Drone Videos of Famous Castles

For a 4k aerial view of Germany's fabled Neuschwanstein Castle, it's tough to beat this piece by AirVuz contributor Luca T.  Filmed during winter, the video does a phenomenal job of capturing the beauty of this Romanesque Revival masterpiece in the hills of southwestern Bavaria.  Commissioned by the Bavarian King Ludwig II and completed in 1886 shortly before his death, it's one of Germany's (and Europe's) greatest cultural attractions.  It's located just above the village of Hohenschwangau, overlooking the Alpsee lake.  

Spis Castle (sometimes called Spisky Castle) in the eastern portion of Slovakia is one of the largest and best known castle ruins in all of Europe. Built in the 13th century and then destroyed by a fire in the late 18th century, the castle is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage cultural site.  It's been used as the shooting location for numerous movies, including Dragonheart and the Last Legion.  Contributor Ivan Dovala flew a drone over Spis on a foggy morning and created this sensational bird's eye view.

Mark's Mavic 2 used a DJI Mavic Pro drone to shoot this video of the famous Malbork Castle in Poland.  It's located in the northern part of the country, not far from the coastline on the Baltic Sea.  Built by the Teutonic Knights in the 15th century, Malbork Castle served as a Polish royal residence until the country was partitioned out of existence in the late 18th century.  This magnificent landmark is believed to be the world's largest castle by area, and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.  

Chateau Chambord, which sits in the Loire River Valley of Central France, is frequently considered to be the greatest castle in the country. It was constructed in the 16th century as a hunting lodge for the French King Francis I, although it was never completed. Top contributor Freeway Prod shot drone footage of Chambord for a national French TV show. Prepare to be amazed by the bird's eye views of this French Renaissance architectural marvel, one of the Loire Valley's top tourist destinations.

Hohenzollern Castle is one of Europe's most famous.  It's situated atop a hill in the Swabian Alps in the southwest German state of Baden-Württemberg.  The Gothic Revival masterpiece was built in the mid-19th century as the seat of the Hohenzollerns, a dynasty which ruled the German predecessor state of Prussia and then the German Empire from its formation in 1871 until its defeat in World War I.  Located on the site of two earlier castles, you can check out the famous landmark from above in this fantastic drone video from Droneuwe.

Contributor Abovetheclouds managed to capture Switzerland's most famous castle ruins and one of its most famous churches in a single video.  Valère Basilica (sometimes called Valère Castle) is a fortified church near the town of Sion in the southwestern part of the country.  It dates to the 11th century.  Tourbillon Castle sits on a hill opposite Valère.  Built in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, it's been in ruined state since a fire destroyed it just prior to the Napoleonic Wars and was never rebuilt.  

Contributor Newcastlemale used a DJI Mavic Pro 2 drone to create this magnificent aerial tour of England's famous Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland, one of the main counties of the North East England region.  Built on the foundation of an 11th century Norman fortification, the castle was the site of a key siege in 1464 during the War of the Roses.  In more recent times, the castle has made numerous appearances in feature movies, ranging from the 1961 classic El Cid to the 2015 film adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

In a country known for its castles, the Czech Republic's Karlstejn Castle is a standout.  This 14th century Gothic landmark was selected as the #1 castle in the country in a survey by Touropia.  Karlstejn was completed in 1348 for the use of Charles IV, who was King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Elect.  At the time, Bohemia was one of the most important regions of the Holy Empire.  Contributor Mertlas was able to fly over the castle on a brilliant autumn day to create this spectacular aerial tour. 

Bojnice is one of the most famous castles in Slovakia, a country known for its castles.  Built in the 12th century at the town bearing the same name, the great structure lies in the valley of the Nitra River in the central part of the country.  In the late 1800's and early 1900's, it was reconstructed to resemble a French Loire Valley Chateau.  Contributor Hiketheworld flew over Bojnice with a drone to create an amazing aerial view of this landmark, which also houses one of the country's most popular museums.

In this outstanding drone video by AirVuz contributor nunovalente, you'll descend through the clouds for a magnificent aerial view of Portugal's Pena Palace.  The Romanticist style landmark is lcoated in the hills of the Sintra province, a short drive northwest of Lisbon.  Completed on the site of a ruined medieval monastery in 1854, it was built as a summer residence for the Portuguese Royal Family.  It is widely considered to be one of the top half-dozen castles in Europe and one of Portugal's top cultural attractions.  

Carreg Cannen is a famous Welsh castle near the town of Trap in the southwestern part of Wales.  Surrounded by massive limestone rock formations, the 12th century castle, which has not been functional since the 15th century, has a daunting appearance.  Contributor Nethan Jermy shot this impressive aerial video of the great ruins using a DJI Phantom drone.  The castle, located in Brecon Beacons National Park, was named by Touropia as one of the top 10 Welsh castles.  It's in Carmarthenshire, one of the counties of southwestern Wales.

AirVuz contributor luiz.Moura created this short but beautiful aerial look at one of the most well known castles in Austria.  Hochosterwitz castle is built on a giant rock overlooking the countryside in the southern state of Carinthia.  The structure dates to as early as the 9th century.  The castle was heavily fortified in the 16th century to protect against the threat of invasion by the Ottoman Turks.  Considered one of the top tourist spots in southern Austria, the castle is visible from many km/mi away.

