Hogwarts
School of witchcraft and *wizardry*
Situated in the middle of an enchanted forest in rural England, the castle could not be located at a more appropriate location. The castle sits on a mountain overlooking a great black lake. At first glance, one cannot overcome a feeling of awe at it's majestic appearance, but that is nothing compared to what awaits inside the giant oak door.
       Inside the front door is the Entrance Hall. With flagstone floor, walls lit with flaming torches, ceiling too high to see, and a grand marble staircase leading to the upper floors, one could be nothing but impressed until you take the door to the right from which a thousand voices can be heard. Beyond that door is the Great Hall. Lit by thousands of candles floating over four long house tables and one professor's table, this room is the grandest of all. One only has to look up to prove this. The ceiling is enchanted to mirror the outside sky so when you look up, there may as well not be a ceiling at all. One could go on and on about this place, there was even a ten thousand page book written about it. But you cannot describe Hogwarts without describing what it's like to walk it's corridors.
       The corridors are more than a twisting labyrinth. There are 142 staircases at Hogwarts. Some stairs are wide and sweeping, some narrow and rickety, some lead somewhere different on Friday, some have a vanishing stair half way up so that you have to remember to jump. Even the doors are adventures waiting to happen. Some won't open unless you ask politely, or tickle them in just the right spot, some are not even doors at all, but solid walls just pretending. Things appear to move around too. People in the portraits visit each other and the coats of armor seem to be able to walk. It's a wonder in itself that anyone can learn to navigate these corridors and make it on time to classes.
       From Herbology, Astonomy, Charms and Transfiguration to Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, Potions and many, many others, the classes are as varied as the halls. Each professor is an expert in their field. The professors also have an amazingly diverse library to work with. The Hogwarts Library can be argued one of the best magical resources in the world, so it is only fitting that the best and brightest students are located here. When one combines the best teaching with the best resources and brightest students, Hogwarts is a great center for learning, but it is also so much more.
       What is Hogwarts? Hogwarts is more than a vast castle with many turrets and towers, more than a center of learning. Hogwarts doesn't just teach magic, Hogwarts is magic.