- The forgotten Slovak castle where Nosferatu was filmed — and the legend that never left
Perched on a 367-foot cliff above the Orava River, this Slovak fortress starred as Count Orlok’s lair in Nosferatu — cinema’s first great vampire film. Here’s the story behind one of Central Europe’s most extraordinary castles — and why almost no one knows it exists. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The castle on Loch Fyne that Downton Abbey called home — and the clan that never left
Inveraray Castle has overlooked Loch Fyne since 1746, still home to the Duke of Argyll and famous as the filming location for Downton Abbey’s Highland scenes — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The Welsh fortress perched on a 300-foot cliff — and the mystery of the cave beneath it
Carreg Cennen Castle rises nearly 300 feet above the Brecon Beacons on a sheer limestone crag — with a mysterious vaulted cave hidden in its foundations. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
- They started building a medieval castle from scratch in 1997 — using only medieval tools
In 1997, a team in Burgundy began building a real medieval castle using only 13th-century tools and techniques — no machinery, no concrete, no shortcuts. It isn’t finished yet. — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- Napoleon tried to blow up the Alhambra. One soldier cut the fuse — and saved it forever.
The Alhambra in Granada is the finest Islamic palace in Europe — and it nearly ceased to exist. The story of how one soldier saved it from Napoleon’s demolition order, and how an American writer brought it back to the world — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The Irish hill that kings gave to God — and why they never asked for it back
The Rock of Cashel rose as an ancient throne of Irish kings — then a king gave it to God for good. Here’s the full story, and why it’s one of the most extraordinary places in Ireland — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The castle on Lake Geneva that a poet made famous – and the prisoner chained in its dungeon
Chateau de Chillon has floated on Lake Geneva for nearly a thousand years. Inside its dungeon, a prisoner wore a groove in the stone floor – and a poet carved his name on a pillar. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
- He spent a king’s ransom to win a queen’s heart — and left behind one of England’s greatest ruins
The extraordinary story of Kenilworth Castle — where Robert Dudley spent a fortune entertaining Elizabeth I for nineteen days in 1575, and left behind one of England’s most atmospheric ruins — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- Italy’s most mysterious castle has eight towers, no kitchen and no explanation
The mysterious octagonal fortress in Puglia built by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II — with no water supply, no kitchen and no agreed purpose. A UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s been on Italian coins for decades — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The German castle where a wanted man hid for 10 months — and quietly changed the world
In 1521, a man with a death sentence on his head disappeared into a hilltop castle in Thuringia. What he did there changed Christianity, the German language, and the world — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The clifftop ruin that hid Scotland’s crown jewels from Cromwell – and how a woman smuggled them out
Dunnottar Castle above the North Sea held Scotland’s crown jewels through an eight-month siege – then a minister’s wife smuggled them out in a bundle of flax. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The castle built into a cliff that defied an emperor — and the traitor who ended it all
Built into the face of a sheer cliff 123 metres above the valley floor, Predjama Castle in Slovenia is one of Europe’s most astonishing fortresses — and its story of a year-long siege, a secret cave tunnel, and a treacherous servant is even wilder than its setting. — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The Irish castle where the kitchen fell into the sea — and took the servants with it
Dunluce Castle in County Antrim is one of Ireland’s most dramatic ruins — and in 1639, its kitchen fell off the cliff mid-dinner service, taking the servants with it. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The secret tunnels beneath Dover Castle that helped save 338,000 soldiers from Dunkirk
Beneath Dover Castle’s ancient Norman keep, a network of WWII tunnels hides one of history’s most extraordinary stories — and you can walk through them today. Plus, get weekly travel stories free.
