Europe’s Most Breathtaking Castles

Castles are a central part of European culture: each country has a few to claim, though they’re uniquely shaped by the time period in which they were built and the rulers who walked their halls. They may take the form of fortified citadels or appear straight off the pages of Brothers Grimm fables, and you’ll find them scattered from Scotland to Serbia. To choose the most special ones, we’ve taken into account a single factor: sheer beauty. Ready your camera for some of the most mesmerizing castles the continent has to offer, and take with you the stories behind them.

This fairytale castle in Bavaria, Germany, attracts tourists from all over the world with its whimsical architecture and idyllic landscape—in the summer, it charms around 6,000 visitors every day. Construction began in 1869 on behalf of King Ludwig II, the Ruler of Bavaria, but his untimely death prevented him from seeing the finished product. If Neuschwanstein looks familiar even though you’ve never stepped foot in Germany, it may be because Disney Parks looked to it for inspiration when designing Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.

The Palace of Pena was built in the 12th century on a rocky peak in Portugal’s Sintra hills. In 1838, King Ferdinand II acquired the monastery and expanded it to include the “New Palace,” an ochre-colored addition influenced by German Romanticism. But during the revolution, the Royal family fled Portugal and abandoned the castle. It opened to the public in 1911 and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape in 1995. Its surroundings are just as enchanted: the nearly-500-acre Park of Pena encompasses an alpine chalet, elegant gardens, and a forest comprised of 500 different tree species. Plan to see the Pena Palace on a detour from one of our Portugal Bike Tours.

The Alcázar de Segovia is one of Spain’s most outstanding castles, and its long and diverse history makes it even more fascinating. Over 700 years, its rulers have ranged from the Romans to the Hapsburgs, and it was used as everything from a military academy to a prison and a fortress guarding royal treasure. Written records date the Alcázar back to the 12th century, detailing its capture by the Kingdom of Castile and the Trastámara dynasty. It’s said that from certain angles, the castle resembles the bow of a ship parting the Eresma and Clamores Rivers—a confluence of power that made this location so desirable. Take a visit to this gorgeous castle before or after your DuVine bike tour in Spain.

Settled on the banks of the Loire River, this stately structure is just two hours south of Paris. The French king François I ordered it built as his seasonal retreat, but spent only a few weeks there each year. It’s one of the few remaining castles from Renaissance era and the largest of the French Renaissance châteaux. With architecture that is both Medieval French and Italian Renaissance, there are whispers that Leonardo da Vinci may have had a hand in the château’s original design. Decide for yourself and visit Château of Chambord before or after your DuVine Loire Bike Tour!

Windsor Castle has been home to centuries of monarchs in its tenure as the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. Built at the behest of William the Conqueror in 1017, Windsor was redesigned and renovated to the specifications of each royal family since. In particular, George IV rebuilt the exterior and added turrets to make it appear more imposing. During a visit, you may even run into Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on a walk with her beloved corgis—she still spends many of her weekends here and takes up a monthlong residence in the spring for Easter Court.

Withstanding the test of time, this unique island château is part of a self-contained commune in Normandy, France. It stands boldly in the bay of the Couesnon River, historically becoming isolated by its waters during high tide. Legend says that the Archangel Michael instructed the bishop of Avranches to build the church, and Mont Saint-Michel rose as a medieval abbey to his orders in 709 AD. Despite its small population limited to a handful of hotels, restaurants, and residents, it was designated the official starting point of the Tour de France in 2016. See where else the TDF takes you on a TDF Bike Tour, or visit the château on a bike trip to Normandy.

This magnificent German palace lived its first incarnation as a Slavic fortress in Lake Schwerin—a natural strategic stronghold first identified in 973 AD. But it was the 19th-century vision of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II that made it the romantic schloss it is today, isolated from land by a single cast-iron bridge. Among its five wings and 653 chambers, the opulent throne room is particularly impressive with columns of Carrara marble, intricate ceiling frescoes, and cast-iron doors detailed in gold. Outside, the Baroque gardens bring a bit of Versailles to Germany.