North America Castles

Split image showing Carcassonne medieval fortress and Neuschwanstein fairytale palace, illustrating the evolution of castles.

2025-05-11
28 minutes read

The History of Castles: From Fortresses to Palaces

🏰 1. More Than Just Stone Walls There’s something magnetic about standing in front of a centuries-old castle. The thick stone walls, weathered by time. The towers rise against the sky like ancient sentinels. You can almost hear the echoes of clanking armor and the flicker of torchlight against stone. The first time I visited […]

Aerial view of the colorful Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal, showcasing its vibrant red and yellow towers surrounded by lush forested hills.

2025-04-27
23 minutes read

The 25 Most Famous Castles in the World: Iconic Fortresses You Must See

For centuries, the ideas and, even more so, the ideals symbolized by castles and embodied in them have been a catalyst for captivating imaginations. The very concept of a castle, for many—including me, I must confess—is inextricably linked with power (especially political and military), romance, mystery, and history. Most of us can point to at […]

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac overlooking Old Quebec and the St. Lawrence River on a cloudy day

2025-04-02
6 minutes read

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac: A Castle Hotel That Lives Up to the Hype

I’ve seen a lot of famous places on my travels, and sometimes they don’t live up to the photos. But then there are spots that completely exceed expectations—Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is one of those. When I first laid eyes on it from the Dufferin Terrace, perched high above the St. Lawrence River, it genuinely […]

Aerial view of Casa Loma with the Toronto skyline in the background on a clear spring day.

2025-04-01
8 minutes read

Casa Loma: Exploring Toronto’s Fairytale Castle

I’ll never forget my first glimpse of Casa Loma. It was early fall in Toronto. The leaves were crisp and crackling underfoot, the air had that comforting bite that whispers of the season’s change. I was simply meandering—no agenda, no destination. Then, through the thinning foliage, I saw it: turrets rising like sentinels, stone walls […]

A panoramic view of Castillo de San Marcos fort and Matanzas Bay on a sunny day in St. Augustine, Florida.

2025-03-31
7 minutes read

Castillo de San Marcos: Explore Florida’s Oldest Fort

The first time I stood before Castillo de San Marcos, the morning air still carried the hush of night. The sun had barely begun its slow climb over Matanzas Bay, stretching golden fingers across the fortress’s ancient coquina walls. The fort stood there—silent, solid, scarred. It felt less like a building and more like a […]