50 GREATEST CASTLES AND PALACES OF THE WORLD

From the flamboyance of Germany's fairy tale Neuschwanstein Castle to the Gothic, Dracula-inspiring Bram Castle perched in the craggy peaks of Romania's Carpathian Mountains, Tokyo's Imperial Palace, previously home to Samurai warriors, the Palace of Versailles, Cape Town's Castle of Good Hope, Peterhof Palace to Ireland's Blarney Castle where 'the gift of the gab' will be granted to any who kiss the stone, the world's castles and palaces are steeped in history and stories to tell. They are also structures of grandeur, might and beauty and here travel writer and journalist Gilly Pickup provides a tour of 50 of the greatest in a text filled with humour, interesting facts and tips on how best to visit them. There are some notable exceptions, but this is a fun brief introduction, and nice clear layout, text and photos. 256pp in paperback.