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T O C A S T L E S I N E U R O P E

T H E R U S S I A N A B R O A D ' S

INTRO-DUCTIONThere are two types of castles in Europe:

those that are ridiculously awesome and

those that are absolutely fantastic. Every

castle has a certain “wow” factor that

makes visiting them an unforgettable

experience. It feels so great to sink into

the atmosphere of medievality, imagine

the life we only know from books now,

touch the old stones, walk the dark

corridors, visit the terrible dungeons, and

enjoy the gorgeous views from atop of the

defensive towers.

If you're holding this ebook in your hands

(or, rather, reading it from your laptop

screens), this means that you're a huge fan

of castles. Luckily, Europe has plenty of

them! That's why I decided to compile this

little book to bring together Europe's most

beautiful, most recognizable, most

memorable castles.

Some castles in this list are medieval.

Some are neo-Gothic. Some are crazy

fairy-tale castles, some are ruins. All of

them, however, are meant to tell a story,

to inspire you, and to share something

special with each and every one of us.

This ebook provides some general info

about the castle, tells you how much it

costs to get in, and how to get to the

location.

So, let's begin the castle journey, shall we?

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CONTENTS

AUSTRIA

A

pg. 4-5

BELGIUMB

pg. 6

DENMARK

D

CZECH REPUBLIC

F

pg. 8-9

pg. 7

C

EESTONIA pg. 10

FINLANDFRANCE

pg. 11-12

pg. 13-14

GGERMANYGREECE

pg. 15-18

pg. 19

HHUNGARY

I

LLATVIALITHUANIA

IRELANDITALY

NNETHERLANDSNORWAY

PPOLANDPORTUGAL

RROMANIA

SSLOVAKIASPAINSWITZERLAND

pg. 29-30

pg. 31-32

pg. 20-21

pg. 22-23

pg. 24

pg. 25

pg. 26

pg. 27

pg. 28

pg. 33-34

pg. 35

pg. 36-38

pg. 39

TTURKEY

UUKRAINEUK

pg. 40

pg. 41

pg. 42-26

BURG MAUTERNDORFHistory Located 1,138 metres above the sea

level, Mautendorf Castle is built on the site of an old

Roman fort that dates to 326 AD. The castle is a

unique gem in the beautiful mountain region of

Salzburg, simply begging you for a visit.

For some time, Mautendorf was a summer residence

of the fancy Salzburg archbishops, and you can still

take an exciting trip back to those times as the visitor

of the castle: there are a museum and an exhibition.

From the 44 metre high fortified tower, there is a

magnificent view of Mauterndorf, the Radstädter

Tauern to the north, the Hohe Tauern to the west and

the Nockberge mountain range to the south.

How to get thereThe castle is found in a small market town

of Mauterndorf (population: less than 2,000

people), which lies at the foot of the

Grosseck-Speiereck. It's a popular skiing

destination, but it can be a tricky one to get

to. Taking a car is the easiest way of

transportation, but alternatively, you can

also take a Postbus bus from the Salzburg

train station.

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Image: pension-mauterndorf.at

Entrance feeAdults € 9,50

Children (6 to 15 y. o.) € 5,50

Reduced € 8,00

Family ticket € 22,50

AUSTRIA [österreich]

HOHENSALZBURGHistory The castle of Hohensalzburg definitely outshines

other castles in Austria. Considered to be Europe's

biggest fortress, it is conveniently located on a hill

overlooking the city of Salzburg, making it a gorgeous

addition to an already gorgeous place. It is for sure the

most visited and most notable landmark in town.

With an exterior that looks pretty much like when it

was built in the 11th century, Hohensalzburg Castle

doubles as a concert hall and event venue today.

Consider getting SalzburgCard if you plan to visit the

castle: one-time free admission and quick access. (Tip!

Entrance before 11 am includes access to State

Rooms free of charge.)

How to get thereIf you're already in Salzburg, you won't have

any difficulty finding the castle, as it looks

right at you from atop of the mountain.

From Vienna, you can either take a plane or

a train, since it's only takes 1,5 hours or so

to get there. There are over 20 trains

leaving to Salzburg from the Austrian

capital, so you'll always catch one.

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Image: traveluto.com

Entrance feeAdults € 12.00

Children (6-14 years) € 6.80

Groups (of 10 adults or more) € 11.00

Families € 26.60

AUSTRIA [österreich]

GRAVENSTEENHistory Built in 1180, the name of the castle literally means

"castle of the counts" in Dutch. The Gravensteen is

situated at an altitude of 9 meters, and while that may

not sound that high, you still get pretty nice views

from the castle.

The castle used to serve as the seat of the Counts of

Flanders until they abandoned it in the 14th century.

Then, it was used as a courthouse and a prison and it

eventually decayed. There were, however, many

torture instruments left behind that now make up a

pretty terrifying Torture Museum in the Castle,

attracting thousands of visitors per year.

