By David Whitely
Mont Saint-Michel is set to become an island again in 2015.Credit: Normandy Tourism
Prague Castle, Czech Republic
Prague's premier attraction is so large that it's more a separate town on a hilltop than a mere castle, and it's easy to spend a day snooping around it. The monstrously gothic St Vitus Cathedral is the immediate attention grabber, but it's worth taking a tour of the interior of the old royal palace too. The vaulted St Vladislav Hall is so enormous that it used to host indoor jousting contests.
The Romanesque Basilica of St George contains 12th-century frescoes, but the cramped cottages of the narrow, atmospheric Golden Lane are the most memorable spots to sticky-beak inside.
See hrad.cz.
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
The city views from the terrace outside Edinburgh Castle are tremendous, but inside it's a glorious mixture of attractions that range from the dazzling to the grim. The castle was home to Scottish kings from the 11th century onwards, and the treasures they collected are now displayed as the Honours of Scotland.
The castle vaults have been restored to look as they would have done in the 18th and 19th centuries, when they were used to detain prisoners of war. The beamed 16th-century Great Hall and the Royal Apartments are also impressive.
Malbork Castle, Poland
This red-brick behemoth was once the headquarters of the Teutonic knights and Polish kings, and was built into a classic riverside fortress during the Middle Ages. Take a photo from the other side of the river before walking over the drawbridge and ambling through rooms with grandly vaulted roofs, claustrophobic cellars and great halls.
Perhaps the most evocative part is St Mary's Church, which is entered through a sumptuous Gothic doorway, but inside lies in ruins from bombing during World War II. More quirky is the dansker, a toilet perched atop its own tower.
See zamek.malbork.pl.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
If you want your castle properly Disney-esque, then Mad King Ludwig II's shameless fairytale effort in the Bavarian Alps is the one. The pinnacles, turrets and mountain crag positioning make it look as if Sleeping Beauty might be inside. You may not find a snoozing princess, but there's plenty of showy absurdity. The throne room was modelled on the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, King Ludwig's bedroom is like a vampire's altar and other rooms are based on Wagner operas. Of these, the Singers' Hall stretches across an entire floor. Visits, alas, are by slightly rushed guided tour only.
See neuschwanstein.de.
Windsor Castle, England
Most European castles have long been turned into tourist attractions or homes for museums, but the Queen still lives in Windsor Castle for a large part of the year. This makes it the world's oldest and largest occupied castle. The State Apartments are full of old master paintings, while the decoration is a mix of monarchs' tastes through the centuries. St George's Chapel, however, is a Gothic masterpiece, and it houses the tombs of many British kings, including Henry VIII. Oddest of all is the Queen Mary Dolls' House, which is so intricately plush that it looks like a home for Lilliputian aristocrats.
See royalcollection.org.uk/visit/windsorcastle.
Mont Saint-Michel, France
OK, so Mont Saint-Michel is technically a heavily fortified abbey rather than a castle, but the photogenic combination of ramparts, gracefully slim towers, turrets and battlements makes it a treat for castle lovers. An 8th-century chapel on the islet was transformed into an intimidating monastic fortress in the 11th century by the Benedictine order. The rooms inside are a real mish-mash, though. The guest hall is Gothic, the dinner hall is barrel-vaulted and the abbey church seems to pluck aspects from every conceivable style.
In 2015, Mont Saint-Michel will be an island again. The causeway is being replaced by a bridge.
The writer travelled at his own expense.
Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter
Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.