Whether you’re a child reading a fairytale or an adult resenting sky-high rents for a tiny flat, most of us have longed to live in a grand castle at some point in our lives. But while the most famous castles of all still belong to monarchs or states, there are plenty of incredible chateaux on the market too. Here are some of the castles we’d love to live in, which have been on the market in recent years, from famous fortresses occupied by royalty to palatial properties you can really buy.

Castles don’t get much more fairytale than Bavaria’s Neuschwanstein Castle, which was built in the 19th century and which is visited by over a million tourists every year. Built by King Ludwig II to withdraw from a life in the public, there’s nothing minimalist about this castle, with the many lavish rooms and halls all designed for one single occupant. Straight out of a storybook, the romantic castle is even said to have inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Built in the 14th century, the grand Castellar Castle, in Italy’s Piedmont region has eight bedrooms, five bathrooms and multiple reception areas, providing plenty of space, but most eye-catching are its grand traditional features, from its drawbridge and fortified gate to its stone staircase and high ceilings. Currently on the market for £2.1 million ($3m), within the extensive grounds, there’s also a swimming pool and fountain.

Earlshall Castle was built in the 16th century and has lost none of its grandeur. The castle, set within 34 acres of its own parkland near St. Andrews, once played host to monarchs including Mary Queen of Scots. It’s got plenty of space: eight reception rooms, 10 bedrooms, six bathrooms and even three cottages for guests. It's currently on the market, with the price available on application.

Though Wachsenburg Castle may be over a thousand years old, it has recently been renovated to modern standards. Currently used as a grand hotel, the historic castle is home to several restaurants, 15 hotel rooms and a large parking area. However, despite its extensive refurbishment, the castle retains its original charm and features, with its own chapel, castle walls and beautiful grounds. 

Located in the beautiful Italian region of Piedmont, Montestrutto Castle was built in a neo-Gothic style around a 9th-century tower. Its current use as tourist accommodation means that its eight bedrooms, three bathrooms and variety of large living spaces have all been recently restored to an excellent standard. For sale for £1 million ($1.4m), it still retains many original features, including the entrance, covered in frescoes telling the story of the castle’s history. 

Glenborrodale Castle, a five-storey Scots baronial mansion in the Scottish Highlands, is a castle fit for a king. Dating from 1902, the grand building was recently on the market for £3.8 million ($5.1m) and it not only comes with 16 bedrooms, walled gardens, a boathouse, a jetty and 133 acres of land, but any prospective owner will also get two uninhabited islands to call your own: the Isle of Risga and Eilean an Feidh.

If you’re dreaming of buying a romantic castle that you can move in to with no fuss, consider investing in this delightful Baroque chateau in South Bohemia. Set on the banks of the Lužnice river, the castle, which dates back to 1565, can sleep up to 18 people in six suites. Once used for weddings and cultural events, the castle also offers plenty of restored original features, including frescoes and wooden panels. 

One of the world’s most famous chateaux, the Chateau de Versailles was first built in the 17th century and, despite events such as the French Revolution and the World Wars, still stands in splendour today. France’s most famous palace today has lots to offer visitors: you can explore its magnificent gardens, the private apartments of the kings, its famous hall of mirrors and 60,000 works of art.

Located in a dreamy setting across from the Caribbean Sea, on a 102-acre estate, the mountaintop castle looks over both the north and south coasts of St Croix island. On the market for £6.4 million ($8.9m), the 360-degree views aren’t the only reason to move here, though: the Caribbean castle, which was completed in 1989, is also gorgeous on the inside, with six bedrooms and six bathrooms, all stylishly designed.

In a beautiful setting between Lyon and Aix les Bains, this incredible 11-bedroom, 15th-century French chateau is straight out of a storybook. Once on the market for £1.3 million ($1.8m), the castle has fairytale turrets and ivy-covered walls, and it’s also got huge, 19-hectare grounds with a waterfall, beautifully maintained gardens, tennis courts, a swimming pool and incredible countryside views.

Take a look at this incredible medieval castle in Tuscany, once on the market for £25.5 million ($34.7m). Covering an enormous 2,000 hectares, the property not only includes a huge medieval castle, first built in 1135, but also comes with two separate villas with modern interiors. The extensive grounds are home to vineyards, an infinity pool and a rose garden, while indoors, there are 13 rustic, but completely restored bedrooms, 14 bathrooms and a snooker room.