How to get thereGravensteen is located in Ghent, Belgium's

secret little gem that is becoming less and

less secret over the years.

Ghent is easy to reach from any Belgian

city: trains, cars, buses, planes, all depart to

Ghent very regularly.

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Image: gravensteen.stad.gent

Entrance feeAdults € 10

Reduced € 6

FREE: Up to 19 y. o. , press, and Ghent CityCard

Gent holders

BELGIUM [België]

KARLŠTEJN CASTLEHistory Karlstejn Castle was founded in the 14th century

under the reign of Charles IV — the king of Bohemia

and the Holy Roman Emperor whom the world is

owning the existence of the famous Charles Bridge in

Prague.

Initially, Karlstejn castle was built to keep the crown

jewels, holy relics and other royal treasures that the

king was supposedly collecting with the passion of a

maniac. According to his demands, the castle was

built within an impressively short period of time — just

under 10 years — to serve as the king’s summer

residence. But ironically, Charles IV has been there

only 10 times or so, and each of his visits lasted only

for a few days.

How to get thereKarlstejn Castle, the second largest castle in

the Czech Republic, is only 40 minutes away

from Prague, and it's super easy to get there

by train.

You can buy the ticket (which is also very

cheap) directly at the Prague Central Station.

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Image: czechtourism.com

Entrance fee(Only with a tour guide available)

Adults 270 Kč (app. € 10)

Reduced 180 Kč (app. € 7)

Children 20 Kč (app. € 1)

Family ticket 860 Kč (app. € 32 )

CZECH REPUBLIC [Česká republika]

EGESKOV CASTLEHistory For 460 years, Egeskov Castle has stood in its beautiful

location in the landscape of Southern Funen.

It was built by Frands Brockenhuus and completed in

1554. Due to the troubles caused by the civil war, most

Danish noblemen built their homes as fortifications, and

this one was no exception. The castle is constructed on

oaken piles and located in a small lake with a maximum

depth of 5 metres (16 ft).

Originally, the only access was by means of a drawbridge.

According to legend, it took an entire forest of oak trees

to build the foundation, hence the name Egeskov (oak

forest).

How to get thereThe Egeskov Castle is located in Odense:

the unofficial capital and largest city on the

island of Funen in Denmark.

To get there, you can easily take a train with

DSB from any major city. Odense is around

2 hours away from Copenhagen and 4 hours

or so away from Hamburg.

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Image: wikimedia.org

Entrance fee(For park, exhibition, and castle)

Adults 190 DKK (app. € 25)

Children 110 DKK (app. € 15)

FREE: Children under 6 y.o., visitors on a

wheelchair/disabled

DENMARK [Danmark]

KRONBORG CASTLEHistory Kronborg Castle is undoubtedly one of northern

Europe's finest Renaissance castles. It is located at the

entrance to Øresund and was built in 1574-1585.

It is also Denmark's most famous castle, as it's

precisely where William Shakespeare has set Hamlet in

for the famous play. In the play, Shakespeare called

Kronborg Castle Elsinore, which has become the English

name for Helsingør, the town where the castle is located.

There are guided tours around the castle happening

every day, so you can explore the grandiose interiors,

creepy crypts, and dark catacombs. During summer, you

can also enjoy live performances of Shakespeare

greatest plays.

How to get thereTo get to the castle, you first need to get to

the town of Elsinore, located in the north

eastern corner of the island Zealand in

Denmark. Take a train ((Danish: Kystbanen)

from Copenhagen, which takes about 45

minutes.

Alternatively, you can also take a boat ride

from Helsingborg (20 minutes).

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Image: kongeligeslotte.dk

Entrance feeAdults 90 DKK (app. € 12)

Reduced 80 DKK (app. € 7)

FREE: Children

DENMARK [Danmark]

HERMANN CASTLEHistory Built by the Danes at the end of the 13th century and

strengthened over successive centuries, the imposing

Hermann Castle, along with Russia’s matching Ivangorod

Fortress just across the river, creates one of Europe's

most unique architectural ensembles.

You get a highly picturesque view over the two castles

from a riverside beach, which is a popular destination

amongst tourists.

Being the main attraction in the city of Narva, where

Germann Castle is located, it is also considered to be the

most diverse and best-preserved defense structure in

Estonia.

How to get thereNarva is Estonia's third biggest city, located

at the eastern extreme point of Estonia at

the very border with Russia.

The easiest way to get there is to take a

train from Tallinn (runs twice a day) or by

bus (also departs from Tartu).

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Image: wikipedia.org


Children € 1,5

ESTONIA [Eesti]

TURKU CASTLEHistory The history of Turku Castle begins in the 1280's when it

was built on the banks of the Aura river. It's granite stone

walls have thus been holding the history of Finland,

Sweden, and other Nordic countries for over 700 years

now.

Over the centuries, the fortification gradually changed

into a grand greystone palace as it's seen today.

