15th century castles of Europe
16 European castles and fortresses built mainly in the 15th century — each mapped, dated and ready to explore.
Corvin Castle
Transylvania's grand Gothic castle, reached by a long bridge on stone pillars
Ross Castle
Lakeside tower house in Killarney, among the last to fall to Cromwell
Linlithgow Palace
Ruined Stewart royal palace, birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots
Bunratty Castle
The most complete medieval castle in Ireland, beside a lively folk park
Enniskillen Castle
Island stronghold of the Maguire chiefs, with a famous twin-turreted Watergate
Castle Stalker
Four-storey tower house on a tiny tidal islet, seen in Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Château d'Ussé
A fairy-tale château said to have inspired Sleeping Beauty
Blarney Castle
Home of the famous Blarney Stone, said to give the gift of eloquence to those who kiss it
Kilchurn Castle
Picturesque ruined tower castle on the misty waters of Loch Awe
Ormond Castle
The finest Elizabethan manor house in Ireland, built by 'Black Tom' Butler
Stirling Castle
Great hilltop royal fortress of the Stewart kings, above the River Forth
Knappogue Castle
Well-restored MacNamara tower house famous for its medieval banquets
Albrechtsburg
One of Germany's first true castle-palaces, later home of the first European porcelain
Donegal Castle
Stronghold of the O'Donnell chiefs, with a fine Jacobean wing
Château de Bonaguil
One of the last great medieval fortresses, built for the age of cannon
Château d'Amboise
Clifftop royal château where Leonardo da Vinci is buried