Castles are an emblematic feature of Medieval times, and there are countless magnificent fortresses, palaces, and castles scattered throughout Europe that date back to these days of knights and kings. Unfortunately, very few of these once monumental structures survived to this day, and the majority of them lie in ruin, never to be seen in their full glory with the naked eye. Luckily for us, though, we live in times when digital reconstructions are so advanced that anyone with a knowledge of history and architecture software can fully restore these buildings with just a few clicks of the mouse.
A London-based creative agency called NeoMam Studios decided to do just that, and they fully restored 12 European castles and fortresses to their prime for us to enjoy. They used blueprints, historical descriptions, and old paintings to reconstruct architectural wonders as accurately and precisely as possible, and we think they did an outstanding job. See for yourself below.
1. Poenari Castle, Romania, is a 13th-century castle famous for being the home of the infamous Vlad the Impaler, the historical prototype of Dracula
2. Spiš Castle, Slovakia, was built in the 12th century but was destroyed by a fire in 1780
3. Dunnottar Castle in Scotland was a fortress during the Middle Ages, but most of the buildings that survived to this day date back to the 15-16 centuries
4. Olsztyn Castle in Poland dates back to the 14th century and it fell into ruin after being destroyed by the Swedes in 1655
5. Château Gaillard was built in the 12th century and it is located in the Normandy region of France
6. Menlo Castle is an Irish castle built in the 16th century on the Corrib river
7. Samobor Castle dates back to the 13th century, and it was built overlooking one of the most important trade routes in modern-day Croatia
8. Caerlaverock Castle is another 13th-century fortress, but it was built in Scotland and belonged to the Maxwell family
9. Dunstanburgh Castle in northern England was built by Earl Thomas of Lancaster during the 14th century
10. Goodrich Castle is a once luxurious Norman castle belonging to the Medieval period located near Goodrich, England
11. Bothwell Castle is another Scottish castle, and it was an important landmark in the Scottish Wars of Independence
12. Dunluce Castle in Northern Ireland was built in the Late Middle Ages (circa 17 century) and was once the residence of the Earl of Antrim
