The abandoned Carew Castle in Wales.
Although many castles have crumbled into spooky constructions, they once served as formidable fortifications throughout the Middle Ages.
Even buildings that have stood empty for generations seem to be haunted by the memories of the rich people who previously lived there, the battles waged there, and the dignitaries who once called them home.
These are the histories of 13 deserted castles located throughout the globe.
Bannerman Castle — Beacon, New York
The collapsing castle on the Hudson.Â
Frank Bannerman, a Scottish armaments merchant in New York City, used Bannerman Castle as a storage facility for weapons at one point. On the Hudson River’s Pollepel Island, Bannerman and his spouse finally constructed a glitzy, castle-like mansion and spent the summers there.
Several fires, ownership changes, and a powder explosion in 1920 have left Bannerman’s name permanently etched on its walls. Kayaks and passenger boats are two options for island tours for guests.
Gwrych Castle — North Wales, UK
Built in the early 1800s, Gwrych Castle served as Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh’s residence. Before ascending to the throne, Queen Victoria is reported to have made one visit.
There were 128 rooms in all, including 28 bedrooms, two smoking rooms, two outer halls, two drawing rooms, a billiards room, an oak study, and various servant quarters. It took in 200 Jewish refugees during World War II and was converted into a theme park with a zoo before opening to the public.
The goal when the castle was purchased a number of years ago was to turn it into a five-star hotel and opera theater, but that plan never came to pass.
The Ruins — Talisay City, Philippines
According to Atlas Obscura, the home was reportedly constructed by sugar tycoon Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson, who controlled plantations in the 20th century, as a memorial to his wife, who passed away while expecting their eleventh child.
Its walls still intact, despite the building’s rumored purposeful burning down by the US military to keep the Japanese from using it as a base during World War II.
Heidelberg Castle — Heidelberg, Germany
Heidelberg Castle was built in parts in the 1300s, but it was transformed into a royal home by Prince Elector Ruprecht III. The castle was occupied for 400 years until it was struck by lightning in 1764 and was largely destroyed.
Before Count Charles de Graimberg started preserving the remains in 1800, Heidelberg residents began constructing their own dwellings using the stones from the site. Even though the castle is currently mostly deserted, it can still be used for weddings.
Aughnanure Castle — Oughterard, Ireland
Around 1500, the Irish Gaelic clan O’Flahertys established Aughnanure Castle and ruled over a large area outside of Oughterard. “Fortune favours the strong” served as their motto.
Due to Roderick O’Flaherty’s financial struggles, the Office of Public Works currently owns the ruins, which include the remnants of a watch tower, a dry harbor, and a banquet hall. There are tours offered with guides.
The Virginia Renaissance Faire — Fredericksburg, Virginia
The castles at the Virginia Renaissance Faire are deserted in the middle of a marshy forest, even though they aren’t truly from the Middle Ages. The Faire attempted to immerse guests in medieval cuisine, architecture, and entertainment from 1996 to 1999, but the weather was too hot and humid to draw enough attendees to make it successful. The event was moved, and the original location was abandoned. A town square, towers, and castle remnants have long since been engulfed by the surrounding forest.
Fasil Ghebbi — Gondar, Ethiopia
Fasil Ghebbi, encircled by a wall that stretches about 3,000 feet, was a fortress-city in the 16th and 17th centuries that was home to churches, palaces, and a library. According to UNESCO, the Ethiopian emperor Fasilides resided there, and it continued to be the seat of administration for Ethiopia until 1864. Between 1930 and 1936, the city suffered from poorly managed conservation efforts; however, in the 1990s, UNESCO started carrying out correct conservation work, which is still going on today.
Champollion Palace — Cairo, Egypt
According to Cairo Scene, Prince Said Halim Pacha lived in Champollion Palace, which was constructed in 1899 and is located in today’s downtown Cairo, until he was banished following World War I for his associations with the Ottomans. After after, it was converted into the prestigious boys’ high school Nasriya School. However, due to student wear and tear, the school was closed and is currently vacant.
Dunstanburgh Castle — Northumberland, England
In 1313, King Edward II’s baron Earl Thomas of Lancaster erected Dunstanburgh Castle as a show of defiance against the monarch. He had constructed the fortress to defend himself because their relationship had soured. Additionally, the king felt that its grandeur and vastness were insulting.
After his military uprising failed, he was put to death in 1322. The fortress was acquired by John of Gaunt, but it never regained its previous splendor after being taken prisoner and besieged during the battles of the Roses, a string of English civil battles over the succession.
Criccieth Castle — Gwynedd, Wales
Although the exact history of Criccieth Castle is unknown, Llywelyn the Great, Prince of Gwynedd, is thought to have constructed it sometime in the thirteenth century. Subsequently, it is stated that it was in use as a jail until 1404, when Llywelyn’s son Gruffydd—who was held captive there by his half-brother Dafydd—lived there.
During the final significant Welsh uprising against the English in the fifteenth century, the castle was destroyed by fire. The public can now visit it as a tourism destination.
Carew Castle — Pembrokeshire, Wales
Situated in Wales, Carew Castle is located beside the Carew River. Although there were manors on the site as early as the 1100s, high ranking officer Sir Nicholas de Carew constructed the castle that is still mostly intact today in the 13th century. The castle was abandoned in or around 1686 after a number of its proprietors were either imprisoned or executed for treason by different rulers.
The castle has been restored by the National Park Authority since 1983, and it currently has a visitors center and is a recognized tourist destination. The region is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the land’s significant bat population.
Pidhirtsi Castle — Lviv Oblast, Ukraine
In the seventeenth century, Pidhirsti Castle was constructed for Polish military commander Stanislaw Koniecpolski. Italian architect Andrea del Aqua created the castle itself, while Frenchman Guillaume de Beauplan created the fortifications. European royals visited the balls it gave, which included a collection of art and weapons.
According to Discover Ukraine, the castle’s new owners neglected it in the 1800s, causing it to become dilapidated and defaced before turning into a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. Major damage was also done by a fire in 1956. Since 1997, the castle has undergone restoration, and sections of it are currently used for events and art exhibitions.
Sammezzano Castle — Tuscany, Italy
According to Atlas Obscura, Sammezzano Castle was constructed on the site of a 17th-century royal palazzo that belonged to the Spanish nobleman Ximenes of Aragon. In 1853, Marquis Ferdinando Ximenes Panciatichi completely reconstructed the location. The castle was turned into a five-star hotel after his passing, but in the 1990s it closed and was abandoned.
It is being restored by a group known as the FPXA Committee, but most of its gorgeous architecture and vibrant interior decor, including a large hall known as “The Peacock Room,” are still present.
