Why do castles matter?In reality, they stand as some of the most impressive buildings known to man.Here are the best ones...

1. Chateau de Pierrefonds, France (1407)

2. Neuschwanstein Castle, Schwangau, Germany (1869) A fairy-tale castle built by King Ludwig II, renowned for its picturesque setting in the Bavarian Alps.

3. Chateau de Chambord, Chambord, France (1519) One of the greatest masterpieces of the French Renaissance. Its double-helix staircase was designed by none other than Leonardo da Vinci.

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4. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland (1103) Perched on Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle is a historic fortress, housing the valuable Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.

5. Himeji Castle, Himeji, Japan (1333) Known as the "White Heron Castle" due to its elegant, bird-like appearance, it's a prime example of Japanese feudal-era architecture.

6. Bran Castle, Bran, Romania (1377) Bran Castle is most well known for its medieval, Gothic architecture that brings with it the spooky legend of Dracula.

7. Windsor Castle, England (1070) Windsor is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and has been home to British monarchs for over 1,000 years.

8. Hohenzollern Castle, Hechingen, Germany (1867) A striking example of Romantic and neo-Gothic architecture, equipped with everything from turrets and towers to ramparts.

9. Malbork Castle, Malbork, Poland (1274) The world’s largest brick castle, built by the Teutonic Knights — it's an extraordinary example of medieval fortifications.

10. Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajasthan, India (1458) An incredible fort from the Mewar Kingdom with over 360 temples. It boasts the longest wall in the world, only second to the Great Wall of China.

11. Mehrangarh Fort, Rajasthan, India (1459) Perched 400 feet above the city, the Mehrangarh fort is has 7 glorious gateways to enter it, the most famous being "The Gate of Victory".

12. Burg Eltz, Wierschem, Germany (1157) One of the few castles in Europe still owned by the same family for over 800 years.

13. Hohenwerfen Castle, Werfen, Austria (1077) One of the greatest (if not the best) example of medieval rock castles.

14. Predjama Castle, Postojna, Slovenia (1274) One of the most unique cliff castles in the world. Its hidden tunnels helped to release pressure during medieval sieges.

15. Citadel of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria (1209) One of the oldest and largest castles still standing today. It has been ruled by many powerful empires, from the Greeks to the Ottomans.

16. Derawar Fort, Punjab, Pakistan (909) The imposing walls have made this fort stand out like no other in Asia, whilst also helping the structure blend with the desert.

17. St Michel's Mount, Cornwall, England (1135) As the sister castle to Mont Saint Michel in France, St Michel's Mount features an eclectic blend of Gothic and Baroque that has inspired awe for centuries.