- The Welsh castle with a leaning tower that outdoes Pisa — and a moat the size of a lake
Caerphilly Castle in South Wales has a leaning tower more tilted than the one in Pisa and a moat spanning 30 acres. Here’s why it’s Britain’s most underrated fortress — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The château that made Louis XIV so jealous he imprisoned its owner — then built Versailles
The château that made Louis XIV so jealous he imprisoned its owner — and hired all his architects to build Versailles. The story of Vaux-le-Vicomte, France’s most extraordinary forgotten masterpiece — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- Scotland’s pink castle has stood for 400 years — and it looks like it came from a fairy tale
Craigievar Castle in Aberdeenshire is one of Scotland’s best-kept secrets — a raspberry-pink tower house built in 1626 that has stood almost unchanged for 400 years. — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- Scotland’s pink castle has stood for 400 years — and it looks like it came from a fairy tale
Craigievar Castle in Aberdeenshire is one of Scotland’s best-kept secrets — a raspberry-pink tower house built in 1626 that has stood almost unchanged for 400 years. — plus get weekly travel stories free.
Perched on a 367-foot cliff above the Orava River, this Slovak fortress starred as Count Orlok’s lair in Nosferatu — cinema’s first great vampire film. Here’s the story behind one of Central Europe’s most extraordinary castles — and why almost no one knows it exists. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
Inveraray Castle has overlooked Loch Fyne since 1746, still home to the Duke of Argyll and famous as the filming location for Downton Abbey’s Highland scenes — plus get weekly travel stories free.
Carreg Cennen Castle rises nearly 300 feet above the Brecon Beacons on a sheer limestone crag — with a mysterious vaulted cave hidden in its foundations. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
In 1997, a team in Burgundy began building a real medieval castle using only 13th-century tools and techniques — no machinery, no concrete, no shortcuts. It isn’t finished yet. — plus get weekly travel stories free.
The Alhambra in Granada is the finest Islamic palace in Europe — and it nearly ceased to exist. The story of how one soldier saved it from Napoleon’s demolition order, and how an American writer brought it back to the world — plus get weekly travel stories free.
The Rock of Cashel rose as an ancient throne of Irish kings — then a king gave it to God for good. Here’s the full story, and why it’s one of the most extraordinary places in Ireland — plus get weekly travel stories free.
Chateau de Chillon has floated on Lake Geneva for nearly a thousand years. Inside its dungeon, a prisoner wore a groove in the stone floor – and a poet carved his name on a pillar. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
The extraordinary story of Kenilworth Castle — where Robert Dudley spent a fortune entertaining Elizabeth I for nineteen days in 1575, and left behind one of England’s most atmospheric ruins — plus get weekly travel stories free.
The mysterious octagonal fortress in Puglia built by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II — with no water supply, no kitchen and no agreed purpose. A UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s been on Italian coins for decades — plus get weekly travel stories free.
In 1521, a man with a death sentence on his head disappeared into a hilltop castle in Thuringia. What he did there changed Christianity, the German language, and the world — plus get weekly travel stories free.
Dunnottar Castle above the North Sea held Scotland’s crown jewels through an eight-month siege – then a minister’s wife smuggled them out in a bundle of flax. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
Built into the face of a sheer cliff 123 metres above the valley floor, Predjama Castle in Slovenia is one of Europe’s most astonishing fortresses — and its story of a year-long siege, a secret cave tunnel, and a treacherous servant is even wilder than its setting. — plus get weekly travel stories free.
Dunluce Castle in County Antrim is one of Ireland’s most dramatic ruins — and in 1639, its kitchen fell off the cliff mid-dinner service, taking the servants with it. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
Beneath Dover Castle’s ancient Norman keep, a network of WWII tunnels hides one of history’s most extraordinary stories — and you can walk through them today. Plus, get weekly travel stories free.
Caerphilly Castle in South Wales has a leaning tower more tilted than the one in Pisa and a moat spanning 30 acres. Here’s why it’s Britain’s most underrated fortress — plus get weekly travel stories free.
The château that made Louis XIV so jealous he imprisoned its owner — and hired all his architects to build Versailles. The story of Vaux-le-Vicomte, France’s most extraordinary forgotten masterpiece — plus get weekly travel stories free.
Craigievar Castle in Aberdeenshire is one of Scotland’s best-kept secrets — a raspberry-pink tower house built in 1626 that has stood almost unchanged for 400 years. — plus get weekly travel stories free.