There have been many good ones out there and also some bad sets

I would say 6080 King's Castle because I had it as a kid and it was awesome at the time, and still holds up today with the newer castles.  As for more recent sets, I would say Medieval Market Village.

Medieval Market Village would be my pick. Looks great, awesome build, something different from the average castle set.

My favorite castle/kingdoms set is 7036 The Dwarves Mine because I really like dwarves and this is the first time that we had a mine(at least that's what I think.)

My favorite castle/kingdoms set is 7036 The Dwarves Mine because I really like dwarves and this is the first time that we had a mine(at least that's what I think.)

That one does look cool. The fantasy era stuff is pretty cool. Honestly I really like the old Ninja stuff and I really want to get my hands on the Viking fortress and the viking ship.

Yeh I really like the Vikings stuff too but I never did get any of the sets. The dwarves mine is a great kingdoms set though! I think it retailed for $60.

The yellow castle 375/6075.  Came with about 12 minifigures and cost $50.  Was this the best design? No.  Was the color really odd? Yes.  But I probably spent over 100 hours playing with it.  

 

The Market Village and Kingdoms Joust were great builds, but since I am in my 30's now, they don't evoke those special feelings like good ole Yellow Castle does. 

I badly wanted a 6080 being a kid   

 

Then I was out of LEGO for a long time, and just came back this year.  No surprise, first big set I bought was a 7946 castle.  Looking forward to get a 10223 Kingdoms Joust to add to it.   I'm more into realistic style then fantasy, so I'm curious to see what will be issued in this new Castle line - will it be some village or town scene?  I hope there will be another big set, kinda like Medieval Market or Kingdoms Joust. 

I like Mill Village Raid, Medieval market and Hagrids Hut.

 

Sets that reflect the support structure of a castle are often over looked, you need blacksmiths, taverns, barns, homes, mills, fields, etc...

My is 6071 Forestmen's Crossing.  It is an old school set from the early 90's and was a good build and fun to play with.  One of the best things about it was that my set came with 6 minfigs rather than the standard 5!

I like Mill Village Raid, Medieval market and Hagrids Hut.

 

Sets that reflect the support structure of a castle are often over looked, you need blacksmiths, taverns, barns, homes, mills, fields, etc...

My Castes don't need no support structure.  They don't even need no stairs to get from one level to the next.

6079 Dark Forest Fortress.  Great figures, Forestmen, and a really cool baseplate. 

My is 6071 Forestmen's Crossing.  It is an old school set from the early 90's and was a good build and fun to play with.  One of the best things about it was that my set came with 6 minfigs rather than the standard 5!

I wish I would have had some Forestmen as a kid.  My Lion Knights had nobody to fight.

I wish I would have had some Forestmen as a kid.  My Lion Knights had nobody to fight.

My son plays with it now. I only had the one forestmen set but had two smaller Black Monarch sets that we use to play Knights and Forestmen. Right now the 'bad knights' have over taken the forest castle.

My Castes don't need no support structure.  They don't even need no stairs to get from one level to the next.

hahahahaha yeah i was always bothered by the complete lack of stair on most lego sets, even as a kid i would add in stair or a ladder so they could get to the top of the towers.

I wish I had some of the old castle sets but I really wasn't that into legos back then!

I wish I had some of the old castle sets but I really wasn't that into legos back then!

 

 

Can always buy it from someone (like me for example )

I think my favorite would be the Medieval Market Village.

I really like most of the 1984-1992 sets, but if I could take only one to a deserted island, I would take 6085 Black Monarch's castle.  

Subjectively, maybe 6011 black knight's cart - this is the one I played with the most as a child.

Mine would have to be Medieval Market Village, Kings Castle, and the Joust(two set combined) makes a amazing gate house. Stomping

I would say 6080 King's Castle because I had it as a kid and it was awesome at the time, and still holds up today with the newer castles. As for more recent sets, I would say Medieval Market Village.

Ditto about 6080. I still have that set, box, and instructions from my childhood. The only 2 other sets I owned were the Armor Shop and Black Falcons's Fortress from 1984 to 1986. The next set I purchased was in 2010 for my son (a city passenger plane and the $12 helicopter which is still in stores)

Forestmen's crossing was my favorite set when I was a kid

I really love my Black Monarch's Castle.  It was another set that I got as a random gift from a relative, I never asked for it and didn't really know it existed.  I was mostly into space, and I only had that castle and a few smaller castle sets.  I fell in love with it though, even more so when I started getting into reading Lord of the Rings and other fantasy books.

 

My favorite newer castle set is a toss up between medieval market village, mill village raid, and joust.  I actually have Black Monarch's castle overlooking the MMV and mill right now, a great display of old and new.

King's Castle...still have it, the manual is beat up and missing pages.  The wall pieces were great building blocks for all my creations as a kid.

I had the 6074 Black Falcon Castle as a kid (and still have it), and had countless hours of fun with it. By far my favorite castle, although the new ones look really very good as well. The Monster Fighters Vampyre Castle in particular is my favorite among the new ones, but I get that isn't from the castle/kingdoms line...

6103.  It's a fun mix of medieval characters.  I also like 6042 Dungeon Hunters.