The most fabulous castle Moritzburg Castle, Germany. Pena Palace - a palace in Portugal, located on a high cliff above Sintra and featuring a fantastic pseudo-medieval style
Incredible in their beauty, architectural relics have been left to us by history, which you can admire for a long time, because they keep so much in themselves. These castles are located in beautiful and unusual places, such as on top of mountains or on the water, which add even more charm to them. If castles could talk, they could tell us a lot, a lot..
Castle Howard, Yorkshire
One of the grandest mansions in the UK, this beautiful castle has been home to the Howard family for over 300 years.
Hohenschwangau Castle, Germany
It was built in the 19th century in Germany, it is visited by more than 300,000 tourists a year
Corfe Castle, Dorset
Corfe Castle is a fortress that was built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror.
Malbork Castle, Poland
Malbork is the largest castle in the world (in terms of area) and it is also the largest brick building in Europe.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Ludwig II of Bavaria built this castle as a personal retreat. After he died in 1886, Neuschwanstein Castle became open to visitors because tourists were trying to raise money for its upkeep. Since then, there have been over 60 million visitors a year visiting this castle.
Chambord Castle, France
This palace was built as hunting lodge for Francis I, and has a very clear. French. architecture of the Renaissance. It has been open to visitors since 2007 and attracts over 700,000 visitors a year.
Castle in Osaka, Japan
One of the most famous castles in Japan, Osaka. It was built on top of a high hill in the 16th century to protect its inhabitants from enemies.
Hohenwerfen Castle, Austria
The castle was built in the 11th century and is located in a part of Bavaria in the place Berchtesgaden and built on the Tennengebirg mountain. The exterior of this castle was used as a French hotel in the movie Honeymooners.
Kilkenny Castle, Ireland
Kilkenny was built in 1195 by William Marshal. Now serves as conferences of diplomatic negotiations.
Peles Castle, Romania
This castle was built in the neo-Renaissance architectural direction. The castle is located in the Carpathians, built between 1873 and 1914.
Moritzburg Castle, Germany
Named after Duke Moritz of Saxony, this palace sits on man-made land and is surrounded by forests used for hunting.
Castillo de Coca, Spain
This castle was built on the site of ancient Cauca, the birthplace of the Roman Emperor Theodosius. The castle now serves as a training facility for foresters.
Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland, California
Sleeping Beauty Castle was built based on the Neuschwanstein castle we wrote about above and acts as a landmark in Disneyland
Kronborg Castle, Denmark
Built in the 1420s, Kronborg is one of the most important fortifications in Northern Europe. It has been immortalized as Elsinore in William Shakespeare's work Hamlet.
Alnwick Castle, Northumberland (England)
The exterior of Alnwick Castle was used in the Harry Potter movie and was the prototype for Hogwarts Castle. It has approximately 800,000 visitors a year.
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
This 12th-century palace sits on volcanic rock and has become a recognizable symbol of Edinburgh.
Highclere Castle, UK
A 19th-century castle that serves as the main filming location for the hit TV series Downton Abbey.
Chateau de Versailles, France
This royal castle in France has a whopping 2,300 rooms, 67 staircases, and 5,210 pieces of furniture.
Prague Castle, Czech Republic
Prague Castle was named the largest and ancient castle in the world in the Guinness Book of Records, occupying 70,000 square meters.
Kylemore Abbey, Ireland
Kylemore was built as a private residence for a wealthy London doctor, Mitchell Henry. But he was forced to sell it in 1909 due to gambling debts.
Bodiam Castle, UK
The 14th-century moated castle was built by Sir Edward Dalingrigg to defend the area from French invasion during the Hundred Years' War.
Hochosterwitz Castle, Austria
One of the most impressive medieval castles in Austria, Hochosterwitz is 160 meters high and can be seen from 30 km on a clear day.
Chillon Castle, Switzerland
This castle-island consists of 100 separate buildings that have combined into a palace.
Catherine Palace, Russia
The residence of Catherine I was founded in 1717 and was built for the rest of the Empress. In 1752 it was rebuilt.
Windsor Castle, England
This 11th century castle was a royal residence and is the most long fortress in Europe.
Hogwarts Universal Studios, Orlando
The main building of the wildly successful Harry Potter movie. Hogwarts was brought to life at the Universal studios in Orlando, Florida.
