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Romania is home to many impressive castles, palaces, and manor homes but the Peles Castle stands out as a primarypiece of German new-Renaissance architecture and is celebrated as one of the finest castles not just in the country but throughout Europe.

Portugal is bathed in culture and although many of its magnificent castles and palaces were destroyed during the Lisbon earthquake, it still boasts some incredible ones such as The Palacio Nacional da Pena or Pena Palace. Standing on a hilltop in the Sintra Mountains, it’s a prime example of 19th century Romanticism architecture. It’s also one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal and classified as a world heritage site.

While Switzerland is better known for its political neutrality and banking system, it would be remiss to ignore its share of amazing castles and manor houses. The most famous is the Aarburg Castle located on a steep rocky hillside in the town of Aarburg.

Japanese structures easily stand out because of their unique architecture. If there’s only one castle to visit in Japan, it’s hands down the Himeji Castle, also known as White Heron Castle because of its elegant white appearance. It’s widely regarded as the country’s most spectacular castle and also registered as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Italy is known for its stunning villas, castles, and palaces. One of its gems is a majestic white castle that stands on the Gulf of Trieste. Castello di Miramare (Castle of Miramare) was built in the 1850s by Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Hapsburg for his wife Charlotte of Belgium. It was designed by Austrian architect Carl Junker and was completed in 1860.

Denmark is one of the world’s oldest monarchs and one of its most popular castles is not just open for the public to enjoy, but it’s also still inhabited by the count of Ahlenfeldt-Laurvig-Bille and his family. Known as the Egeskov Slot, the Renaissance castle that sits on the island Funen (Fyn) near Odense got its name Egeskov which is Danish for “oak wood” because it is believed that an entire oak forest was felled just to build it.

Get to know Spain a little better by learning about its many historic castles, fortresses, and palaces. The country is incredibly rich in history dotted by surviving centuries-old structures that existed long before the Romans made their mark.

Take a tour through the best Newport, Rhode Island Mansions, including the Marble House, The Breakers, Rosecliff, and Chataue-sur-Mer. Discover the who’s who of the time who vacationed in these lavish homes in total luxury during the summer and learn more interesting trivia about the mansions.

Get a slice of America’s history through this collection of America’s greatest historic houses once called home by the likes of none other than Mark Twain, the Rockefeller Family, Henry Ford, and former US Presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington.

Step back in time and learn about the different types of castles built throughout history from the Medieval castles to the Stone Keep and from the Concentric Castle to the Royal Pace. Get past through the interior rooms built within the castles and see photo examples for each castle type as well as their blueprint designs and layouts.