Comments on: 9 Castles I Want to Visit

By: Calli Arcale

Calli Arcale — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:40:50 +0000

Another must-see is the (relatively) modest Chenonceau. Its most unique feature is the long ballroom, which happens to be situated *over* the Cher River (a tributary of the Loire). This castle is a bridge, which is part of the reason it’s in such good condition — when most French castles were getting sacked in the French Revolution, this one was spared because it was a bridge and therefore valuable to the people. Also, the woman who owned it at the time was very friendly and much loved by the local people. That’s also part of the castle’s charm — for almost its entire history, it was owned by women. It’s almost a soap opera, going through there. ;-)

By: Cait

Cait — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:03:25 +0000

One of King Ludwig’s best is Neuschwanstein.

By: Becky

Becky — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:44:09 +0000

I had the opportunity to go to Taktsang Lhakhang on a study abroad to Bhutan! It was beautiful. Usually visitors can only go th the viewpoint across from the monastery (which is likely where the photo you posted was taken from), but because we were students we got to go inside, eat lunch with the head of the monastery and attend a Puja! It was awesome.

By: TimCthefilmguy

TimCthefilmguy — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:07:56 +0000

Bran is hardly a castle. More like a big house. The area is beautiful though. Here is a video I made last year of the there. The first shot is in Bran castle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTA58WCQ68g

By: nutmeag

nutmeag — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:33:55 +0000

I remember reading a vampire/adventure novel which partly takes place at Mont St. Michel, with Vlad Tepes supposedly hiding some historical documents there, which I guess sort of makes the castle a third on on this list related to Dracula. I thought the novel was The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, but I couldn’t find a reference to the place on the novel’s wikipedia page. Anyone else know what I’m talking about?

Also, Angela Carter’s short story, The Bloody Chamber (a revamp of Bluebeard tale), takes place in a Mont St. Michel-inspired castle.

Besides the novels, you commentors are really making me want to visit!

By: greenstrawberries

greenstrawberries — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:53:21 +0000

Mont St. Michel is quite beautiful, and I enjoyed it. I’ve also been to Bran Castle, which was interesting. There’s really not much in the way of furniture, or stuff in the castle- there is some, it’s just not as much as you usually see. There weren’t any mirrors, though. I like castles that have interesting architecture, because at least then you’re not spending hours looking at old furniture.

By: xixita

xixita — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:02:18 +0000

Visit Palacio da Pena and you’ll never forget it because that visit will lead you through Sintra and that leads to Lisbon and then to Portugal and you’ll never ever want anything else than Portugal!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 15:28:19 +0000

Clearly more people on this site have been to Mont St Michel than the other selections. I have to chime in on the wonder of this place. I went to visit in the height of the tourist season in the summer. The best decision I made on that entire trip was to spend the night at the hotel on the ‘island’. I woke up quite early and wandered the place before most of the people on buses and in cars showed up – wow. Misty and inspiring. I was also able to see the tide come in – the even more amazing thing about the place than the building itself!

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:26:22 +0000

Castle visits would be excellent if you could go back in time & see them as they were when actually occupied by the owners.

The disappointment is always when they’ve been abandoned for hundreds of years, or “redecorated” incorrectly.

The BEST castles are those built by King Ludwig of Bavaria. Shortly after his death they were turned into museums by the government, so they remain furnished just as Ludwig created them.

photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/corsinet/sets/72157594334966622/

By: stephenbrody

stephenbrody — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 23:21:59 +0000

well well, someone who has actually done some accurate homework on Pena! Congratulations.