Balmoral Castle, UK
Balmoral has been the residence of the British Royal Family since 1852, when it was purchased by Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert.
Conwy Castle, North Wales
This medieval fortress was built by Edward I in 1283 and cost approximately £15,000.
Schwerin Castle, Germany
The first reports of this castle date back to 973, and it currently serves as the seat of the state parliament.
Neuschwanstein is a fantasy come true, a fairy tale castle that has raised its toy towers and galleries above the wooded hills in the Bavarian Alps near the city of Füssen near the Austrian border.
It gives the impression of a theatrical scenery, and partly is it, since it was created under the active guidance of the Munich theater artist Christian Jank. At the same time, the castle has a very impressive size, and it was built over the course of seventeen years. Ludwig grew up in the nearby castle of Hohenschwangau. This building, stylized as a medieval fortress, was built by his father Maximilian II. Ludwig was a passionate admirer of Germanic mythology and, apparently, identified himself with the swan knight Lohengrin. Having visited the premiere of the opera of the same name by Richard Wagner in 1858, he was beside himself with delight. When three years later, at the age of eighteen, Ludwig inherited the royal throne, one of his first acts of state was to invite the composer to Munich.
Now, having money and power, he became a patron of Wagner, paid all the debts for the composer and promised to establish a festival for the performance of Wagner's works. In his operas, Wagner on a grand scale transferred the world of German legends and tales to the stage, trying to captivate the audience with the drama of the eternal confrontation between Good and Evil. Ludwig, meanwhile, ordered the construction of a fairy-tale castle to begin, which in all respects would correspond to the ideals of the ancient German chivalry.
This, as well as his other decisions, increasingly inclined those around him to think that the king was damaged in his mind and, as a ruler, was not able to look at things sensibly. When Ludwig was still young, Bismarck publicly announced that he was quite sane, although even then many oddities of his behavior, his bizarre manner of dressing, in general, his whole lifestyle, were evident - he, for example, sometimes slept all day, and sometimes invited to for lunch.. spirit Louis XIV. But at the end of his life, his madness was quite obvious and no one doubted it.
Eyewitnesses and contemporaries claimed that fifteen master carvers worked on the manufacture of a carved wooden bed for Ludwig for four and a half years. The interior of the castle is a mixture of various architectural and artistic styles, a combination of Moorish, Gothic and Baroque elements: here are stalactite columns, a throne room in the decadent-Byzantine spirit, and a singing hall with exquisite lighting, intended for productions of Wagner operas.
Old furniture and portraits former owners, dark narrow corridors with ghosts and halls in which outstanding historical events– what else can be hidden behind the fabulous appearance of popular castles? There are many in the world ancient castles and palaces, but only a few of them can be called truly "fabulous". Some of them are amazing appearance, others became famous unusual story appearances, and still others are so harmonious and attractive that they inspired the work of eminent fairy tale writers. For hundreds of years the world has changed a lot, but people's love for fairy tales and mysterious stories remained the same. If you are also passionate about beautiful legends and like to walk in unusual places, be sure to visit at least one of the most fabulous castles on the planet and unravel all its secrets.
In a vast area park area Wilhelmscholl in one of the most picturesque districts of Kassel is the beautiful castle of Levenburg, whose name can literally be translated from German as "Lion's Castle". Its construction began in 1793 by order of Landgrave Wilhelm IX and lasted eight years. The work on the castle project was entrusted to the personal royal architect Heinrich Christoph Jussow. For several years he traveled around England and studied the most beautiful medieval castles country, it was decided to build a beautiful castle Levenburg in a rare and new for Germany architectural style "romantic ruin".
For more than two hundred years, Levenburg Castle has been considered by experts to be one of the best examples of the "romantic" architectural style on the planet. For those who are not strong in the intricacies of architectural styles, Levenburg can remind the world-famous fairy-tale castle located in Disneyland. A tour of the castle promises to be incredibly interesting. On its territory there is a large armory, as well as a miniature chapel, which houses the tomb of William IX.
It is located on the top of the mountain of Bavaria, the height of which is 92 meters, therefore, from the terraces surrounding it and viewing platforms offers a great view of Kassel and its surroundings. The castle is surrounded by incredibly beautiful landscaped garden with many original compositions and decorations. It is noteworthy that upon completion of the construction of the castle in 1801, the very first garden was laid out around it, and it was also made in the English style.
