remains and ruins

[Verona_82]

Hello,

I've tripped over another test question.

I hope to see the castle ____________ before I leave the city.
a) ancient b) remains c) ruins

I admit 'castle ruins' is a far more common collocation, but is 'castle remains" unacceptable? You say 'remains of the castle', but not 'castle remains"?

[Rover_KE]

I prefer ruins, but this thread gives many conflicting opinions.

Rover