Medieval Fantasy Castles & Their Designs In Real Life (Must Visit)

What is a medieval fantasy castle? Immediately a picture from a Hollywood fantasy film springs to mind. It should have several turrets poking towards the clouds above the battlement walls, tantalizingly visible from afar. The impenetrable surrounding wall with equally-spaced towers rises from a clear moat. If the drawbridge is down, impressively carved wooden doors framed by iron-ornamented lintels and drawbridge pulleys may be open to allow a glimpse into the mysterious buildings surrounding it. But where did this classic image of a castle develop? Does it accurately reflect the true medieval castle or does it capture the spirit of medieval fantasy instead?

Top 3 Medieval Fantasy Castles In Real Life

The medieval period in Europe is conventionally dated from roughly the 5th century to the late 15th century, following the fragmentation of the Western Roman Empire and preceding the Renaissance and early modern period. The older label “Dark Ages” is now used much more cautiously because it can obscure the era’s major political, technological, architectural and cultural developments.

Be that as it may, the medieval period was filled with many important events that influenced the development of the entire human race. Strongholds of rulers had already progressed from earthen mounds surrounded by rough ditches, to stronger wooden forts surrounded by high wooden palisades, and then to stone castles. See what magical changes were made to create stunning fantasy castles through the years…

Neuschwanstein Castle

When you look at Neuschwanstein Castle you see turrets reaching into the clouds, against the fairytale backdrop of mountains and a pristine lake. It appears as if you can climb into the fabulous painting by a great artist and become a part of this fantasy world…

Neuschwanstein took shape from the imagination of Ludwig II of Bavaria, who spent part of his childhood at nearby Hohenschwangau Castle. After visiting the restored Wartburg in 1867, Ludwig envisioned an idealized medieval retreat shaped by German legends, theatrical scenery and the world associated with Richard Wagner. Work on the site began in 1868 and the foundation stone was laid on September 5, 1869. Ludwig was declared mentally unfit to rule and deposed in 1886; the circumstances of that decision remain a subject of historical debate.

Ludwig’s fascination with Richard Wagner and the medieval legends behind Wagner’s operas strongly influenced Neuschwanstein’s interiors. The castle was conceived as a private refuge rather than a conventional seat of government, and its murals draw on figures such as Tannhäuser, Lohengrin and Parzival. Its medieval appearance also concealed modern construction and technology, including brick walls faced with limestone and an iron structure supporting the Throne Hall. This blend of historic fantasy and 19th-century engineering helps explain why Neuschwanstein remains one of Germany’s best-known castles.

Alcazar de Segovia

Rising above the historic city of Segovia, Spain, the Alcázar of Segovia is one of the country’s most distinctive royal fortresses. The word alcázar comes from Arabic and refers to a fortress or palace; true to its name, this landmark combines both roles and remains one of the best-known castles to visit in Spain.

The Alcázar had served Castilian monarchs for centuries before one of its most famous moments in 1474. After the death of Henry IV, Isabella left the Alcázar on December 13 to be proclaimed Queen of Castile in Segovia. The castle remained closely connected to the monarchy; in 1570 its chapel hosted the nuptial Mass of Philip II and his fourth wife, Anna of Austria.

The Alcázar’s fairytale silhouette owes much to changes made under Philip II in the 16th century, including the steep slate roofs that gave its towers a distinctly northern-European appearance. A catastrophic fire on March 6, 1862—not 1886—destroyed much of the interior and roofing. Restoration work began in 1882 under architects Joaquín de Odriozola and Antonio Bermejo, helping preserve the dramatic profile visitors see today.

Urban legend says that the Alcazar was part of the inspiration for Cinderella’s Castle in Walt Disney World.

Bran Castle

Bran Castle in Romania looks tailor-made for tales of romance and mystery, which helps explain its modern association with Count Dracula. However, Bram Stoker never identified Bran Castle as Dracula’s home, and the connection is primarily a later cultural and tourism association rather than a direct link to the novel.

Bran’s documented history is more complicated than the Dracula legend. The Teutonic Knights established an earlier fortress in the region in the early 13th century, but the stone castle associated with Bran today followed a 1377 privilege from King Louis I of Hungary allowing the people of Brașov to build a castle there. Centuries later it became a royal residence: the citizens of Brașov gave Bran Castle to Queen Marie of Romania in 1920, and her restoration helped shape the intimate, romantic interior visitors know today. Its layered architecture makes the real history at least as interesting as the vampire mythology.

The Most Famous Fictional Castle 

Camelot of the legendary King Arthur must take pride of place! Not only was this castle constructed with paranormal assistance from Merlin, the great magician, but Arthur had the assistance of the best architects, stonemasons, and skilled artisans. The entire kingdom of Camelot was at his command.

Legend suggests that the remains of Tintagel Castle in Cornwall are better called “Camelot”. Assertations suggest that this was the location for the legendary city and its heroic occupants.  We leave it up to your imagination. Is there a possible grain of truth in this or is Camelot merely fiction? Was there a King Arthur, Queen Guinevere with her secret love for a handsome knight Sir Lancelot, or was it simply a fabulous tale that has stood the test of time, originally written by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century?

Beautiful Fantasy Castles in Real Life

Castles have long caught imaginations. As the “nouveau” rich, with their industry-made wealth, came into modern societies of the 19th and 20th centuries, new castles started taking shape as private homes. Never meant for defense or politics, this new definition of castle started cropping up worldwide. From Craigdarroch Castle in British Columbia to Belvedere Castle in Central Park, New York City, to Strawberry Hill on the outskirts of London, England–they are the epitome of medieval styles reimagined into fantastical designs.

A palatial example is Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. William Randolph Hearst called the hilltop estate La Cuesta Encantada—“The Enchanted Hill”—and began developing it with architect Julia Morgan in 1919. Morgan was the first woman admitted to the architecture program at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and later became California’s first licensed female architect. By 1947 the estate still was not fully finished, yet it already contained 165 rooms and extensive gardens, terraces, pools and walkways. Hearst’s enormous art collection and Morgan’s blend of Mediterranean, Gothic and Renaissance references turned the estate into a modern fantasy of historic European architecture.

Medieval Defense to Fantastical Wonders…

Medieval castles changed throughout the centuries from strongholds and fortresses to magnificent palaces. As the extravagance of the nobles and royals altered over the centuries, so to did their taste in building projects. It is staggering to look at the development of civilization in terms of castles–compare an early wooden keep to the lavish Neuschwanstein Castle.

Through trade with the East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, interiors could be lavishly furnished.  German woodworking, curtains of genuine silk, and Persian carpets with unique designs all were noteworthy additions. Meanwhile, the best wines of Bordeaux stocked the cellar to drink with the stag shot on the castle occupants’ hunts.  Refinement was defined by a wide collection of rare objects, used for construction, decorating, and consumption in Medieval … and Medieval-styled modern castles.