Rick Steves' Europe: Medieval Castles

Ancient fortresses offer glimpses of medieval brutality and 19th-century Romanticism

  • By Rick Steves
  • Smithsonian magazine, May 2010
| 6 of 6

Neuschwanstein Castle Germany Medieval city of Carcassonne Warwick Castle England Burg Eltz castle Medieval Castles map


More From Rick Steves

Where to Take a Tour of the World’s Power Plants

From Nevada’s Hoover Dam to a geothermal plant next to an Icelandic volcano, these six power stations open their doors to visitors
(7 pictures)

Best small towns in America

The 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2013

From the blues to the big top, we’ve picked the most intriguing small towns to enjoy arts and smarts
(21 pictures)

Snow in Middle East

A Snowball Fight in the West Bank

For the first time in their lifetimes, these teenagers got to enjoy the thrill of a fresh layer of snow
(4 pictures)

Five Great Places to See Evidence of First Americans

Encounter the fossils and other remnants of the lives left behind by the continent’s original settlers
(5 pictures)


Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About San Francisco’s Cable Cars

Ever since they became a part of the city’s transit system, they have been iconic mainstays of its cityscape
(10 pictures)

PHOTOS: The Best and Weirdest Roadside Dinosaurs

The concrete and plastic dinosaurs beside America's highways can be strange and beautiful. Tell us which one you think is the best
(33 pictures)

Sunrise at Cape Tourville.

The Top 10 Places to See in Tasmania

With Tasmania's 3.4-million acres of protected wilderness, this alluring isle feels close to heaven—Tasmanian devils included
(11 pictures)

Gig Harbor, Washington

The 20 Best Small Towns in America of 2012

From the Berkshires to the Cascades, we've crunched the numbers and pulled a list some of the most interesting spots around the country
(21 pictures)

| 6 of 6



More from Rick Steves and Smithsonian.com

Gig Harbor, Washington

Castle Architecture

Learning a few terms will enhance your experience among Europe’s medieval fortresses
December 01, 2009 | By Rick Steves


Gig Harbor, Washington

Château de Chambord: 440 Rooms of Royal Opulence

Though it began as a simple hunting lodge, this chateau grew to six times the size of others in the Loire
November 01, 2009 | By Rick Steves


Gig Harbor, Washington

Kalmar Castle: Sweden’s Royal Hub

From medieval palace to prison, distillery and granary, this castle was finally restored to its original glory
February 01, 2010 | By Rick Steves


Gig Harbor, Washington

Salzburg’s Hohensalzburg Fortress

One of Europe’s mightiest castles, this fortress dominates Salzburg’s skyline
April 01, 2009 | By Rick Steves





 

Add New Comment


Name: (required)

Email: (required)

Comment:

Comments are moderated, and will not appear until Smithsonian.com has approved them. Smithsonian reserves the right not to post any comments that are unlawful, threatening, offensive, defamatory, invasive of a person's privacy, inappropriate, confidential or proprietary, political messages, product endorsements, or other content that might otherwise violate any laws or policies.

Comments (2)

Thank you Rick Steves and Smithsonian for sharing those magnificent photos with us. Beautiful... Bravo.

Wonderful photo very magnifique bravo!



Advertisement

Advertisement




Rick Steves Europe Tours


Follow Us

Advertisement