Travel Journal
Exploring the World...our way
We don't just travel, we explore
- Vien & Hermann
DUNNOTTAR CASTLE, SCOTLAND
Castles of Europe
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
- Maya Angelou
Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Scotland
There are countless castles in Europe. Some are like it came from a fairy tale book, some were fortress-like and some are just remnants of what was once a grand building. But ruins or not, its the history behind them, the architecture and how and why it was built that makes each castle fascinating.
Hohenschwangau Castle, Germany
Hohenschwangau Castle (High Swan County Palace) is located in the village of Hohenschwangau in Bavaria, Germany. A 19th century castle built in Gothic architecture.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Neuschwanstein Castle (New Swan Stone) is located in the village of Hohenschwangau in Bavaria, Germany. A 19th century revival style built by King Ludwig II, Bavaria's legendary king.
Schloss Laufen Castle, Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Schloss Laufen Castle is a former home of the Barons of Laufen. Also the gateway down to the Rhine Falls. It dates back to 858.
Castelo de Sáo Jorge, Portugal
Castelo de Sáo Jorge (Saint George's Castle) is located in Lisbon, Portugal. The first king of Portugal, Dom Alfonso Henriques built this castle on top of a hill overlooking the historic center of Lisbon and the Tejo River.
Palacio da Peña, Portugal
Palacio da Peña (Peña Palace) was built on top of the hill above Sintra. It was once a summer residence for the Portuguese royalty.
Castelo dos Mouros, Portugal
Castelo do Mouros (Castle of the Moors) is located in Sintra, Portugal. It was once a strategic location controlling routes between Sintra and Lisbon and between Mafra and Cascais.
Castelo de Óbidos, Portugal
Castelo de Óbidos is located in the medieval town of Óbidos in Portugal. This castle is now a Pousada, a luxury hotel.
Castelo Novo, Portugal
Castelo Novo is located on the slope of Serra da Gardunha, a Moorish name meaning "a mountain of refuge".
Monsanto, Portugal
The villagers of Monsanto celebrate Festival of the Crosses (Festa das Cruzes) every 3rd of May commemorating the feat they endured during a seven year siege by the Romans in the 2nd century. They go up to the castle and throw vases with flowers over the wall while being serenaded by songs.
Castelo de Vide, Portugal
Castelo de Vide is located in the Alentejo region. The town's 14th century castle located in the oldest part of town is classified as a National Monument.
Marváo Castle, Portugal
Marváo Castle is located in the highest territory in the Alentejo in the town known as "the eagle's nest". This is a fine example of a crusader-era medieval castle.
Castelo de Monsaraz, Portugal
Castelo de Monsaraz is a 13th century castle first built after the Christian re-conquest.
Alcazaba de Trujillo, Spain
The Alcazaba de Trujillo was built in the 13th century on the site of an old Moorish fortress dating from the 9th to 12th centuries.
Alcazaba, Mérida, Spain
A fortification built along the Guadiana River in Mérida, Spain
Parador de Zafra, Spain
This is a 15th century fortress converted into a palace (Alcázar de los Duques de Feria) and became a residence of the Duke of Feria. Today, it is a hotel called Parador de Zafra.
Alcazaba Jerez de los Caballeros, Spain
This Alcazaba in Jerez de los Caballeros was first built by the Moors. The current fortress was improved when the Knights Templar took over in 13th century.
Trim Castle, Ireland
Trim Castle is located on the River Boyne, in County Meath, Ireland. The ruined castle is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in the Country, built by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter for a period of over thirty years starting in 1176.
Kilkenny Castle, Ireland
Kilkenny Castle is located by the River Nore. Its history dates back to the 12th century. Today, the castle is mainly a Victorian remodel of the former defensive castle, managed by the Office of Public Works.
Ross Castle, Ireland
Ross Castle is located outside of town of Killarney, within the National Park, on the shores of Lough Leane in County Kerry. It was built in the late 15th century by the Clan O'Donoghue Mor (Ross).
Bunratty Castle, Ireland
Bunratty Castle ("Castle of the Mouth of the Ratty") is located in the center of Bunratty village. It is the most complete and authentic castle in Ireland, restored in the 1960's by Lord Gorts.
