Topic: What's your favorite Castlevania stage / area?

[uzo]

What is your favorite stage, or area, from a Castlevania game? And why is it your favorite?

[X]

In a word? Clocktower. It has always been the clocktower for some obscure reason. That is also one of the big letdowns for me about CV II. There just was no clocktower in it. Even before I owned any other CV game except CV II I would stare for countless hours at my game Atlas at the maps of CVIII, particularly the clocktower stage.

[Johnny Alucard]

I love how swampy the Cemetery stage in DXC looks and it's definitely one that stands out in my memory.

[Neobelmont]

There is alot I can choose from but one of my favorite stages are the last stage in bloodlines the one area where it's all messed up and this

Castlevania Belmont's Revenge Stage 01 Crystal Castle (No Damage, Subweapons, Upgrades)

This just a few but the one that popped up in my mind at the moment.

[Mooning Freddy]

Hell, I love them all. Most of all? Hmmm. Maybe the Chapel. And the inner quarters. Love those paintings and decorations. If I was in a castle like that I would wander around for eternity.
Oh, and also the wine cellar. 

[Dremn]

Man, too many to list, but the entrance halls and clocktowers have always stuck out to me the most.

Love IV, Rondo, Rebirth, x68000, and Bloodlines levels.

[Highwind Dragoon]

1. The Villa
2. Art tower
3. Tower of execution
4. tower of science
5. Forest stage in Super Castlevania 4
6. Castle Center (LoD)
7. Cave/waterfall stage in Super Castlevania 4
8. Catacombs (CotM)
9. Overworld (CV 2: SQ)
10. Clock tower (SotN and LoD)

[CrashDiary27]

Not sure if it counts as a actual stage but I always liked the first part of SOTN...when you do the end of rondo. I always thought it was neat that depending how well you do against drac, it shows up in your stats for the start of the game.

[Mystic Myotis]

One place I've always liked is Dracula's castle from Simon's Quest.  That place has such incredible atmosphere for such an old game.  I find it... laudable.

Bloodlines and IV have some really memorable stages.

[Inccubus]

Hands down it has to be the final stage of Bloodlines. It did a lot of really interesting and creative things that had never been seen before or since in a Castlevania game.

[Green Stranger]

It's hard to say but I'll pick one that has always been a huge favorite of mine.
 
Bloodlines Stage 3 Leaning Tower of Pisa.
 
From start to finish I felt this level was designed perfectly. The haunting music of "discolored wall" just really compliments the ambience of the stage. The stage really sets the mood of impending doom with this music that intesifies especially when you're in those dire time critical platforming areas. It just has it all; varied level design, a miniboss, pitfalls, platforming and areas where you are both indoors and outdoors. It's a masterpiece of CV levels. Check out the room where you fight the miniboss. Gotta love those creepy green Satanic looking demon moldings framing the windows.
 
Time to revisit a classic. Drink it in. Good stuff.
 
Castlevania: Bloodlines Part 3: Leaning Tower of Pisa - Italy (Eric)

[Nagumo]

The Sky Walkway from HoD. It's doesn't really have a gothic atmosphere to it, but it seems so cozy to me due to the background and the music.

[knightmere]

Too many great stages to pick a favorite IMO.  Atmosphere and stage design is one the series greatest strengths.

[GuyStarwind]

Hard question but I like the DXC/RoB stage 2.
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles Walkthrough (Stage 2)

[Havatchu]

Hell, I love them all. Most of all? Hmmm. Maybe the Chapel. And the inner quarters. Love those paintings and decorations. If I was in a castle like that I would wander around for eternity.
Oh, and also the wine cellar. 

The Chapel in SOTN for me so far in terms of Castleroids. Beautiful music, awesome scenery, the quirky confession room, the stairs,  the swordsman...

One of the big reasons I like Castlevania is that it normally isn't afraid to inject religious themes to the scenery, story and whatnot. It's really quite awesome when you think about it.