Castle's in Europe evolved from the first wooden forts made to lodge a garrison to spectacular stone structures able to support a small army for extended times. Each country in Europe developed its own architectural designs copying from that of the castles in other countries.

The race to build castles as the best military defenses, turned into a competition for the most magnificent architectural designs in the world. Battle and beauty were now married together. The era between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Reformation is unique. During the Middle ages, Western Europe was in a restless slumber brought on by war, power struggles, illiteracy, and disease.

But at the same time, sparks of genius were igniting that would bring new styles of art and architecture and change the world. Through it all, faith was the ever-present catalyst for artistic, intellectual, social, and political developments. Men were asked to join the Crusades to fight and die for religious belief while magnificent cathedrals were built as refuges of peace. The Middle Ages saw castles, chivalry, and the birth of Romance.

We invite you to come explore the Medieval/Renaissance world and learn how you can create the fantasy vacation of a lifetime.