The largest surviving medieval building in Finland, it is

also the most visited museum in the country.

How to get thereHaving arrived to the city of Turku, take a

bus from the Market Square (the bus stop

is located in front of the Hansa shopping

centre).

You should follow Line 1 towards the

harbour, where the bus stops right in

front of the castle.

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Image: photos.smugmug.com


Children € 2- 5

Reduced € 5

Family ticket € 22

FINLAND [Suomi]

SUOMENLINNAHistory Suomenlinna is a very special place. It is an inhabited sea

fortress built on six islands (Kustaanmiekka, Susisaari,

Iso-Mustasaari, Pikku-Mustasaari, Länsi-Mustasaari and

Långören) and which now forms part of the city of

Helsinki, Finland's capital.

Suomenlinna is also a UNESCO World Heritage site that

dates back to 1748 and that is popular not only among

tourists but also among locals, who enjoy it as a

picturesque picnic site. It also combines six museums.

Originally called Sveaborg (Fortress of Svea), it was

renamed to Suomenlinna (Castle of Finland) in 1918 out

of patriotic reasons.

How to get thereSuomenlinna is only accessible by water, so

the only way to get there is by ferry from the

Market Square in Helsinki (departs

throughout the year). The trip takes around

15–20 minutes and offers magnificent views

of Helsinki and the surroundings from the

sea. During the cold winter months, the trip

through the ice-covered waters becomes a

truly unique experience.

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Image: suomenlinnatours.com

Entrance feeNo entrance fee to the fortress. However, each

museum there has its own separate entrance fee.

FINLAND [Suomi]

MONT SAINT-MICHELHistory A magical island topped by a gravity-defying medieval

monastery, the Mont-Saint-Michel counts among

France’s most stunning sights. Set in the mesmerizing

bay where Normandy and Brittany merge, the island

draws the eye from great distances. The staggering

location has long inspired awe and the imagination.

The story of how the mount turned into a great place of

Christian pilgrimage is colorful. Aubert, bishop of the

nearby hilltop town of Avranches early in the 8th

century, claimed that the Archangel Michael himself

pressured him into having a church built atop the island

just out to sea.

How to get thereFrance is incredibly well-connected, so the

best way to get to Mont Saint-Michel is by

train. Get a train ticket from Paris to

Pontorson, from where you can take a bus to

the castle (around 9 kilometres).

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Image: discoverfrance.com

Entrance fee

Adults € 10

Reduced € 8

Groups € 8

FREE: Children

FRANCE [République française]

PIERREFONDSHistory Huge, monumental, and yet elegant, the Pierrefonds

château is one of the most memorable landmarks in

France.

Built in the late 14th century by Duke Louis of Orléans,

the famous château was taken down in the 17th century

and was in ruins when Napoleon III decided to

commission architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc to rebuild it.

He applied his architectural designs to create the ideal

château, such as would have existed in the Middle Ages.

Pierrefond is an absolutely delightful place, which is well

worth a visit! It is also a perfect day trip from Paris.

How to get thereTo get to the location from Paris, you have to

take the train (45 mins) to Compiegne,

followed by a bus to Pierrefonds (20 mins).

Do, however, check the schedule before you

buy your train tickets and leave home, as the

bus runs only once per day on certain days.

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Image: imgur.com/8QxWDYl


Reduced € 6.5

Groups (20 people) € 6.5

FREE: Children

FRANCE [République française]

NEUSCHWANSTEINHistory If you’re even slightly interested in travel, you’ve

probably heard of this castle before – located in the

midst of the Alps, built by Mad King Ludwig, who spent

all the money he had for his dream to live in a fairy tale.

Thus, the Neuschwanstein Castle is ultimately the

famous "fairy-tale" castle in Germany, attracting millions

of visitors per year.

It has been prominently featured in several movies such

as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Great Escape and

serves as the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle

in Disneyland.

How to get thereThere are tours organized from the Bavarian

capital, but, if you like to travel solo, you have

to get a Bayern Ticket Munich Central Station

to Füssen, then take a bus No. 78 from Füssen

to Hohenschwangau (around 10 minutes),

and walk up the mountain for about half an

hour.

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Image: getyourguide.com


Reduced € 12

FREE: Children

GERMANY [Deutschland]

WERNIGERODE CASTLEHistory A gorgeous castle located in a magical little town of

Wernigerode in Saxony Anhalt, Germany, has a similar

style to the Neuschwanstein Castle, though its

foundations are much older.

If you’re a history buff, you’ll probably be interested in

learning about the medieval dark past Wernigerode,

which was known to be a meeting place for witches.

Every year, on April 30 (during the so-called Walpurgis

Night), they would fly on their broomsticks to the

mountain Broken for a huge celebration that made

Halloween look like a party for kids.

How to get thereFrom Berlin (and other major cities), there are

regular buses going to Wernigerode with

Flixbus (flixbus.de, € 10 one way).

