One of my most treasured memories was of my father taking me to a tiny castle in the middle of a lake. Okay, it wasn't exactly a castle, but to my childhood imagination, it appeared similar enough to pass for one. I was enamored! Not just by castles, but eventually (blessedly) by the fantasy genre itself. To a little girl, whose grandfather fondly referred to as princess, it comes as no surprise that my love for these architectural beauties has continued into my adult years.
So, I marry two of my favorite things: fandoms and fortresses.
Beast’s Castle (Disney's Beauty and the Beast)
Located
A wolf-infested forest somewhere in France
Residents
Beast (note: under an enchanted spell, has a rather unruly temper)
Enchanted Objects
Food
Beef Ragout
Cheese Soufflé
Pie and Pudding 'en flambe
Grey Stuff (Try it. It's delicious!) Pie and Pudding 'en flambe
To Do
Speak with the talking furniture.
Speak with the talking furniture.
Read in the magnificent, every-bookworm's-dream library.
During the Christmas holiday, let the singing, crazed organ with the voice of Tim Curry soothe you. (Warning: He may attempt to bring down the house. Literally! I'm prone to making puns but am serious here.)
To See
During the Christmas holiday, let the singing, crazed organ with the voice of Tim Curry soothe you. (Warning: He may attempt to bring down the house. Literally! I'm prone to making puns but am serious here.)
To See
Expansive rose garden (Warning: do NOT touch the flowers)
Various hallways dedicated to the art and culture of Europe
The lovely and mysterious West Wing
Located
The Land of Ingary (where it's a misfortune to be born the eldest of three)
Various hallways dedicated to the art and culture of Europe
Ivory Tower (The Neverending Story)
Located
Fantastica (actually exists in a book)
Resident
Resident
The Childlike Empress (note: is much older and wiser than she appears)
Food/Refreshments
Piedra (a rock-shaped sweet bread)
Never-ending chocolate fountain
Spicy Luck Dragon dumplings
Water of Life
Never-ending chocolate fountain
Spicy Luck Dragon dumplings
Water of Life
To Do
Go on death-defying adventures.
Fly on the back of Falkor.
Protect the Childlike Empress.
Protect the Childlike Empress.
To See
Grassy Ocean (Green as far as the eye can see)
The Swamps of Sadness (It kind of sucks... the hope right out of you.)
Goab, the Desert of Colors
Perilin, the Night Forest (As beautiful and colorful as a wish)
The Swamps of Sadness (It kind of sucks... the hope right out of you.)
Goab, the Desert of Colors
Perilin, the Night Forest (As beautiful and colorful as a wish)
Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle)
Located
The Land of Ingary (where it's a misfortune to be born the eldest of three)
Residents
Howl
Sophie
Calcifer
A few others, depending on if it's the book or movie version
Sophie
Calcifer
A few others, depending on if it's the book or movie version
Food
Bacon and Eggs
Fluffy, warm bread
Hat-shaped cakes with sugar spun flowers
Bacon and Eggs
Fluffy, warm bread
Hat-shaped cakes with sugar spun flowers
To Do
Subconsciously learn to break a spell and speak magic into hats.
Explore the door in the castle, which opens to different dimensions.
Tread through various countries using Seven-League Boots.
Subconsciously learn to break a spell and speak magic into hats.
Explore the door in the castle, which opens to different dimensions.
Tread through various countries using Seven-League Boots.
To See
While in the castle, you will be treated to a brisk, beautiful tour through the Ingary countryside
Fields and fields of lovely flowers
Magic!
Fields and fields of lovely flowers
Magic!
Hogwarts (Harry Potter series)
Located
Somewhere in the Highlands of Scotland
Resident
Dumbledore
Professors teaching magic
Future witches and wizards
Food/Refreshments
Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans
Chocolate Frogs
Pumpkin Pasties
Butterbeer
Food/Refreshments
Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans
Chocolate Frogs
Pumpkin Pasties
Butterbeer
To Do
Fly on broomsticks (and of course, play Quidditch).
Fight Dark Lords and underlings.
Survive Trolls in bathrooms.
Study for magic exams.
To See
All the fantastic beasts!
The Forbidden Forest (Shhh, don't tell anyone you've explored it.)
Hogsmeade
The Hogwarts Express and all its glory
The Forbidden Forest (Shhh, don't tell anyone you've explored it.)
Hogsmeade
The Hogwarts Express and all its glory
Hyrule Castle (The Legend of Zelda series)
Princess Zelda
The King of Hyrule
The Legendary Warrior, Link
The King of Hyrule
The Legendary Warrior, Link
Food/Refreshments
Baked Apple (or burnt apple, if you've set it by the fire too long)
Peanut Butter and Chu Chu Jelly sandwiches
Lon Lon milk
Fairy delight! (Just kidding, we aren't barbarians here.)
Elixir soup
Peanut Butter and Chu Chu Jelly sandwiches
Lon Lon milk
Fairy delight! (Just kidding, we aren't barbarians here.)
Elixir soup
To Do
Defeat Ganon and save the princess.
Ride Epona. (Yay! Horsie.)
Cook food happily.
Scale mountain sides.
Ride Epona. (Yay! Horsie.)
Cook food happily.
Scale mountain sides.
To See
The Triforce!
Princess Zelda's study
The Great Deku Tree
The many shrines scattered throughout the world
Princess Zelda's study
The Great Deku Tree
The many shrines scattered throughout the world
Crystal Tokyo/Moon Kingdom (Sailor Moon series)
Located
On the Moon (past)
Tokyo, Japan (future)
Residents
Queen Serenity (past)
Princess Serena (past)
Neo Queen Serenity (future)
King Endymion (future)
Princess Rini (future)
Food
Moon cakes and doughnuts
Rice balls
Bunny shaped cookies (a mixture of burnt and golden brown delights)
Strawberry Cream Cake
To Do
Fight Evil By Moonlight.
Win Love By Daylight.
Transform into a Pretty Sailor Soldier.
Time Travel.
To See
Talking Cats
The Legendary Silver Crystal
Wait... a Pegasus, or was I dreaming??
Count Dracula's Castle (Dracula)
Located
In the depths of Transylvania
Resident
Count Dracula (Warning: could be a blood-sucking, undead gentleman)
Food/Refreshments
Blood
You
Run!
Get out of here!!
Set up crucifixes.
Eat lots of garlic.
Vampire Hunting.
To See
Nothing. You should go before you see too much.
Which captivating castle would you visit?
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