15. Castle Stalker

Castle Stalker is a four-story tower house located near Port Appin, Argyll, by Scotland.  It is believed that this structure was built around 1320 by Clan MacDougall, who was then Lords of Lorn.  It was abandoned around 1840 when it lost its roof.  In 1908, it was re-purchased and had basic conservation work done.  This castle is quite famous and has appeared in the films Monty Python and the Holy Grail and two Highlander movies.  It is one of the best examples of a medieval tower-house surviving in western Scotland. 

13. Het Steen Castle

Het Steen (The Stone) is an ancient medieval castle built in the old city center of Antwerp, Belgium, which is one of Europe’s biggest ports.  Built around 1225 it is Antwerp’s oldest building.  The castle was constructed in part to control access to the Schelde, the river that flows through this area.  It was also used as a prison between 1303 and 1827.  There are often reports of weird noises and ghostly activity on the grounds of Het Steen.  The castle is being used for various museum exhibits.       

12. Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle is located near Robertsbridge in East Sussex, England.  It is one of the most famous landmarks in England and a perfect example of a late medieval moated castle.  It is not a large structure, but was ideally suited for defense against France and militant rural populace after the English Peasants’ Revolt.  It was also the site for many gatherings and parties with foreign merchants and dignitaries. 

The castle is completely surrounded by a moat from the north and south.  It has four large towers on each of its rectangular corners.  There are two gateways, each of which has long bridges leading over the moat.  Bodiam Castle has been pictured in many popular movies and videos, including Enya’s song The Celts.  If you are lucky enough to visit this site then you have to be sure to check out the enormous hollowed out tree in the back of the castle grounds.    

11. The Albrechtsburg Meissen Castle

This structures history spans all the way back to 929 when a military camp was established between the rivers Meisa, Triebisch, and Elbe.  The castle was destroyed in the 15th century and redesigned by Arnold of Westphalia, mostly in the late Gothic style.  This landmark dominates the city centre of Meissen, Germany.  In 1645, Swedish General von Königsmark captured the castle during the Thirty Years War.  The structure was a factory for the first fine European china, Meissen porcelain, from 1700-1850.  During World War II Albrechtsburg was used as storage for artistic inventories of the Dresden Art Collections and some other stolen artifacts.    

10. Eltz Castle (Burg Eltz)

Burg Eltz is a medieval castle nestled in the hills above the Moselle River between Koblenz and Trier, Germany.  In the 13th century many towns were being founded in this area.  Multiple owners came to claim this land and jointly built Burg Eltz.  This was a common practice in some parts of the Roman Holy Empire of the German Nation, as only the very rich European lords could afford to build a castle solely on their land.  This has caused the property to be divided into a community of joint heirs, which belong to different branches of certain families.

Burg Eltz is located on an important Roman trade route between the rich farm lands and their markets.  The castle had major construction done from 1472-1540.  It was mostly in the late Gothic style.  To this day it is still owned by a branch of the same family that lived their 33 generations ago.  The owners are the Rübenach, Rodendorf, and Kempenich families.      

9. Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle was built in the 19th century and was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria.  It is located near Hohenschwangau and Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany.  It is the most photographed building in Germany, although pictures of the interior are not permitted.  Ludwig II was widely known for building numerous extravagant castles.  He used them as retreats and the public was not permitted to visit. 

Neuschwanstein’s budget was exceeding itself and Ludwig was losing public support.  In 1886, when the castle was almost complete, the King was declared insane by a State Commission.  Although he vigorously proclaimed that he was not even examined.  Ludwig II mysteriously drowned that same year at the age of 41.  After his death the castle was open to the public, in part to counter the incredible debt it originally created.  Since that time over 50 million people have visited the site.  Neuschwanstein castle was an inspiration for Walt Disney when creating the animated film Cinderella.  It also served as a model for the famous Cinderella Castles found at two Disney theme parks.  

8. The Castle of Miranda (Home de Noisy)

I had to add one castle to the list that is currently abandoned.  There is something quite eerie about a vacant and dark castle.  It has the nickname "Home de Noisy."  That name originated between World War I and World War II when the castle became a vacation home for SNCB (Belgian national rail company) railway men's children.  The castle is located not far from Dinant in Belgium.  It has been abandoned since 1991 when there was a fire.  It may look somewhat in tact from the outside, but is in pretty bad shape on the interior.  It is not a safe place to explore, corrosion could cause a partial collapse at any time.  Miranda Castle is 142 years old, has 550 windows, and a clock tower that is 183 feet tall.  I’m not sure what creatures are living in there today.  You decide for yourself.      

7. Moscow Kremlin

The Kremlin is one of the most lavish structures in the world.  It is located in the heart of Moscow and overlooks the Moskva River to the south, Red Square to the east, and Alexander Garden to the west.  It stands on the left bank of the Moscow River, where it connects to the Neglinnaya River.  Kremlin is actually a Russian word for fortress or castle.  This landmark consists of four palaces, four cathedrals, and the enormous Kremlin Wall.  It is the residence of the President of Russia.
 
