The 25 Coolest Castles

From Gothic to Renaissance, England to Romania, Hogwarts to Assassin's Creed: these castles are undoubtedly the illest.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Before you can ask what makes a castle cool, you need to know exactly what makes a castle, a castle. Most were built in the Middle Ages by European ballers in order to defend themselves, their wealth, and really, the continuing of their family lineages. And yes, they were also defending their countries, too. 

No one castle should have all that power, but in all honesty, many of them did just what they were intended to do. Over the years, some became pimped out weekend houses or museums, but the real definition is still based in a kind of fortification built for defense—using moats, curtain walls, drawbridges, and elevation on islands, hills, and caves.

No, Hogwarts is not on the list, but yes, Coca-Cola rented out one of these and turned it into Hogwarts for a day. No, a castle is not the same thing as a palace, but yes, we have done a list of those, too.

Imagine yourself on some real luxurious lord or noble type sh*t and take this journey through The 25 Coolest Castles.

Bodiam Castle

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Pembroke Castle

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Alcalá de Guadaíra

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Bamburgh Castle

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Kyrenia Castle

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Hohensalzburg Castle

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Prague Castle

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Trakai Island Castle

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Löwenburg Castle (Lion Castle)

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Windsor Castle

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Matsumoto Castle

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Malbork Castle

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Ksiaz Castle

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Bojnice Castle

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Castillo de Coca

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Neuschwanstein Castle

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Lismore Castle

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Spiš Castle

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Eilean Donan Castle

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Leeds Castle

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Hunyad Castle

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Predjama Castle

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Caerlaverock Castle

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Mont Saint-Michel Castle

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Herstmonceux Castle

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