Discover the most beautiful castles in Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France and Slovenia
We at Bergundbahn have always been fascinated by castles. Their marvellous and imposing appearance immediately conjures up stories of the distant past. Their location is often spectacular too, making such castles or fortresses even more special. The purpose for which the castle was used often determines whether it looks romantic and fairytale-like, or rugged and unyielding. As far as we are concerned, both variants have their charms.
There are thousands, yes, you read that right, thousands of castles in the Alps. From well-preserved ones to ruins hidden in the landscape. Especially for other castle enthusiasts, we have compiled a top 10 list of what we consider to be the most beautiful castles in the Alps. It was a difficult choice, as there are many more beautiful castles to be found, but these ten are definitely worth a visit.
10: Château de Gruyères, Switzerland
A fairytale-like castle, perched on top of a hill in the medieval town of Guyères. It is a beautifully preserved monument and one of the most famous castles in Switzerland. Some of the castle's striking features are its robust defensive walls and towers, the knight's hall, the chapel and the French garden. The castle is inextricably linked to the town of Gruyères. The combination of the perfectly preserved medieval town, the famous Gruyère cheese and the castle itself make this place a worthy number 10 on our list.
9: Festung Kufstein, Austria
The Festung Kufstein is an imposing fortress towering high above the town of Kufstein. It has been an important symbol for over 800 years and bears witness to the town's turbulent history as a border town between Tyrol and Bavaria. The fortress was built in the 13th century to control access to the Inn Valley. Today, the castle welcomes you as you drive into the Inn Valley via the motorway.
Over the centuries, it has been conquered and expanded several times, giving it a rich history as a military fortress. One of its most unique attractions is the “Heroes” Organ', the largest open-air organ in the world. This organ is located in the fortress's imperial tower and plays a concert every day at 12 noon.
8: Burg Hohenwerfen, Austria
This castle is located in the Austrian state of Salzburg and towers impressively above the Salzach Valley. The castle was built in the 11th century by the archbishops of Salzburg to secure their territory. Over the centuries, it served as a military stronghold, a hunting lodge and a state prison.
As a visitor, you can take a guided tour that takes you past the most important sights, including the armoury, the torture chamber and the bell tower, from where you have a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains. Birds of prey shows are held daily. The castle has a rich history, a spectacular location and really feels like you are stepping back in time for a moment.
7: Castello di Fénis, Italy
Castello di Fénis is a castle as you would draw a castle, with double walls, battlements and multiple towers, both round and polygonal. Located in the Aosta Valley in north-western Italy, the castle is one of the most picturesque and best-preserved medieval castles in the region. It was built in the 14th century by the Challant family and served primarily as a prestigious residence rather than a purely military fortress. Its most unique feature is the courtyard with a semicircular stone staircase and wooden galleries. The walls of the galleries are beautifully decorated with 15th-century frescoes depicting scenes from everyday life and mythological figures.
6: Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
One of the most famous castles in the world is located in Germany and can rightly be called a fairytale castle. It was built in the 19th century on the orders of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. He designed the castle not as a military fortress, but as a romantic retreat, inspired by German myths and the operas of Richard Wagner. The castle is characterised by its large red gatehouse and numerous towers. Walt Disney was impressed and drew inspiration from it for Sleeping Beauty's castle.
Honourable mention: Linderhof Palace.
This castle was also built by Ludwig II and is somewhat smaller than the other castles. Nevertheless, it is well worth a visit if you are in the area. The interior is magnificent, it is surrounded by a beautiful garden and Ludwig II even had an artificial stalactite cave built: the Venus Grotto.
5: Château de Chillon, Switzerland
Château de Chillon is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Switzerland and is located on a rocky island on the shores of Lake Geneva, near Montreux. The castle seems to rise out of the water and offers a beautiful view with the Alps in the background. It served as a strategically located fortress to control the trade route across the water. For centuries, the castle was the residence and toll house of the Counts of Savoy. Later, it also served as a prison.
The castle became world famous thanks to the poem “The Prisoner of Chillon” by the Romantic poet Lord Byron.
4: Schloss Tirol/Castel Tirolo, Italy
Schloss Tirol is located on a hill above the town of Meran in South Tyrol, Italy. This castle is of great historical value, as it is the namesake of the entire Tyrol region. It was the seat of the Counts of Tyrol and the political centre of the region during the Middle Ages.
The castle was built in various architectural styles, particularly Romanesque. Inside, there are beautiful Romanesque portals and arches, which are among the most beautiful in the Alps. From the castle, you have a fantastic view of the valley, Meran and the surrounding mountains.
3: Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard, France
The Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard is located in the French Alps, high above the beautiful Lake Annecy. The castle has been owned by the same family, the Menthon family, for over 1,000 years. Construction began in the 10th century and evolved from a simple fortress into an impressive residential castle with several towers and courtyards. It is a magnificent example of medieval and later architectural styles in Savoie. Its location on a hill overlooking the lake and mountains is breathtaking and contributes to its romantic and fairytale-like appearance.
2: Burg Hochosterwitz, Austria
Burg Hochosterwitz is one of Austria's most impressive medieval castles, situated on a steep, 172-metre-high rock in Carinthia. The castle is a virtually impregnable fortress and can be seen from far and wide. The road to the castle leads along a path that passes through fourteen successive gates, each with its own defence mechanism. If you have difficulty walking, you can also reach the castle by lift.
Burg Hochosterwitz is mentioned in a document dating back to 860. It has been owned by the Khevenhüller family since the 16th century. From the castle, you have a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape and the Alps. If you love castles, Burg Hochosterwitz is definitely one you should visit.
1: Predjamski Grad, Slovenia
Predjamski Grad is the absolute number one on our list because of its unique location. It is a spectacular castle in Slovenia and is world-famous for the extraordinary way in which it was built: in the mouth of a 123-metre-high rock face. Behind the castle is a network of caves and secret passages, which in the past served as escape routes.
The castle is inextricably linked to the legend of the knight Erazem Lueger, a kind of Slovenian Robin Hood. In the castle, he held out for a year and a day against the siege by the Austrian army. He used the secret passages in the cave system behind it to obtain food, among other things.
Due to its unique location and remarkable history, we consider this to be the number one castle in the Alps.
Our top 10 shows how diverse the castles in the Alps are. From impregnable fortresses to romantic fairytale castles, and from ancient strongholds to relatively young structures. Together, they tell the story of a region where history and landscape go hand in hand. And this is just a selection of the thousands of castles in the Alps! Reason enough to go on a voyage of discovery yourself. If you know of any other castles that are really worth visiting, share them with us on our social media.
Children often enjoy castles because they appeal to their imagination. Would you like to know how to make a regular walk with children a success? Then read our article about hiking with children.
