Castle Secrets: The 7 Fortified Wonders of the World

[@highlanderknight]

I will always associate Eilean Donan with Highlander. There can be only one!

[@shaneDylan33]

Shhhhh

[@stoffls]

To round up the Dracula story the beautiful castle of Hunedoara is missing, which played also an important role in his life. And then I missed Hohensalzburg in Austria, Edinburgh Castle, the Alhambra in Granada and the castle of Lisbon. All great castles with a rich history.

[@stlvn6363]

Great ideas. I thought that the castle in Lisbon was actually "fake"? Like it got destroyed and they rebuilt it last century, or is there another castle?

[@GRECKO4371]

I've actually been in Predjama castle. It was amazing to see. Kudos to the researcher that found the died on the toilet fact.

[@Bubbaist]

You should do a video on Ethiopia’s “Chapel in the Sky,” Abuna Yemata Guh. It’s a rock-hewn church sitting on a cliff face that requires hours of climbing, and narrow walkways with huge drops, to reach. It’s not a castle, but it has to be the hardest building in the world to reach.

[@kristijanmedved6066]

Imagine the struggle of builders

[@junespiration]

Will forever remember to connects Scotland with Tartan kilts, single malt whiskey and burly men tossing heavy objects for no apparent reason 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bengleiss9416]

We toss cabers, put stones and throw hammers to show what burly men we are 😂

[@Outcastgrunt098]

Another intresting build is the round towers which Irish monks built to survive viking invasions.

[@live2ride18]

Did Irish monks drink? Asking bc we left the motherland for America in the 1700’s 😅

[@Outcastgrunt098]

@@live2ride18 dont know what happens in a monestory.

[@djquinn11]

I lived right across the River Suir from the one on the quey in Waterford City.

[@djquinn11]

@@live2ride18 : That would be a yes...

[@adyseven1]

They didn't build them to survive Viking raids. They were built as Bell towers, or "Cloigtheach" in Irish.

[@melaber77]

Thank you for including an American castle! I know they aren’t as old as those in Europe but some of our estates really are breathtaking and tourist-worthy.

[@wiiretime3704]

Jeremy Irons literally did the dungeons and dragons movie so he could buy a castle in scotland or wales can't remember which but I def remember when they asked why he did the movie his answer was I just bought a castle I have to pay for it some how. Ps as anthony pointed out in the comments it was in Ireland. Thanks

[@ATtravel666]

Kilcoe Castle in County Cork, Ireland.

[@wiiretime3704]

@@ATtravel666 Anthony for the win thanks I totally didnt even think of Ireland idk why considering it definitely has more than a few of em lol.

[@muratdagdelen8163]

Gosh, I am from Turkey and I did not know anything about Tokat Castle until now.

[@Megan-he5nl]

A Turk George Washington fan?

[@muratdagdelen8163]

@@Megan-he5nl Meh, he is not GW, he is TJ

[@MeowMeow-by8ub]

I’ve been to Dracula’s castle and to Pinari castle .

[@michaelwilkinson6242]

I’ve been to the bottom of the barrel and slewed my way down a corkscrew

[@patrickbuchanan4444]

Predjama Castle in Slovenija is truly amazing having been there twice. To think these structures were built hundreds of years ago without the assistance of cranes or other large equipment. The stones, both large and small were shaped, hauled up rocky cliffs and slopes and set in place with amazing accuracy. A tribute to these ancient architects, engineers and laborers of that time period.

[@DabbyDuck215]

I need more information about these so-called "baby dragons", what is this he speaks of?

[@americaspistoleeracademypi5156]

How are castles built and why do they last so long, especially their foundations? Great video, by the way.

[@JyotiSharma-ih8lp]

These fort are nothing in front of Indian forts

[@alexanderlittle500]

This was an awesome idea for a video. I enjoyed it a lot. Tank you for such cool information

[@JyotiSharma-ih8lp]

These fort are nothing in front of Indian forts

[@michaelpalmieri7335]

Simon should have included that castle in Bavaria that was the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty castle at Disneyland/Walt Disney World. It has a long German name that I'm not sure how to spell or pronounce.

[@ewok40k]

Malbork aka Marienburg Castle - former HQ of the Teutonic Order.

[@leifnelson6244]

Neuschwanstein castle doesn't need to get photoshopped onto a cliff. It is already built in one of the most beautiful settings in the world.

[@sokyoul]

I had the same thought when I saw the intro picture!

[@deemariedubois4916]

Excellent. Much thanks.

[@alanwright3172]

8:42 Three wives of Henry the Eighth!

[@YvonneWilson312]

Henry the Third!

