Here at VIVA GLAM Magazine, we are all about taking glamorous and exciting trips to Europe. And as much as we love international shopping, wonderful vegan food spots, and glam activities, one of our strongest passions lies in finding and visiting castles. We love castles! From chic chateaus to medieval mazes, we have a soft spot for all large manors, especially those with rich and unusual history. After spending several weeks in Central Europe over the summer, we visited a plethora of exciting and unique castles, all with their own special flare. Read on to see our favorite breathtaking castles in Central Europe.
Bran Castle, Romania
If you’ve ever been a fan of gothic horror or classic literature, then I’m sure you know that Bran Castle, nestled in Transylvania, Romania, became famous for being known as Dracula’s Castle. It’s been on our bucket list of places to visit for years now, and I’m happy to say that I got to conduct an interview late at night in Bran Castle earlier this year. Despite the ‘rumors’ that Vlad the Impaler, better known to many as Vlad Dracula, never stepped food in this castle, the historian at the castle assured us that based on its location between Sighisoara, Dracula’s birthplace, and Wallachia, where he ruled, it’s extremely likely that Vlad Tepes III spent time at Bran Castle.
Bran Castle was originally built by the Teutonic Order in 1212 as a wooden fortress before being re-built out of stone in 1377, and its lifespan through various centuries shows in its unique design and architecture. The castle notably has a beautiful courtyard complete with a well. In the daytime, with the rays of sun coming into the courtyard, you would be surprised that anyone could believe this castle was haunted. But in the evening, when the bats come out and you’re in the dark Transylvanian countryside, you can clearly see why Bram Stoker wrote a horror story about this castle. The corridors are twisting and winding, and there are hidden staircases, allowing you the chance to easily get lost, so it’s a real treat to get to explore the castle, especially on your own at night. During the day, you can purchase admission and explore the castle at your own pace, and many rooms serve as a museum to view art and furniture collected by Queen Marie. It also features an area on myths and legends.
It’s most definitely worth the visit, and the castle also rents out the space for private events for those who are interested. I can definitely say, there’s nothing like being along there in that castle late at night, and there’s also no sight quite as breathtaking as the view of the Transylvanian countryside at dusk from the rooftop of Bran Castle.
Buda Castle, Hungary
Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary sits on a hill in the serene area of Buda, overlooking the hustle and bustle of Pest, easily making it one of the most breathtaking castles in Central Europe. This beautiful building was originally completed in 1265 to serve as the palace of the Hungarian Kings, but most of the building you can see today was renovated and built in the 18th century after the original castle was mostly destroyed in the great siege of 1686. This area of Budapest is my personal favorite, as it’s surrounded by a plethora of cultural museums rich in art and history.
And if you like weird and dark historical sites, the labyrinth of Buda Castle is definitely a place you should see. In the Labyrinth, you get to explore the underground tunnels of Buda Castle that used to serve as an escape route, a place to bring exports through, and of course, the dungeons of the castle. You can move your way through the winding paths of the castle’s underbelly in complete darkness until you find your way to the cell where Vlad Tepes III was held or if you’re not down for total darkness, you can always use your cell phone to find your way through. Regardless, Buda Castle sits serenely over one of the most famous Eastern European cities, and its gorgeous views and hidden frights make it one of our favorite breathtaking castles in Eastern Europe.
Houska Castle, Czechia
Houska Castle sits on a hill about an hour north of Prague in Czechia. This early Gothic Castle is partially renovated, as it is privately owned and continually being updated. But I can tell you, the rooms on the top floor of this beautiful building overlook the countryside, and it’s just serenely breathtaking. These newly renovated rooms are also beautifully decorated.
But despite the beauty that you will find here, the history of Houska is quite unique and dark. Folklore states that this castle was built over the entrance to hell to close the opening and keep the demons of hell from coming out and reaping havoc on the world. The chapel, itself, was said to have sealed off this hole, so it’s an exciting thing to step into the chapel that supposedly marks the entrance to hell on earth.
Another eerie piece of history regarding Houska is that it was occupied by the Wehrmacht during World War II. In other words, the Nazis took over the castle and were said to have conducted specifically dark occult rituals on its premises. So, while Houska is surely one of our favorite breathtaking castles in Central Europe, it’s also definitely on our list of favorite castles thanks to its weird history and lore.
Karlstejn Castle, Czechia
When one says, “breathtaking castle”, the first thing that comes to my mind now is Karlstejn Castle. It’s one of the most well-preserved gothic castles still around today. This castle served as one of the royal residences of King Charles IV and as the place the Bohemian Crown Jewels and holy relics were stored. It’s one of the most famous and busiest castles for these reasons. There are many tours conducted daily, so you can show up and buy a spot for the day throughout any of the opening hours, and there should almost always be times coming up for you to buy a spot on a tour, either in Czech or in English.
The grounds of Karlstejn offer food and snacks, drinks, and of course, mead. And the tour itself is very interesting and informative. My favorite parts were noting that the now-stone bridges between the towers used to be wooden so that they could be easily burned away during a siege so each tower could stay protected as its own fortress. The throne room of King Charles is also a sight to behold there, as the large chair is placed strategically in front of two large windows, making it backlit so the king could see into his subjects’ eyes while they couldn’t see into his. All in all, this historical tour is a must-do just alone by how beautiful and well-preserved this castle is. And there are many more perks you’ll find at Karlstejn on your journey, too.
Bojnice, Slovakia
If you’re in Central Europe and you want to see a fairytale castle, look no further than Bojnice Castle in Bojnice, Slovakia. Bojnice is particularly special as, aside from looking like it came directly out of a fairytale, it also has Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance elements still visible in it. In fact, one of the wings of the castle allows you to self-guide yourself. This wing has multiple floors of living quarters, each decorated with elements from different time periods so you can see what it would have looked like throughout centuries of history.
Other notable features of Bojnice include the beautiful Castle Park surrounding the building, the famous ceiling made of gold in one of the rooms, and the unique and ornately decorated chapel found within the palace. Guided tours of Bojnice happen frequently, though these are conducted in Slovak, so if you speak English, they will give you a packet of information to read up on each room as you follow along on the tour.
Cachtice Castle
Cachtice Castle is very unique on our list, as this property in Slovakia is more a scattered tossing of castle ruins than a standing structure. There are a few towers still mostly together and a few of the deeper ground rooms you can visit, but the castle is mostly just ruins laid about on top of a hill. Make no mistake, however, because Cachtice is still absolutely beautiful to see, and I highly recommend checking out it out, as it is easily one of the most breathtaking castles in Central Europe.
It also has an impressive past. Cachtice was not only featured in the movie Dragonheart, but it was also the primary residence of Elizabeth Bathory, the countess who was famous for killing young virgins to bathe in their blood so she could stay young forever. Cachtice was the location of many of the supposed murders and where Countess Bathory was imprisoned and held until her death after being found guilty of these crimes.
A Few More Tips to Note
It’s important to note that many of these castles have extensive grounds that aren’t easily accessible to cars (since they’ve been around much longer than automobiles), so be prepared for a lot of walking. With that in mind, too, you need to give yourself enough time to experience each castle, which entails having enough time to get up to them and back down, so several hours at least is required per castle visit.
Regardless of the journey to get there, every castle on our list of breathtaking castles in Central Europe is worth the visit thanks to their incredibly unique history and sensational views. I hope we’ve inspired you to visit Central Europe, and when you do, enjoy the benefits of each of these wonderful locations.
