Europe is home to thousands of castles, with over 4,000 of these being found in the UK. With these numbers, it’s perhaps unsurprising that a number of Europe’s most beautiful castles can be found here, and one of the UK’s own castles topping the list.
From medieval fortresses to fairytale-like palaces, there are plenty of castles across Europe to explore, although you won’t have to go far to visit the most beautiful of all. Travel experts at Iglu Cruise, have looked at over 40 popular European Castles, using Instagram data to discover which could be considered best. And it was the UK’s own Edinburgh Castle that came in at number one.
Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland’s best-known landmarks. Dating back to the 11th century, a castle has stood on this site since the reign of King Malcolm III, and remained a royal residence until 1633, hosting numerous monarchs, including the infamous Mary, Queen of Scots.
The castle is perched atop Castle Rock, a formation left by a volcanic eruption approximately 50 million years ago.
Its location, with sheer cliffs to the north and south, made it an easily defensible option for a castle. However, despite this, it is still believed to be the most besieged castle in Britain.
Edinburgh Castle wasn’t the only British destination to appear on the list; Windsor Castle came in fourth, and Warwick Castle came in ninth.
Windsor Castle is the world’s oldest continually occupied castle, having served as a Royal residence since 1110. This huge castle was founded by William the Conqueror as a defensive fortress around 1070.
Warwick Castle was also founded by King William I, and dates back to 1068, when it was constructed to secure his control over the Midlands. First built with wood, it was later rebuilt in stone during the 12th century.
All three of these stunning castles can be visited, with some areas open to the public. A day ticket to Edinburgh Castle costs £21.50, while a visit to Warwick will set you back £26.00. Windsor Castle is slightly more expensive, with a ticket costing £31.00.
And the UK isn’t the only European country with stunning castles, with countries including Germany, Austria, and France, also making their way onto the list.
The most beautiful castles in Europe, according to Instagram data:
- Edinburgh Castle, UK
- Prague Castle, Czechia
- Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
- Windsor Castle, UK
- Castello Sforzesco, Italy
- Palazzo Vecchio, Italy
- Palace of Versailles, France
- Quinta da Regaleira, Portugal
- Warwick Castle, England
- Schönbrunn Palace, Austria