[@alanwright3172]

@@YvonneWilson312Simon "misspoke" Henry the third -wife Elenor of Provence Henry the eight WIVES Catherine of Aragon- annulled (Brother Arthur's widow) Anne Boleyn. - annulled (executed Twr of London two days later) Jane Seymour. - Died ( childbirth complications) Anne of Cleves. - Annulled (out lived Henry by Ten years) Catherine Howard. - Executed Twr of London. Catherine Parr. - outlived Henry and Married Thomas Seymour.

[@DHFlip18]

Great video Simon, thanks for educating us YOU LEGEND

[@sastaffa]

Since you reside in Prague, it's only a short trip to Cachtice in Slovakia. The horrors permeated there were for personal and vain reasons, not military reasons like Vlad's thus even more gruesome.

[@georgiancrossroads]

I live in Tbilisi Georgia. This country (not the US state!) is dotted with unusually castles and fortresses in varying states of decay. I recently was at Vardzia, a spectacular cave complex carved out of the side of a mountain. Near was a castle impossibly high up and remote guarding the cave fortress and from invaders. (Check out the video on my channel.)

[@TheAnadromist]

Wow! I checked that out. Pretty amazing! Thanks for sharing that.

[@hammeroferis9805]

It makes me smile when Simon talks about ghosts with a straight face. Makes me feel better about his stonewalling on Brain Blaze.

[@IamSnowbird]

Hearst Castle is amazing. I've been on 3 different tours of it. It is amazing what money could buy.

[@DavidMatthewJones]

Citadelle Laferrière in Haiti is a pretty interesting castle.

[@gogokp9276]

I am your subscriber for a long time and this video is most special for me becouse of Erasmus Long.Namely i live close to the Predjamski castle .....Erasmus was actually kill with catapult stone balls and not cannonballs witch is negligibly in your story.....keep on rollin and greetings from Slovenia....

[@yt.personal.identification]

I believe the two Prince's bodies were recently found in a wall cavity during restoration work at The Tower. Now, I have to go look it ip. Dang.

[@JyotiSharma-ih8lp]

These fort are nothing in front of Indian forts

[@yt.personal.identification]

@@JyotiSharma-ih8lp Just finished watching his Top Tenz video in the Industry Valley.

[@bremnersghost948]

@@JyotiSharma-ih8lp Indian Forts are Nothing in front of Clive & Wellesley ;-)

[@djquinn11]

Leap Castle: the priest was murdered while saying mass. It’s reported to be the most haunted place in Ireland

[@mizzshortie907]

And probably by something not so nice

[@bjornodin]

Holy crap! That's impressive, given the heavy competition!

[@Crumpet71]

I heard there was an elemental there.

[@mysticalmisty9772]

I think every castle got deep secrets & mysteries I love them all fascinating places & fun to explore even the ones in ruins they have that eerie atmosphere...

[@XYGamingRemedyG]

I just played the video and didn't even really listen to much of any of it. But got my fact boy that sweet sweet watch time via KZbin premium.

[@dariusgiantsios4122]

You’re a real hero sir

[@etherospike3936]

"Drac" in Romanian doesn't mean "dragon", means "devil" in Romanian "dragon" is spelled the same like in English and is pronounced pretty much the same, with the accent on final "o".

[@Scylithen]

5:58 Well that's not the best way to go to that deep sleep, at least it stopped him being in pain anymore.

[@JudeNance]

Very interesting. Thank you 😊

[@ewestner]

Henry III? Wasn't it the wives of Henry VIII? I can see how that would be an easy misread. I myself mistyped it as Henry IIIV at first but that's not a thing.

[@Grishrak]

Leap Castle isn’t the most haunted in Ireland but maybe the most haunted castle in Ireland. I say this because Loftus Hall isn’t a castle.

[@JudeNance]

I have been to the Hearst Castle. It is amazing.

[@ivanjednobiegowiec7656]

A bit disappointed no mention of Malbork (Marienburg) castle in northern Poland. The biggest non-sacral, brick structure in the world. That is anything between 30 and 50 millions individual bricks, depends on counting estimations. And it is also might impressive fortress that was never taken in the battle. It was actually sold by underpaid mercenaries that was manning it and were not happy that their pay day was delayed xD Cheers! I.

[@legomego3333]

You left out the most important part about Hearst Castle. William never finished it! Also, he’s my great great something or other, so I would know 😜 wouldn’t it be nice if being related to people actually meant anything? 🤣

[@bengleiss9416]

@6:44

[@legomego3333]

@@bengleiss9416 haha! The real story on why he didn’t finish that one room is very interesting though. I guess I was expecting more than a few words on it.

[@bengleiss9416]

@@legomego3333 oh right, ha ha. What happened?

