Castles capture the imagination. They are the stuff of legends, fables, and fairly tales, and most of these look like they have leapt off of the pages of one. They are the homes of kings, warlords, princesses, and monsters. Some are architectural marvels, particularly when one considers when they were built. If you have a sharp eye you will recognize many from movies and TV shows, such as Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, and the Harry Potter series, to name but a few. This list was chosen on the basis of historical significance, interesting architecture, spectacular setting, sheer beauty, or all of the above.