Also, if you're going on a weekend, do

consider buying Schönes-Wochenende-

Ticket: you can take up to 5 travellers for € 40

tickets around the whole Germany.

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Image: panoramio.com


Reduced € 6

Teenagers € 4

Children free


HEIDELBERG CASTLEHistory Each year, Heidelberg Palace attracts around a million

visitors from all over the world. Since the early 19th

century, these impressive ruins have been synonymous

with Romanticism.

It would be hard to imagine a more striking location: set

against the deep green forests on the north flank of

Königstuhl hill, the red sandstone ruins tower

majestically over the Neckar valley. From its lofty

position, the palace’s silhouette dominates the old town

center of Heidelberg.

How to get thereHeidelberg is a major tourist destination in

Germany, as well as home to the country's

oldest university. Germany's most precious

jewel, Heidelberg is easily accessed by plane

from from Frankfurt and Stuttgart, by train

from Hamburg, Cologne, and even Vienna, as

well as by bus (check out DeinBus.de).

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Image: touropia.com


Reduced € 4


LICHTENSTEIN CASTLEHistory This monumental gorgeousness, also known as the fairy

tale castle of Württemberg, was built in 1840 on a large

rock overlooking the Echaz valley near Honau, Germany.

The castle is often used as a film location: back in 2009, it

was used to shoot the German version of the Sleeping

Beauty, for example.

Randomly enough, it also served as inspiration for Super

Street Fighter II.

How to get thereThe nearest train station to the castle is

Reutlingen Hbf. Reutlingen is very well

connected with Stuttgart, one of the major

cities in Germany. At the bus station

Reutlingen (5 minutes to walk from the

railway station) take the bus No. 7606 and

exit at 'Honau'. From there, you've got to

walk around 20 minutes to reach the castle..

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Image: www.poetsandprinces.com


Reduced € 1


CASTLE OF METHONIHistory Although not preserved at all, the castle of Methoni is

really a unique piece of architecture and history. Built by

the Venetians in the 13th century on a rocky

promontory, it is one of the largest ones in the

Mediterranean.

The celebrated symbol of Venice, the lion of St Marc,

dominates the gate of the castle where immured reliefs,

emblems, blazons, inscriptions, the huge gates

–especially the main gate, above the moat – and the

relics of two Ottoman bathhouses have survived.

How to get thereTo get to the castle, you first need to get to

Methoni, famous for its ravishing beaches and

beautiful bays. Methoni is located on the

South Western part of Gulf of Messinia, 30km

west to Koroni, 11km south to Pylos, 60km

south west to Kalamata. Renting a car is

ultimately the most convenient way to get to

Methoni, although there's also a bus

connectino from Kalamata via Pylos.

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Image: abelia-villas.gr

Entrance feeNo entrance fee.

GREECE [Ελλάδα]

VAJDAHUNYAD History The castle of Vajdahunyad is a popular spot among locals

in Budapest for its pretty views and beautiful

atmosphere. However, apart from being pretty, the

castle doesn't have much history, as it was only built in

1896 as part of the Millennial Exhibition.

Originally, it was made from cardboard and wood, but it

became so popular that it was rebuilt from stone and

brick between 1904 and 1908. Today, it houses the

Museum of Hungarian Agriculture, which is the biggest

agricultural museum in Europe.

How to get thereThe easiest way to get to the Vajdahunyad

Castle is by the M1 (yellow) metro line: get off

at Szechenyi Baths (Szechenyi Furdo) and

walk towards the Millennial Monument on

Heroes’ Square. From there, directions are

easy.

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Image: anilblon.files.wordpress.com

Entrance feeNo entrance fee.

HUNGARY [Magyarország]

BUDA CASTLE History Right in the middle of Budapest stands the largest and

richest castle in Hungary. It's more of a castle complex,

really, than a single construction (resembling the Prague

Castle in that sense).

The castle is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site

since 1987, and while it looks more like a palace now, it's

erection dates back to the 14th century.

The castle complex is world-famous for its Medieval,

Baroque, and 19th-century houses, churches, and public

buildings.

How to get thereYou can't miss the Buda Castle - it's right on

the banks of Danube. So if you take a stroll

along the river, you'll find it right away.

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Image: insider.corinthia.com

Entrance feeThe entrance to the castle complex is free

of charge, however, there's a separate

entry fee to each and every museum.

HUNGARY [Magyarország]

DUNGUAIRE CASTLEHistory On the southern shore of Galway Bay sits the lonely

shape of Dunguaire Castle. It was built in 1520 on the

site of the palace of the legendary King Guaire’s palace,

for which it was named. The castle (barely large enough

to be worthy of the name) was built by the Hynes clan,

who were fighting fiercely against the encroachment of

the Normans and English.

Little is known of the time that the Hynes clan owned the

castle, but it is they who gave it its name, a name that

hearkened back to an earlier time before the

“Sassenach” had come to these shores.

