Once upon a time in rainy old England, one very bored person made a wish to escape to somewhere sunny and exciting just for a week or two. Their wish was granted; they boarded an enchanted flying machine and before they knew it they were on a beach sipping cocktails and living the highlife! This is the origin story of the ‘holiday’.
Holidays are magical to begin with, but if you’re looking an injection of fairytale wonder for your next holiday, you might want to check out this round-up of the most beautiful real life fairytale castles!
Hohenschwangau Castle – Southern Germany
First built in southern Germany in the 12th century, Hohenschwangau Castle was rediscovered by a Bavarian Prince in 1829 who chose to rebuild the castle because he thought it was so beautiful even in ruin. It later became the childhood home to his son Ludwig II of Bavaria. Not bad for a starter home!
Matsumoto Castle – Japan
One of Japan‘s most famous castles, Matsumoto Castle was built in the 16th century and looks like something straight out of a Disney film. Matsumoto is also know as ‘The Crow Castle’ because its black walls and roofs look like the wings of a crow.
Heidelerg Castle – Germany
Heidelberg Castle sits 260 feet high on a hillside in the old city of Heidelberg in Germany. Through a turbulent history, and having once been struck by lightening, the castle has been damaged and subsequently repaired through many different eras, giving it an unusual mix of architectural styles.
Bran Castle – Romania
Bran Castle in Romania is commonly recognised as the home of Dracula! Vlad Tepes, who was the historical figure used in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, was locked in the dungeon of Bran Castle during a siege in which the Ottoman Empire invaded Transylvania. Spooky!
Burg Eltz – Germany
Burg Eltz has been inhabited by the Eltz family for 33 generations, dating back to the 12th century. The castle sits above the Moselle River, high on a hill surrounded by picturesque forests.
Neuschwanstein Castle – Bavaria, Germany
You can’t get much more fairytale than this. Neuschwanstein was the original inspiration behind the design of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty’s castle. It is the most photographed building in Germany and one if the most popular tourist spots in the country.
