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lettersofwrittencollective · 5 years

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Binti Ra's al Ghul (1/?)

Pairing: Ivar x OC

Word Count: 2339

A/N: Ok so I TOTALLY 1000000000% blame both @dreamwritesimagines and @stiles-o-dylan24 for this. I had a small idea and they were excited for it when I shared it and I can pretty much guarantee you that I will write these two anything they want. Like I literally told one of them I would write Aliens into a story if they wanted it though there would be a lot of eye twitching involved. I have no posting schedule planned because as I write this I should be working on anatomy and physiology but this is obviously not that?

Also - the way that I have this envisioned in my head, it may be a re-write of Vikings for a bit but I promise that that’s not what I am going for. I do have plot ideas that throw out Viking's cannon completely so there is that...

BIG NOTE: There is a reference to Luke 10 at the end of the story. It is not completely accurate! The basic idea is there but the story was embellished in a way I thought the reader may have heard from their father.

Anyways (wow this is a large A/N i swear they aren’t usually this big) let me know what you think! Comments, questions, concerns all the things! I live for the interaction

“Again!” he yells after knocking you down.

Groaning, you push yourself back up to your feet. You can’t remember the last time that your muscles hadn’t protested your movements but that was to be expected with who your father was.

After you picked up your knives you found your center and waited for the attack to come your way. One of your father's men ran towards you and you were able to maneuver around him, then the second. But it was when the third came that you worried. You had been training and training, working at this for months but you always seemed to lose when a third opponent was added to the mix.

While fighting against the two in front of you, dodging the blows or moving with them, you tried to keep an eye for the third man that would be jumping into the fray. Seeing the glint of metal from the corner of your eye, you move to block when suddenly there’s an arm around your throat and your feet are knocked from under you.

You hit the floor and this time an audible groan escapes you with the impact.

“Again!” your father yells.

Your father had instilled many things in you before he’d allowed you into the world of man. He had trained you until you could stand in line with his fiercest men and stand against them.

You had studied the fighting styles of Persians, Romans, Greeks, Scandanavian and then he’d started on the political training. You’d never had any real interest in it, more interested in war tactics than in court evenings. Such was the way of children. But, your father had reminded you countless times that the two are different sides of the same coin. Though arguably, a battle on the battlefield was actually easier as you usually knew who your enemies were but a battle in court required a step finer than any warrior. Many times, it was carried it in sly words from the lips of those who proclaimed to be your friends or on the toes of assassins.

Moving to the bow of the ship, you had turned and watched your fathers men navigate by the stars. It had been at least a moons cycle since leaving your homeland and you had begun to get anxious. You remember you had turned to the sea scanning the waters, trying to find some kind of light against the pitch black.

“When will we get there?”

“Patient Binti, we will arrive in Kattegat soon enough,” your father had said. His tone was soft against your ear. You’re not sure if time has warped the memory but you could swear that you remembered being able to feel the smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“You know,” you had said as you crossed back to your cabins, your father following not far behind. “While no one will say it outright, they do say that the Queen, Aslaug is detached from her sons and that after some affair years ago, she has become somewhat of a recluse. The brothers are a confusing story though it sounds that they do not get along.”

“So you have been paying attention to the traveling merchants and the reports my men bring back,” your father's voice was laced with pride and there was that sparkle in his eye that was usually there when you’d passed one of your tests.

It had been a worry of his the last couple of years before this journey. Though he knew, that even at such a young age, you would be able to stand your own in an actual battle and had seen you destroy unjust rulers, he always worried that you did not pay attention to the unsaid words or the underlying meanings. So, it was good to see that you had paid attention to the things that he and your mother had taught you.

“What are we actually doing in Kattegat, Abba?” You’d asked as you’d sat on the small bed, making yourself comfortable.

Your father had made himself comfortable in one of the chairs, sitting not far from your bed, “One of our men has advised that one of the brothers, Bjorn, was interested in setting up a set of trades and, perhaps, interested in traveling towards the Mediterranean.”

Bjorn… you had had to think about what you had heard of the brothers and when you did you’d asked your father if Bjorn had indeed been the one Ragnarsson who wasn’t born of the current queen.

Your father had gladly told you the story of Bjorn's mother. They said his mother is a fierce Shield-maiden and that when King Ragnar went to ask for her hand in marriage before he had become King, he had to fight a bear and a wolf before he was able to win her hand.