How to get thereTo get to the castle, you need to arrive to

Kinvara, a small sea port village located in the

south of County Galway. There are local

buses that go to Kinvara from Galway,

departing regularly.

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Image: staticflickr.com

Entrance feeFREE entrance to the grounds

Adult € 6

Reduced € 3.50

Children € 3

Family ticket € 17.50

IRELAND [Éire]

DUBLIN CASTLEHistory For more than 700 years, from 1200 until the formation

of the Irish Republic in 1921, Dublin Castle was the

center of the English colonial administration in Ireland.

A sprawling complex of historic buildings from between

930 and 1830, it offers a unique crash course in Irish

history.

How to get thereThe castle is situated in the very heart of

Dublin, on the south side of the River Liffey,

off Dame Street, en route from Trinity

College to Christchurch Cathedral.

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Image: tourireland.com


Reduced € 8

Children € 4

IRELAND [Éire]

CASTEL DEL MONTEHistory A magnificent citadel and castle situated on a hill in

Andria in the Apulia region of southeast Italy, it was built

during the 1240s by the Emperor Frederick II, who had

inherited the lands from his mother Constance of Sicily.

Described by the Enciclopedia Italiana as "the most

fascinating castle built by Frederick II", the site is

protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Another interesting fact: Castel del Monte also appears

on the Italian version of the one cent Euro coin.

How to get thereCastel del Monte is situated on a small hill

close to the monastery of Santa Maria del

Monte, at an altitude of 540 m.

To get there, you've got to take a train to

Andria, which can be reached by train

from Bari or Trani.

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Image: visual-italy.it


Reduced € 3.5

Under 18: FREE

ITALY [Italia]

CĒSIS CASTLEHistory While it's all completely ruined, the Cēsis Castle is

nevertheless one of the most impressive in the Baltic

States. Once the most important castle of the Livonian

Order, it was the official residence for the masters of the

order.

The castle itself was built in the 13th century, enlarged

and fortified over the upcoming centuries until it got

partially destroyed in the Battle of Wenden in 1578.

Nowadays, the ruins are open for tourists, offering a

splendid view over the valley of the Gauja River.

How to get thereFound in a small town of Cēsis in the northern

part of Latvia, the castle is easy to reach from

Riga by car, bus, or train.

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Image: www.codelt.nl


Reduced € 1.5

Family ticket € 6

LATVIA [Latvija]

TRAKAIHistory A wonderful castle complex located on an island in Lake

Galvė in Trakai, Lithuania (hence the origin of the castle's

name).

The construction was begun in the 14th century by

Kęstutis, Lithuania's then ruler, and around 1409 major

works were completed by his son Vytautas the Great,

who died in this castle in 1430.

Trakai was one of the main centres of the Grand Duchy

of Lithuania and the castle held great strategic

importance. Now, it's a very romantic destination

offering tranquil, serene views for nature- and history

lovers.

How to get thereBuses from Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, to

Trakai leave around 50 times per day and

only take 40 minutes to get you to the

destination. Just get a ticket at Vilnius Bus

Station at Sodų St. 22.

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Image: www.worldfortravel.com


Reduced € 3

Family ticket € 3

LITHUANIA [Lietuva]

MUIDERSLOT CASTLEHistory Muiderslot castle is an impressive square shaped

medieval castle in Muiden in the province of North

Holland. It’s pretty close to Amsterdam so ideal for a day

trip if you’re staying in the capital city. It houses a

national museum (Rijksmuseum) and the castle has a

moat with a drawbridge.

Fun fact: the museum is depicted on the ace of clubs card

in the standard deck of cards used in the Netherlands.

How to get thereThe castle is actually so close from

Amsterdam that you can even bike there.

If you choose to use public transport, take a

bus from Amsterdam Central Station in the

direction of Muiden.

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Image: tours-cdn.azureedge.net

Entrance feeAdults € 13.50

Children € 9

NETHERLANDS [Nederland]

AKERSHUS FORTRESSHistory While Norway doesn't really have castles as such, due to

the simple fact that the country used to be rather poor in

the past, there's a famous fortress close to Oslo, which

was used to protect the capital back in the day (was also

used as a prison later on).

Akershus Fortress was built in the 13th century by King

Haakon V. Now, it's mostly used for official events and

dinners for dignitaries and foreign heads of state.

How to get thereThe fortress is right in the heart of Oslo, so

it's easy to reach (once you've reached the

Norwegian capital, of course).

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Image: thousandwonders.net

Entrance feeAdults: 100 NOK

Children: 40 NOK

Reduced: 60 NOK

NORWAY [Norge]

KRASICZYN CASTLEHistory Except for its unpronounceable name, Krasiczyn Castle

is one of the best things you can encounter in Poland.