Not far from the German town of Fussen is the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle, the history of which is also incredibly interesting. A fabulously beautiful castle in an inaccessible highlands was built by order of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, its construction began in 1869. The area for the location of the building was chosen so complicated that the best architects and builders of Germany had to spend more than twenty years on the project, the castle was fully completed only in 1891.
Romania is one of the confident world leaders in the number of beautiful old castles and palaces, special place among them belongs to the castle of Huniadov. This gothic castle located in the city of Hunedoara, its founder is the famous governor of Transylvania and the regent of Hungary, Jancu de Hunedoara. The construction of the castle began in 1441 and was completed 15 years later, it is one of the best examples gothic architecture in Romania.
In Portugal, not far from the city of Sintra, there is a unique architectural monument of world significance - the oldest palace in the world built in the Romanesque style - the Pena National Palace. The history of the beautiful palace is full of bright events. It was built in the 15th century and converted into a monastery a few years later. In 1755, the building was almost completely destroyed due to an earthquake, and the palace was restored only by 1838.
Among the most fabulous and interesting castles to visit in Europe, Egeskov Castle, located in the Danish town of the same name, is worth noting. This castle was built in the 16th century and is surrounded by a deep moat. You can get to its territory by a single drawbridge. Since foundation medieval castle surrounds incredibly beautiful garden, like many years ago, today you can meet important peacocks and listen to songbirds that hide from prying eyes in the dense crowns of trees.
The main feature of Peles Castle, located in the Carpathian Mountains, is its fabulous appearance. The construction of the castle began in 1873; specialists from the most different countries. According to historical data, the best masons were called from Italy to build the castle, and the construction of the terraces surrounding the castle was entrusted to the Romanians. The best carpenters were brought in from Germany and Hungary, and specialists from Turkey were invited especially for brick firing. The work of the gypsies, who performed the duties of laborers, also came in handy.
In Yemen, not far from the capital of the state, there is the wonderful palace of Dar al-Hajar, which is very reminiscent of the beautiful palaces that can be seen in oriental tales. The castle was built on a high rocky cliff and looks so harmonious that at first glance it is impossible to determine exactly where the rock ends and construction begins. For local residents, Dar al-Hajar has become one of the main national symbols. The image of the beautiful palace can be seen on banknotes, water bottles, and popular souvenirs.
Based in Potsdam palace and park complex Sanssouci is known to many travelers under the unofficial name "Potsdam Versailles". The palace complex, which was built as a summer residence for Frederick the Great, is truly grandiose and irresistible. It impresses with its scale, unique appearance and beauty of the design of the surrounding area. Today, the amazing Sanssouci palace and park complex is considered one of the most luxurious not only in East Germany, but also in the world.
Fabulous in every sense of the word can be called Kelbourne Castle, located in Scotland, in the immediate vicinity of the city of Glasgow. Castle built in the 13th century long history It has gone through many renovations and until 2007 did not stand out among other ancient Scottish castles. The last reconstruction took place precisely in 2007, the facade of the old building required urgent repairs, but there were no funds for it.
Kolomna Palace very reminiscent of classical palaces from old Russian fairy tales. It was built in the 17th century by order of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. A wonderful wooden palace with emerald domes and turrets has become a real decoration of the miniature Kolomna village. Existed beautiful palace only a few decades and began to collapse, over time, nothing remained of the once majestic building.
Among the beautiful castles located in the valley of the Laura River, a special place belongs to the castle of Usse. The appearance of the castle is unique, now historians do not know for certain what exactly the very first building, erected in the 15th century, looked like. For more than 500 years, the castle has changed more than ten owners and everyone sought to rebuild it to their own taste. Despite numerous renovations, the castle has managed to preserve a rich collection of antique furniture, and its spacious gallery displays a rich collection of Flemish tapestries and ancient weapons. Fairy tale castle hidden in forest areas of the Bavarian Alps, a real masterpiece that has earned crazy popularity among tourists and brings fabulous profits to Germany. Neuschwanstein became the prototype of Sleeping Beauty's castle in Disneyland Paris, Tchaikovsky's source of inspiration for the ballet " Swan Lake"and the embodiment of Ludwig II's love for Wagner's music ...
Author: P_I_F.
