The 10 Most Beautiful Castles Around The World, Ranked

The 10 Most Beautiful Castles in the World, Ranked by Splendor

 1: Himeji Castle, Japan

At the top of our list is Himeji Castle in Japan. It is elegant and composed, exuding an understated beauty that is typically Japanese. UNESCO has recognized it as the finest surviving example of 17th-century Japanese castle architecture, and its upturned eaves resemble a heron taking flight, earning it the nickname "White Heron Castle." It was originally built to protect the local Akamatsu clan from rampaging shogun warriors. When the cherry blossoms are in bloom, we're not sure there's any more beautiful building on Earth

2: Kings of the castles

Often built by nobility and almost always set in dramatic locations, it should come as no surprise that castles are among the most impressive buildings on the planet. They were designed to project wealth and power, and in most cases, no expense was spared in building them.

 

3: Vianden Castle, Luxembourg

The tiny European nation of Luxembourg is famous for its castles, and the gorgeous Romanesque Vianden Castle is the fairest of them all. It was built between the 11th and 14th centuries on the site of an ancient Roman fortress overlooking the beautiful Our River. It was one of the grandest feudal residences in Europe and was at the peak of its powers in the 13th century under Henry I of Vianden, known as Luxembourg's 'Sun Count' thanks to his luxurious lifestyle. The castle was restored to its original glory after transferring to state ownership in 1977.

4: Amber Fort, India

This stunning Rajput jewel crowns a rocky hilltop near the fabled 'Pink City’ of Jaipur. Made from red sandstone and white marble, it is the second most visited site in India after the Taj Mahal and was built in 1592 to serve as a palace and military fort for Raja Man Singh. But with its lavish interiors and cool courtyards, this royal refuge soon became a place of music, art, and scholarly learning, with a courtly culture as sophisticated as its shimmering mirror halls.

5: Larnach Castle, New Zealand

New Zealand’s most famous 'castle' (albeit arguably its only one), Larnach Castle sits on a ridge overlooking the South Island city of Dunedin. Built in 1871 by notorious entrepreneur and politician William Larnach, it immediately got tongues wagging with its over-the-top opulence, hitherto unseen in Victorian New Zealand. In 1898 Lanarch’s Midas touch deserted him, and his financial difficulties led him to take his own life in New Zealand's Parliament House. Today, the castle has been lovingly restored, and its magnificent gardens are particularly noteworthy.

6: Bodiam Castle, England, UK

Bodiam Castle in East Sussex is a classic medieval castle, with thick, crenelated walls supported by nine stubby towers, all surrounded by a moat. It was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, previously one of Edward III’s knights, in the face of a possible invasion by the French during the Hundred Years' War. Its design is unusual in that it was built as much for comfort as protection, with multiple inner courts providing ample space for those living and working inside the castle. Today it is one of the National Trust’s most beloved properties.

7: Topkapi Palace, Turkey

Stunning Topkapi Palace was initially built by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II after he conquered Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453. Many of his successor sultans added their own flourishes, resulting in a medley of Islamic, Ottoman, and European styles. The sprawling palace enjoys commanding views across the Bosphorus and used to house up to 4,000 inhabitants – with up to 300 in the harem alone. Today it houses a vast museum that exhibits important artifacts from the Ottoman Empire, including an extensive collection of books and manuscripts.

8: Castello di Amorosa, California, USACastello di Amorosa sits surrounded by braided vineyards in California’s Napa Valley and was only finished in 2007. It's the youngest castle on our list but is no less beautiful for it – indeed, it's a mirror image of the castles of 14th-century Tuscany, right down to its antique decorations and mock-medieval torture chamber. "In my mind, everything had to be authentic or it wouldn’t be worth the effort," says Dario Suttui, renowned winemaker and owner of the castle.

9: Frederiksborg Castle, Denmark

Located across three small isles on Castle Lake in Hillerod, Frederiksborg Castle was built in the early 17th century by King Christian IV as a symbol of his power as ruler of Denmark and Norway. The largest and probably best Renaissance castle anywhere in Scandinavia, it's famous for its architecture as well as for its stunningly symmetrical Baroque garden, created by JC Krieger in 1725. Disaster struck in 1859 when a fire destroyed much of its lavish interior. Thankfully, it was rebuilt by JC Jacobsen, the owner and founder of the famed brewery Carlsberg.

10: Malbork Castle, Poland

This massive red-brick bastion on the banks of the River Nogat is Europe’s largest fortress, sprawling over an incredible 52 acres. It was built by the Teutonic Order in 1274 to protect the area from pagan Prussian warriors and was such a formidable stronghold that the Order’s Grand Master moved there from Venice in 1309. It remains a remarkable example of the Teutonic Knights' architectural style and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.