You had thought it was romantic but you remember telling your father, “Baba, one cannot fight a bear and a wolf at the same time. One or the other sure, but with both? There’s no way!”

Laughing, your father had stood up, “Perhaps you are right, my Binti.” He’d then crossed and placed a kiss on your forehead. “Rest young one, we will be in Kattegat before nightfall tomorrow and you must be rested as I am told that they have grand receptions. We would not want to insult our hosts, now would we?”

You can remember being much too excited that night to get much sleep and the next day, you had watched as Kattegat came into view. You can remember the awe that had filled you as your father's ships had come to dock in the harbor and you saw the different people trading amongst themselves. There were men whose hair was longer than even some of the women you knew. Women here, it seemed, were allowed to be warriors as there were many that wore something you thought was armor.

Queen Aslaug had met you, your father and his men at the docks and welcomed you. With her stood 5 boys. She’d introduced them as Bjorn and her sons, Ubbe, Hvitserk, Sigurd and Ivar.

That had been almost five summers ago and since then your father had established trade with Kattegat. Many others have as well and Now Kattegat is a major trading city. While you did travel home and to other lands with your father, after that first trip, you had been allowed to return pretty consistently Your father seemed to have developed a fondness for the Ragnarssons that surprised you. It was rare for your father to care for many outside of yourself, your mother, or his men. He would even be sending some of his men with Bjorn when they went to explore the Mediterranean and you wondered if they would set up more trade or if they planned on simply raiding the towns they came across.

Queen Aslaug had seemed pleased with you returning but truthfully, you couldn’t be sure if she was as you usually saw her somewhat intoxicated and it had been worse since King Ragnar had returned. You understood it, she had been left to raise four boys on her own while dealing with their brother at the same time.

Though you only ever saw Bjorn treat Queen Aslaug with respect, you could tell that she was wary of him. You’d paid attention in the courts in England and throughout the Middle East. To you, it seemed that Queen Aslaug had the same idea that many others had. Her rivals child would come for her children's seat.

Ivar had been in constant pain as a child and, even when your family had first come, she doted on him at the cost of her own children. Those unsaid things had been true.

You had just gotten to your rooms within the Great Hall after a long day of training with Ubbe, and an even longer time in the bath, when there was a knock at the door.

You hadn’t seen the brothers since this afternoon. You had spent much of the morning training with them but then Ragnar had wanted to speak to them.

Ivar and Ubbe both invited you to join them but you’d sent them on their way, telling them that it was important that they spend time with their father, after the years he had been gone, it was important that they spend time with him alone. After they had gone, you had spent the rest of the afternoon wandering through Kattegat.

Most of the locals recognized you and they always treated you with respect. The women, both young and old, seemed to like to talk to you and you could sometimes spend hours talking to them about your home and telling them stories of the places you had seen and the people you had met.

The men, however, were a different story. You suspect that has more to do with the Ragnarssons than anything else though. Most of the older men treated you as a niece or a daughter, they were kind to you and would help you when you needed something but the younger men avoided you like the plague.

Once the door opened, you were surprised to see who it was at the door. Smiling, you stepped aside and motioned for the youngest of the brothers to come in, “I thought you may have retired for the night.”

“And why is that?” the brunette asked as he moved into your room.

“Well, it may have to do with not having heard from you or any of your thralls all day, can you truly blame me?”

Leaving the door open, you crossed back into the room and sat in the chair across from him as he pulled himself into the chair. Once situated, he scoffed, “Don’t be stupid, of course, I would come to see you! When have I ever missed a day when you are here?”

Laughing, you tucked your legs beneath your chin while sitting on the chair. “Who is to say that you have not grown bored of me?” you tease him, the jest in your voice obvious and still he tenses.

In typical Ivar fashion, he ignores the comment. Instead, he says “He wants to sail to back to England.”

You had known well enough that Ragnar would want something with his sons. Is that not what all fathers want? For their children to continue their legacy? Sighing you avoid looking at Ivar and turn your gaze into the fire in the hearth, “Will you go with him?”

“What kind of question is that? Of course, I will go!”

“And what of your brothers? Will any of them go?”

Ivars scoff gives you all the answers that you need. He will be the only one to go.

“You’ll have to be careful Ivar. The people there are not, they’re not like you or anyone in Kattegat. They are not even like my people.”

‘What do you mean?”

