10 Impressive Castles You'll Definitely Want to Live In

Medieval architects can rightfully be considered geniuses in their field. The castles they built combined practicality and wealth while remaining beautiful and at the same time impregnable for the enemy. And the fact that many of them are still standing today speaks volumes about the genius of their creators. And these castles are so beautiful as if they came out of the pages of fairy tales about knights, princesses, and dragons.

We will show you the 10 most beautiful castles that have survived today.

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1. Swallow's nest, Crimea, Yalta.

Initially, an ordinary wooden house stood on Cape Ai-Todor in Yalta. We owe the appearance of the castle, which has become a popular tourist destination, to the German oil magnate Baron von Steingel, who loved holidays in the Crimea and decided to build a castle that would remind him of buildings on the banks of the Rhine. 

2. Reichsburg Cochem, Germany.

This very ancient, thousand-year-old castle was the residence of King Conrad III. But in 1689 the French burned down the castle and it could have gone down in history forever, but in 1868 a German businessman bought the castle and restored it.

3. Mont Saint-Michel, France

This fortress is impregnable, as it is surrounded by the sea on all sides. The castle is considered one of the most popular attractions in France. It was built in 709 and over the years it has not lost its grandeur.

4. Hochosterwitz Castle, Austria

Hochosterwitz Castle was built in the ninth century at a height of 160 meters. When the sky is clear, the castle is visible from a distance of 30 km.

5. Bled Castle, Slovenia

The castle is built on a 100-meter cliff and offers stunning views of Lake Bled from its windows. But the castle is famous not only for its view, but for its rich history. Previously, the Serbian royal family lived there, and then the Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito occupied the castle.

6. Hohenzollern Castle, Germany

This castle also stands on the Hohenzollern mountain at an altitude of 2.8 km above sea level. Once upon a time, the Prussian kings lived there.

7. Castillo de San Servando, Spain

The castle is located in the Spanish province of Toledo and was built in the 15th century by a Spanish nobleman. For 100 years there was a military garrison and artillery.

8. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

This romantic castle was built by order of King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the mid-19th century. Even at that time, the castle was considered extravagant.

9. Castle in Methoni, Greece.

The Venetian-style Methoni Castle has been the epicenter of many battles, as well as the last outpost of the Europeans in their fight against the Turks since its construction in the 14th century.

10. Hohenschwangau Castle, Germany

This fortress was built by a family of knights in the Schwangau region of Germany in the 12th century. It served as the official residence of a large number of rulers, including Ludwig II, who met the world-famous composer Richard Wagner within the castle walls.