AirVuz contributor Michael Daramola brings us this stunning drone view of Buda Castle, the great palace which lies on the right bank of the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary.  The original castle was built in the 13th century, but was rebuilt in the Baroque style in the mid-18th century.  It was nearly totally destroyed during the bloody Seige of Budapest in the waning months of World War II.  During the Communist era that followed, it was reconstructed in a manner which combined medieval (Gothic) and Baroque elements, and modernization.

Contributor MDM Drone Studio created this magnificent drone video of Kost Castle, one of the finest castles in the Czech Republic.  It's in the region of Northern Bohemia, in the western part of the country.  The 14th century castle is distinguished by its prominent white tower as well as its siting - not on a hill but on a sandbar between two small streams.  Unlike most Czech castles, Kost is privately owned, by a very old noble family.  The castle was named in Touropia's ranking of the top 10 castles of the Czech Republic, dated October 2017.

Corfe Castle is an 11th century fortification in Dorset on the English South Coast.  Built by William the Conqueror, it was one of the first castles to be built partly with stone.  It has played an important role through many episodes of British history, including the English Civil War.  Built in a gap in the Purbeck Hills, it's considered one of the greatest castles in Southwestern England.  In this amazing video, contributor Benpwalis flies a drone over this amazing Norman castle, an English cultural treasure.

In this video, Drone-pictures gives us a beautiful bird's eye view of the magnificent Chateau Chenenceau.  Situated in the heart of the Loire River Valley of west-central France, Chenenceau is considered one of the world's greatest Rennaissance castles.  The current structure dates to the 15th century.  It took much of its current shape in the 16th century, after the French King Henry II gave it to his mistress, the formidable Diane de Poitiers.  It is has had a protected landmark status since the mid-1800's.

Státní zámek Hluboká is considered one of the most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic.  It appeared in the #3 spot in a recent ranking of Czech castles by the widely-followed travel website Touropia.  Like many Czech castles, it was built in the Gothic style in the medieval period and later converted by renovation to a Renaissance and later Baroque style.  It's near the town of Hluboká nad Vltavou in Southern Bohemia.  In this video by Minglam, you'll get a drone's eye view of this magnificent landmark.

Contributor Tomtank used a DJI Mavic Drone to create this spectacular bird's eye view of Warwick Castle in the heart of England.  It's in Warwickshire, the West Midlands county which was the birthplace of William Shakespeare.  The original castle was built by the Norman conquerors, with the present castle being built on the same site in the 13th century.  It's located on a bend of the Avon River, and its strategic location made it an important strategic location during the Hundred Years' War.  

Behold this aerial video of one of the most well known castles in the Ukraine.  Contributor Martini flew a drone over Pidhirtsi Castle, which is situated in the oblast (province) of Lviv in the western part of this giant Eastern European country.  The castle was constructed in the 17th century, at a time when the western part of what is now Ukraine was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.  The castle was near the front during much of World War I, and shortly thereafter saw fighting during the Polish Civil War.

Top AirVuz contributor Mattcoq created this stunning drone view of Germany's Lichtenstein and Hohenzellorn Castles, two of Europe's most famous Gothic Revival landmarks.  Both are situated in the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg, and were built on the site of earlier structures.  Completed in 1842, Lichtenstein Castle was built for Wilhelm, Duke of Urach, a local nobleman.  Hohenzollern Castle was completed in 1867.  It was the ancestral seat of the Hohenzollern family, which ruled Prussia and then all of Germany until 1918.

Contributor AidanFlood created this magnificent drone video of two of the most important sites in Central Scotland.  Built in the 15th century, Stirling Castle is one of the most historically significant castles in the country.  It was a principal residence of Scottish royalty for many years, and was the coronation site for Mary Queen of Scots in 1542.  Near the great castle is Wallace Monument, a tower built in the 19th century to commemorate the victory of the Scottish hero William Wallace at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297.

Here's a bird's eye look at what is generally considered to be the Ukraine's most famous castle.  Palanok Castles (also called Mukachevo Castle) is situated in the Zakarpattia oblast, the southwesternmost province of the country.  Sitting atop a volcanic hill near the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, the castle dates to the 14th century.  Fortified in several stages, it was used as a pan-European prison following the fall of the Bastille in Paris during the early days of the French Revolution. 

Contributor Burak BÜYÜKBAYRAKTAR created this amazing aerial tour of Prague, the great Czech capital on the Vltava River.  It opens with and epic bird's eye view of Prague Castle, the great palace which sits on a hill overlooking the city.  With 70k square meters (around 700k square ft.) of space, it's one of the world's largest castles.  The spired building within the castle walls is St. Vitus Cathedral, which dates to the 14th century and is one of the world's most well known churches.  

