When I lived in Georgia and had an easy drive to the Appalachian Mountains, I collected waterfalls.  Then, when I moved out to Arizona, I collected ghost towns.  Now that Kelly and I live in Europe, we've started collecting ruins, mostly castles, but the occasional church or abbey.  It's as good a hobby as any, and hey, it keeps us off the smack.  Some don't really count as "ruins" per se, but it's my page and I'll call them what I please, thank you.

Some other pages on this site are extensively dedicated to ruins.  In those cases, I've posted our favorite from that location and provided a link to the other page.

Burgruine Baldenau, Hundheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

This ruin is what remains of a fortification that was built in 1350 by Balduin von Luxemburg, Archbishop and Prince of Trier (1307-1354). The moat makes this castle relatively rare, as moated fortifications are not common in Germany -- there was a tendency to either wall the fortifications in or put them on some naturally defensible terrain, such as a mountain, that would make a moat impractical.  The first three photos were taken using a Hoya R72 filter to capture only infrared and near-IR light.  Open to the public, free.  Visited in June 2006.
 

Schloß Neuschwanstein, Schwangau, Bayer, Germany

Not exactly a ruin, this famous castle is associated with fairy tales and the dreams of its creator, King Ludwig II of Bavaria.  Although Neuschwanstein ("New Swan Stone") was designed in the style of an older fortress, construction started in 1869, at a time when royal residences more resembled mansions than castles.  The site was cleared of two oler castle ruins to make way for Ludwig's masterpiece, which he built around the themes of the operas of Richard Wagner.  King Ludwig moved into the gate house, the first part of the building to be completed, but was not abler to move into the castle proper until 1884.  Only 13 rooms of the castle were ever finished; construction was halted when King Ludwig was declared insane and deposed at the castle in 1886.  Open to the public by paid tour only.  Last visited in April 2006.  More photos of Neuschwanstein and nearby Hohenschwangau are on my Bavaria 2002 page.
 
 

Unnamed ruin, St. Kevin's Way, County Wicklow, Ireland

This ruin is in a beautiful setting just off the road that leads from the Wicklow Mountains down into the Gleandalough area.  We originally thought it was a church, but it was more likely a cabin; either way, it was a treasured find.  Open to the public, free.  Visited in September 2004.
 

Gravensteen Castle, Ghent, Belgium

Gravensteen was built in Ghent in 1880 for Philip of Alsace, count of Flanders from 1157 to 1191.  The castle was continually expanded for approximately 200 years, then abandoned in the 14th century.  It was then converted into a prison, then in the 1800s it became a textile factory.  The castle was partiallt dismantled in 1887, then restored in 1917 and turned ino a museum.  Open to the public for an entrance fee.  Visited in July 2006.  More photos of Belgium are on my Low Countries page.
 
 

	The Three Towers of Ghent

Burg Ardeck, Holzheim, Hessen, Germany

Ardeck is first mentioned in the Chronicles of Tileman Ehlen von Wolfhagen in 1395.  From 1467, the castle became the home of the family of Detrich von Diez.  When the family line died out in 1727, the castle was abandoned.  The town of Holzheim holds a castle fest every year.  Open to the public, free.  Visited in July 2006.
 
 

Burg Schwalbach, Schwalbach, Hessen, Germany

This castle, located near the city of Limburg, was built beginning around 1362.  The core of the castle was finished around 1371, and the chapel was dedicated in 1389 by Count Eberhardt.  Today the castle is partially restored; it has housed a restaurant and Biergarten for many years.  Open to the public, free, but some portions are oopen only to  guests.  Visited in July 2006.
 
 

Burg Hohenstein, Hohenstein, Hessen, Germany

This castle was built around 1190 for the Counts of Katzenelnbogen, as well as Count von Nassau Laurenburg.  The structures were improved in 1422.  In 1479, the castle fell to Hessian hands.  It was repaired in 1604, but fell again during the Thirty Years' War.  Repairs were attempted at the war's end, but it remained in ruins until the 20th Century, when it was restored as a guest house and Biergarten.  Open to the public; free, but portions are open only to guests.  Visited in July 2006.
 
 

Burg Eltz, Münstermaifeld, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

Burg Eltz was built around 1157 by the Eltz family and has remained occupied by the same family for the past 800 years.  Unlike Neuschwanstein, this fairy-tale castle was built as a fortress, and it was tested by battle -- from 1331 to 1333, forces of the Archbishop of Trier built a tower across the ravine and laid siege to the castle.  Burg Eltz never fell, but the Eltz family sued for peace and became vassals of Trier.  Open to the public by paid guided tour from April to October. Visited in July 2005.  More photos of Burg Eltz can be found on my R&R page.