[@txgunguy2766]

About Hearst Castle, it was the first private residence to have showers which most of the celebrity guests had to be shown how to use. Also, the guest kitchen had a beer tap so that guests could help themselves to a glass of beer at any time, however, if they got drunk they would immediately be asked to leave and would never be invited back. The castle also has 2 pools, 1 indoor and 1 outdoor, but only a few guests, such as Johnny Weissmuller, could actually swim.

[@cgi2002]

It's also not a castle, it's a palace or estate at best. A castle needs to be a fortified building specifically designed to resist or repell attack. What Hurst build is just a fancy building styled after a castle.

[@txgunguy2766]

@@cgi2002 I know it's not a castle, I've been there and taken the tour. Twice. It's called Hearst Castle because that's what William Randolph Hearst named it. There are also 3 guest cottages that are each the size of a conventional mansion.

[@cgi2002]

@@txgunguy2766 fair. But look at the videos title, with that in mind it doesn't even come close to qualifying for this list.

[@txgunguy2766]

Don't blame me, I didn't make the video.

[@cgi2002]

@@txgunguy2766 am not, you added some interesting points about the estate, I could do with beer on tap in my kitchen. I just added a reason as to why it's out of place for the list. That said alot of the lists on this channel tend to include things that really aren't valid.

[@ahmedhafez3097]

You should check out saladin’s fort in the gulf of aqaba, built on the only island on the gulf.. :) The pharao citadel

[@twocvbloke]

Killed by cannonfire while on the toilet, well that's one way of clearing chronic constipation... :P

[@bremnersghost948]

Noooooo, I only asked for a Suppository

[@matthewjay660]

2:38 Damn, bro: “Fang banger.”

[@stlvn6363]

Can you do something on Edinburgh Castle please, Simon? That's where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James the 6th, who then united the crowns of Scotland and England. Cheers.

[@seondo]

Eilean donan was blown up by the british army during the jacobite rebellion because it was a stronghold for the jacobites, if im correct it was held by spanish soldiers untill they ran out of ammo, they were in support of the stewarts and thats why it was rebuilt in the 1900s because it sat destroyed for a century and a half

[@ChipmunkRapidsMadMan1869]

I always wondered, did the Crown Jewels Of King John, that were lost in The Wash get recovered?

[@YvonneWilson312]

No, they are still down there somewhere!

[@adyseven1]

Undoubtedly the local guides who accompanied the Kings caravan would have known the spot to return to and gathered what was lost.

[@HIPPYGOATWITHCHEESE]

Killed by cannon fire while on the toilet??? Wtf ouch

[@noided4230]

This guy is making bank! Running 4 channels and getting around 1 mil views per vid omfg

[@ninchan2]

three of the wives of Henry the THIRD? Freudian slip much? 😄😄😄😄😄 also, continental Europe is carpeted with medieval castles, most of them are decently preserved and open to the public (like Slovakia's Trencin, for example, and there is one even in Gibraltar), so finding only seven to put on the list seems, well, not well-researched. part two, maybe? still, happy to learn about the few gems mentioned here 😊

[@SkunkApe407]

Nobody said that there were only seven. Reading comprehension isn't one of your strengths, is it? Instead of acting like a pretentious jerk, make a video suggestion like everyone else.

[@Bay-Bouy-Adriano]

Hearst Castle is Hella big!

[@haybell2949]

Should of had coral castle

[@Seventeen_Syllables]

0:37 - There's a county in Ireland called "Awfully"?

[@planetdisco4821]

A large collection of rare gems, AKA “loot” or “plunder” if you will “Your majesty, I bring you this gift from the grateful subjects of (insert country name here) who wilfully bequeathed these stones unto you at cannon point!” Her majesty: “Sigh, just throw it on the pile next to the Elgin Marbles or some such thing”

[@5alm0n]

What about a mageproject on the Tower of London ?

[@owenrobson5617]

Only 7 on a channel called toptenz? We have been deceived, tricked and quite possibly bamboozled!

[@TaterFarmer]

Those ravens are hard to crack! Lol

[@JyotiSharma-ih8lp]

These fort are nothing in front of Indian forts

[@annettefournier9655]

Henry III? Not Henry VIII? Did we forget a V?

[@elmikeomysterio5496]

"for no apparent reason" Dude... Whiskey is the only reason necessary.

[@skitzcrasher]

Wait... This is TopTenz... I want TEN castles! 😉

[@GexMax]

"Tower of London, England" not to be confused with "Tower of London, Greenland"? sure glad you clarified that :D

[@owenshebbeare2999]

It's an American affectation to pedantically add the country after thr city name. The script is written and edited ti suit American tastes.

[@mattmasc6386]

Every entry lists the name of the castle and the Country it is located in. You’re just being snarky for snarky’s sake. 🙄

[@GexMax]

@@mattmasc6386 no, I get consistency. I just find it ridiculus in this instance, no reason to get all offended...