LarsBülow created this impressive drone video of Hammershus Castle, probably the most famous castle in Scandinavia.  It's situated on the island of Bornholm, a Danish island lying to the east of the mainland in the Baltic Sea.  The castle was built in the 13th century, and played an important role in the struggles between Denmark and its rivals in the region.  Classified as a ruin (although partially restored in the early 1900's), it's believed to be the largest medieval-era castle in Europe.

Phildrone created this amazing drone video of Fountainbleau, one the largest French châteaux (castles).  It is situated a half hour drive southeast of Paris.  The site was built upon as early as the 12th century.  The castle took much of its present shape during the reign of King Francis I in the 16th century.  Fountainbleau was at least a seasonal home to almost all of the French monarchs from that time until the French Republic was declared in 1871.  It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

SouthCoastDronesUK brings us this excellent drone video of Arundel Castle, one of the great cultural landmarks of South England.  Located in its namesake town in West Sussex, the castle was established by a lieutenants of William the Conqueror following the Norman invasion of England in 1066.  Considered one of the great Norman castles, it's the seat of the Dukes of Norfolk.  Arundel Castle was used as a filming location for the 1994 movie The Madness of King George, and more recently for a scene in the 2017 blockbuster Wonder Woman.

The area around Dreseden, Germany is home to a trio of famous castles called the Elbschlösser.  They lie along the banks of the Elbe River just upstream from the city, which is the capital of the state of Saxony.  The three castles are Castle Albrechtsberg, Lingner Castle (Villa Stockhausen) and Castle Eckberg.  All three were constructed in the period of 1850-1861.  The complex is part of a single UNESCO World Heritage site.  Check them out in this beautiful drone video by Mischa Haubold. 

Regec Castle lies in the northeastern corner of Hungary, not far from the country's border with Slovakia.  It lies within the Zemplén Mountains, part of the Carpathians.  The castle is believed to have been constructed in the 13th century, and in its time it was an important fortification center in northeastern Hungary.  The castle was demolished in the late 17th century.  Using a drone of unidentified model, contributor Miklos created a beautiful aerial view of one of the country's great landmarks.

Nagoya Castle is one of the most important cultural sites in Japan.  It is located in Nagoya, Japan's third largest city, on the western coast of Honshu, the most populous island of the Japanese Archipelago.  From the 17th-19th centuries, this was one of the most important cities in Japan.  Contributor Skys_feed used a DJI Phantom 4 drone to give us a marvelous bird's eye view of this castle, which was originally rebuilt in the early 16th century and nearly completely rebuilt early in the 17th.

Check out this fantastic drone video of one of Europe's most famous medieval castles, compliments of contributor Michael Visual.  Spain's Alcázar of Segovia is located about 60 mi. (95 km) northwest of Madrid.  It was built in the 12th century on the ruins of an old Roman fortification situated at the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores Rivers.  A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Alcázar served as an important royal residence, first for the rulers of Castile and later for the kings and queens of the nation-state of Spain.    

Newcastlemale used a DJI Mavic Pro 2 to create this amazing aerial video of Lindisfarne, a tidal island off of England's Northumberland coast.  It's also called Holy Island, in reference to the critical role it played in the conversion of northern England to Christianity.  Famously, a Viking raid here in 897 AD marked the first serious appearance of the Norsemen and sent shockwaves throughout Europe.  The island's 16th century castle was used as a filming location for two Roman Polanski-directed movies.

Himeji Castle is one of the most famous in Japan.  Situated in southern Honshu, it was built in the 14th century.  One of the most-visited sites in the country, it owes its fame in part to the James Bond movie franchise: the palace made an appearance as the spot where 007 (played by Sean Connery) undergoes ninja training in the 1967 classic You Only Live Twice, the series' sixth installment.  Contributor Hittheroadlat used both drone and ground camera footage to create this video of the magnificent landmark.  

Frantac-Channel-France gives us this beautiful drone's eye view of Crussol Castle, one of the more important landmarks in Southern France.  Like many French castles, it was built on the site of an old Roman hilltop fort. The castle, which dates to the 12th century, is made mostly of limestone.  It's located in the Rhône River valley near the town of Saint-Péray, in the Ardèche department of the country's Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.  The castle is classified as a National Monument of France.

Eltz Castle is one of the most famous castles in the Rhineland area of Western Germany.  It is situated on a hill above the Moselle River near Koblenz in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.  Most of the current structure was built in the 19th century in the Baroque style, on the partial ruins of an 11th century Romanesque keep.  Content creator Sinbad the Aviator used a DJI Mavic Pro drone to create this aerial tour of the castle, one of the few in this long fought-over region which was never captured. 

Check out this stunning 4k drone video of one of the most famous castles in Switzerland, compliments of contributor Kpax.  It's called Chillon Castle, and it's located on an island near the eastern end of Lake Geneva.  The structure dates to the 11th century, and was built on the site of an older Roman fortification.  During the bloody period known as the Wars of Religion in the 16th century, the castle served as a prison.  Chillon underwent substantial restoration beginning in the late 19th century.  

