nobody.” No, no, I didn’t do it!) They may have made inroads into the carnage since I was there eleven years ago; I hope so. I just wanted to add that in view of your lack of concern for interior condition, Princess … I’d scope this one out before your moved in! But again, truly fun list. Also like Neuschwanstein, Himeji, and Kilkenny castles. Petra, in Jordan, however, isn’t a castle per se: it’s a chapel carved into the side of a desert cliff, and was a hideout for persecuted Christians in times agone. (In fact, I think they may actually have shot there for “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” though I could be mistaken.) Still, can’t argue that it’s beautiful. Keep ‘em comin’!
December 23rd, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Great list, the scenery in 22 is truly breathtaking
December 23rd, 2007 at 6:29 pm
I’m glad to see Neuschwanstein. I visited there when I was in the Army in Germany.
It is shown on the opening shots of Disney movies (Not the animated castle) and also in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
December 23rd, 2007 at 7:38 pm
#14 should be #1. congrats btw.
December 23rd, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Boldt Catsle is an awesome place to visit. It is located in the 1000 islands in NY. I have been there several times and must say it is breathtaking. The only way to get in or out is by boat. Could have been higher on the list though.
December 23rd, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Wow, these are magnificent! You could have filled this whole list simply with castles from the Loire Valley in France, I think! There are some truly beautiful ones there, but you did try to stick to the one per country rule. =) I agree with Juggz, a little info on each would have been nice, even if it meant less inclusions. Still, I really enjoyed this list and I am a huge fan of castle photos!!
December 23rd, 2007 at 9:36 pm
I’ve only been to the Kilkenny castle, but it is very cool. It has a huge park attached to it, which is a great place to hang out for some picnicing and frisbee
I liked the Chinese one best, and the German one definitely looks like it influenced the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast.
December 23rd, 2007 at 10:56 pm
Isn’t Neuschwanstein Castle the one in the flying shots of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?
December 23rd, 2007 at 11:23 pm
chuchu: now that i come to think about it, i think it was. i mean it looks almost exactly like it.
December 24th, 2007 at 1:15 am
Great list – well done. When I first saw the Japanese one I thought it was Osaka Castle which I was lucky enough to have visited.
Whoppeeee its 9.15pm christmas eve and for the first time ever I have finished everything ready for Christmas day – to all those thats celebrate it – Merry Christmas – hope Santa brings something nice for you. (Always assuming you have been good this year)
December 24th, 2007 at 1:20 am
NZSpringy: my too – I finished my shopping today – got everything wrapped, and had time to have tea and drinks at my sisters. Now I am having a drink on my own and dealing to the site
December 24th, 2007 at 1:27 am
Here is Casa Loma, in Toronto, Canada. Built in the 1920s by Sir Henry Pellatt.
http://parklibrary.jomc.unc.edu/2005awardscasaloma.jpg
December 24th, 2007 at 1:36 am
John Donne: wow – that is a massive castle! Thanks for posting it.
December 24th, 2007 at 5:55 am
‘One castle per country’. 9 and 10 are both in England…
Nice castles anyway!
December 24th, 2007 at 6:53 am
I can’t believe that le Mont Saint Michael. OK its an church…but LOOK AT IT! When the tide comes in, its surrounded by water and cut off from the mainland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Saint-Michel
December 24th, 2007 at 6:54 am
I can’t believe that le Mont Saint Michael was left off the list (is what I meant to say)
December 24th, 2007 at 7:06 am
dangorironhide: It’s great how you complain without reading.
“(I did make an exception to the one per country rule for England, as I really, really want to live in one of the two shown.)”
Seriously…
December 24th, 2007 at 8:20 am
Great list
Nice to see the Belgian castle on nr 4!
December 24th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Wow. Those are so beautiful!
December 24th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Patrask: Everyone makes mistakes. I wasn’t complaining, I was merely commenting on what I beleived at the time was an oversight on the part of the author.
December 24th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Wow! Great Pics! I guess I can log on to marryaprince.com now.
Great list, Mathilda!
December 24th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
woa i think im allergic to this list… I sneezed like 8 times…
December 24th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
castles of the sky/ castles on the mount. Alone mammoths bespeckled jewels. dragons and armour..fortresses of nobility or fear. romantic child’s immagination.
Today I happened to be looking at early photos of the American Mid West(ca.1908ish) in the library and there were a number of images showing open pastures of mud and dirt dominated by lone Stone churches. something in this reminds me of weath of empire standing up to god/nature.
I’ve been to mad King Ludwig’s 3 abodes. His smallest and most unassuming one had cost him the most if I recall.
compress it down into a small hard ruby is how I see it should be. But damn if we havent always wanted to be “WoWed” by applied efforts as a staement of grandure.
yeh whatever.
I like castles, they’re cool. stone tower stairs are the best!
December 24th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
partial spelling corrections of my above:
“wealth”
not cost but “worth”
I blame not having money as reason
December 24th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
great list!!
December 24th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
I have no idea how this list has passed up Egeskov Castle in Denmark…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/egeskov/interesting/
December 24th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Mitchsn: Mont Saint Michael is truely beautiful,(agreed not a castle a monastery I believe) I visited there when I was about 13. Strangely enough I remember wondering up through the narrow streets and houses to reach the monastery but I can’t actually remember anything about it itself.
