Castles in Eastern Europe

Poland's landscape is dotted with castle museums, castle ruins, and castle hotels. Visit any of Polands major cities to view castles that have been important administrative centers or royal residences. Or escape to the countryside, where you can board at a castle hotel or picnic at a castle ruin.

Hungary has many magnificent castles. Buda Castle is located in Budapest, and is a significant landmark in Hungary's capital city.

Romania's beautiful countryside is the perfect setting for beautiful and mysterious castles, connected with Romania's royalty of old. Don't forget that some of Romania's castles have connections with Vlad the Impaler, known to some by the name "Dracula"!

Croatia has many old castles that have been renovated and refurbished by later owners. Some of Croatia's castles were built by Venetians - others prevented Venetians from building!

Lithuania's castles at Trakai make a great excursion from the capital city, Vilnius. Lithuania's medieval rulers built these castles wen the area was significant for administrative and defense purposes.

Protected as a UNESCO World Hertiage Site, Albania's "Museum City," Gjirokastra, is home to the so-called "Silver Fortress."

The Moscow Kremlin, surrounded by walls, contains many palaces that were residences of Russia's royal leaders. The Great Kremlin Palace and the Terem Palace are two palaces within the Kremlin's walls.

Castles abound in the Czech Republic - both in Prague and in the exquisite Czech countryside.

Spend a romantic, luxurious weekend at one of Eastern Europe's castle hotels. These hotels offer visitors the royal treatment - most boast spas, horseback riding, suites decorated with authentic antiques or high-quality period replicas, and holiday or honeymoon packages.