De Haar is a very well known castle in the central Netherlands, in the Utrecht province.  It was built in the late 14th century, nearly destroyed in a fire, and rebuilt in the 16th century.  After that, it fell into disuse for over 200 years.  Beginning in 1892, it underwent a 15 year restoration as a Neo-Gothic masterpiece.  The castle is just a short distance from the provincial capital Utrecht, the fourth-largest Dutch city.  Droneflybenny created this marvelous aerial view of the famous castle, shot over four seasons. 

The Royal Castle is one of the great landmarks of Warsaw, Poland.  The castle, along with most of Warsaw's Old Town, was virtually destroyed by Nazi Germany during the course of World War II, with most of the damage being deliberately inflicted following the suppression of the Warsaw Uprising in late 1944.  In the postwar decades, the castle and most of the Old Town were meticulously reconstructed.  You can see the famous castle and its gardens from above in this drone video by contributor and pilot volatusmedia.     

Fénis, Italy is home to one of the most famous castles in northern Italy - the Fénis Castle. The medieval landmarks’s architecture, towers, and battlemented walls have made it a top tourist attraction in the region. Located in the mountains of far northwestern corner of the country, the Aosta Valley is an autonomous region (surrounded on the Italian side by the Piedmont region) whose people speak both Italian and French. AirVuz contributor Dronescapes by Atellani gives us a phenomenal aerial view of the historic castle.

Contributor Frankiez used his DJI Mavic Pro Drone to create this lovely aerial view of the medieval city of Heidelberg, in the Baden-Wurtemberg state of southwestern Germany.   You'll get a marvelous bird's eye view of Heidelberg Castle, built in the 13th century and one of the most famous castles in Europe.  In 1622, Heidelberg was the site of an important battle during the early part of the Thirty Years' War, in which the Spanish Imperial Army led by the Count of Tilly besieged and overcame the city.

Here's a fantastic aerial view of Ireland's famous Trim Castle, compliments of AirVuz contributor and drone pilot Drone Photogaphy Ireland.  Dating to the 12th century, the castle is situated on the River Boyne in County Meath, about a 45 minute drive northwest of Dublin.   The structure was built on the orders of England's King Henry II as part of the consolidation of Norman control over the British Isles.  Famously, it "played the role" of a Scottish castle in the 1995 epic film (and blockbuster) Braveheart.  

Bolsover Castle is a very well known 12th century landmark in Derbyshire in England's East Midlands region.  It was nearly destroyed in the 14th century, rebuilt early in the 17th century, changed ownership after the English Civil War, and fell back into a semi-ruined state.  A Grade 1 Listed Building, Bolsover was voted as one of England's top 10 castles in a recent survey conducted by English Heritage.  Leeshovervision flew a drone over the famous structure to create this beautiful bird's eye view.  

Trakošćan Castle is one of the most famous castles in Croatia.  It's located in the far north of the country in Varaždin County, near the Slovenian border.  It was built in the 13th century, according to some sources on a site of an earlier fortress.  It fell into disuse for many years, until the 19th century when it was "rediscovered" and renovated in the Romanticist style which was popular at the time.  Nationalized after World War II, the castle is a popular tourist attraction and the site of a museum.  

In this drone video, contributor Tomas86 gives us a beautiful aerial view of one of the most well known castles of the Czech Republic.  Bouzov Castle was built in the 14th century, around the time when many of the country's most well known fortifications were constructed.  It's in the Olmouc region of Moravia in the eastern part of the country, not far from the border with Slovakia.  Its iconic appearance has led to it being chosen for movie shooting locations, most notably the 2004 German film Before the Fall.  

Contributor Dronalb used a DJI drone to create this beautiful view of one of the more significant cultural landmarks in Albania.  Krujë Castle lies in a town of the same name in the north central part of the country, a short distance due north from the capital city Tirana.  The castle played a key role during an early struggle by Albanian rebels against Ottoman rule.  It's considered one of the most important cultural treasures in this Southeast European country, and one of its biggest tourist destinations. 

Contributor soarscape created this beautiful aerial view of Dunluce, one of the most famous castles in Northern Ireland.  Dunluce is located on a tiny island (now connected by bridge to the mainland) in County Antrim, the northernmost of the Ulster provinces.  Dating to the 14th century, it fell into a semi-ruined state after the late 1600's.  It's since earned numerous cultural references ranging from an appearance on a Led Zeppelin album cover to being featured in the HBO hit TV series Game of Thrones.

Portchester Castle is one of the most famous castles in the UK.  Seen in this drone video by SouthCoastDronesUK, it's located near the town of Fareham, in the northwest corner of Portsmouth Harbour in Hampshire County on England's southern coast.  Portchester was built on the site of a Roman-era fortress, and like the fortress it takes advantage of the important strategic position relative to the harbor.  Portchester was picked as one of the top 10 English castles in a recent Facebook survey conducted by English Heritage.  

Contributor Mikin used a DJI Spark drone to create this aerial tour of one of the most well known castles in the Czech Republic.  Pernštejn Castle is built on a giant rock overlooking the village of Nedvědice in the country's South Moravia region.  The castle occupies an important strategic position relative to to rivers which run through the area.  Built in the Gothic style in the 13th century, it's sometimes referred to as the "Marble Castle" in reference to the stone which frames its windows and doors.