“They have taken their God and corrupted him. If you read their book, the one they call the bible, you would see that their God is a loving God, one that no longer demands a sacrifice for forgiveness. There was a story that stood out to me, it was one of a man who was traveling through an area and had been robbed and beaten, left for dead on the side of the road- “

“Well then he wasn’t a very good man,” Ivar interrupts you, “What kind of man-”

“Oh shush!” you swat at him, “That’s not the point of the story. Let me tell it,” you tell him and wait for his response. Ivar doesn’t like to be interrupted and it’s not much different with you but you’ve never been afraid to fight back with him so he motions for you to continue, “Thank you. Anyways, so the story goes that this man apparently was attacked on one of their holy days, and so there were thousands upon thousands of people from his own home town that went right by him because it was a holy day and somehow that meant that they couldn’t help him. They left him to die Ivar. But that this one man did stop. The man helped get him care and paid an innkeeper to look after the man as he got better.”

“What does it matter, so one of them decided to help a beaten man during a holy day. They should have let him die.”

It takes you a moment to realize that you had missed a part of the story, “Ivar, the man that saved the broken man? That was his enemy. Someone that should have killed him or let him die.”

“Then he is an idiot.”

“No, he was compassionate. Have we not talked about how compassion can help a person. Or are you saying you would have picked up the man and taken him to a healer?”

Ivar shrugs his shoulders and you can’t help but shake your head, “My point is, father always said that the English are more like the ones that left him for dead. They will pretend that they care about their God or even other people but they do not. So, please, just be careful?”

“You worry too much, you almost sound like mother.”

“It’s only because we care Ivar. Don’t make it a bad thing. Now, will you be careful?”

You can feel him scrutinizing you. It’s one of his favorite past times that you still do not understand, but he has always done it. This time, he gets off the chair and begins to drag himself out of your chambers without a word.

“Ivar?’ you call after him, your voice hard and demanding.

“I will be careful but only because I choose to be. Not because you have asked me to or because my mother chooses to worry,” he says before nodding his head towards you and making his way out of the room.

Tag list: @dreamwritesimagines @stiles-o-dylan24 @lucifersnipnips @imayhavemisunderstood

#Reader insert #ivar the boneless #ivar imagine #ivar imagines #ivar the boneless imagine #ivar the boneless imagines #ivars heathen army #history vikings #history vikings ima

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247newsgh-blog · 5 years

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World's most beautiful castles

What is it about castles that fascinates so many people around the globe? A lot of the allure derives from the history and human drama that played out within the walls, as well as the astonishing architecture that features on so many castles. But they're also romantic and somewhat mystical, places that spark our imagination and conjure visions of long-ago knights in shining armor and powerful warrior queens. "Because they combine two functions, they are far more interesting than fortresses or palaces," says Marc Morris, author of "Castles: Their History and Evolution in Medieval Britain." "What makes a castle a castle is that it combines the functions of defense and dwelling -- it's a fortification and a stately home rolled into one. Creating a building which is both comfortable and defensible is difficult. The ingenious ways in which castle-designers reconciled this balance is always intriguing." Although we normally associate castles with European history, it's actually an architectural form found around the world -- in nations as varied as Japan and India, Morocco and Mexico. Many are now hubs of living history where modern visitors can watch jousting and other ancient combat forms, listen to medieval music or watch artisans demonstrate the arts, crafts and everyday skills of a thousand years ago. They also make great backdrops for outdoor concerts, films, theater and military performances, or for the on-location filming of movies and television shows. "With a castle you get not only the stories of sieges, but also stories of the domestic lives of the rich and famous," says Morris. "Castles are places were plots were hatched, marriages were consummated, murders carried out, royal babies born, and so on. With castles, you are never short of fascinating things to talk about." Read on to find out more about 21 of the world's most beautiful castles, fortified homes that are both a feast for the eyes and a time trip back to the bygone age during which they were created. Himeji Castle, Japan

Himeji Castle is a World Heritage Site. Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images Located about 30 minutes by bullet train west of Osaka and Kobe, Himeji rises above the Inland Sea and is considered the epitome of the Japanese feudal castle. Both a Japanese national treasure and World Heritage Site, the elegant whitewashed structure is also called "White Heron Castle" because of its resemblance to a great bird taking flight. Completed in the early 17th century, Himeji offers daily guided tours in Japanese and English. Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, Greece

