9 Castles You Thought Only Existed in Fairy Tales

Plenty of real castles could pass for fantasy illustrations, but their stories are far more layered than anything in fiction. They served as homes, battlegrounds, or sometimes sat forgotten for centuries. A few continue to function as museums or royal residences.

Here are some castles that feel unreal, yet every one of them stands, unmistakably, on solid ground.

Eltz Castle, Germany

Under continuous ownership by the Eltz family for over 800 years, this medieval fortress has never been abandoned or destroyed. Its architecture includes elements from the Romanesque through the Baroque periods. You’ll find armories, sleeping chambers, and handwritten archives in the corners of the estate.

Peleș Castle, Romania

This mountain retreat was commissioned by King Carol I in the 19th century and became one of the first European castles powered by electricity. Its neo-Renaissance design takes you through a library with hidden passages, a music room, and a miniature theater. Public access resumed only after 1989.

Hohensalzburg Castle, Austria

Perched high above Salzburg, this fortress stretches wide across the hilltop and has no shortage of unusual details. One of the strangest things about it might be its emblem—a lion gripping a turnip. No one’s quite pinned down the meaning, but it shows up throughout the grounds.

Himeji Castle, Japan

This is one of the few castles in Japan that was never destroyed by war, earthquake, or fire. Its brilliant white walls and multilayered roofs earned it the nickname “White Egret.” Its paths twist deliberately as a defensive strategy to disorient anyone attempting an invasion. It holds UNESCO World Heritage status and is open year-round, though spring’s cherry blossoms draw the heaviest crowds.

Spis Castle, Slovakia

The Spis Castle, covering over 500,000 square feet, began as a Romanesque fort in the 12th century and later expanded into a Gothic stronghold. One room has been turned into a compact museum filled with swords, shields, and other medieval gear. If you look around the exposed foundations, you can see how the structure changed over time as different owners left their mark.

Prague Castle, Czechia

At the Prague Castle, the grounds feel more like a walled city than a single site. St. Vitus Cathedral usually draws people in first with its stained glass and Gothic towers, but it’s the details that stay with you—gardens between courtyards and statues around corners.

Bran Castle, Romania

The interesting thing about the Bran Castle is that it is often misidentified as Dracula’s Castle due to its alignment with Bram Stoker’s descriptions, although there’s no direct link to Vlad the Impaler. The corridors, built for defense, are narrow and winding, with uneven steps that are a good depiction of the fortress’s strategic priorities.

Alcázar de Segovia, Spain

This castle began as an Arab fort and later became a royal palace for Castilian kings. Its unusual hull-shaped layout is likely due to its adaptation to the uneven terrain. During the Spanish Golden Age, it housed Queen Isabella I before she launched her rule.

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

Eilean Donan is known as much for its setting as for what’s inside. Its thick stone walls surround rooms filled with portraits, weaponry, and relics from clan life. It’s still privately owned, and the family maintains much of the display themselves.

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

The Edinburgh Castle has housed Scottish monarchs, served as a military garrison, and held prisoners of war. Key features for you to explore include the Honours of Scotland (crown jewels), the Stone of Destiny, and the Royal Palace. The site also contains a small cemetery for regimental dogs, and the parade ground sits high enough to overlook much of Edinburgh’s skyline.

Buda Castle, Hungary

Inside the Buda Castle, you can walk through the Hungarian National Gallery, which displays centuries of local art, or explore the Budapest History Museum located in the castle’s southern wing. The ornate Matthias Fountain and Habsburg Room represent various royal tastes across eras. Beneath the castle, the Labyrinth—once used as a bomb shelter and prison—now opens for tours through its dim, echoing corridors.

Windsor Castle, England

Windsor Castle holds far more than most people expect. The State Apartments showcase ceremonial swords, portraits, and intricate ceiling work. St. George’s Chapel is open to the public and popular for its stained glass and quiet crypts.

Château de Chenonceau, France

Château de Chenonceau features a long, arched gallery that once served as a ballroom suspended above the water. Catherine de’ Medici used it to host elaborate court festivities, including lavish banquets and theatrical performances. Today, the gallery remains the centerpiece, lined with black-and-white tiles and views of the river below.

Chapultepec Castle, Mexico

After its years as a military stronghold and imperial residence, Chapultepec Castle became Mexico’s National Museum of History in 1944. It now captivates the attention of students, scholars, and tourists interested in the country’s colonial, independence, and revolutionary periods.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Puerto Rico

The thick, sloping walls of El Morro were built to outlast cannon fire, and they readily dominate the shoreline in Old San Juan. It’s easy to spend hours here without realizing it—climbing narrow ramps, ducking into tunnels, or pausing by old garitas.