located in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley in Germany. Built in the early 14th century, it served as a customs post for the Holy Roman Empire. Positioned atop a rocky cliff, it overlooks the Rhine River, offering breathtaking views and strategic significance.
Rheinstein Castle underwent restoration in the 19th century to preserve its medieval character and is now a popular tourist destination. Its Gothic architecture, stunning location, and historical charm make it a highlight of the Rhine Valley. Visitors can explore its well-preserved rooms, gardens, and enjoy the picturesque surroundings. It stands as a testament to the region’s rich cultural and architectural heritage.

A Majestic Hilltop Fortress in Germany
Hohenzollern Castle (Burg Hohenzollern) is a stunning hilltop fortress located atop Mount Hohenzollern in the Swabian Alps of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Perched at 855 meters (2,805 feet) above sea level, it offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The current structure, built in the mid-19th century, is the third castle on this site and showcases a neo-Gothic architectural style. It serves as the ancestral seat of the Hohenzollern dynasty, which includes the former Prussian kings and German emperors

also known as Reichsburg Cochem, is an enchanting medieval fortress perched above the Moselle River in Cochem, Germany. Its origins trace back to around the year 1000, when it was built as a defense stronghold to oversee and protect the strategic river valley below. The castle's position atop a steep hill offers panoramic views of the town of Cochem and the winding Moselle, making it one of Germany's most scenic castles. Although largely destroyed in 1689 during the Nine Years' War by French troops, it was eventually reconstructed in the late 19th century in the neo-Gothic style by a wealthy Berlin businessman, Louis Fréderic Jacques Ravené. Today, this reconstruction offers visitors a unique blend of original medieval foundations and romantic 19th-century architecture, with turrets, thick stone walls, and gothic decor capturing the imagination of history lovers and sightseers alike.
Inside, the castle boasts opulent rooms filled with rich furnishings, tapestries, and wood carvings, all thoughtfully designed to reflect medieval life while also highlighting the extravagance of the 1800s reconstruction. Visitors can join guided tours to learn about the castle's storied past, including its medieval origins, destruction, and eventual revival. Cochem Castle also hosts seasonal events and festivals, such as medieval banquets and holiday markets, immersing guests in German tradition and history. The castle's captivating architecture and its scenic, vineyard-laden surroundings make it a must-see destination on any tour of the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany.

Sigmaringen Castle, known in German as Schloss Sigmaringen, is a majestic princely castle nestled on a dramatic 35-meter (115 ft) chalk cliff overlooking the Danube River in the town of Sigmaringen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. This historic landmark boasts a rich and turbulent history spanning nearly a millennium, reflecting centuries of European power, dynastic shifts, and architectural evolution !

Hohenzollern, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Hohenzollern Castle is the seat of the imperial House of Hohenzollern.
Built between 1850 and 1867, it is the third of the three hilltop castles constructed on the site. The first castle dates back to the early 11th century while the second was built between 1454 and 1461.
Architect Friedrich August Stüler designed the present castle influenced by the English Gothic revival architecture and the Loire Valley Châteaux.
The castle is a monument to German Romanticism.
It covers almost all of Mount Hohenzollern's summit. It is composed of four primary parts: military architecture such as the Eagle Gate and its attached drawbridge, the palatial buildings, chapels and the gardens.
It was damaged by an earthquake in 1978 and was under repair until the mid-1990s.
It is a stunning privately-owned architectural masterpiece open to the public.
Since 1952, the Princess Kira of Prussia Foundation has used it for an annual summer camp for children.
Whenever Prince Georg Friedrich Ferdinand of Prussia, Head of the House of Hohenzollern, and his family are staying there, the Prussian flag flies over the castle.

located in Vianden in the north of Luxembourg, is one of the largest fortified castles west of the Rhine. With origins dating from the fourth century as a Roman outpost and the 10th century, the more familiar castle form was built in the Romanesque style from the 11th to 14th centuries.
Architectural style: Romanesque architecture

As if growing directly from deep water, the spires of a Gothic-style resort building tower above Wanfeng Lake. This is Jilongbao, nicknamed "Chinese version of Neuschwanstein castle," in Xingyi City, Guizhou Province. Due to its stunning, fairy-tale scenery and unique geographical location, standing alone in the center of the lake, Jilongbao attracts countless tourists.

Kilkenny, Ireland is about an hour and a half from Dublin and well worth the drive or ride. If you are wondering what to see and do when you visit Kilkenny you will be pleasently surprised with the number of churches, historic sights and pubs to visit. From the 12th century castle, to the Irish music playing in the pubs to the Medieval Mile there are plenty of things to enjoy in Kilkenny. Not to mention the fresh Smithwick's beer!

or Drachenburg Castle is a private villa styled as a palace and constructed in the late 19th century. It was completed in only two years on the Drachenfels hill in Königswinter, a German town on the east bank of the Rhine, south of the city of Bonn.
Architectural style: Gothic Revival architecture
Built: 1882–1884