- 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.
- The Romanian castle that’s more spectacular than Neuschwanstein — but ten times less crowded
Step inside Peleş Castle, Romania’s magnificent Neo-Renaissance royal retreat hidden in the Carpathians — one of Europe’s most beautiful castles and still one of its best-kept secrets. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
- What it’s actually like to sleep inside an 800-year-old Irish castle
Ashford Castle in County Mayo has been standing since 1228 — now it’s one of the world’s most celebrated luxury hotels. Here’s what to expect when you stay — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The German castle that was built because of a novel — and looks almost too perfect to be real
Schloss Lichtenstein clings to a cliff in Germany’s Swabian Jura — built in 1842, inspired by a romantic novel, and still privately owned by the same ducal family today. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
- England hides its most spectacular castle on a windswept cliff above the North Sea
Bamburgh Castle rises from a volcanic cliff above the Northumberland coast — 1,400 years old, with Arthurian legend included. England’s most spectacular fortress that almost nobody talks about. — plus get weekly travel stories free.
- The Game of Thrones castle that’s also been a real royal home for 1,000 years
A royal palace for over a thousand years, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and filming location for Game of Thrones Dorne – the Alcazar of Seville is one of Europe’s most extraordinary castles, and the Spanish royal family still uses it today – 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.
Step inside Peleş Castle, Romania’s magnificent Neo-Renaissance royal retreat hidden in the Carpathians — one of Europe’s most beautiful castles and still one of its best-kept secrets. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
Ashford Castle in County Mayo has been standing since 1228 — now it’s one of the world’s most celebrated luxury hotels. Here’s what to expect when you stay — plus get weekly travel stories free.
Schloss Lichtenstein clings to a cliff in Germany’s Swabian Jura — built in 1842, inspired by a romantic novel, and still privately owned by the same ducal family today. Plus get weekly travel stories free.
Bamburgh Castle rises from a volcanic cliff above the Northumberland coast — 1,400 years old, with Arthurian legend included. England’s most spectacular fortress that almost nobody talks about. — plus get weekly travel stories free.
A royal palace for over a thousand years, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and filming location for Game of Thrones Dorne – the Alcazar of Seville is one of Europe’s most extraordinary castles, and the Spanish royal family still uses it today – plus get weekly travel stories free.