Abandoned castles around the world - CNN
(CNN) — An abandoned castle always cuts an impressive figure -- a blast from the past submerged behind ruined walls. Says author Kieron Connolly , whose new book " Abandoned Castle s" explores the world's most spectacular forgotten fortresses , they're also windows on long gone civilizations. "Societies are like a body: centuries go by and the body decays," he tells CNN Travel . "The castle's like the skull or like the teeth, in fact they even look a bit like teeth, sticking out, out of the ground. They give us some clues, some entries into the past." Connolly's book features castles from around the world and across the ages -- including 19th century military forts in the French Alps, 13th century castles in the Scottish Highlands and a medieval fortress in Syria. Questions with no answers The book includes fortresses such as Fort de Malamot , built in 1889 in the Cottian Alps. The pictures were sourced by Amber's Terry Forshaw. Con...