Top 10 most beautiful castles in Europe

Very rich in architectural heritage, Europe is full of castles, witnesses of hundreds of years of history and always very popular with tourists. Fortified, baroque or renaissance architecture, hillside or posed at the edge of a lake, the castles continue to fascinate young and old.

10th - CASTLE OF MIRAMARE, ITALY.

Clinging to the promontory of Grignano, this magnificent palace, installed at the seaside in a huge garden, beautifully combines the Gothic, Medieval and Renaissance styles. This was the sumptuous residence of Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg from 1860. © Sasa Nikolic - iStockphoto

9th - ALCAZAR CASTLE OF SEGOVIA, SPAIN.

Fortified castle, located at the end of the old town of Segovia, built at the beginning of the 13th century on an old Arab fortress. The Alcazar was the favorite residence of the kings of Castile in the Middle Ages. © typhoonski_iStockphoto

8th - CASTLE OF BRAN, ROMANIA.

This splendid medieval castle, commonly known as "Dracula's Castle", is located in Transylvania, Romania. It was the home of Count Dracula in Bram Stoker's eponymous book. It is now a museum and an exhibition space for Queen Marie's art collections. © warmcolors_iStockphoto

7th - CASTLE OF HOHENWERFEN, AUSTRIA.

Built in the eleventh century by Konrad I, this castle sits at the top of a rocky peak 115 meters high and watches over the Salzach valley. Its 900-year history has transformed it into a royal house, a religious refuge, then a prison and now a national falconry center. © DaveLongMedia_iStockphoto

6th - CASTLE OF ASHFORD, IRELAND.

Built in 1228, north of the shores of Lough Corrib, this splendid castle is now a luxury 5-star hotel. © Elzbieta Sekowska_iStockphoto

5th - CASTLE OF SCHÖNBRUNN, AUSTRIA.

One of the most visited sites in Austria impresses with the rich decor of its rooms and its vast baroque gardens, listed as UNESCO World Heritage. © Photon-Photos - iStockphoto

4th - CASTLE OF EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.

Planted on a rocky volcanic spur, overlooking the Scottish capital since the ninth century, Edinburgh Castle today houses a museum and the crown jewels of Scotland. Stay alert, legend has it haunted! © northlightimages_iStockphoto

3rd - PALACE OF PENA, PORTUGAL.

On the heights of the city of Sintra, this jewel of romantic architecture is straight out of the wildest dreams of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Majestic, exuberant and eccentric, the palace stands proudly and offers magnificent views from its balconies. © Lauren King_iStockphoto

2nd - CASTLE OF WINDSOR, ENGLAND.

In Berkshire County, the 11th century Windsor Palace is the largest surviving castle in the world (official residence of Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family). © Mark_Breck_iStockphoto

1st - CASTLE OF NEUSCHWANSTEIN, GERMANY.

One of the most visited castles in Europe, nicknamed "The Fairytale King's Castle", is located in the village of Hohenschwangau, in southwestern Bavaria. Perched on a rocky peak 200 meters high since the nineteenth century, its fantastic appearance inspired the Disney studios for the castle Sleeping Beauty. © Stéphan SZEREMETA

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