Castles & Palaces

Alhambra

📍 Granada, Spain · 🕐 889–1333

A breathtaking Moorish palace-fortress with intricate Islamic geometric patterns, reflecting pools, and the Court of the Lions. A pinnacle of Islamic art in Europe.

Windsor Castle

📍 Windsor, United Kingdom · 🕐 1070

The oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, serving as the British royal residence for over 900 years. Covers 13 acres.

Himeji Castle

📍 Himeji, Japan · 🕐 1333–1609

Known as 'White Heron Castle' for its brilliant white exterior, this is Japan's most spectacular castle with 83 buildings and a complex defensive network.

Prague Castle

📍 Prague, Czech Republic · 🕐 870 CE

The largest ancient castle complex in the world at 70,000 square meters. Contains St. Vitus Cathedral, royal palace, and Golden Lane.

Edinburgh Castle

📍 Edinburgh, United Kingdom · 🕐 12th century

Scotland's most iconic landmark, sitting atop an extinct volcano. The castle has been besieged 26 times — more than any other place in Britain.

Tower of London

📍 London, United Kingdom · 🕐 1066

A 1,000-year-old fortress that has served as royal palace, prison, execution site, armory, treasury, and home of the Crown Jewels.

Château de Chambord

📍 Chambord, France · 🕐 1519–1547

The largest château in the Loire Valley with 440 rooms, 365 fireplaces, and a famous double-helix staircase possibly designed by Leonardo da Vinci.