Italian dictator Benito Mussolini once used Rhodes' medieval castle as a holiday home. Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket/LightRocket via Getty Images This classic medieval castle towers above the island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea. Originally built as a Byzantine citadel, it was reworked into its present Gothic form by the crusading Knights of St John when Rhodes served as the headquarters of their grand master. During the brief Italian occupation of the Dodecanese Islands, Benito Mussolini used the castle as a holiday home. Its permanent archeological exhibitions feature relics from ancient Greece and the early Christian period. Neuschwanstein, Germany

Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle was built by Bavarian King Ludwig II. Germany National Tourism Board Even though many people consider this Bavarian masterpiece the epitome of a German castle, it's a relatively new creation, erected in the late 1800s at the behest of King Ludwig II. The Bavarian monarch instructed his architects to design something that would reflect both the operas of Richard Wagner and the romantic ideals of the Middle Ages -- as much a fantasy as Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, but with the snowcapped Alps as a backdrop and the Bavarian plains spread out beneath. Neuschwanstein is also a cinema darling, having appeared in numerous flicks over the years including "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and "The Great Escape." Related content Germany's 10 best castles Alcázar of Segovia, Spain

Segovia's Alcazar was once the home of Queen Isabella. Alamy One of the most striking castles in all of Europe, the Alcázar rides a narrow, rocky promontory overlooking the plains of Old Castile in central Spain. Although it started life as a Roman fort, the structure evolved over hundreds of years into a prototypical medieval castle with a deep moat, drawbridge, round guard towers and a robust keep, as well as lavishly decorated royal chambers. Segovia Castle is most renowned as the home of Queen Isabella and powerful Phillip II before the royal court was moved to Madrid. Pena Palace, Portugal

Portugal's Pena Palace boasts a mix of architectural styles. Vyacheslav Prokofyev/TASS/Getty Images Another offspring of the Romantic movement that swept 19th-century Europe, Penacrowns a hilltop near Sintra, Portugal. Commissioned by King Ferdinand II on the site of a ruined monastery dedicated to the Virgin of Pena, the castle is a flamboyant blend of various historic styles including Gothic, Moorish and Renaissance details. The castle's vivid red-and-yellow color pattern -- and its flashy clock tower -- endow Pena with a much more playful air than the somber castles found elsewhere in Europe. Amber Fortress, India

The Amber Fortress stands on a hilltop near Jaipur. Robert Cianflone/Getty Images Erected in the early 17th century by the Mughal ruler of Rajasthan, the Amber Fortresscrowns a hilltop near Jaipur, its stout walls reflected in the waters of Maota Lake. The palace complex inside the walls revolves around courtyards flanked by exquisite examples of Rajput architecture like the Maharaja's Apartments, Sukh Niwas (Hall of Pleasure) and Diwan-i-Am (Royal Audience Hall). Although it was once fashionable to ride an elephant up the steep entrance road, visitors are now advised to walk or take a 4x4 taxi. Related content Perfect pastels: Why India's 'Pink City' is a photographer's paradise Ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou, Morocco

Morocco's Ksar appears in "Game of Thrones." Funkystock/Newscom/Funkystock/Newscom This massive mudbrick structure on the edge of the Sahara has starred in more than a dozen movies and television shows including "Game of Thrones," "Gladiator" and "The Man Who Would Be King." The complex features a fortified lower town along the Asif Ounila River -- where people still reside -- and a partially ruined hilltop citadel. Berber-style guest houses provide accommodation for visitors to a ksar originally built in the 17th century as an overnight stop for caravans traveling between Marrakech and the Sudan. Kalmar Castle, Sweden

Kalmar is Scandinavia's best-preserved Renaissance castle. Caro / Jung/Newscom/Caro / Jung/Newscom Founded in the waning years of the Viking Age, Kalmar Castle traces its roots to a 12th-century defensive tower overlooking the Kalmar Strait on the Baltic Sea. Four centuries later, King Gustav and his sons transformed Kalmar into a splendid royal residence that (with the help of renovation) looks much the same today as it did in 1592. In addition to exhibitions, children's activities and guided tours, Scandinavia's best-preserved Renaissance castle also features special events like the Van Gogh multimedia show, which is open until November 2019. Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Puerto Rico