Located close to Poitiers, this 19th-century chateau may look traditional on the outside, but on the inside is a contemporary living space straight out of an interiors magazine. Once for sale for £4.8 million ($6.6m), and spread out over four levels are five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a home cinema, an indoor swimming pool, a gym, a wine cellar, a grand entrance hall and more. Outside, there's an outdoor swimming pool, tennis court and a river. 

The imposing Gothic fortress of Bran Castle, located in Transylvania, is best-known as the castle that inspired the tale of Count Dracula. First coming into existence in the 13th century, the castle is now a popular tourist attraction visited by hundreds of thousands of people a year. A competition run in 2016 by Airbnb even allowed two people to spend the night in the fortress, with their beds for the evening consisting of velvet-trimmed coffins.

Located in Jura, this incredible castle sits in a 200-acre walled park and as well as the five-storey castle, there is also a square tower and six outbuildings. On the market in 2018 for £25.5 million ($34.7m), the interiors are fit for a monarch, with a grand entrance hall and Gothic staircase, while in the grounds there are gardens, statues, lakes, rivers and beautiful woods.

This beautiful gothic castle, built in the 19th century and located on Douglas Head, has everything you could ask for in your very own castle: a private setting within walled grounds, plenty of bedrooms within the main castle and its accompanying coach house and cottage, and wonderful sea views. The asking price in 2018 was £4 million ($5.4m), and there’s even a wine cellar, a cinema room and a gym. 

While this picturesque castle might only be 20 minutes away from Geneva International Airport, it feels worlds away from any city hustle and bustle. With beautiful lake views, scenic park surroundings and a history dating back centuries, the castle is currently formed of five apartments and offices, but it could be converted into one regal residence. 

Most beaches don’t have their very own resident castle, but most beaches aren’t Noetzie Beach, in an idyllic spot in Knysna, on South Africa’s Garden Route. The castle not only has beautiful beach views, but ticks every box on the luxury property list: two living rooms with wood-burning fireplaces, three large suites, a huge dining room and a heated pool. Once on the market at £4.3 million ($6m), you can now rent the private villa to live like a monarch for a night or two.

This regal, 10-bedroom chateau overlooking the Dordogne valley was first built in the 17th century, undergoing various renovations in the following centuries. Once for sale for £2.6 million ($3.5m), and now available to rent as a weekly chateau it is set within 20 hectares of woodland, there are plenty of delights to discover in the grounds, including the ruin of an 11th-century chapel on the property and several natural springs. 

In the village of Oud-Valkenburg, the enormous Schaloen Castle is the castle to buy for an incredible remote setting. On the market for £3.5 million ($4.8m), it is built on an island and surrounded by a moat, the 37-bedroom castle sits on a huge plot consisting of beautifully-maintained grounds and a number of outbuildings that could be converted to make several smaller homes. 

We certainly wouldn’t say no to making one of Scotland’s most famous landmarks our home. With a history dating back to the 12th century, the sprawling structure has been added to and improved countless times over the centuries. It’s had a fascinating history, acting as everything from a royal residence to an army base, and is home to Scotland’s dazzling crown jewels.

Located near the French city of Tours, this fairytale 18th-century chateau boasts 16 bedrooms and plenty of original features. Once used as a boutique hotel, the property not only has contemporary, chic décor, but also a seven-hectare park, several outbuildings and an elaborate chapel dating back to 1717. It has been on the market for an asking price of £2.1 million ($3m) and now is available to rent.

Once hosting the likes of Sir Winston Churchill, the incredible 18th-century Knockdrin Castle is located in County Westmeath in Ireland. Once available for £11.9 million ($16.2m), the Gothic Revival castle is located within a scenic parkland estate of over 1,000 acres. The interiors are suitably lavish, with a ballroom and library in addition to the dining room, drawing room and reception room, and there are 12 bedrooms and four estate lodges too.

It’s hard to beat the stunning views you’d get were you to snap up this ancient castle on Italy’s Lake Iseo. Dating back to the 15th century, the fortress retains many of its former strategic architectural features, including its defensive, centuries-old towers. For sale with price upon request, as well as the enviable lake views, there are also six bedrooms, plenty of rustic living areas and a sizeable park area to enjoy. 

You might not expect to find a fairytale castle in the USA, but Highlands Castle, in Bolton Landing, proves they do exist. The property, which was on sale in 2018 for £9.4 million ($12.8m) and is now a hotel venue, has amazing views of Lake George and the Adirondack Mountains, has suitably grand features both outside and inside, with stained glass doors, a sweeping staircase, hanging tapestries and suits of armour. 

