Thread by @JamesLucasIT

The most beautiful castles on Earth 🧵

1. St Michael's Mount, Cornwall

2. Château de Pierrefonds, Northern France

This castle was in ruins for more than two centuries when Napoleon I bought it in 1810 for less than 3,000 francs.

In the 19th century, it gained fame as a "romantic ruin" and was later extensively restored under Napoleon III.

3. Castle of Rocca Calascio, Italy

At an elevation of around 1,460 metres (4,790 ft), Rocca Calascio is the highest fortress in the Apennines and one of the highest castles in Europe.

It's nearly a thousand years old.

4. This is not CGI, it's one of the most beautiful castles in the world.

Neuschwanstein Castle, commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as a tribute to composer Richard Wagner, served as the inspiration for Disneyland's iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle.

5. Eltz Castle, Germany

This magnificent medieval castle, nestled in the hills above the Moselle River between Koblenz and Trier, is still owned by a branch of the House of Eltz, whose family has lived there since the 12th century.

6. Scaligero Castle, Italy

This stunning example of medieval architecture, located at the entrance to Sirmione's historic center on Lake Garda, is one of Italy's best preserved castles.

7. Corvin Castle, Romania

As one of Europe's largest castles and the place where Vlad the Impaler was once imprisoned by the Hungarians, this fortress is celebrated as one of the Seven Wonders of Romania.

8. Orava Castle, Slovakia

This gem served as the hauntingly atmospheric backdrop for the 1922 horror classic Nosferatu, representing Count Orlok's Transylvanian castle.

9. Castel del Monte, Apulia, Italy

Built during the 1240s by King Frederick II, this Italian castle is famous for its stunning octagonal plan and was described by UNESCO as "a unique masterpiece of medieval military architecture".

10. Albrechtsburg Castle, Germany

This stunning Late Gothic castle, located in the town centre of Meissen in the German state of Saxony, was erected from 1471 till about 1495.

11. Sforza Castle, Milan, Italy

Built in the 15th century, it was decorated by various artists, including Leonardo da Vinci.

It also houses works by Tintoretto, Mantegna, Canaletto, and Michelangelo's final sculpture: the Rondanini Pietà.

12. Belogradchik Fortress, Bulgaria

A historic stronghold strategically built into the natural rock formations of the Balkan Mountains.

13. Chateau Chambord, the largest castle in the Loire Valley, France.

14. Osaka Castle, Japan

Like many other Japanese castles, it is surrounded by a moat for defense and is built atop a man-made stone base.

The site is also famous for its massive megalithic stones, such as the "Octopus Stone," which weighs over 120 tonnes.

15. Gwalior Fort, India

Mughal Emperor Babur referred to it as the "pearl among the fortresses of Hind" for its majestic beauty and formidable defenses. It is famously known as the Gibraltar of India.

16. Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome

Commissioned by Emperor Hadrian as his mausoleum, the structure later transformed into a papal castle.

17. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

This historic fortress perched atop Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age, is Scotland's most (and the United Kingdom's second most) visited paid tourist attraction.

18. Prague Castle

Built in the 9th century, this wonder has long served as the seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia.

The Bohemian Crown Jewels are stored in a secret chamber within the castle.

19. Bran Castle, Romania

Built by the Saxons in 1377, this masterpiece is widely known outside Transylvania as Dracula's Castle. It is marketed as the home of Bram Stoker's titular character, though there is no evidence Stoker was aware of it.

20. Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley

The current château was constructed between 1514 and 1522 on the site of an ancient mill and was subsequently expanded to cross the river.

21. The Alcázar of Segovia, Spain

This marvel dates back to at least the 12th century and it is among the world's most renowned medieval castles and a top tourist attraction in Spain.

22. Pena Palace, Portugal

This breathtaking castle sits atop a hill in the Sintra Mountains, overlooking the town of Sintra.

On clear days, it is visible from Lisbon and its surrounding areas.

23. Peles Castle, Romania

During the construction phase, Queen Elisabeth of Wied wrote in her journal:

"Italians were masons, Romanians were building terraces, Greeks worked in stone, Germans were carpenters. Engineers were Polish and the stone carvers were Czech."

24. Rocca imperiale, Italy

Included among I Borghi più belli d'Italia (the most beautiful villages of Italy), the village's highlight is a majestic 13th-century castle situated at the very top.

25. Hohenzollern Castle, Germany

This majestic fortress, the ancestral seat of the imperial House of Hohenzollern, was constructed between 1846 and 1867 atop Mount Hohenzollern as a family memorial by King Frederick William IV of Prussia.

26. Castel Nuovo, Italy

Also known as Maschio Angioino, its imposing size and scenic location, with Mount Vesuvius in the background, make this castle one of Naples's main architectural landmarks.

27. Bojnice Castle, Slovakia

This magnificent 12th-century Romanesque castle, featuring Gothic and Renaissance elements, was owned by Hungarian kings and nobles until the Treaty of Trianon (1920) made the territory part of Czechoslovakia.

28. Karlštejn Castle, Czech Republic

This Gothic castle, founded in 1348 by King Charles IV, served as a secure haven for the Imperial Regalia, the Bohemian Crown Jewels, holy relics, and other royal treasures.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this thread on the world’s most majestic castles, please share the first post (linked below) and follow me for more content: @JamesLucasIT

This map shows the concentration of castles in Europe.

Wales has more castles per square mile than any other European country.

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