Beckov Castle is one of the most important castles in Slovakia.  It's in the Nové Mesto nad Váhom District in the western part of the country.  Like many famous Slovakian castles, it was built in the 14th century.  It was reconstructed as a Renaissance fortress in the 16th century, and fell into disuse in the 17th century.  In this video, contributor Guydrory gives us a marvelous bird's eye views of the castle, which was named as one of the top Slovak castles in a recent survey by the Trip Advisor website.  

Contributor JANEK used a DJI Mavic Pro drone to create this aerial view of Trosky Castle, one of the most well known ruined castles in the Czech Republic.  It's in the Liberac Region of Bohemia in the very northern part of the country, near the border with Germany.  The castle was built in the 14th century and played an important role in the Hussite Wars of the 15th century, a bloody conflict which looms large in Czech history.  The castle was burned during the Thirty Year War of the 17th century and left in a ruined state.

Contributor Pavol Turčani created this stunning drone video of one of the most well known castles in Slovakia. Čachtice Castle is situated in the northwestern Trenčín Region.  The 13th century castle derives its fame in part from its association with a Hungarian noblewoman named Elizabeth Báthory, who was accused of murdering dozens (perhaps hundreds) of people in the castle around the turn of the 16th century.  The castle was used to film the opening scene of Dragonheart (1996) starring Dennis Quaid.  

Check out this brilliant 4k aerial view of England's famous Alnwick Castle, compliments of top AirVuz contributor and drone pilot newcastlemale.  It's located in its namesake town, about 45 minutes north of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in Northumberland, England's northeasternmost county.  The structure originally dates to the late 11th century, just a few decades after the Norman Conquest.  It's appeared in numerous TV shows and feature movies, ranging from Downton Abbey to the first two installments of the Harry Potter Series.  

Phildrone brings us this marvelous aerial view of Chantilly Castle (Château de Chantilly), one of the most famous castles in France.  It's situated in the Oise district in the north central part of the country.  Originally built in the 16th century, it was destroyed during the French Revolution and rebuilt in its present form in the 19th century.  The castle appeared in the 16th James Bond film, A View to a Kill (1985).  The video also includes footage of the less well known Chateauneuf Villevieille in southern France.  

The French region of Alsace is an area of strong historical strategic importance due to its location on the west bank of the Rhine River, the main natural border between France and Germany.  Not surprisingly, it's home to a number of important castles.  One of these is the Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, a medieval castle in the commune of Orschwiller.  As seen in this drone video by kastore25, the castle was burned by Swedish troops during the Thirty Years' War; it's now one of Alsace's top attractions.  

Óbidos Castle is one of Portugal's most famous.  The castle is situated in a city of the same name in the Leira district in the country's Centro region.  The great structure was built in the 12th century on the site of an old Roman fort, following the Reconquista of Portugal by Christian forces.  In 1951, the castle and grounds were designated as a national monument and restored with government funds.  You can see this famous castle from above in this drone video, compliments of Pedrodrone4k.  

Top contributor and pilot Fujibara Films created this short but amazing drone video of one of the most famous castles in Japan.  Matsumoto Castle is situated in the Nagano Prefecture, a short distance north of Tokyo in the island of Honshu.  Known as the Crow Castle for its black exterior, it's considered one of the country's top three castles, along with Kumamato and Himeji Castles.  Completed in the late 1500's, Matsumoto Castle was the seat of the Matsumoto Domain during the Takagawa Shogunate.  

Bezdez Castle is one of the great Gothic castles of Bohemia in the Czech Republic.  It's situated on a hilltop near the town of  Česká Lípa in the northern part of the region.  Built in the 13th century, it was one of the dominant castles in Bohemia for a time.  During the Thirty Years' War, it fell into the hands of the Habsburgs, was converted into a monastery for a time, and subsequently abandoned.  In this drone video, contributor MDM Drone Studio takes us for an aerial tour of this epic landmark.

Prepare to be amazed by these aerial views of the Strečno castle ruins in northern Slovakia.  The spectacular structure sits atop a steep hill in the Žilina District, not far from the area where Slovakia comes together with the Czech Republic to the west and Poland to the north.  Built in the 14th century, the castle has been in a ruined state since the late 17th century.  In this video, you'll get an epic bird's eye view of the mist-enshrouded castle by contributor and drone pilot Luke's Studio.   

AirVuz contributor and pilot oszibusz brings us this brilliant 4k drone video of Bodiam Castle, a famous landmark in Southeastern England.  One of the most well known moated castles in the UK, it's situated in East Sussex, near the town of Robertsbridge.  Built in the 14th century, Bodiam Castle played a role in the dynastic struggle known as the War of the Roses in the 15th century.  The castle fell into a ruined state after the English Civil War in the mid-17th century and was then partially restored in the 1800's.  

Check out this beautiful drone video of one of the most famous castles in Poland, compliments of contributor Mawefo.  Moszna Castle is located near an eponymously named village in the southwestern part of the country.  The area is part of a historical region called Upper Silesia, which covers parts of modern-day Poland and a corner of the Czech Republic.  Moszna Castle is a Baroque design which dates to the 17th century.  Partially destroyed by fire in 1896, it was largely restored to its original state.