This sprawling castle complex in Germany’s Upper Middle Rhine Valley has impressive credentials: not only does it have 23 bedrooms, a history dating back to the 14th century, its very own chapel and a recently renovated interior, but it also forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been on the market for £2.5 million ($3.5m).  

This stunning castle, in Auvergne, dates back to the 13th century, and is incredibly picturesque both inside and out. It’s got 14 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, a swimming pool and a beautiful park to explore. Once on sale for £1.3 million ($1.5m), there’s also an enormous barn on the grounds which functions as a wedding venue. 

Located in the beautiful village of Monflanquin is this sprawling chateau, with 26-hectare grounds complete with parkland, gardens, orchard, wells and even a box hedge labyrinth. With 17th century origins, the property has retained many of its original features, but has been extensively renovated. Once on the market for £4.2 million ($5.6m), the enormous living space includes 10 bedrooms, seven bathrooms, two dining rooms, two reception rooms and an outdoor salt swimming pool. 

The majestic Hohenzollern Castle looks like it’s stepped straight out of a Disney film. Located in Baden-Württemberg, the castle sits atop Mount Hohenzollern and offers incredible views. With a history dating back to the 11th century, the castle went through various reconstructions until it got its incredible neo-Gothic appearance in the 19th century. Sadly, the chances of us ever living in this castle are unlikely, but it’s open to visitors. 

This exquisite, Grade I-listed chateau in central France was built in the 15th century and still retains many of its most fascinating original features, including 14 towers and two drawbridges. Once a boutique hotel, the castle not only has 23 bedrooms, but a chapel, restaurant, pool, spa, hammam and tennis court. Priced at £6.1 million ($8.3m) in 2018, there’s also a 37-acre private park complete with forests and lakes to explore. 

With a history dating over 1,000 years, this beautiful castle, located between Florence and Siena. The property’s 94-hectare land includes vineyards, a swimming pool, woodland and olive groves. Inside there are 19 bedrooms and 19 bathrooms, recently renovated in a rustic style. For sale, with price on application, the lucky owner can enjoy the wine produced by the vineyard. 

If you’re interested in a major property project, look no further than this unusual Ecuadorian castle in Pichincha, which is on the market for £6.1 million ($8m). While it’s in need of some updating, it’s a fascinating building constructed with a mixture of seven different architectural styles. It has an enormous 108,000 square feet of floor space which includes 50 bedrooms and 60 bathrooms. As well as the main castle, there’s also a cathedral and a huge park. 

Make your castle dreams come true with this pretty 19th-century chateau in Mayenne, northwest France. Once for sale at £749,745 ($1m), there are 10 bedrooms, two large living rooms and even a study in the tower. There’s also a park to explore, in which you’ll find a picturesque pond and a small pavilion.

This pretty 16th-century chateau in Tarn-et-Garonne will take you back in time with its many original features, such as its towers, stone spiral staircase and painted ceilings, but within its centuries-old stone walls, its living areas, six bedrooms and six bathrooms have been finished with a chic, rustic look. It is on the market for a reasonable £1.3 million ($1.8m).

Castell Gyrn, which was constructed in the late 20th century, may not be as old as many of the castles on this list, but it’s no less impressive. Ideally situated with panoramic views over the Vale of Clwyd. The property boasts three reception rooms, a library, six bedrooms and a cinema room. But perhaps most impressive is its carved dragon sculpture that breathes fire when anyone enters through the main gate. It is on the market for £1.8 million ($2.4m).

One of the largest complexes in the world, moving to the stunning Prague Castle would certainly be a step up the property ladder. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was founded in the ninth century and has an enormous area of almost 754,000 square feet. It’s currently the office of the President of the Czech Republic, so the chances of us moving in are minimal, but it’s open all year round for visits.

If you want a fairytale castle to call home, but you don’t want to be too far away from reality, snap up this amazing castle in Corrèze, which has plenty of shops just minutes away but still exudes an air of tranquility. The castle not only has plenty of living spaces and 14 bedrooms, but also has a seven-acre walled park, a chapel, a pool, a tennis court and outbuildings with even more rooms. It has been on the market priced at £1 million ($1.4m).

