The most beautiful castles on Earth. Part 1

1. St Michael's Mount, Cornwall

St Michael's Mount (Cornish: Karrek Loos yn Koos, meaning "hoar rock in woodland") is a tidal island in Mount's Bay near Penzance, Cornwall, England (United Kingdom). The island is a civil parish and is linked to the town of Marazion by a causeway of granite setts, passable (as is the beach) between mid-tide and low water. It is managed by the National Trust, and the castle and chapel have been the home of the St Aubyn family since around 1650.

2. Château de Pierrefonds, Northern France This castle was in ruins for more than two centuries when Napoleon I bought it in 1810 for less than 3,000 francs. In the 19th century, it gained fame as a "romantic ruin" and was later extensively restored under Napoleon III.

3. Castle of Rocca Calascio, Italy At an elevation of around 1,460 metres (4,790 ft), Rocca Calascio is the highest fortress in the Apennines and one of the highest castles in Europe. It's nearly a thousand years old.

4. Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany

It's one of the most beautiful castles in the world. Neuschwanstein Castle, commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as a tribute to composer Richard Wagner, served as the inspiration for Disneyland's iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle.

5. Eltz Castle, Germany This magnificent medieval castle, nestled in the hills above the Moselle River between Koblenz and Trier, is still owned by a branch of the House of Eltz, whose family has lived there since the 12th century.

6. Scaligero Castle, Italy This stunning example of medieval architecture, located at the entrance to Sirmione's historic center on Lake Garda, is one of Italy's best preserved castles.

7. Corvin Castle, Romania As one of Europe's largest castles and the place where Vlad the Impaler was once imprisoned by the Hungarians, this fortress is celebrated as one of the Seven Wonders of Romania.

8. Orava Castle, Slovakia This gem served as the hauntingly atmospheric backdrop for the 1922 horror classic Nosferatu, representing Count Orlok's Transylvanian castle.

9. Castel del Monte, Apulia, Italy Built during the 1240s by King Frederick II, this Italian castle is famous for its stunning octagonal plan and was described by UNESCO as "a unique masterpiece of medieval military architecture".

10. Albrechtsburg Castle, Germany This stunning Late Gothic castle, located in the town centre of Meissen in the German state of Saxony, was erected from 1471 till about 1495.

11. Sforza Castle, Milan, Italy Built in the 15th century, it was decorated by various artists, including Leonardo da Vinci. It also houses works by Tintoretto, Mantegna, Canaletto, and Michelangelo's final sculpture: the Rondanini Pietà.

12. Belogradchik Fortress, Bulgaria A historic stronghold strategically built into the natural rock formations of the Balkan Mountains.

13. Chateau Chambord, the largest castle in the Loire Valley, France.

It is one of the most recognisable châteaux in the world because of its very distinctive French Renaissance architecture, which blends traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures. The building was constructed by the king of France, Francis I

14. Osaka Castle, Japan Like many other Japanese castles, it is surrounded by a moat for defense and is built atop a man-made stone base. The site is also famous for its massive megalithic stones, such as the "Octopus Stone," which weighs over 120 tonnes.

15. Gwalior Fort, India Mughal Emperor Babur referred to it as the "pearl among the fortresses of Hind" for its majestic beauty and formidable defenses. It is famously known as the Gibraltar of India.

16. Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome Commissioned by Emperor Hadrian as his mausoleum, the structure later transformed into a papal castle.

17. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland This historic fortress perched atop Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age, is Scotland's most (and the United Kingdom's second most) visited paid tourist attraction.

18. Prague Castle Built in the 9th century, this wonder has long served as the seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are stored in a secret chamber within the castle.

19. Bran Castle, Romania Built by the Saxons in 1377, this masterpiece is widely known outside Transylvania as Dracula's Castle. It is marketed as the home of Bram Stoker's titular character, though there is no evidence Stoker was aware of it.

20. Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley The current château was constructed between 1514 and 1522 on the site of an ancient mill and was subsequently expanded to cross the river.

James Lucas