El Morrow is protected by a moat, stone battlements and rugged sea cliffs. Massimo Borchi/Newscom/Massimo Borchi/Newscom Guarding the entrance to San Juan Bay, this 16th-century Spanish citadel is one of the most impressive structures in the Caribbean. Protected by a moat (with a drawbridge), stone battlements and rugged sea cliffs, the castle has repelled numerous attacks including several assaults by French pirates and a 1595 strike by Sir Francis Drake. However, it surrendered to US forces after a fierce naval bombardment during the Spanish-American War. Since 1962, El Morro and nearby Castillo San Cristóbal (the largest fort constructed by the Spanish in the western hemisphere) have been part of the San Juan National Historic Site. The grassy "field of fire" in front of the castle is now immensely popular for picnics and kite flying. Related content Beyond the 50 states: Exploring America's empire Topkapi Sarayi, Turkey

Istanbul's sprawling Topkapi Palace is now a museum. halitomer/Shutterstock Although it's officially called a palace, Istanbul's sprawling Topkapi compound bears all the features of a classic castle: defensible site, fortified walls, powerful gateways and a royal residence occupied by the Ottoman sultans from the late 15th century when it was originally constructed until the 1850s. Converted into a museum when the Ottoman Empire dissolved after World War I, the Topkapi offers extensive gardens, wall-top walks overlooking the Bosphorus, the Ottoman Imperial Harem where the ruler's concubines resided and the Imperial Treasury with its famous emerald-encrusted golden dagger -- stolen and eventually retrieved in the 1964 heist movie "Topkapi." Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

Edinburgh Castle is Britain's most besieged fortress. Jane Barlow/PA Images/Getty Images Perched on an ancient volcanic outcrop at the end of the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle is considered the "most besieged place" in Britain with at least 26 major attacks during its 1,100-year lifespan. From Mary Queen of Scots to Oliver Cromwell and Sir Walter Raleigh, many famous Britons are indelibly linked the ancient edifice. Britain's oldest crown jewels (the Honours of Scotland) are safeguarded inside a castle that also provides an incredibly fitting venue for the annual Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Music concerts, living history events and weapons demonstrations are among the many events staged throughout the year inside the walls. And bygone military mascots are buried in the castle's Dog Cemetery. Schloss Vianden, Luxembourg

Schloss Vianden sits high above the Our River in northern Luxembourg. Jon Arnold Images Ltd/Alamy Despite its diminutive size, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is well-endowed with castles -- more than 50 are spread across an area smaller than London's metro area. The most spectacular of these is Schloss Vianden, poised high above the Our River in northern Luxembourg. Built on the site of an ancient Roman fortress that protected the empire from barbarian invasion, the castle was constructed between the 11th and 14th centuries. Blending aspects of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance design, it remained in royal hands until 1977 when the Grand Duke bequeathed it to the state. Vianden's biggest annual bash is an August medieval festival with dueling knights, troubadours, jugglers and artisans. Novgorod Detinets, Russia

Not as well known as Moscow's Kremlin, but Novgorod's fortress has more medieval ambience. Alexander Blinov / Alamy Stock P/https://www.alamy.com/Alamy Stock Photo The Kremlin in Moscow may be better known, but it can't hold a candle to the one in Novgorod when it comes to medieval ambiance. Located 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of St. Petersburg, Novgorod was the seat of a powerful Russian republic from the 11th to 15th century when it was finally overshadowed by Moscow. That power was concentrated inside the detinets or kremlin with its sturdy walls and heavily fortified towers. Among its landmarks today are the Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom with its silver domes, the Novgorod Museum and the Millennium of Russia monument. Château de Chambord, France

The Chateau de Chambord took 28 years to build. Guillanume Souvant/AFP/AFP/Getty Images There's no better example of the transition from the fortified castles of the medieval era to palatial homes of the Renaissance than this enormous chateau in the Loire Valley. Commissioned as a "hunting lodge" by King François I in the early 16th century, the massive structure (440 rooms) took 28 years to construct. However, the moat, corner towers and keep are purely decorative. Chambord is celebrating its 500th anniversary this year with myriad special events including an exhibition that addresses the question of whether Leonardo da Vinci designed the castle's double helix staircase. Related content 20 beautiful European cities with hardly any tourists Shuri-jô Castle, Okinawa