[@gordonwallin2368]

Simon! Shouldn't "lieutenant" be pronounced "LEFTenant"? As a Canadian I was a bit shocked that you used the American pronunciation.

[@mathieuleader8601]

great castles

[@Whimpy13]

Krak des Chevaliers?

[@styrax7280]

More castles outside of europe would have been nice

[@reggiefurlow1]

My heart will be on this list in the future🥺🥺🥺🥺

[@barbarossarotbart]

Well, well, well, I would have chosen different castles.

[@LegendaryWowmbat]

yall really didnt mention the zebras that just chill at hearst huh....

[@ComaDave]

Random fact: While on holiday from Oz in 2012, I got busted trying to take a pic of the Crown Jewels by a Frenchwoman in a Beefeater uniform. Kinda weird, since Yeomen Warders had to have served in the British armed forces to be eligible. Upon exiting to the courtyard - I bumped into a young couple from the Netherlands who I knew via Facebook and had met in person just the day before. We're still friends and I stayed with them in Son en Breugel a year later.

[@dustinmarkley45]

Simon my man, do you sleep or....

[@quinnoshaughnessy]

i would love to live in a castle. that would be fun. : )

[@righty-o3585]

Dracula was the title of Vlad's father, that he himself also adopted. It translates to Dragon.

[@cc00p3r]

The actual title was Dracul. It does translate to Dragon, Dracula is Son of the Dragon

[@righty-o3585]

@@cc00p3r Yeah, I realized that after I commented. Was just too lazy to fix it lol 😜

[@cc00p3r]

@@righty-o3585 yeah and I realized Simon said it anyway in the vid so same lol

[@righty-o3585]

@@cc00p3r Does he? Lol I must have missed it 😜

[@cc00p3r]

@@righty-o3585 its quick and easy to miss

[@imouse3246]

Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.” (hopefully)

[@coreyelder-edwards2335]

What animal is he talking about that he calls baby dragons?

[@flamencoprof]

In 1996 I drove right past Eilean Donan because I thought it "wasn't old enough".

[@austy_whasty7941]

Cool beans

[@stevefox3763]

Overflowing with haunted sites? Ghosts don't exist!

[@HingerlAlois]

Why would you use a photoshopped picture of Neuschwanstein at 00:10???

[@pipepicasso8112]

I'm disappointed my epic sand castle I made at Daytona Beach when I was 8 didn't make the top 7.

[@MrJaycrow30]

Vampires are my favorite people, next to cats!

[@moohunter9109]

I thought Richard the third was Duke of York

[@janderson5224]

How does Hearst Castle qualify as a 'fortified' castle?

[@badgersgetabadname]

I can only warn people away from Offaly. Its not so much the spirits, its just a bit of a kip

[@hankwilliams150]

Re: San Simeon and "Citizen Kane". If Charles Foster Kane died alone. how did anyone know his last word was "Rosebud"? Hmmmm.

[@puppetguy8726]

How could you not include Sigiriya?

[@viracocha6093]

No Alamut?

[@janneaalto3956]

I could believe Poenari could be the castle of Vlad Dracul, while it has no tzimisce influence, Vlad was suspected of being an inconnu, which would explain that.

[@bigredc222]

A castle is a structure built to defend people from being attacked. Just because the guy that built it called it a castle doesn't make it one. Hurst's house is really a palace. I know it doesn't really matter, I'm just being a nit-picker.

[@CakeboyRiP]

I must say you talk a bit too fast for someone who's primary language isnt English. Winding it down a bit might get you more followers as your vids are great

[@legomego3333]

Just watch at half speed

[@susanyoung5447]

Three wives of Henry the 3rd? Or was that the 8th Henry? Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard?

[@stephluva9588]

I'm sorry, but did he say "murder holes"???? 😬😅

[@owenshebbeare2999]

Yes, they were a real thing.

[@vennb1137]

Wher is Krak de Chevalier? Where is Dover Castle? You can't integrate a US palace and not take those!!

[@TitanTheCollector]

What makes Hurst Castle a castle and not a mansion?

[@lassemadsen3803]

How can you not mention a castle like mount saint michael?

[@greenkoopa]

TopSevenz

[@bigdee8497]

Simon the spank machine is the worst

[@barrydysert2974]

Simon is slightly agitated when he must present paranormal content. Allegedly!:-) 🤔😁🖖

[@zeusathena26]

I wonder how many likes Simon needs to get before he'll go on a ghost hunt?🤣🤣

[@lauramartin4899]

Dude I love your videos... but sometimes you talk soooo fast... can't understand you!! 🤔

[@michaelmitchell4989]

Did you actually say County Awfully? I wouldn't want to live there.

[@planetdisco4821]

The Plantagenets....

[@sorgbicks5076]

Masada?