11 Abandoned Castles Around the World That Are as Beautiful as They Are Mysterious

The brainchild and favorite residence of Richard the Lionheart, legendary king of England, Château Gaillard in Normandy, France, has had a dramatic history. It was captured by the kings of France, and in the 14th century, it became a prison for two tragic royal wives who were accused of adultery.

Château Gaillard was already in ruins by the 16th century when another French king ordered it be pulled to the ground, but the bulk of the building somehow survived and it's now a picturesque reminder of days past.