The castle originated around the 11th century as a Vyatich fortified structure.  It was destroyed by Mongols in 1237 and was gradually rebuilt over time.  After Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812, he ordered the entire structure to be destroyed.  He bombed The Kremlin for three days, but due to vast rainfall the damage was less severe then anticipated.  Restoration works were conducted from 1816-1819 under the rule of Alexander I.  In 1918, areas of The Kremlin were devastated by the Bolsheviks.  It was renovated in the 1990’s and today has architectural features from the last ten centuries. It is open to the public and contains numerous museums examining Russia’s history and culture.   

6. Krak des Chevaliers

This castle might be the most important preserved medieval military landmarks in the world.  It is a crusader fortress located east of Tripoli, Lebanon, in Syria. It sits atop a 650-metre-high hill along the only route from Antioch to Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea.  It is one of many fortresses that were built as a defensive network on the boarder of the old Crusader states.  This base controlled the road to the Mediterranean Sea.  During The Crusades this was an incredibly important structure.  Around 1200 it was expanded to the largest crusader fortress in the Holy Land and was transformed into a concentric castle, which is a castle within another castle. 

Some of the walls are over a hundred feet thick.  The structure has endured many battles and in 2006 the fortress was made a World Heritage Site, which is a place of cultural or historical significance.  Krak des Chevaliers is one of the few places in the world where certain forms of crusader art and architecture are on display.    

5. Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle is an ancient stronghold located atop Castle Rock in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland.  It is unclear exactly when it was constructed, but there has been a royal castle at the location since the reign of David I in the 12th century.  It continued to be a royal residence until 1603 and the Union of the Crowns.  Edinburgh Castle has been involved in numerous historical conflicts, including the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century and the Jacobite Rising of 1745.  It has been besieged, both successfully and unsuccessfully on many occasions. 

From the 17th century to the 19th century the castle was used as a military base with a large garrison.  In the 1800’s it was recognized as a historical monument and various restoration programs have been carried out since.  There are very few buildings in this area that pre-date the Lang Siege of the 16th century, when everything was destroyed by artillery bombardment.  The castle is now in the care of Historic Scotland.  It is the second most visited tourist attraction in Scotland and houses many different museum exhibits.           

4. Burg Katz (Castle Rhine)

Burg Katz is a castle above the German town of St. Goarshausen.  It is a truly remarkable structure tucked in the hillside.  It was built around 1371 by Count Wilhelm II of Katzenelnbogen.  It was originally used in the military as a commanding station.  The castle also provided a transportation corridor through the German countryside.  Burg Katz was an attractive target and was scarred by many battles.  Spaniards conducted a siege in 1626 and the French tried to capture it in 1684 and again in 1692.  In 1801, it was ultimately owned by France and Napoleon decided to blow it up in 1806.  It remained in disrepair well into the late 19th century.  The structure was rebuilt from 1896-98.  Burg Katz houses a private Natural Science Grammar and Boarding School and is closed to the pubic.  At least that is what they tell us, Hogwarts?    

3. Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle is located in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.  It is one of the most famous castles in this area and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the 16th century.  The design of this castle is extremely unique.  It was built on two raised platforms of landfill, supported by sheer walls of cut rock.  The technique is called Burdock piling.  The central castle building is five stories on the outside and eight on the inside.  It also has underground stories.  Construction began in 1583 under the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.  In 1615, Osakajo fell to Tokugawa clan.  At that time Tokugawa Hidetada reconstructed the castle with many additions. 

In 1868, much of the castle grounds were burned in the civil conflicts surrounding the Meiji Restoration.  The structure was then converted to a barracks.  In 1928, the main tower was restored and in 1945 in was damaged in bombing raids.  The last restoration on Osaka Castle took place from 1995-1997.  Today the castle grounds contain thirteen structures which have been designated as Important Cultural Assets by the Japanese government.  It is open to the pubic and an extremely popular vacation destination.    

2. Caerlaverock Castle

Caerlaverock Castle was built in the 13th century in southwest Scotland.  It is a unique structure and is a triangular double moated castle.  Located very close to the border with England, this castle was vital in defending off English troops on numerous occasions.  It was also besieged more then five times, most notably in 1300 by Edward I.  After a siege in 1640 by Catholic Maxwells the castle was permanently abandoned.  During this battle the south wall and tower were demolished, scars that remain today.  Caerlaverock Castle is an extremely popoular tourist attraction and its ruins are in a National Nature Reserve in the care of Scottish Natural Heritage.

1. Predjama Castle

Predjama Castle is a Renaissance castle woven within a cave mouth in southwestern Slovenia.  It was built in the Gothic style and first mentioned in 1274.  It is truly an architectural masterpiece.  The structure was constructed under a natural rocky arch high in the stone wall to prevent easy access.  The castle has changed hands many times throughout history.  Probably the most infamous owner was knight Erazem, who controlled the land in the late 15th century. 

Predjama Castle is located in the middle of a 123 m high, overhanging, limestone cliff.  It has numerous secret passage ways, including a natural shaft that leads out of a secret room.  The shaft was used to supply the castle with food during a time of siege and also for smuggling and criminal activity.  Over the years the structure has had numerous ghost sightings and reports of paranormal activity.  In 2008, it was featured on an episode of Ghost Hunters International on the Sci Fi Channel.  The castle was eventually confiscated by the state after World War II and today it is used as a museum showcasing the life of medieval lords.