Wild Castles

Heidelberg Castle, despite being in ruin for centuries, stands alongside the river Neckar in Germany. Surrounded by a protected nature reserve, the castle is home to a family of birds of prey and acts as a spawning ground for nearby amphibians.

Near France's mountainous border with Spain sits a centuries-old fortress. Carcassone has been a centre of wealth and culture for nearly two millennia, but it is the wildlife that surrounds the structure that relies most heavily upon it now.

In modern day Slovenia lies the world's largest castle carved into a cave. Predjama has provided protection not only for its Medieval human inhabitants, but has also served as a haven for the birds, boars and mountain goats that surround the region.

The marvellous Alhambra sits atop Sabikah hill in the Grenada region of Spain. For centuries, states have fought back and forth to control the fortress, but today the castle stands as a refuge for the wildlife of the surrounding area.

Despite being one of Germany's most-visited attractions, Neuschwanstein castle and its surrounding forests also hold importance for a variety of creatures and has been a natural haven for centuries.