It’s one of the biggest castles in Central Europe. Popular Spiš Castle Žehra is located in eastern Slovakia. Hopefully, it will someday be fully restored. 7,400 charitable donors contributed to a crowdfunding campaign and saved it from demolition in 2017. Furniture, paintings, rare books, and tapestries were lost in the blaze. Unfortunately, there was a terrible fire in 1932. Nevertheless, Edgard Lejeune began renovations prior to 1870. It was ransacked during the infamous French revolution. 9, Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers, FranceĮnsconced in the lovely Les Trois-Moutiers region of western France, the famous Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers harkens back to the 1200s. It was never rebuilt and yet visitors may still get a sense of its former majesty today. In 1650 after the invasion of Cromwell, the castle was left in ruins. It was later owned by the Earl of Thomond. This stronghold belonged to the well-known O’Moore family of Laois from 1325 to 1609. The original castle was erected in the 1100s by the Normans. The ruins of Dunamase stand high on a rugged outcrop in County Laois, west of Dublin. Some say the remaining ruins cast “a ghostly shadow” over the entire area. The empty bell tower and chapel and the crumbled walls are all that is left. In the 1800s, the structure was a storage area for gunpowder and unfortunately destroyed by an unintentional explosion. Later, Augustine monks used it for 700 years. It was constructed to aid in conquering the Muslims in Huesca. This castle in Aragon, northern Spain harkens back to the 11th-century. Repairs were later made and today it’s a tourist attraction. It was further damaged in 1888 by a landslide and in 1913 by an earthquake. The structure has an altitude of 800 meters.įollowing Vlad’s demise, the stronghold was abandoned and in ruins by 1600. Erected in the 1200s, it was once the home of the infamous Romanian king Vlad III Dracula, a.k.a. You’ll have to climb almost 1500 steps to see Poenari Castle in Wallachia, in central Romania. It would later become an English Heritage property and is now open to the public. The family built a new house nearby and abandoned the ruins. In 1643 the castle would be left to rot after an attack during the Civil War. Constructed by John Lovell, it would later frequently change owners until the Arundell family bought it in the 1500s. Nevertheless, back in the 1300s, it was a fantastic French-style castle. These castle ruins are ensconced in the Wiltshire countryside. Although it was never repaired, it remains a testament to the architect’s ingenuity. In 1687 the fort was destroyed by the mighty Mughal army.
It actually was cool in the summer because of its built-in natural air conditioning. When it was newly-built, it featured state of the art architecture. This fortified fortress is high atop a 120-meter-(394-foot)-high hill. in southern India, became rich as the heart of the diamond industry. You’ll find this citadel from the 1500s in southern India west of Hyderabad. The state bought the property “as is” in the 1970s and the ruin is now a popular tourist attraction. So when the castle was totally gutted by a fire in 1942, it was simply abandoned. The family business was hit hard during the Depression. His sons completed the castle in the 1920s. Unfortunately, he died in one of Missouri’s first auto accidents a year later. In 1905 construction began on Ha Ha Tonka. Missouri-based entrepreneur Robert Snyder wanted his own castle.
The castle is currently featured in the Netflix television series “The Witcher.” 3. If you’re ever in Krakow, it’s only an hour out of town and worth the visit. It was officially opened to the public in 1973. In 1702 it was torched and trashed during the war between Poland and Sweden.Īfter WWII the Polish government took charge to restore and preserve it. It was destroyed and rebuilt numerous times. Situated in Podzamcze, the Ogrodzieniec Castle was constructed in the s. The castle was never restored an in 1982 the ruins were donated to the National Trust. When Charles II regained the throne, the property was returned to the Bankes family. Sir John Bankes purchased it in 1635 and it was destroyed in a war 10 years later. Queen Elizabeth I sold the castle to a private party in 1572. William the Conqueror erected it in the early 1100s.
The ruins of Corfe Castle are located in Dorset on the Isle of Purbeck. Corfe Castle, England Image courtesy of iha.com If these hauntingly beautiful remains interest you, then read on to discover 11 of the most beautiful abandoned castles in the world. Sadly, while many of these former royal residences still stand, many have become little more than royal ruins. You’ve seen beautiful castles from around the world.