Bran Castle

📍 Bran, Romania · 🕐 1377–1388

Topkapi Palace

📍 Istanbul, Turkey · 🕐 1459–1465

Pena Palace

📍 Sintra, Portugal · 🕐 1842–1854

Schönbrunn Palace

📍 Vienna, Austria · 🕐 1696–1712

Potala Palace

📍 Lhasa, China · 🕐 1645–1694

Kronborg Castle

📍 Helsingør, Denmark · 🕐 1574–1585

Château de Chenonceau

📍 Chenonceaux, France · 🕐 1514–1522

Matsumoto Castle

📍 Matsumoto, Japan · 🕐 1593–1594

Conwy Castle

📍 Conwy, United Kingdom · 🕐 1283–1287

Warwick Castle

📍 Warwick, United Kingdom · 🕐 1068

Malbork Castle

📍 Malbork, Poland · 🕐 1274–1406

Alcázar of Segovia

📍 Segovia, Spain · 🕐 12th century

Buckingham Palace

📍 London, United Kingdom · 🕐 1703

Dolmabahçe Palace

📍 Istanbul, Turkey · 🕐 1843–1856

Château de Fontainebleau

📍 Fontainebleau, France · 🕐 12th century–19th century

Corvin Castle

📍 Hunedoara, Romania · 🕐 1446

Château d'If

📍 Marseille, France · 🕐 1524–1531

Bodiam Castle

📍 East Sussex, United Kingdom · 🕐 1385

Catherine Palace

📍 Tsarskoye Selo, Russia · 🕐 1717–1756

Chillon Castle

📍 Veytaux, Switzerland · 🕐 12th century

Château de Vincennes

📍 Vincennes, France · 🕐 1150–1410

Krak des Chevaliers

📍 Homs, Syria · 🕐 1140–1170

Hohenzollern Castle

📍 Hechingen, Germany · 🕐 1846–1867

Osaka Castle

📍 Osaka, Japan · 🕐 1583–1597

Château de Carcassonne

📍 Carcassonne, France · 🕐 3rd century – 13th century

Peterhof Palace

📍 Peterhof, Russia · 🕐 1714–1755

Blenheim Palace

📍 Woodstock, United Kingdom · 🕐 1705–1722

Hearst Castle

📍 San Simeon, United States · 🕐 1919–1947

Château de Chantilly

📍 Chantilly, France · 🕐 1560, rebuilt 1875

Hohensalzburg Fortress

📍 Salzburg, Austria · 🕐 1077

Castel del Monte

📍 Andria, Italy · 🕐 1240s

Predjama Castle

📍 Predjama, Slovenia · 🕐 1274

Mysore Palace

📍 Mysuru, India · 🕐 1897–1912

Château de Villandry

📍 Villandry, France · 🕐 1536

Heidelberg Castle

📍 Heidelberg, Germany · 🕐 1214

Gyeongbokgung Palace

📍 Seoul, South Korea · 🕐 1395

Nijo Castle

📍 Kyoto, Japan · 🕐 1603

Château de Amboise

📍 Amboise, France · 🕐 15th century

Stirling Castle

📍 Stirling, United Kingdom · 🕐 12th century

Château de Blois

📍 Blois, France · 🕐 13th–17th century

Kilkenny Castle

📍 Kilkenny, Ireland · 🕐 1195

Eltz Castle

📍 Wierschem, Germany · 🕐 12th century

Glamis Castle

📍 Angus, United Kingdom · 🕐 14th century

Amber Fort

📍 Jaipur, India · 🕐 1592

Château de Mont-Saint-Michel

📍 Mont-Saint-Michel, France · 🕐 708 CE onwards

Citadel of Aleppo

📍 Aleppo, Syria · 🕐 3000 BCE onwards

Drottningholm Palace

📍 Stockholm, Sweden · 🕐 1662

Castello Sforzesco

📍 Milan, Italy · 🕐 1370

Summer Palace

📍 Beijing, China · 🕐 1750

Matsue Castle

📍 Matsue, Japan · 🕐 1607–1611

Karlštejn Castle

📍 Karlštejn, Czech Republic · 🕐 1348

Fortress of Guaita

📍 San Marino, San Marino · 🕐 11th century

Château de Azay-le-Rideau

📍 Azay-le-Rideau, France · 🕐 1518–1527

Balmoral Castle

📍 Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom · 🕐 1856

Mehrangarh Fort

📍 Jodhpur, India · 🕐 1459

Château de Sully-sur-Loire

📍 Sully-sur-Loire, France · 🕐 14th century

Kronborg Castle

📍 Helsingør, Denmark · 🕐 1574–1585

Palazzo Pitti

📍 Florence, Italy · 🕐 1458

Matsumae Castle

📍 Matsumae, Japan · 🕐 1606, rebuilt 1960

Hever Castle

📍 Kent, United Kingdom · 🕐 1270

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

📍 Dambulla, Sri Lanka · 🕐 477–495 CE

Château de Ussé

📍 Rigny-Ussé, France · 🕐 15th century

Gwrych Castle

📍 Abergele, United Kingdom · 🕐 1812–1822

Royal Palace of Madrid

📍 Madrid, Spain · 🕐 1738–1755

Château de Compiègne

📍 Compiègne, France · 🕐 1374, rebuilt 1751

Chapultepec Castle

📍 Mexico City, Mexico · 🕐 1785

Castelo de São Jorge

📍 Lisbon, Portugal · 🕐 1st century BCE

Château de Pierrefonds

📍 Pierrefonds, France · 🕐 1393, restored 1857

Jaisalmer Fort

📍 Jaisalmer, India · 🕐 1156

Leeds Castle

📍 Kent, United Kingdom · 🕐 1119

Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

📍 Maincy, France · 🕐 1658–1661

Castel Sant'Angelo

📍 Rome, Italy · 🕐 123–139 CE

Wawel Royal Castle

📍 Kraków, Poland · 🕐 14th century

Changdeokgung Palace

📍 Seoul, South Korea · 🕐 1405

Fasil Ghebbi

📍 Gondar, Ethiopia · 🕐 17th century

Château de Langeais

📍 Langeais, France · 🕐 1465–1469

Raglan Castle

📍 Monmouthshire, United Kingdom · 🕐 1430s

Château de la Loire (Chinon)

📍 Chinon, France · 🕐 10th century

Boldt Castle

📍 Heart Island, NY, United States · 🕐 1900

Red Fort

📍 Delhi, India · 🕐 1638–1648

Château de Pau

📍 Pau, France · 🕐 12th century

Frederiksborg Castle

📍 Hillerød, Denmark · 🕐 1560–1630

Chittorgarh Fort

📍 Chittorgarh, India · 🕐 7th century

Château de Rambouillet

📍 Rambouillet, France · 🕐 1368

Burg Eltz

📍 Wierschem, Germany · 🕐 12th century

Winter Palace

📍 St. Petersburg, Russia · 🕐 1754–1762

Kensington Palace

📍 London, United Kingdom · 🕐 1605

Shuri Castle

📍 Naha, Okinawa, Japan · 🕐 14th century

Château de Azay-le-Rideau

📍 Azay-le-Rideau, France · 🕐 1518

Citadelle Laferrière

📍 Milot, Haiti · 🕐 1805–1820