Tucked away near the Swiss border in eastern France, Annecy is the kind of town that makes you question whether real life accidentally wandered into a fairy tale. Picture this: flower-draped balconies, cobblestone lanes, turquoise canals, and a sparkling lake ringed by snow-kissed mountains.

Even if you’ve never heard of Alnwick Castle, chances are you’ve *seen* it. Maybe it was while watching Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, as first-year wizards learned to fly broomsticks on the lawn. Or perhaps in *Downton Abbey*, *Transformers: The Last Knight*, or even *Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves*. This castle is no stranger to the camera — and once you see it in person, you’ll understand why.