Burg Hochosterwitz, Austria
One of Austria’s most impressive medieval castles, Hochosterwitz sits 520 feet high and can be seen 19 miles away on a clear day.
Bodiam Castle, United Kingdom
This 14th-century moated castle was built by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge to defend the area against French invasion during the Hundred Years’ War.
Castillo de Coca, Spain
This castle was built on the site of ancient Cauca, the birthplace of the Roman emperor Theodosius. The castle now serves as a training school for foresters.
Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, California
The Sleeping Beauty castle was inspired by Neuschwanstein (#5 on the list) and stands as a landmark in Disneyland.
Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
Alnwick’s interior and exterior was used to film Hogwarts scenes in the Harry Potter films and has roughly 800,000 visitors per year.
Schloss Moritzburg, Germany
Named after Duke Mortiz of Saxony, this palace lies on artificial land and is surrounded by woodlands used for hunting.
Castle Howard, Yorkshire
One of the grandest private residences in Britain, this beautiful estate has been home to the Howard family for over 300 years.
Osaka Castle, Japan
One of Japan’s most famous castles, Osaka has a five-story exterior and an eight-story interior. It was built atop a tall stone foundation to protect its occupants from attackers during the 16th century
.
This palace was built to serve as a hunting lodge for François I, and has very distinct French Renaissance architecture. It opened to the public in 2007 and has drawn in more than 700,000 visitors.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Ludwig II of Bavaria built this castle as a personal refuge. After he died in 1886, Neuschwanstein opened to the paying public and has since had over 60 million visitors.
Hohenwerfen Castle, Austria
This 11th-century castle is surrounded by the Berchtesgaden Alps and the Tennengebirge mountain range. Exterior shots of the castle were used as a French hotel in the movie Just Married.
Kilkenny Castle, Ireland
Kilkenny was built in 1195 by William Marshal and now serves as a conference and graduation venue.
Peleș Castle, Romania
This Neo-Renaissance castle is located in the Carpathian Mountains, built between 1873 and 1914.
Malbork Castle, Poland
Malbork is the largest castle in the world (surface area), and the largest brick building in Europe.
Corfe Castle, Dorset
Corfe Castle is a fortification that dates back to the 11th century, designed by William the Conquerer.