Few people would admit they've never dreamed of living in a castle. From the fairytales, princes, princesses and Disney movies of childhood and even as we get older, the appeal of the castle remains at least partly because they so regularly serve as backdrops in video games, movies and books.

Unless you happen to find that you had a long lost great great grandfather who left you an international conglomerate in mining and shipping then, unfortunately, you'll probably never get the chance to live in such grandeur. Luckily there are a lot of absolutely stunning castles around the world that are open to the public, some are even converted into hotels where you can stay if only for a night.

We present you the first part in a series: 7 visually stunning and historically fascinating castles from throughout Europe and beyond.

You might think that the notion of taking time off for a break away is a product of modern civilisation, but that would be an incorrect assumption. The idea of taking a break from work has been a part of life since the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Of course, the ancient Greeks weren't taking time off with the family for a trip to Disneyland or heading to the beaches of Dubai. So where did they go? Here are seven of their favourite spots.