25 Enchanting Real Castles Around The World

If you saw Disney's Rapunzel movie, "Tangled," then Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy will look familiar to you. The castle where the long-haired princess was born looks much like the breathtaking ancient abbey, which becomes surrounded by water during certain high tides. Mont-Saint-Michel is one of France's most visited historical places, with 2.5 million tourists catching an up-close look at the breathtaking medieval architecture every year.

The royal family may be best associated with Buckingham Palace, but it's this castle in the historic market town of Windsor that has been the family home to kings and queens for over 1,000 years. The castle is a whopping 13 acres, making it the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world. Guests are welcome to tour year-round, and the residence is so massive that three hours are recommended to see it all. The Windsor Castle isn't only home to royalty, but also to a magnificent art collection, with artworks by Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, and Rembrandt, all which can be seen on a visitor's tour. When the Royal Standard flag is flying from the castle's Round Tower, the Sovereign is home.

Exquisite Osaka Castle, in Osaka, Japan, was built in 1583 and is especially popular during the spring cherry-blossom season. The now-modernized interior houses a museum about the castle's history and Japanese leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The outside hosts, in true castle fashion, turrets, stone walls, a large garden and moats. Movie buffs might recognize this one from the 1955 film, "Godzilla Raids Again," in which the castle was destroyed by the famous monster.

Leeds Castle in Kent, England, rises off islands in the center of a lake as if from a childhood fairy tale. And it has the royal pedigree to back it up: Six of England's medieval queens lived here and Henry VIII transformed it into a breathtaking palace so he and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, could visit in true royal luxury. Castle crusaders who can't catch everything in one trip are in luck: An admission ticket allows as many visits as one would like for 12 months.

When visiting Connemara in Ireland's Galway, be sure to snap a photo in front of stunning Kylemore Abbey. Built as a doctor's family home in 1868, the castle and its walled garden are now home to a community of Benedictine nuns who make and sell chocolates and other goods. Families are encouraged to visit for lakeshore walks, stories of local legends and performances in the neo-Gothic church.

Medieval Eltz Castle, located in Wierschem of western Germany, was built in the 12th century and is named for the family that still owns it today. Surrounded by forest, it was erected on a 230-foot rock and features eight towers that sit 115 feet in the sky. Inside, the castle still includes many of its original furnishings. Other attractions for visitors include a 500-year-old courtyard and a knights' hall.

Like many other fortresses on this list, the spot of Bunratty Castle has been occupied for over 1,000 years by the likes of Vikings and Irish lords, and is home to some of the country's most beautiful medieval furniture. Unlike many other fortresses on this list, visitors have the option of being transported in time with the Bunratty Banquet, where guests actually dress up to dine on a four-course meal inside the castle while being entertained by period singers.

Beginning in 1583, the elegant Kanazawa Castle in Kanazawa, Japan, was home to powerful lords for many years. The castle has suffered numerous fires since it was built in the 16th century, but still features three traditional gates, a scenic pond and two turrets with impressive views. Though grand in nature, the castle is not set off in a faraway mountain. It is easily accessible to tourists by bus.

The spectacular Hluboká Castle resembles a buttercream-frosted wedding cake, dotted with romantic towers straight out of a storybook. Its mid-19th-century restoration (the castle was originally founded in the 13th century) was reportedly inspired by the look of England's Windsor Castle. The castle features 140 rooms, 11 towers, lavish halls, crystal chandelier and kitchen equipment preserved from the 19th century.

"Versailles" has become a code word for architectural extravagance, and the palace that lent the word that meaning remains a stunning don't-miss French tourist attraction. The palace, a piece of 17th-century artwork that now houses the Museum of the History of France, has been a World Heritage Site for 30 years. Of the 2,300 rooms, visitor favorites include the Hall of Mirrors, which features 17 mirror-covered arches, and the vast, fountain-filled gardens.

Avid followers of the Royal Family might have heard of Balmoral Castle before. The original castle was purchased by Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, and the couple built on to it to accommodate their nine children. Guests are welcome to tour the castle with complimentary access, though only a few areas of the estate are open for viewing, including a ballroom that is filled with objects that belong to the royal family. Most other spaces are outside, including what is called a Safari Tour of the grounds. The castle remains closed to the public in the month of August and in early September, as well as some weekends. For the most accurate up-to-date information on when you can visit the castle, refer to the website's calendar.

Not many castles are as bold as the Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. The vivid red and yellow exterior walls, originally painted in the 19th century, were recolored to their original beauty in 1996 and the entrance is guarded by a mythical gargoyle. Situated atop the second-highest point in Serra de Sintra, the palace's terraces offer sweeping views of the town below and the encompassing greenery.

Hold on to your wands, Harry Potter fans, because aspiring wizards can visit the 11th-century Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England, where several movies have been filmed. It's here where Harry learned to fly on a broom and play Quidditch, and where Harry and best mate Ron Weasley crashed the Weasley's flying car. The castle even leans into its movie fame by offering broomstick training to its visitors. It's one of many famous movie locations you can actually visit.