Sobering slave-trade fortress, UNESCO-listed.
Ancient Dilmun fort by the sea, UNESCO-listed.
A fortified hill inhabited for 5,000 years, its medieval stone ramp and gate towering over the old city.
The oldest European building in sub-Saharan Africa, a haunting slave-trade fort.
Ottoman-era citadel quarter stacked above the bay of Algiers.
Medieval capital on the Yantra gorge.
Neo-Renaissance royal retreat in the Carpathian foothills at Sinaia.
The "Camelot of Africa" โ a walled compound of 17th-century stone castles built by Ethiopian emperors.
Apricot orchards and forts beneath 7,000-metre Karakoram peaks.
Baroque town of castles and bull's-blood wine.
Island castle at the meeting of three sea lochs โ Scotlandโs most photographed.
Sea fortress islands off Helsinki, UNESCO-listed.
Belarusโs best-preserved historic centre, with two castles above the Neman.
Fairy-tale romantic castle above a town of thermal springs.
Soviet memorial complex where the 1941 garrison held out for weeks โ colossal concrete sculptures and the eternal flame.
16th-century castle, UNESCO-listed.
Manilaโs walled Spanish city: Fort Santiago, the San Agustin Church and horse-drawn kalesa rides along the ramparts.
Fortress on Castle Rock holding the Scottish crown jewels and the one oโclock gun.
Renaissance Radziwill palace and park.
One of Europeโs largest castle ruins, sprawled across a travertine hill.
Walled medieval town of whitewashed lanes and bougainvillea, where ginjinha cherry liqueur is served in chocolate cups.
Hilltop palaces and romantic gardens.
Danube stretch of terraced vineyards, apricot orchards and the ruined castle where Richard the Lionheart was held.
Storybook fortress on a rock island ringed by a river canyon.
Fairy-tale town wrapped in a bend of the Vltava, with a painted castle tower and a baroque theatre that still works.
Lakes, oak woods and Muckross House below Irelandโs highest mountains, explored by jaunting car or bicycle.
Lean backwards over a drop from the castle battlements to kiss the stone that grants the gift of the gab.
Renaissance sea fortress at Helsingor โ the Elsinore of Shakespeareโs Hamlet.
Medieval cathedral, round tower and Cormacโs Chapel crowning a limestone outcrop where St Patrick baptised a king.
Historic fortress and the Crown Jewels.
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