The building is STUNNINGLY(!) beautiful. It was heavily

damaged both by the war and the Soviets, but after the

reconstruction, it shows off its splendor to the visitors

just as it did centuries ago. Built between the 16th and

the 17th century, is one of the most valuable monuments

of renaissance and mannerist architecture in Poland.

How to get thereTo reach the castle, you must go to Krasiczyn,

which is 5,5 hour car ride from Warsaw and a

little less than 3 hours ride from Krakow.

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Image: flickr.com

Entrance feeAdults: 15 PLN

Children: 8 PLN

Reduced: 8 PLN

POLAND [Polska]

MALBORK CASTLEHistory The Malbork Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

since 1997 and this makes perfect sense since this

exquisite building is actually the largest brick building in

Europe. Built by the Teutonic Knights in 1406, this

incredible landmark now houses a remarkable weapons

collection as well as an amber exhibition. After World

War II, when Malbork City and its castle became a part

of Poland once more, the castle was the focus of a major

reconstruction process, and it is now one of the most

popular tourist destinations in the country.

How to get thereA perfect day trip from Gdansk, the best way

to get to the castle is take a train (less than an

hour).

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Image: truenomads.com

Entrance feeAdults: 39,50 PLN

Reduced: 29,50 PLN

POLAND [Polska]

PENA PALACEHistory The National Palace of Pena is probably the most

famous castle in Portugal, due to its colorful

appearance and its imposing location at the peak of

the highest hill above the town of Sintra.

Protected by UNESCO, the Palace of Pena is also a

monument of national and international importance:

its story dates back to the Middle Ages when a chapel

dedicated to the Lady of Pena was established.

Eventually, this grew into a monastery and then a

castle. The façade of the building is absolutely

outstanding, and its design and location ensured that

it could be seen from anywhere in the surrounding

gardens and forests.

How to get thereSintra is a delightful Portuguese town that

lies 25km to the west of Lisbon and makes

for a popular day trip from the capital. It is

thus easy to reach from Lisbon by train

(return price: € 4.30) which leaves every

half an hour from Lisbon's city centre

Rossio station.

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Image: parquesdesintra.pt

Entrance feeAdults € 8,50

Reduced € 7

PORTUGAL [República Portuguesa]

TORRE DE BELÉMHistory Torre de Belém is definitely a site to see and a place to

bee. This beautiful fortress is a true architectural

masterpiece, featuring gorgeous, detailed

ornamentation that has never been seen in a building

with military purposes.

The castle played a significant role in the Portuguese

maritime discoveries of the era of the Age of

Discoveries, and it is strongly associated with such

names as Vasco da Gama, for example.

Torre de Belém was commissioned by King John II to

be part of a defense system at the mouth of the Tagus

river and a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon.

How to get thereSince the castle is located in Lisbon, you

don't need to leave the capital to come visit.

Just catch a city bus: 727, 28, 729, 714, 751;

or a tram: 15; or a ferry: Belém Ferry

Station; or a suburban train: Belém station.

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Image: all-free-photos.com


Reduced € 3

FREE: children

PORTUGAL [República Portuguesa]

PELEȘ CASTLEHistory This Neo-Renaissance castle hidden in the heart of the

Carpathian Mountains was built between 1873 and

1914 for King Carol I (who, ironically, died the same

year the castle was completed).

When King Carol I first visited the site of the future

castle in 1866, he fell in love with the magnificent

mountain scenery. So a few years later, the Crown

purchased 1,300 square kilometers of land near the

Piatra Arsă River, and so the construction began! The

cost of the work was estimated to be 16,000,000

Romanian lei in gold (approx. US$ 120 million today).

Today, Peleș Castle is a public museum.

How to get thereThe castle is found in the city of Sinaia, which

can be easily reached by train from Bucharest

and Brasov.

There are around 20 trains departing each

day: most of them IRs and will take about 1.5

hours to reach Sinaia .

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Image: pixabay.com

Entrance fee(Only with a tour guide available; prices depend on a

tour)

Adults 20 - 50 RON

Reduced 10 - 25 RON

Children 5 - 12.5 RON

ROMANIA [România]

BRAN CASTLEHistory Bran Castle looms over Transylvania with its ghostly

silhouette and blood-red towers and turrets. Built on

a solid rock foundation, the 13th-century castle is

supposed to have been the residence of Bram Stoker’s

Count Dracula. However, according to the local

legends, Count Vlad Tepes, also known as "Vlad the

Impaler", was only imprisoned here for two weeks.

Bran castle has 57 rooms and a spooky secret

passageway leading up to the watch towers - not

recommended for people suffering from

claustrophobia!

How to get thereBran Castle is located in Brasov. To get there,

take a train from Bucharest to Brasov and

then catch a bus from Brasov to Bran.

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Image: thewondrous.com

Entrance feeAdults 35 RON

Reduced 25 RON

Students 20 RON

School groups (over 20 people) 5 RON

ROMANIA [România]

BOJNICE CASTLEHistory The gem of Bojnice is the ”fairy-tale” Bojnický zámok

Castle, one of the most visited and most beautiful

castles not only in Slovakia, but also in central Europe.