Shuri castle was heavily restored after World War II. yannick luthy / Alamy Stock Phot/https://www.alamy.com/Alamy Stock Photo One of the finest examples of Chinese castle architecture is Shuri, a hilltop fortress and palace complex on the island of Okinawa in Japan. As the royal court of the independent Ryukyu Kingdom for more than 450 years -- when the islands were heavily influenced by nearby China -- Shuri developed a warren of imperial living quarters, audience halls, religious shrines and an extravagant throne room reminiscent of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The compound was heavily restored after World War II, when Shuri served as the local headquarters for the Imperial Japanese Army. The castle's present-day activities range from a morning gate-opening ritual called Ukejo and multilingual audio tours of the grounds to daily dance performances and nighttime illumination. Bodiam Castle, England

The epitome of a medieval fortress: Bodiam Castle. Prisma Bildagentur/Universal Images Group/Getty Images England has far larger castles (Windsor) and others that are more steeped in history (Tower of London). But none boasts that textbook form of Bodiam Castle in East Sussex. Erected in 1385 as the bastion of a former royal knight, it's the epitome of a medieval castle -- thick crenelated walls supported by nine stubby towers, arrayed around a square central courtyard and reached via a wooden walkway (a drawbridge in olden days) across a wide moat. Among its many visitor summer activities are archery sessions, dressing up in medieval costumes, afternoon tea with cakes and scones and guided tours. And just seven miles away is where the landmark Battle of Hastings played out in 1066. Castillo de Chapultepec, Mexico

Chapultepec is the only royal castle in the Western hemisphere. PEDRO PARDO/AFP/Getty Images The only royal castle in the Western hemisphere hovers high above Mexico City. Erected in the late 1700s as a summer house for the viceroy of New Spain, the castle has played many roles since then, including the palace of Emperor Maximillian and an 1847 battle between Mexican troops and invading Americans that features in the "Marine Corps Hymn" ("From the Halls of Montezuma . . ."). Nowadays Chapultepec is home to Mexico's National Museum of History. The royal quarters -- including the precious Malachite Room and Maximillian's flamboyant bedroom -- are included in castle tours. Predjama Castle, Slovenia

Predjama Castle is built into the mouth of a cliffside cave. Reimar Gaertner/Newscom What makes this Slovenian castle so special is its astounding location -- Predjama is arrayed across a cave mouth beneath a natural rock arch on the side of a sheer cliff. The lofty setting made it virtually impregnable when it was constructed in the 13th century. Attackers laid siege to Predjama on numerous occasions, but a secret passageway (that still exists today) allowed the defenders to come and go at will. Located 62 kilometers (38 miles) from Ljubljana, the castle and its park-like grounds host the Erasmus Knight's Tournament, a medieval festival and jousting competition staged every July. Related content Where to visit in Slovenia, Melania Trump's homeland Castello Aragonese, Italy

Aragonese Castle has views across the bay to Mt. Vesuvius. AGF/Universal Images Group Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty This island bastion overlooking the Bay of Naples is the oldest castle on our list, tracing its roots to the 5th century BC when Greeks colonized the region. From Roman legionnaires to Napoleon's troops, many armies have occupied Aragonese over the years. The castle now belongs to the family of an Italian lawyer who purchased the fortified island in 1912 and began restoration of its battlements, churches, convents, crypts and gardens. In addition to views that stretch all the way across the bay to Mt. Vesuvius, Aragonese Castle boasts outdoor cafes, a bookshop, art exhibits and outdoor movies. Prague Castle, Czech Republic

Prague's citadel still boasts real political power. Monika Skolimowska/picture alliance/Getty Images Prague's imposing citadel is also one of the few castles anywhere in the world that still boasts real political power -- the official residence of the president of the Czech Republic. Among the other landmarks inside its spacious confines are St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, 10 gardens and a row of 16th-century cottages called the Golden Lane that once housed the castle guards. Guided tours, offered during daylight and evening hours, last around three hours. Krak des Chevaliers, Syria

Krak des Chevaliers was created in the 12th century by the Knights of St John. Louai Beshara/AFP/Getty Images Although it's virtually impossible to visit these days, owing to the ongoing conflict in Syria, Krak des Chevaliers remains one of the world's great castles -- and the only one on our list that has experienced (and fortunately survived) 21st-century warfare. Created in the 12th century by the Knights of St. John, the celebrated Krak is considered the epitome of a crusader castle in the Middle East and one of the greatest statements of medieval military architecture. The structure features two mighty walls separated by a moat on a steep hillside between Homs and the Mediterranean Sea. The latest UNESCO report on the castle (2019) states that restoration and archeological work has commenced again, but the security situation remains tenuous. Read the full article

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