Contributor David.Haring used a DJI Spark drone to aerially film two of the most well known landmarks in Denmark.  The first is Frederiksborg Castle, a Baroque masterpiece in the town of Hillerød, just north of Copenhagen.  Built in the 17th century, it's one of the largest castles in Scandinavia.  The second location is Kronborg Castle.  Located in Helsingør, also in eastern Denmark, Kronborg was immortalized as Elsinore Castle in Shakespeare's classic, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.  

Contributor and drone pilot Janis Katevics created this amazing drone video of an important castle in Latvia at the height of the Fall colors.  It's called Bauska Castle, and it's located in the Zemgale region of the country near the Lithiuanian border.  The recently-restored castle, which sits at the strategic confluence of two rivers, was built over the 15th-16th centuries.  The castle was used as a filming location for the hit BBC mini-series War & Peace; it "played the role" of the Rostov estate in Russia.  

AirVuz contributor Jaybee2786 used a DJI Mavic 3 drone to create this aerial tour of one of the most famous castles in Scotland.  Eilean Donan Castle is in the western Highlands, on a small tidal island near the intersection of three lochs (lakes).  Built in the 13th century, the castle has captured the imagination of movie producers looking for iconic castle backdrops.  Some of the movies in which it's appeared include Highlander (1986), the 21st James Bond film The World is Not Enough (1999), and Made of Honor (2008).    

Some of the most beautiful stretches of the Danube River are in the Wachau Valley in northwestern Austria.  In this drone video by ClearSky, you'll get a bird's eye view of Dürnstein Castle, one of the most well-known landmarks in this fabled region.    Built in the early 12th century, the castle was used to imprison King Richard I (the Lionheart) of England when he was returning from leading the Third Crusade.  Dürnstein has been in a semi-ruined state since being ransacked by Swedish troops during the Thiry Years War.  

Here's a bird's eye view of one of the most famous castles in northern France, compliments of drone malin.  Gaillard Castle (Château Gaillard) is located about 95 km (around 60 mi.) northwest of Paris in the Normandy region.  Overlooking the Seine River, it was built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries under the direction of Richard the Lionheart, who was both King of England and the Duke of Normandy.  A key battleground during the Hundred Years' War, it fell into a semi-ruined state around 1600.  

AirVuz contributor Never Stop Exploring brings us this excellent drone video of Orava Castle, a well-known landmark in the Central European country of Slovakia.  Originally constructed in the 13th century when the area was part of the Kingdom of Hungary, Orava Castle is perched on a rock above its namesake river in Žilina, the northernmost of Slovakia's eight official administrative regions.  It combines elements of Gothic, Neo-Gothic, Renaissance, and Romanesque styles.  Orava Castle was used to film the 2020 Netflix TV series Dracula.  

SKYDRONAUTS created this aerial video of a famous 19th century castle in northeastern Italy.  It's called Miramare Castle, and it's located near the port city of Trieste on the Adriatic Sea in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.  It was built in the mid-19th century for the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria-Hungary, which (prior to World War I) controlled much of what is now northeastern Italy.  It was completed during the Archduke's three year reign as Emperor of Mexico; he was soon deposed and executed there.    

Ludlow Castle is one of England's most famous.  It's situated on a hill overlooking the Teme River in Shropshire, in the West Midlands region.  It was built in the late 11th century by one of William the Conqueror's key lieutenans, Walter de Lacy.  The first English castle built partly from stone, it played a key role in the various dynastic struggles that followed, through the War of the Roses.  The castle was heavily damaged during the English Civil War of the mid-17th century but was later extensively restored.  

Tarik Kiko Mavic Pro created this awesome aerial look at Château d'Ussé, a very famous French castle.  It's located in the Indre-et-Loire Department (region) of Central France, on the outskirts of the Chinon Forest.  The present castle was completed early in the 17th century on the site of an 11th century Norman fort.  It is considered to be of mixed Flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance design, reflecting the transition that was occurring between the former and the latter during its construction.  

In connection with a French TV show, top contributor Freeway Prod created this magnificent drone video of the famous French castle Château de Villandry and its gardens.  The chateau is one of the more well known landmarks in the Loire River Valley of central France, home to many of the world's top Renaissance castles.  It was built in the early 1500's on the ruins of an older structure.  The chateau is located just outside the Loire-Anjou-Touraine regional park in the Indre-et-Loire department.

Check out this drone video of a famous Loire Valley castle in France, compliments of AVEA.  It's called Château de Chaumont, and it's in the Loir-et-Cher Department, west of Paris.  A gothic fortress rebuilt in the early Renaissance style in the 15th century, it was owned in succession by two of the most well-known women of the French Renaissance: Catherine de Medici acquired it in 1550, and within a few years she forced her rival Diane de Poitiers to accept it in exchange for the even grander Chenonceau.

Top AirVuz contributor and drone pilot Minglam created this stunning aerial video of one of the great cultural treasures of the Czech Republic.  České Krumlov is a castle town in the southern part of the Bohemian province.  The centerpiece of the town and the video is the České Krumlov, one of the world's most well preserved medieval castles and the country's second largest.  It was built in 1280 by a baronial family called the Rosenbergs who were important powers within the Holy Roman Empire.

