The first time I saw a photo of Eltz Castle, I actually thought it was fake. It looked too perfect—like a CGI rendering from a fantasy film. There it was, perched on a forested hill, wrapped in morning mist, with towers shooting into the sky like something straight out of a Tolkien novel. Honestly, it […]
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 […]
Standing proudly over the Danube, Buda Castle is one of those places that completely pulls you in. If you’ve ever wandered through a European capital wondering what stories its buildings could tell, this is the place where you actually get some answers. Part medieval fortress, part royal palace, and part cultural hub, it has weathered […]
When I first got to Schönbrunn Palace, I’ll be honest—I was mostly just trying to avoid the midday crowds. I had seen photos, read about the Habsburgs, but didn’t really know what to expect. It’s one of those places that’s so famous, you almost assume it can’t surprise you. Then I walked into the courtyard. […]
I still remember the first time I caught a glimpse of the Palace of Versailles. The soft splash of fountains echoed in the distance, and the air smelled faintly of roses and gravel warmed by the sun. It was early morning, and the sun hit those golden gates just right—it felt like I had stepped […]
When I first arrived in Gondar, Ethiopia, I didn’t expect to be so moved by stone and silence. The early morning mist clung to the hills, and through it, Fasil Ghebbi emerged like a mirage from another time. A local boy selling coffee on the street pointed and said, “King Fasil built that to touch […]
One morning, as I climbed the roads of Sintra, the mist wrapped itself around the hill like a blanket and gazed up into the dense forest. It clung there, hiding what was behind. As the road turned, I saw the Pena Palace, suspended high above the town, as if painted in watercolors of wild yellow, […]
I’ve stood at the foot of plenty of castles—Scottish, French, Spanish—you name it. But nothing really prepared me for that first slow walk up to Prague Castle. I’d been in the city a couple days, already taken by the maze of old streets and the clatter of trams, but seeing the castle rising above the […]
I’ll be honest—no guidebook or glossy photo ever prepared me for the moment I first set eyes on the Alhambra. You hear about its palaces and gardens, the intricate tilework and ancient legends. But stepping out onto the hill above Granada, watching the morning sun hit those honey-colored walls, it just feels… different. The air […]
I’ve always had a thing for places where history isn’t just told—it’s alive. So, when I finally found myself standing before Windsor Castle, I knew I wasn’t just visiting another tourist spot. I was stepping into a living, breathing piece of Britain’s royal story. You can read about monarchs and medieval battles all you want, […]
