Inspiring European Castles for Your Road Trip Bucket List

As a Scot, I’ve got a certain connection with castles. My homeland is full of them, and summer holidays as a kid were always packed with castle visits.

One of the most memorable was going to a medieval re-enactment at Fyvie Castle with my Dad and Granny as a 5-year-old. It was the middle of summer, warm(-ish, as summer in the northeast of Scotland goes) and bees were buzzing around as we watched the jousting. Granny had the sandwiches at the ready, and we were all set for an afternoon of fun.

Next thing I know, Dad is whacking my leg wildly with a newspaper. Turns out I was about to get stung by a wasp, so thanks Dad!

Despite any mildly-traumatic childhood memories, castles are always high up on my must-see list when I visit a new destination. So, when I spotted this article on the 26 Most Beautiful Castles in Europe, it immediately became more of a to-do list than pure diversion.

I’m currently at a modest 6/26, so there’s still plenty of work to be done. Some of them might look a little familiar to you, too, even if you’ve never visited. Easily one of the most famous on the list is Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, built in the 1870-1880s for “mad” King Ludwig II, and the inspiration behind Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle.

Nestled in the Bavarian Alps, it’s easy to see how the picturesque setting overlooking the Alpsee lake could inspire a fairytale. And while Neuschwanstein was King Ludwig’s pet project, nearby Hohenschwangau Castle was the family summer home, so really it’s a 2-for-1 deal if you visit. Add in the hiking trails and cable car offering breathtaking views, and you’re on to a winner.

What you might not know is that another one of those castles, Alcazar de Segovia in Spain, also claims to have inspired Cinderella’s castle. The medieval fortress-turned-royal palace is much older than its German competition, with the first written mention dating back to the 12th century.

The town of Segovia is only an hour away from the Spanish capital, making it a popular day trip for city breakers. As well as the gothic cliff-top castle, the Roman aqueduct cutting through town and the imposing cathedral are seriously impressive sights. Just don’t do what I did and take “the scenic route” back to the centre in the baking summer heat. The Diet Coke at the end was the best I’ve ever tasted, though.

The Disney doesn’t end in Spain, either. Switzerland’s Château de Chillon on Lake Geneva inspired Prince Eric’s Castle in The Little Mermaid, as well as a poem by Lord Byron and several works of art.

Perched on the water at the far end of the lake from Geneva, the area is especially popular with music fans due to the legendary Montreaux Jazz Festival. Somewhat less expected is the Freddie Mercury statue overlooking the lake—a homage to the artist, who settled in the town when Queen bought over Mountain Studios, which is now a museum dedicated to the band.

Film buffs might also recognise opulent Culzean Castle on the west coast of Scotland from a whole other kind of on-screen moment, having appeared as Lord Summerisle’s home in the 1973 cult classic The Wicker Man. Like all good imposing castles, this one, too, is perched atop a cliff, with views towards the Isle of Arran and seemingly endless gardens and woodland.

Culzean is right in the middle of Robert Burns Country, making it an ideal stop on a tour around the life and times of Scotland’s Bard. You’ll want to visit the town of Alloway, Burns’ birthplace, to get your fill of history in the Burns Birthplace Museum and take in the picturesque River Doon. But only hang around until after dark if you’re not afraid to hear the “ghaists and houlets nightly cry”.

Each of the 26 stunning castles included evokes a sense of wonder to me, and clearly I’m not the only one who has felt that way over the centuries. Dig a little further into what else there is to uncover nearby, and I can easily find myself planning a whole trip based around one neo-Gothic castle in central Slovakia.

So tell me, readers, do castles do it for you, too?

How many on the list have you been to, and which ones would you recommend that aren’t included? I’ll start — Dunnottar Castle may be a total ruin, but you tell me that amazing cliff-top location doesn’t deserve a mention! And the fish and chips waiting by the bay in Stonehaven after surviving the windy trail don't hurt either.

Share your inspiring castles around the world in the comments. And bonus points for pics!