The elegant Balmoral Castle stands within the scenic landscapes of Royal Deeside in northeastern Scotland. Purchased in 1852 by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the estate became the private Highland residence of the British royal family.

The atmospheric ruins of Balvenie Castle stand in the countryside near the town of Dufftown in the Speyside region. Built during the 13th century, the castle served as a stronghold for several powerful Scottish families over the centuries.

The elegant Brodie Castle stands amid parklands near the town of Forres in northeastern Scotland. Built and expanded over several centuries, the castle served as the ancestral home of the Brodie clan for more than 400 years.

The historic Cawdor Castle lies in the countryside east of Inverness and dates primarily from the 14th century.

The dramatic ruins of Dunnottar Castle stand atop a rugged cliff overlooking the North Sea near the town of Stonehaven. Surrounded on three sides by steep coastal cliffs, the castle occupies one of the most spectacular defensive locations in Scotland.

The magnificent Glamis Castle stands among rolling countryside in eastern Scotland and ranks among the most famous castles in the country.

The imposing ruins of Huntly Castle stand beside the River Deveron in the town of Huntly. Originally constructed in the 12th century, the castle served as the seat of the powerful Gordon family, one of the most influential clans in northeastern Scotland.

The imposing Stirling Castle rises atop a volcanic crag overlooking the surrounding countryside of Stirling.

The remarkable carved figures known as the Stirling Heads decorate the ceilings of the royal palace within Stirling Castle. These wooden roundels were created during the 16th century for the palace of James V of Scotland.

Blarney Castle stands amid rolling countryside just northwest of the city of Cork in southern Ireland. The present castle was built in the 15th century by the MacCarthy dynasty, one of the powerful Gaelic families of the region.

Bunratty Castle stands along the banks of the Ratty River near the Shannon Estuary in County Clare. Built in the 15th century, the castle is one of the most complete and well-preserved medieval fortresses in Ireland.

Cahir Castle stands on a rocky island in the River Suir in the town of Cahir in County Tipperary. Built in the 13th century by the powerful Butler family, the castle is one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Ireland.

Donegal lies in the far northwest of Ireland where rugged mountains, deep valleys, and dramatic coastal cliffs meet the North Atlantic Ocean. The region is known for its wild landscapes, traditional Gaelic culture, and historic coastal villages.

Dunguaire Castle stands on a rocky promontory overlooking Galway Bay near the village of Kinvara in County Galway. Built in the 16th century by the O’Hynes clan, the castle is a classic example of a medieval Irish tower house.

Kilkenny Castle stands prominently along the banks of the River Nore at the edge of the historic city of Kilkenny.

King John’s Castle rises prominently on the banks of the River Shannon in the historic city of Limerick.

Trim Castle stands along the River Boyne in County Meath and is the largest Norman castle in Ireland. Construction began in the late 12th century under the leadership of Hugh de Lacy, a powerful Norman lord granted lands in the region.

Himeji Castle Himeji Castle is one of the best-preserved examples of Japanese feudal architecture, originally constructed in the fourteenth century and expanded during the early modern period.

The Kanazawa Castle Light Festival illuminates historic castle structures, highlighting architectural details through carefully designed lighting.

Kanazawa Castle developed as an important regional administrative center during Japan’s feudal period.

Matsumoto Castle is one of Japan’s most well-preserved feudal castles and dates primarily to the late sixteenth century.

Malbork Castle stands along the Nogat River, a branch of the Vistula River, in northern Poland near the Baltic coast.

The stained glass found within Malbork Castle reflects the artistic traditions of the Teutonic Order, which constructed the fortress during the 13th century.

Oleśnica lies northeast of Wrocław in the historic region of Lower Silesia, an area that has long stood at the crossroads of Central European history.

Wawel Castle rises above the Vistula River on a limestone hill at the southern edge of Kraków’s old town. For centuries this hill served as the political and ceremonial center of the Polish state, where kings were crowned and buried.

The historic city of Copenhagen stands along the eastern coast of Denmark facing the Øresund Strait, the narrow waterway separating Denmark from Sweden.

The elegant Egeskov Castle stands on the island of Funen surrounded by a picturesque moat and landscaped gardens. Built in 1554, the castle is one of the best-preserved Renaissance water castles in Europe.

Across the landscapes of Denmark, numerous castles and royal residences illustrate the long history of the Danish monarchy.

Neuschwanstein Castle stands high above the village of Hohenschwangau in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps near the border with Austria.

Wartburg Castle rises above the town of Eisenach on a forested hill in the region of Thuringia in central Germany. Founded in the 11th century, the castle became one of the most important strongholds of the Landgraves of Thuringia.

The city of Würzburg lies along the Main River in northern Bavaria, surrounded by vineyards and rolling hills. During the Middle Ages the city became an important ecclesiastical center governed by powerful Prince-Bishops.

Bran Castle rises above the narrow Bran Pass, a historic mountain corridor that connects Transylvania with Wallachia through the southern Carpathians.

Corvin Castle (also known as Hunyadi Castle) stands above the Zlaști River valley in the city of Hunedoara in western Romania. The fortress is one of the largest and most impressive Gothic castles in Eastern Europe.

Sinaia lies in the scenic Prahova River Valley within the forested slopes of the Bucegi Mountains, part of the southern Carpathian range.

Bojnice Castle rises above the town of Bojnice in western Slovakia at the edge of the Strážov Mountains, part of the western Carpathian range.

Orava Castle occupies a dramatic limestone cliff rising above the Orava River near the village of Oravský Podzámok in northern Slovakia.

Spiš Castle rises dramatically above the Spiš Basin in eastern Slovakia, perched on a limestone hill overlooking the surrounding countryside.

The Hohensalzburg Fortress stands high above the city of Salzburg on the rocky hill known as the Festungsberg.

Mirabell Palace stands along the western bank of the Salzach River in Salzburg and is famous for its elegant Baroque gardens and formal landscaping.

Alhambra The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex constructed during the Nasrid dynasty and is one of the most important surviving examples of Islamic architecture in Europe.

Alcázar The Alcázar refers to fortified palace complexes constructed in Spain during periods of Islamic and later Christian rule. These structures combined defensive features with refined architectural elements reflecting artistic traditions of Al-Andalus.

Hammond Castle Museum is featured in this collection as part of Museum / Gallery • United States.

Hearst Castle is featured in this collection as part of Historic / Archaeology • United States.

The Fortress of Louisbourg stands along the rugged Atlantic coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, overlooking the entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Tower of London The Tower of London has served as a royal residence, defensive fortress, and symbol of political authority for nearly a thousand years.

Olavinlinna Castle is a medieval fortress located in Savonlinna, Finland, constructed during the fifteenth century to secure regional borders between Swedish and Russian territories.

The Louvre Museum occupies a former royal palace that reflects centuries of architectural development in the heart of Paris.

The imposing Palamidi Fortress rises high above the coastal town of Nafplio overlooking the Argolic Gulf.

Buda Castle occupies the southern portion of Castle Hill, rising high above the Danube on the western side of Budapest.

The Castello Sforzesco stands at the western edge of Milan’s historic center and was once the principal fortress and residence of the powerful Sforza family, who ruled the city during the Renaissance.

The town of Vianden lies along the Our River in northern Luxembourg, surrounded by the forested hills of the Ardennes region. Overlooking the town from a steep ridge is the impressive Vianden Castle, one of the most remarkable medieval castles in Europe.

Evoramonte is a fortified hilltop settlement in the Alentejo region of Portugal, positioned within a landscape shaped by centuries of strategic defense.