This incredible 70-bedroom castle in Carimate, Italy, dates back to 1149. It has been on the market for £8.8 million ($12m), and the castle has functioned as a hotel, so in addition to its many rooms, it also has a spa, a large banquet hall and a restaurant. There’s even a wine cellar, a swimming pool, three tennis courts and a wealth of original features such as a drawbridge and observation towers.

If you’ve ever considered giving up the rat race to live a calmer life, consider doing so in this beautiful castle in Pays de la Loire. The castle, which has been on the market for £879,160 ($1.2m), dates back to the 15th century, has 11 bedrooms, three grand reception rooms, staff quarters, a lake, a pool and two hectares of scenic country estate.

Owning a castle from past centuries is owning a slice of history, but that does come with its maintenance-related drawbacks. This six-bedroom castle near Pisa in Tuscany, which is on the market for £4.5 million ($5.9m), is just as lavish as a historic property without any of the costs, as it’s brand new and with all the modern trimmings you’d expect. As well as the generously-sized bedrooms and living areas, there’s an infinity pool, a games room and a cinema. 

While France is blessed with countless beautiful castles, Chateau de Chenonceau has to be one of its most exquisite. Located in the Loire Valley, the castle’s history dates all the way back to the 12th and 13th centuries, although in its current form was built in the early 16th century. While we’d love to live there for its incredible waterfront location, we’d also rather enjoy wandering the corridors admiring the castle’s collection of tapestries, furniture and artwork. Fallen in love? It's available to rent on Airbnb.

One of only four 12th-century castles still standing in France, living in this castle would be a dream for anyone with an interest in history: it's said that Richard the Lionheart died here and was buried in the grounds. While the castle itself is impressive, with a fully renovated interior, a great hall, 16 bedrooms, a chapel and a library, the grounds are equally amazing, with 165 hectares of land. 

Just half an hour from the centre of Glasgow by car, this stunning country estate is perfect for someone who wants to live in a regal, remote setting but not be too far from the city. Once on the market for £2.8 million (£3.7m), as well as the imposing castle in the centre of the estate, there’s also 340 acres of land to enjoy, which includes a loch with a boathouse. Inside, huge windows provide wonderful views, and there’s a very elegant drawing room, dining room, library and billiard room. 

Close to the quaint French town of Vitré in Brittany, this impressive Gothic castle was up for sale in 2018 for £1.6 million ($2.1m). First built in 1860, the castle was restored just two years ago and offers plenty of space: there are nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms and generously-sized living areas. 

If you never want to run out of space again, consider investing in the Fonmon Estate, a sprawling estate near the village of Fonmon. Within nearly 950 acres of arable, grassland and woodland, you’ll find Fonmon Castle, a 12th-century, Grade I-listed castle that has been used as a wedding and events venue but that would make a stunning home. On the estate, there are also several further estate houses, cottages and farm buildings. 

Which of us haven’t dreamt of giving it all up and moving to the French Riviera? Take those dreams one step further and move to this utterly picturesque 11-bedroom castle in Sainte Maxime. Set within a huge 105-hectare park, the setting is entirely private and tranquil, with mountain and countryside vistas. Within the beautiful 19th-century castle itself, there are eight bedrooms, cosy living areas and a terrace with great sea views. 

With a history dating back to the 13th century, the Craig, also known as Craig Castle, is one of Scotland’s oldest properties. Once for sale with offers over £1.7 million ($2.2m), it is close to the Montrose Basin, the castle has recently undergone a significant renovation and offers seven reception rooms, six bedrooms and four bathrooms. While it’s been updated for the 21st century, there are plenty of wonderful original features, such as its stone floors, oak doors and vaulted rooms. 

The elegant Veulen Castle, in the small Belgian village of Veulen, is straight out of a period drama. Dating from 1747, the beautiful property stands within a 20-hectare domain of parkland and meadows. The interiors have been carefully and stylishly restored while maintaining as much of the original features as possible. For example, one of the large reception and dining rooms still has its original 17th-century wallpaper. There’s also a gym and heated outdoor pool. 

If owning an entire castle sounds a bit intimidating, why not buy just one wing? In London’s Greenwich, this four-bedroom house over four floors in one of the borough’s early Georgian buildings, a Grade I-listed castle, was on sale in 2018 for £2.8 million ($3.7m). As well as a grand reception room and spacious kitchen, there's a roof terrace with amazing views over the capital, and shared use of pretty communal gardens.

Loved this? These fairytale castles are on the market