Neuschwanstein translates as "New Swan Stone". The entire architecture of the building is permeated with the swan motif. The swan is the heraldic symbol of the old family of the Counts of Schwangau, whose successor the father of Ludwig II, Maximilian II of Bavaria, considered himself. Ludwig was a huge admirer of Richard Wagner, identifying himself with one of the characters in his operas, the Swan Knight. Having inherited the royal throne, Ludwig II realized his old fantasy - swan castle incomparable beauty.
Myths and facts
Far from the noisy cities, almost at the very border with Austria, construction began in 1869 under the direction of the Munich theater artist Christian Jank. But due to Ludwig's extravagant tastes and whims, this process progressed very slowly. For example, only 14 carpenters worked on woodcarving in the king's bedroom alone for 4.5 years.
The construction of the castle was halted when Ludwig was removed from power due to intrigues in his own office. The king rarely touched state matters personally, and his antics earned him the fame of a madman. In addition, he suffered from hallucinations - for example, he dined with the spirit of Louis XIV. According to Bavarian law, the king can be removed from power if he is deemed unfit to govern. And after the report of his cabinet in 1886, he was overthrown.
Ludwig was transported to Berg Castle, where he soon drowned in Lake Starnberg. However, regarding this mysterious death, which was considered a suicide at the time, suggest that the cabinet was not happy with the simple removal of Ludwig from power. Especially considering that his attending psychiatrist also shared the fate of his patient.
These mysterious events gave rise to many legends and created an intriguing halo around Neuschwanstein Castle, making it the most famous castle in Germany.
You can climb to it from the town of Füssen either on foot or on horseback.
On the way, you have to admire the views of the Alpsee lake and the Hohenschwangau castle - the headquarters of the parents of the "fairy king".
Here she is up close.
Gradually, contours begin to appear in the fog ...
... and then the walls of the Neuschwanstein castle appear - the New Swan cliff, in our opinion.
Since all this was built not so much for show-off as for the soul, at the same time a special observation bridge was also erected in a strategic place. It is not visible here yet.
But then the wind disperses the fog and the Marienbrücke bridge is shown in the distance. This is where one of the two opens. the best views to the castle.
There are always so many people here that it is not so easy to squeeze through. Some push strollers in front of them.
Actually, I was lucky - having settled down behind one family, just equipped with a ram-carriage, I penetrated the bridge.
Even in nasty weather, the views here are quite nice.
Neuschwanstein Castle stands on the site of two fortresses. King Ludwig II ordered at this place to lower the plateau by about 8 meters by blasting the rock and thereby create a place for the construction of " fairytale palace". On September 5, 1869, the first stone was laid for the construction of a huge castle.
Construction work in the castle (1882-1885). In 1880, more than 200 carpenters, masons and auxiliary workers were employed at the construction site.
Ludwig II went down in history as a "fairytale king" thanks to the castles he built, on which he spent all his money and time. On June 13, 1886, he drowned on Lake Starnberg under mysterious circumstances. According to one of the widespread versions, it was the political assassination of an inconvenient and uncontrollable king.
After the death of the king in 1886, all construction work was suspended. main tower the castle with a church, 90 m high, which was supposed to rise above all the buildings, was not built at all.
Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria really gives the impression of a fairy-tale castle. It was built at a time when castles had already lost their defensive functions.
Inside, Neuschwanstein is very different from the Prussian royal castles of Berlin and Potsdam. It's strictly forbidden to take pictures there. The castle is currently a museum. Visiting is possible only as part of a group.
The interior of the castle is a mixture of various architectural and artistic styles, a combination of Moorish, Gothic and Baroque elements: here are the columns and the throne room. Interior great hall at Neuschwanstein Castle:
Despite the fact that the throne room was not completed during construction, it is without a doubt the most impressive. Postcard, late 19th century:
Ludwig's bedroom at Neuschwanstein Castle. Eyewitnesses claimed that 15 craftsmen worked on the manufacture of a carved wooden bed for Ludwig for 4.5 years:
View from the balcony of the Neuschwanstein castle in Bavaria.
At the end of World War II, some of the Reichsbank gold was kept in the castle. In the last days of the war, gold was taken away in an unknown direction.
Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria is primarily striking in its cold grandeur and pointed towers among the Alpine peaks:
Views from the balcony of the castle.
Neuschwanstein Castle in summer
…and in winter.
Every year over 1,300,000 visitors pass through the gates of Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.