This castle was for many years owned by kings and

aristocrats.

Now, it is one of the most visited castles in Slovakia.

This increasing popularity attracted many

international filmmakers and a number of romantic,

fairytale and fantasy films such as Fantagiro were shot

right here. Under the ground is a large cave complex

available for visitors during guided tours.

How to get thereThe castle is in Bojnice, which is some 70km

northeast of Trenčín, so the best way to get

there is by train from Bucharest.

Alternatively, you can also find a bus to

Previdza, which is adjacent to Bojnice, and

then another bus to the castle.

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Image: blog.timeforslovakia.com

Entrance feeFree of charge.

SLOVAKIA [Slovenská republika]

COCA CASTLEHistory Coca Castle is unique among Spanish castles: it has

only three sides since it is built into a hillside that

provides a defense from invaders who attack from the

rear. Coca Castle is also unique because its

architecture was influenced by the Moors though it

was built by Christians in the mid-15th century.

Much of the castle’s interior was destroyed in the last

century, but the exterior still retains Moorish touches,

such as the turrets.

Today, the castle is open to the public (though only by

guided tours).

How to get thereThe Coca Castle is doable as a day trip from

Segovia, which you can reach from Madrid

by the Sepulvedana bus (the return fare is

about € 15).

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Image: touropia.com

Entrance feeAdults: € 2,70

Children: € 2

Reduced: € 2

SPAIN [España]

TEMPLAR CASTLEHistory Once a fortress of the Knights Templar, this charming

castle has been shaped over many centuries of

renovation and expansion.

Located on more than 8000 square meters of land,

Templar Castle dominates the skyline over the

crossing of Rivers Boeza and Sil. Unfortunately, in the

19th and early 20th century, some of the building was

lost and walls were demolished to erect a football

field. Luckily, in 1923 it was declared a National

Monument and it has now been restored and open to

the public.

How to get thereIf you want to see the castle, plan a trip

to Ponferrada, the capital city of El Bierzo in

the Province of León.

Ponferrada is easily accessible by highway

(Autovía A-6) and intercity public

transportation is readily available, too!

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Image: skyscanner.net

Entrance feeFree of charge.

SPAIN [España]

OLITE CASTLEHistory A trip to Olite Castle is to experience a different

royalty culture in Spain, that of the kingdom of

Navarre in the northern part of the country. Also

known as the Palacio Real de Olite, the castle was

built on the first-century Roman ruins, though the

castle’s construction did not take place until several

centuries later.

Olite was one of the most luxurious mediaeval castles

in Europe. As a 12th-century German traveler wrote

his notes in his diary, now conserved in the British

Museum in London: "Surely there is no king with a morebeautiful castle or palace and with so many gildedrooms".

How to get thereOlite is a very small town in northern Spain

(Navarra), and the easiest way to get there is

probably from Pamplona (the city that itself is

worth a visit!). From Pamplona, there are

regular buses going to Olite, even though the

most convenient (and faster) way would be to

rent a car.

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Image: touropia.com

Entrance feeAdults: € 3,50

Guided visit: € 4,90

Groups: discounted (ask at the counter)

SPAIN [España]

CHATEAU DE CHILLON History Probably one of the most visually recognized castles

in the world, Château de Chillon has a lengthy history.

The earliest written record of Chillon dates to 1150.

Ever since then, it was an important strategic location

on Lake Geneva.

Many authors and artists, including Jean-Jacques

Rousseau, Victor Hugo, and Lord Byron, have been

inspired by the castle. Lord Byron’s 1816 poem ThePrisoner of Chillon centers on François Bonivard, a

monk imprisoned there in the 1500s, and Byron left

behind his name carved into the walls of the castle’s

dungeons.

How to get thereFrom Geneva, Château de Chillon is

accessible by train, car, boat, bus, or any

combination of the above. By rail, take the

train from Geneva to Montreux. Then, catch a

regional train to Veytaux-Chillon, walk the 4

km along the lakefront, or take bus Ligne N°

201 from in front of the Montreux station to

Chillon. Et voila, you're there!

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Image: farm8.staticflickr.com

Entrance feeAdults: CHF 12.50

Children: CHF 6.00

Family ticket: CHF 29.00

Reduced: CHF 10.50

SWITZERLAND [Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft ]

UCHISARHistory Possibly the ugliest castle in the whole Europe,

Uchisar can, however, be called the most unique one

too, because people carved it out of the rocks instead

of purposely building it from the ground up.

Known as the tallest point in the Cappadocia region,

Uchisar has the fantastic landscape views to boot, but

the stark interior also intrigues because corridors

lined with rooms eventually lead to the tallest point

where people used to live in caves carved into the

exterior walls. On a clear day, Mount Erciyes stands

proud in the distance and cars on the main road

running from Uchisar to Goreme seem like miniature

models.

