Which country has the best castles?

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by Leovigildo

Yes, but Carcasonne was entirely refurbished during the XIXth Century...
It was some sort of Disneyland in the XIXth Century.
For Cathars, you must go to Mont Segur.

A lot of people diss Carcassonne for that reason, but I respect the French for preserving the place (and all the chateaux) instead of just letting it fall apart.
I walked through the old Cité at 8 o'clock on a freezing February morning with nobody else around, and it was literally and figuratively a cool experience.
Some people go on specialized Cathar tours (or do their own).
I am really not into Cathar authenticity oneupsmanship--I just like castles.

We spent one night in 15th century Borthwick Castle outside of Edinburgh; it was very atmospheric, I could definitely imagine Mary Queen of Scots holed up there.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by Hengist

Maybe it's my cynical nature, but when people start raving about castles I remember most were built by invaders who used them to steal land and dominate the local population. They wetre not built to be pretty ruins for tourists. Same goes for country mansions, which are just pretty castles built on the back of the surrounding peasantry.

Yes, whether you call it feudalism or whatever it's true that those who did most of the work probably did not sleep in the master bedroom.
I guess it's the same thing with Egypt's pyramids.
And America's presidential residence, the White House, built with slave labor (and Jefferson's Monticello.)
We still have a ruling class today, but I suppose that is for another thread.

One thing to remember: most castles were supposed to be a place of refuge for the peasantry during sieges, etc.

[krichton]

Originally Posted by elgin loon

Not sure who has the best the Uk has Hundreds Castles in England A-Z

Wow I really need to visit!

[JayJayBB]

I think Germany.

Video about german castles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzAfzJerB0E

Neuschwarnstein castle

[CraftTeutonic]

Europe dominates when it comes to beautiful castles. i would have to say that Germany takes the cake though

[abuu]

somalia....too many blood castles....

[BigSwede]

Neuschwanstein:
http://greyfalcon.us/restored/myPict...wanstein_1.jpg
Versailles:
http://www.cs.unibo.it/WS-FM05/versailles3.jpg
Drottningholm:
http://www.sim1.se/bilder/IMG_6999_drottningholm.jpg
Buckingham Palace:
http://www.mapsofworld.com/travel-de...ham-palace.jpg
Windsor Castle:
http://www.everythingtudor.com/main/...sor_castle.JPG
Caerphilly:
http://www.cavinguk.co.uk/holidays/C...CastleGate.jpg
Plus the whole old town in Carcassone:
http://www.naryves.com/pj/france/carcassonne2.jpg

But I like british medieval castles the most.

[JGirl5]

As far as 'castles' I think Germany and UK are unbeatable. And as for 'palaces' then it is France and Russia I'd say.

[Jax419]

I was in India a couple years ago, and they have some Epic palaces

[krichton]

OMG, that's incredible!!