Contributor and pilot duminciucbogdan used his quadcopter to create this spectacular aerial video of a famous Transylvanian castle.  Corvin Castle, sometimes known as Hunyadi Castle, was built in the 14th century.  It is considered one of the crown jewels of Romania, of which Transylvania became part in the early 20th century.  Corvin Castle is believed to have been a place where Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for the character Count Dracula, was imprisoned for a time by a Hungarian noble.  

Multiple Drone Video of the Week Finalist New Entertainment Pictures brings us this magnificent done video of Germany's Moritzburg Castle.  Located in the northeastern state of Saxony, just a short distance north of the city (and state capital) of Dresden.  It was built in the middle 16th century, initially as a hunting lodge for the then-Duke of Saxony.  The structure was heavily modified in the 17th and 18th centuries (including the addition of a chapel), turning it into what is now considered a Baroque style masterpiece.    

Muiden (Muiderslot) is the location of one of the most important castles in the Netherlands. It's situated on the Vecht River east of Amsterdam, at the river's mouth on what used to be the Zuidersee but which is now the enclosed Lake IJsselmeer.  The castle was built in the 14th century.   During the 17th century, Muiden became a gathering spot for many of the leading lights of the Dutch Renaissance, then fell into disuse in the 18th century.  Check it out from above in this drone video by Peter van Haastrecht. 

The Château de Quéribus in Southern France is one of the five castles known as the Sons of Carcassone. Like its "brothers", it's situated in the Aude Department, on land that represented the border between France and Spain prior to it being moved southward to the current line in 1659.  Seen here in this drone video by MCFLY34LIONEL, Queribus is best known as the last stronghold of the Cathars, a breakaway sect of Christianity which sought refuge in these same castles during the Albigensian Crusade of the early 13th century.  

Check out this drone video of a famous Scottish castle on the shores of the fabled Loch Ness, compliments of contributor Albacross Imaging.  Constructed in the 13th century on the ruins of an earlier fortification, Urquhart Castle is one of the largest in Scotland.  Captured by English King Edward I in 1296, the castle went on to play an important role in the Scottish Wars of Independence which followed.  Urquart was virtually destroyed by pro-Stuart forces in one of the first Jacobite Risings in 1692.

Portugal's Almouro Castle sits in a strategically important spot on the Tagus River, just downstream from its confluence with the Zêzere.  The castle was built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar, an important Christian military order.  Almourol played a critical role during the Reconquista, the struggle between Moorish (Muslim) and Christian forces for control of the Iberian Peninsula.  One of the most important castles in the Centro region, you can see Almourol from above in this drone video by SJetMan.  

Contributor obzibusz created this beautiful 4k drone video of two important landmarks in Southeastern England: the castle and cathedral of Rochester on the River Medway in County Kent.  The former is one of the most important Norman castles.  It dates to the late 11th century, and its 12th century stone tower is one of Europe's best-preserved.  The cathedral here is the seat of the Bishopric of Rochester, the second-oldest bishopric after Canterbury.  It too was constructed in the first few decades after the Norman invasion of 1066. 

Inveraray Castle is one of the most famous in Scotland.  Comparatively new by Scottish standards, it was constructed in the 18th century as a country house for the Dukes of Argyll, the chiefs of the powerful Campbell clan.  Considered one of the first Gothic Revival castles, it's located on the shores of Loch Fyne in the Argyll and Bute council area.  Seen from above in this excellent drone video by Neil_Stapleton, Inverary Castle "played the role" of Duneagle Castle in the 2012 Christmas episode of the hit TV series Downton Abbey.  

Romania's Bran Castle is located in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in the Romanian region of Transylvania.  Much of Bran Castle's fame is linked to one of the great characters of Western literature: Count Dracula of Bram Stoker's gothic 1897 novel, which is loosely based on the historical figure known as Vlad the Impaler.  While the association is likely erroneous, the castle has ever since been known as Dracula's Castle.  Check out the famous landmark from above in this drone video by Viajes Lost Planet.  

Check out this fabulous drone video of England's Leeds Castle, compliments of AirVuz contributor and pilot oszibusz.  Located in County Kent about an hour's drive from London, it was originally a Norman era fortress.  Later converted to a residence, it became one of the favorites of King Edward I around the turn of the 14th century, and later was the home of King Henry VII's (ill-fated) first wife, Catherine of Aragon.  In the early 19th century, the castle was completely renovated to take on its current Tudor style.  

Crichton Castle is a famous historical landmark in the Lowlands of Scotland.  It's situated in Midlothian, immediately to the southeast of Edinburgh.  Seen here in this excellent drone video by Jaybee2786, the structure originally dates to the 14th century but was modified significantly in the 15th under the ownership of Lord Chancellor William de Crichton.  Painted by the English artist J. M. W. Turner, the castle was used as a filming location for two feature movies, most notably the 1995 historical biography Rob Roy.  

