What makes an ideal fairytale castle? It all comes right down to the small print – elements resembling a big cluster of turrets, an asymmetrical facade and an ornate gate, in line with Oliver’s Travelsand it actually helps if the castle is elevated and occupies a outstanding position in a singular or distant location. To crown essentially the most fairytale castles world wide (and there are numerous of them – there are 25,000 castles and palaces in Germany alone), the luxurious villa provider took all these architectural and location-related details under consideration for its rating of the most fairytale castles world wide.
“Fairy tales have captured our imagination since childhood, and as adults we can relive that magic by exploring castles and palaces,” says Oliver Bell, co-founder of Oliver’s Travelswhere 200 castles and palaces are offered for rent.
The perfect castle, he says, combines impressive architecture with the whimsical elements of fairy tales, making a nostalgic experience. “It’s a place where visitors can admire the detailed turrets, ornate entrances and winding paths and imagine themselves as the protagonist of their favorite fairy tale,” he says.
The best castles are ideally positioned in a singular location, resembling a rugged hilltop or secluded island, evoking a way of wonder and fantasy, says Bell. Many of the castles, which appear to be they’re straight out of a fairytale, are open to the general public and will be toured, visited and photographed.
To develop the “fairytale formula,” the Oliver’s Travel team took under consideration typical elements often present in castles and palaces from folklore. Five of the castles received full marks for his or her tall, pointed towers, asymmetrical façade and interesting location.
Here are the 5 most fairytale castles on this planet in line with Oliver’s Travel’s 2024 report.
Hochosterwitz Castle in Austria
Hochosterwitz Castle, probably the most impressive medieval castles in Austria from the ninth century. … [+]
With an imposing presence on a 525-root rock in Carinthia, Hochosterwitz Castle Bell points out that the castle is a fairytale castle, a lot in order that it is alleged to have served because the inspiration for Snow White. Visitors can dine within the on-site restaurant or tour the castle’s medieval museum.
Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany
Beautiful view of the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle, inbuilt the Neo-Romanesque style … [+]
With a limestone façade and blue turrets, some consider that Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle was the muse for “Cinderella” and the “Sleeping Beauty” castle at Disneyland in Anaheim. Around 1.4 million people visit the castle yearly.
“Perched dramatically on a rugged hill overlooking Lake Alpsee, it looks like it came straight out of a fairytale book,” says Bell.
Mont Saint-Michel in France
France, Normandy, Manche, Bay of Mont Saint-Michel, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Abbey of Mont … [+]
Mont Saint-Michel is a “perfect example of a fairytale castle,” says Bell. It is positioned in a bay shared by Normandy and Brittany and is surrounded by mudflats. The holy island and its bay were once a Christian pilgrimage site and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“When it is surrounded by the sea at high tide, there is an atmosphere of magic and mystery,” he says.
Some consider that Mont Saint-Michel served because the inspiration for the castle in Disney’s Tangled.
Hohenzollern Castle in Germany
Hohenzollern Castle in Germany
“It is often referred to as the ‘castle in the clouds’ because of its elevated position in the mountains, it is surrounded by the mountain mist of the Black Forest. When that happens, it really becomes the quintessential fairytale castle,” says Bell.
The castle in Swabia, Germany, is one other popular castle destination for European travelers, attracting around 300,000 visitors annually who want to have a look behind the fortress partitions. A floor-to-ceiling mural within the hallway depicts the family tree of one among Europe’s strongest ruling families, in line with Britannica.
Lichtenstein Castle in Germany
Lichtenstein Castle is positioned within the Swabian Alb.
Located on Germany’s 600-kilometer-long “Fairy Tale Route,” the neo-Gothic Lichtenstein Castle was built on a cliff within the nineteenth century and features the pointed arches, narrow towers and ornate decorations characteristic of a fairytale castle, Bell says.
“Its precarious and dramatic position reinforces the feeling that it belongs in a fairytale book,” he says.