Minard Castle, Ireland
Minard Castle is one of the tower houses built on the Dingle Peninsula by the Clan Fitzgerald in the mid-16th century. The ruined castle remained uninhabited since Cromwell forces destroyed it.
Dún na Séad Castle, Ireland
Dún na Séad Castle (Baltimore Castle), built in 1215 on top of a hill by an Anglo Norman, is located by the harbor of Baltimore, County Cork. This historic castle fell into ruins in 17th century and was restored by the present owner, the McCarthy's.
Dunguaire Castle, Ireland
Dunguaire Castle is located on the southeastern shore of Galway Bay in Ireland. Built by the O'Hynes in 1520, it changed hands many times and later associated with Irish literary greats such as Yeats.
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle, one of Scotland's grandest castles, located on top of an extinct volcano surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs. Fortified since ancient times, this castle was the home of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Balloch Castle, Scotland
Balloch Castle is a Tudor Gothic building located on the southeast shores of Loch Lomond, part of the National Park. It was built in 1808-1809 by John Buchanan of Ardoch. Today, the private estate is a Balloch Country Park.
Inveraray Castle
Inveraray Castle is located on the shores of Loch Fyne, in the county of Argyll. The 18th century castle is the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, chief of the Campbell Clan.
Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
The Eilean Donan (Island of Donan) Castle is a 13th century castle located on an island where three great sea lochs meet - less than a mile from the village of Dornie. The ruined castle was restored by Lt. Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap, completed in 1932.
Urquhart Castle, Scotland
Urquhart (pronounced "Urk'at") is located on the banks of Loch Ness. It was once the largest castle in Scotland. As a medieval fortress and military stronghold, it suffered great conflicts and was never re-built.
Inverness Castle
Inverness Castle is located on the banks of the River Ness at the center of town. It sits on the site of a medieval fortification that once dominated the burg of Inverness.
Cawdor Castle, Scotland
The 14th century Cawdor Castle located in Nairnshire, Scotland was built around a small living holly tree. Built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor, it passed to the Campbells in the 16th century. Today, it is home to the Dowager Countess Cawdor, stepmother of the 7th Earl of Cawdor.
Huntly Castle, Scotland
Huntly Castle is located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland and was the ancestral home of the chief of Clan Gordon, Earl of Huntly. Today, the ruined castle is under the care of Historic Environment Scotland.
Dunnottar Castle, Scotland
Dunnottar Castle ("fort on the shelving slope") is located two miles south of Stonehaven. The castle is known for keeping the "Honours of Scotland", the crown jewels, from Oliver Cromwell's invading army in the 17th century.
Crathes Castle
Crathes Castle is a 16th century castle located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was built by the Burnetts of Leys on land given as a gift by King Robert the Bruce in 1323. Today, the castle is owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland.
Balmoral Castle, Scotland
Balmoral Castle is located in the region of Aberdeenshire. This is the Scottish home of the Royal family, one of two personal private residences the royals own.
Braemar Castle, Scotland
Braemar Castle is located in Aberdeenshire in Scotland. The present castle was built in 1628 by the Earl of Mar. Today, it is owned by the chief of Clan Farquharson and leased to the local community who are fund-raising to restore the castle.
Glamis Castle, Scotland
Glamis Castle is located in Angus, Scotland. It was first built in the late 1300's. The present castle dates mostly from the 17th century.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle stands on top of a volcanic crag called Castle Rock, in the capital of Scotland. It houses the crown jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Scone, also known as the "Stone of Destiny, used for centuries when crowning monarchs.
Palace of Holyroodhouse, Scotland
The Palace of Holyroodhouse located at the end of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, was once home of Mary, Queen of Scots. Today, the palace is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II in Scotland.
Blackness Castle, Scotland
Blackness Castle located by the Firth of Forth is a 15th century castle that looks like "a ship that never sailed". It was once a royal castle in the 1400's. It became a fortress and a state prison, then an ammunition depot in the late 19th century.
Linlithgow Castle, Scotland
Linlithgow Castle is located fifteen miles west of Edinburgh, was one of the main residences of the monarchs of Scotland in the 15th and 16th centuries.