The Swabian Castle in Oria is a wonderful construction built between 1225 and 1233 at the behest of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Over the centuries, it has been inhabited by princes, knights and noblemen. It has a triangular plan and is characterised by three towers called Quadrata (Square), Del cavaliere (of the knight) and Del Salto (Jump): the first one was built during the time of Frederick II, while the other two under the Angevin domination.
According to a local tradition, the foggy atmosphere which shrouds the castle is not just a natural phenomenon, but it recalls something which happened during the construction of the castle, known as Oria Fumosa, foggy Oria. A must-see is the castle at sunset, with an amazing picture-postcard view, which can be admired from any place in the town.
References:The Château du Lude is one of the many great châteaux of the Loire Valley in France. Le Lude is the most northerly château of the Loire Valley and one of the last important historic castles in France, still inhabited by the same family for the last 260 years. The château is testimony to four centuries of French architecture, as a stronghold transformed into an elegant house during the Renaissance and the 18th century. The monument is located in the valley of Le Loir. Its gardens have evolved throughout the centuries.