The world's most opulent castles
Throughout history, castles have not only served as pleasure palaces for some of the world’s most powerful rulers, but as fortifications against war, artillery fire, siege, and natural disasters. While some of these castles are a far cry from our modern homes in terms of comfort (no electric heating or air conditioning, plenty of hard beds and drafty corridors), to all who entered, they signified power and opulence through architectural detail, artistry, and sheer size. Here are some of the grandest castles in all the world.