Europe is the birthplace of the castle. Throughout the Middle Ages, European nobility went mad constructing enormous, ostentatious fortified structures all over the continent. For approximately 900 years, the rich and paranoid built castles as places inside which protection could be sought, as homes for high living and a base to raid their neighbours. And it wasn’t just Europe building incredible castles – we’ve even found a stunning Japanese shogun’s castle dating back to 1333. These are some of the best examples open to visitors.

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