The Castle of Loarre (Castillo de Loarre) is one of the oldest in Spain.  Seen in this drone video by AirVuz contributor Michael Visual, it's located in Huesca, the northernmost of the three provinces of the Aragon region.  It was constructed in the 11th-12th centuries, when the area lay on the frontier between Christian and Muslim Europe.  The complex, which didn't take on its outer walls and their towers until the 14th century, includes numerous buildings, some of which lie outside of the castle walls, such as an 11th century church.    

Contributor and drone pilot Alp Karagulle created this amazing aerial video of one of the most spectacular castles in Turkey.  It's called Boyabat Castle, and it's built on a hillside in the Sinop province, which is situated more or less in the middle of Turkey's Black Sea coastline.  The castle dates to the Antiquity, and was rebuilt as control of the area shifted first to the Roman, then the Byzantine, and finally the Ottoman Empires.  It's believed that at one point the castle was part of the fabled Silk Road.

Brand-new AirVuz contributor slaks_travel brings us this excellent drone video of Trakai Castle in the Baltic Republic of Lithuania.  It's built on an island in of Lake Galvė, which lies a bit to the west of the capital city Vilnius.  The castle dates to the 14th century during the time of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which ruled over a large section of Eastern Europe from the 13th to the 18th centuries.  Due to its location relative to Vilnius, the castle was considered of vital strategic importance to the defense of the Duchy.   

New contributor slaks_travel brings us this excellent aerial view of one of the most well-known castles of Slovakia: Trenčín Castle (Trenčiansky hrad).  It's situated in the town, district and region of the same name in the northwestern corner of the country.  Like many castles in Central Europe, it's a hilltop structure built on older Roman fortification.  Its rotunda likely dates to the 8th-9th century AD, and most of the rest of the site dates to the late Middle Ages.  The castle is open to touring and is home to a castle museum.  

Japan is known in part for its "castles in the sky": hilltop or mountaintop castles which can appear to be floating on the clouds in the right atmospheric conditions.  Top contributor and Instagram phenom Danielkordan definitely got it right with this stunning aerial capture of Echizen Ono Castle, which does indeed appear to be floating on the clouds.  It's located in the Fukui Prefecture in western Honshu.  The castle was constructed in the late 16th century, and has been modified numerous times since then.

Château de Pierrefonds is a famous French castle.  It's located on the edge of the Forest of Compiègne, about 60 km (around 35 mi.) northeast of Paris.  Originally dating to the 12th century, it was rebuilt under the direction of the Duke of Orléans around the turn of the 15th century.  Nearly destroyed in the 1600's, the castle was extensively renovated in the 19th century.  Seen here in this drone video by Raphael Rabat, the castle has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, including the BBC's Merlin series.  

AirVuz contributor and pilot andreorig brings us this stunning drone video of France's famous Château d'Amboise.  It's located above a spur of the Loire River in the Indre-et-Loire Department.  Like most of the Loire Valley castles, Ambois began its life as a medieval fortification.  It came under control of the French royal family and was rebuilt in the Renaissance style in the late 15th century, becoming for a time one of the favorite Royal residences.    The castle played an important role in the 16th century Wars of Religion.  

Check out this beautiful drone video of a famous castle on the outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden, compliments of AirVuz contributor photomiqs.  Tyresö Palace is located in Tyresö Municipality, about 15 mi. (around 25 km) southeast of central Stockholm.  The palace was originally built in the 1620's-1630's for Gabriel Gustafsson Oxenstierna, a Swedish statesman who had been (among other roles) a Privy Counselor to Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus.  In the late 1770's, the palace became the first in Sweden to have an English-style garden.  

Check out this stunning drone video compilation of many of the most famous castles in Turkey, compliments of top contributor and pilot jesus_tr.  THe video includes epic shots of Kars Castle, Afyan Castle, Van Castle, Kadifekale Castle in Ismir, Rumeli Fortress in Istanbul, Erzurum Castle, Selçuk Castle, Mardin Castle, Alanya Castle, Kuşadası Castle on the Aegean coast, Bergama Castle in the İzmir Province, Ushisar Castle in Cappadocia, Adana Castle (Yılankale), and Diyarbakır.

In this drone video by AirVuz contributor Never Stop Exploring, you'll get an aerial view of three castles in north-central Germany.  Called Drei Gleichen ("three of a kind"), each is situated atop a hill in the state of Thuringia.  The first castle shown is Wachsenburg Castle, which originally dates to the 10th century but was reconstructed in the 17th-19th centuries.  The second, Muhlburg, is the oldest castle in Thuringia.  The last stop is Gleichen Castle, which was named after a returning Crusader.  

Check out this fantastic compilation of drone videos of some of the world's most famous castles and fortresses, compliments of contributor smakozawr.  Some of the featured locations include Austria's Hohenwerfen Castle, Kromlov Castle in the Czech Republic, Turkey's Alanya Castle, Ukraine's Pidhirtsi Castle, Hluboka Castle in the Czech Republic, Montenegro's Ladder of Kotor Fortress, Ukraine's Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle,  the Czech castle Karlstejn, the Ukrainian Tarakanivsky Fort, and more.