- The Irish castle that doubled for Scotland in Braveheart — and deserves its own fame
Trim Castle in County Meath is the largest Norman castle in Ireland — and the hidden star of Braveheart. Discover its remarkable story — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The largest castle ever built — and the medieval knights who raised it from a swamp
Malbork Castle in Poland covers 21 hectares — four times Windsor — and most travellers have never heard of it. Here’s the story of the warrior monks who built it, the war that nearly destroyed it, and why it’s unmissable — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The Scottish castle that’s belonged to the same clan for 800 years — and its fairy flag
Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye has never left the MacLeod clan in 800 years. Discover the fairy flag, the legends, and why this is Scotland’s most extraordinary castle — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The castle where three kingdoms became one — and the union that was doomed
Kalmar Castle in Sweden was the birthplace of the Kalmar Union — a medieval pact that united three kingdoms under one crown, then tore them apart. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The Indian palace that blazes with 100,000 lightbulbs every Sunday evening
Mysore Palace in southern India illuminates with 100,000 lightbulbs every Sunday evening — and it receives more visitors than any monument in India except the Taj Mahal. Here’s the story behind one of the world’s most spectacular royal residences — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- Six medieval queens called this lake castle home — and it’s still making history
Leeds Castle — built on two islands in a lake in Kent and home to six medieval queens — has been called the loveliest castle in the world. Here’s the history, the secrets, and what to expect when you visit. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The tiny island castle in an Irish lake — and why a man swam there every night for years
A ruined island castle in County Roscommon holds one of Ireland’s oldest love stories — the night swimmer who crossed the lake in darkness for years to mourn his beloved. — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The tiny island castle in an Irish lake — and why a man swam there every night for years
A ruined island castle in County Roscommon holds one of Ireland’s oldest love stories — the night swimmer who crossed the lake in darkness for years to mourn his beloved. — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The lake castle in Italy that belonged to the family who inspired Romeo and Juliet
The 13th-century castle at Sirmione rises from Lake Garda on three sides of water — built by the medieval family whose name Shakespeare immortalised as Prince Escalus. — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- 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.
Trim Castle in County Meath is the largest Norman castle in Ireland — and the hidden star of Braveheart. Discover its remarkable story — plus get weekly travel stories free.
Malbork Castle in Poland covers 21 hectares — four times Windsor — and most travellers have never heard of it. Here’s the story of the warrior monks who built it, the war that nearly destroyed it, and why it’s unmissable — plus get weekly travel stories free.
Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye has never left the MacLeod clan in 800 years. Discover the fairy flag, the legends, and why this is Scotland’s most extraordinary castle — plus get weekly travel stories free.
Kalmar Castle in Sweden was the birthplace of the Kalmar Union — a medieval pact that united three kingdoms under one crown, then tore them apart. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
Mysore Palace in southern India illuminates with 100,000 lightbulbs every Sunday evening — and it receives more visitors than any monument in India except the Taj Mahal. Here’s the story behind one of the world’s most spectacular royal residences — plus get weekly travel stories free.
Leeds Castle — built on two islands in a lake in Kent and home to six medieval queens — has been called the loveliest castle in the world. Here’s the history, the secrets, and what to expect when you visit. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
A ruined island castle in County Roscommon holds one of Ireland’s oldest love stories — the night swimmer who crossed the lake in darkness for years to mourn his beloved. — plus get weekly travel stories free.
The 13th-century castle at Sirmione rises from Lake Garda on three sides of water — built by the medieval family whose name Shakespeare immortalised as Prince Escalus. — 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.