December 26th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Geir: I’ve been to Egeskov and Kronborg and I agree that Egeskov should be on the list instead of Kronborg in terms of fairytale-ness(though in terms of architecture Kronborg is far more impressive).
December 26th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Thanks everyone for the nice comments! Sorry I am just checking them now; I was really busy over the holiday. When I submitted the list there were originally links to more information on each; I can re-send the original if they have gotten misplaced. Wikipedia has information on most of them, however, and there are some really fascinating stories about a lot of them. I have not gotten to see any of them yet, sadly, but hopefully someday, along with all of the additional ones mentioned!
December 27th, 2007 at 4:56 am
You have not see the Castle Trakoscan in Croatia. It belongs at this list.
December 27th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Yo! This shit is bananas! My favorite has to be between the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany and the Kazan Kremlin in Russia…Real Talk. Can you imagine getting lost is those things? Tragic.
December 28th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
what a list.. with all the turkey eating I’d missed this one!
I live just a few miles from Warwick Castle, have only been a few times as its typically expensive for such attractions, the best part was always the dungeons – but I do enjoy the macabre – I’m pretty certain they are still open, but as a child they were nicely un pc – all hands on and dangerous.
What really amazes me is the architectural similarities over the years and countries… I gues some what it is functional architecture and the best is always high and big.
Within England there are a handfull more absolutly amazing – I’ll have to sit on google to remember them though -
December 29th, 2007 at 9:00 am
One of the cooler things about Neuschwanstein is how young it is. It was only built in the 1880’s but it was built like a fairy tale castle because Mad King Leopold liked the stories of his youth and he wanted it like that (or so I was told upon visiting it).
December 29th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Awesome list!
December 30th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Wow, when I look at these I feel like a total failure at life. X_x;
January 17th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I agree that Neuschwanstein should be the #1. I have been there and even so it was never finished it is truely beautyfull. Did anyone know that Disney build his Chindarella Castle based on Neuschwanstein? Oh yeah by the way it was King Ludwig who build the castle sadly the Castle was never finished because he drowned.
January 21st, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Hi!
Maybe you would like to know the existence of “palácio da pena”, in Portugal. Quite bizarre, but maybe you will find it interesting.
Thanks for the great list
João Pedro
March 15th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Is that castle in Scotland the one from Monte Python search for the Holy Grail? It’s hard to tell from the distance.
March 17th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
hey everyone especially Mathilda. I made a video out of your wonderful list of castles… Check it out here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thKaM9Uydno
Sorry about the azerbaij*(i)an, extra i.
Have a nice day, cheers.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
wow! huneondura is on this list?!!!
it is a beautiful castle. horrid history though
what a shame.
it has great potential
July 16th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
OMG! I’m so glad whoever created this list included Neuschwanstein. I have been to that castle and it is simply incredible!
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 pm
There’s a third one in England worth mentioning – Herstmonceux in Sussex
http://www.herstmonceux-castle.com/images/1st.jpg
and as Wales and Scotland are separate countries let’s add: Glamis Castle: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajnabee/127189097/
and Harlech Castle:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cdell/226108313/
August 26th, 2008 at 9:37 am
i’ve been to 28, and yeh it looks nice, but there’s not much to see really.
(actually, think it might’ve been used in Macbeth, not sure tho) sites got pics – http://www.dunnottarcastle.co.uk/
Dunnottar is my fav, it’s a ruin and looks like something out of Lord of The Rings, very mythical and windswept
September 12th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
number 21 looks like the place indi went in the last crusade
September 20th, 2008 at 10:57 am
this makes me want a castle even more
October 21st, 2008 at 3:41 am
Wow these castles are well pretty
I was half expecting the castle from disney land to come up
hahah
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:51 am
I’ve already picked mine out! When can I move in??
November 20th, 2008 at 3:23 am
Number 14 is amazing
I want to live there
June 11th, 2009 at 11:00 am
This is a neat list!!! I didn’t know there was a castle in the U.S.!!! Wow!! I learned something new!!
August 20th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I agree, I didn’t know there were any castles in the U.S., I only knew of the different mansions. Very cool list!
September 12th, 2009 at 8:45 am
i loved that i got a surprise and actually have been to one (Kilkenny)!
number 32’s name sounds like knights’ crack in French ;p
thank you for this list, it’s lovely
October 8th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Beautiful collection of castles!
Makes you think of who lived there..
But I am a little disappointed that there is no mention of one of the greatest and one of the oldest castles in Europe – WAWEL CASTLE. Just a little quote from the actual website of http://www.wawel.krakow.pl
“Wawel Hill – a Jurassic limestone rock, a dominant feature in the landscape of Cracow (about 228 m above see level) was formed about 150 million years ago. Situated on the bank of the Vistula river, surrounded by waters and marshes, the hill provided a safe haven for people who have settled here since the Paleolithic Age. It is supposed that the Slav people started living on Wawel hill as early as the 7th century.
Early medieval legends tell stories about a dreadful dragon that lived in a cave on Wawel Hill, about his slayer Krakus, and about the latter’s daughter Wanda, who drowned herself in the Vistula rather than marry a German knight….”