How to get thereThe main transportation point for the region

is the provincial capital of Nevşehir, with its

busy bus station and not-so-busy airport. The

closest train station and busy airport are at

Kayseri.

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Image: taskonaklar.com

Entrance feeAdults: 5 TL (around 1.5 EUR)

TURKEY [Türkiye]

THE SWALLOW'S NESTHistory A symbol of Crimean southern coastline, The

Swallow's Nest is a decorative castle located at

Gaspra, a small spa town between Yalta and Alupka.

It was built between 1911 and 1912, on top of the 40-

metre (130 ft) high Aurora Cliff, in a Neo-Gothic

design by the Russian architect Leonid Sherwood for

the Baltic German oil millionaire Baron von Steingel.

Thus, the castle had no defensive or military purpose,

as it was built out of aesthetic reasons.

Swallow's Nest overlooks the Cape of Ai-Todor on the

Black Sea coast, and offers some seriously beautiful

views.

How to get thereThe castle is just a 20-minute drive from Yalta.

Take bus No. 27 to Alupka and get off at

Swallow's Nest station.

Alternatively, you can also take a ferry from

Yalta - it departs regularly from the port.

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Image: trover.com

Entrance feeAdults: 300 RUB

Children: 200 RUB

UKRAINE [Україна]

WINDSOR CASTLEHistory As soon as you enter the Windsor Castle, it is as if you

traveled back to the Middle Ages. The walls are 4

meters thick, with just a long narrow vision slit cut in

the shape of a cross.

The streets you'll cross there are about 1000 years

old, and you can still read the ancient medieval signs

at the top of the doorways. Windsor Castle is really

like a small town on its own, so there’s a lot to explore:

there’s a castle itself, a beautiful chapel, cute little

shops, small dwelling houses, and, of course, lavish

gardens.

How to get thereBefore you go, remember this: The Castle

becomes an official residence of the royal

family for a month over Easter (from March to

April), which means that many rooms are

closed to visitors from the beginning of spring.

To get to Windsor, take a direct train from

London. It's about an hour ride.

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Image: therussianabroad.com

Entrance feeAdults: £ 18.50

Reduced: £ 16.90

UK: ENGLAND [United Kingdom]

DUNLUCE CASTLEHistory The iconic ruin of Dunluce Castle bears witness to a

long and tumultuous history. First built on the

dramatic coastal cliffs of north County Antrim by the

MacQuillan family around 1500, the earliest written

record of the castle was in 1513.

The castle is famous, however, not only for its history,

but also for the inspiration that it provided to writers

and artists. Dunluce Castle is reputed to be the

inspiration behind the royal castle of Cair Paravel in

Ulster-born writer CS Lewis’s Narnia stories.

It's really worth a visit, especially for its scenic

location!

How to get thereThe fastest way to get to Dunluce Castle is

from Belfast: go to Belfast Great Victoria

Street Station, get a train to Portrush, and

from there, catch the North Coast Open

Topper 117 to Dunluce Castle.

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Image: independent.co.uk


Children: £ 1.00

UK: NORTHERN IRELAND [United Kingdom]

EDINBURGH CASTLEHistory Built high upon a plug of an extinct volcano, standing

between sea and hills, Edinburgh Castle is, firstly, the

most visited castle in Europe, hosting more than 1

million people each year, and, secondly, one of the

most haunted castles in the world.

Some of its famous ghosts are believed to be: an old

man in a leather apron, a little headless drummer boy,

and a mysterious piper who was lost in the tunnels of

the castle centuries ago.

How to get thereThe castle dominated the whole skyline of

Edinburgh, so it's impossible to miss it when

you visit the city. It stands at the head of the

Old Town of Edinburgh.

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Image: dailyrecord.co.uk


Reduced: £ 13.20

Children: £ 9.90

UK: SCOTLAND [United Kingdom]

EILEAN DONAN CASTLEHistory Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most recognized

castles in Scotland and probably appears on more

shortbread tins and calendars than any other. It is,

without any doubt, a Scottish icon and certainly one of

the most popular visitor attractions in the Highlands.

When you first set eyes on it, it is easy to understand

why so many people flock to its stout doors year after

year. Strategically located on its own little island,

overlooking the Isle of Skye, at the point where three

great sea-lochs meet, and surrounded by the majestic

splendour of the forested mountains of Kintail, Eilean

Donan Castle's setting is truly breath-taking.

How to get thereThe Isle of Skye is easy to visit either by ferry

at Glenelg or by bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh (8

miles from the Castle).

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Image: seriouspuzzles.com


Reduced: £ 6.50

Family ticket: £ 20.00

FREE: Children under 5 y. o.

UK: SCOTLAND [United Kingdom]

THIS IS IT. 45 castles. 25 countries.

Hope you want to visit some of them now!

For more inspiration, visit www.therussianabroad.com.

http://www.therussianabroad.com/

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