famous palaces. The largest palaces in the world

There are many real masterpieces of architecture in the world that amaze everyone with their beauty. No wonder travelers come from different corners planets in order to see with your own eyes these architectural monuments among which palaces occupy an important place. About the most beautiful palaces peace, we propose to talk today.

Versailles in France

Without a doubt, Versailles is not only a symbol of France, but also one of the most beautiful and famous palaces in the world. Many writers have repeatedly described this architectural monument in their works, which once again proves its importance.

The Palace of Versailles was built in the 17th century, during the reign of King Louis XIV. Initially, he was assigned the role of a building in which important state meetings and receptions were to be held, as well as problems in the political life of the country were to be solved. That is why the building of the creator is an example of classical architecture.

Today Versailles, along with a huge park complex, is one of the main attractions of France. Every year, millions of tourists from all over the world come here to see this palace with their own eyes.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace takes special place in the list of places of interest in the UK. It is still the current residence of Queen Elizabeth II of England. Not only is her office located here, but the entire royal family lives here. In addition to the residence of the Queen of England, Buckingham Palace is a museum, as it houses a huge collection of works by world-famous painters from different eras. In addition, the exposition of the museum contains many art objects.

Buckingham Palace was built in 1703. Since then, he has been the real pride of London, and indeed of all of England. The palace is surrounded by 3 parks, where a wide variety of flowers bloom all year round. Since 1993, the palace has been open for free visits by tourists and residents of the city. And the changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace has long been national tradition England, which attracts millions of curious visitors every year.

Royal Palace in Bangkok

The Grand Palace (royal palace) is a symbol of the power and majesty of the rulers of Thailand. Despite the fact that this attraction has been attracting millions of tourists for many years, the most significant events of the country still take place in the palace.

The royal palace was built in the 18th century, during the reign of Rama I. The complex is built in an oriental style, and its painted structures and gilded elements make it look like a real one. fairy palace. Here, tourists can see the shrine of Buddhists - the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

The official residence of the Japanese emperors.

And although it is located in the center of the capital - Tokyo, the palace is surrounded by a high wall with a moat, as in ancient times. It is noteworthy that the complex of buildings itself was built in a mixed style. Both European style and purely Japanese are presented here.

But the palace became the residence of the Japanese emperors only in the 19th century, in 1873. Almost immediately after that, the most important castle of the complex burned down. Construction began on a new one, which was completed by 1888.

The next time the Castle suffered at the end of the 2nd World War. It was rebuilt according to the updated project.

At the moment, part of the complex is available to anyone and can be visited without any problems.

Potala is, for sure, one of the most famous palaces in the world.

Indeed, since the 7th century AD, this complex has been the home and official residence of the Dalai Lama. Now here is the Museum. Also, the palace is a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism and the center of everything that surrounds the mysteries of Tibet.

The entire complex of buildings includes the Red and White Palaces. They were built in the middle of the Lhasa Valley on Red Mountain. Height above sea level - 3700 meters.

How difficult was it for its builders at such a height? Just imagine the dimensions of the palace - 350 meters wide and 400 meters long, the thickness of the walls varies from 3 to 5 meters. To minimize damage from frequent earthquakes, the foundation was made of copper.

The Potala consists of almost 1,000 rooms (999 to be exact), more than 200,000 statues and 10,000 temples. The building is 117 meters high. Top - Marpo Ri - Red Hill.

Schönbrunn was for several hundred years the residence of the emperors of Austria.
It is noteworthy that this complex has a zoo, which is rightfully the oldest in the world.

The imperial family began to live in this castle from the middle of the 17th century, but already at the end of the century, in 1683, the castle was badly damaged by the attack of the Turkish army. They began to build it again in 1700, but the Palace of Versailles was already taken as a basis. In the middle of the 18th century, or rather in 1752, a zoo was also founded.

The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his queen, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth in 1631. A little later, after the completion of the construction of the Palace, the Emperor was overthrown by his own son and placed under arrest in the Red Fort, where he could admire his creation for the rest of his life. After his death, the former emperor was buried next to his wife.

For the construction of this grand structure 1,000 elephants and 22,000 people were involved. The best materials were used, which were brought from all over the world. For 17 long years, the construction of this monumental structure went on. According to legend, a twin palace made of black marble was supposed to be located on the other side of the river, but it was not completed.

Taj Mahal - a complex of buildings, has a size of 300 meters by 630 meters. The design is almost completely symmetrical: the main building is surrounded by 4 minarets in each corner, 2 mosques on the sides, in front of the building big garden, divided into 4 squares, a long pool stretches in the center, in which the entire grandiose complex is reflected.

Among the most attractive tourist attractions in many countries are ancient castles and palaces. Once they were the residences of monarchs, many of them are to this day. We present a list of the most beautiful castles and palaces of the world, visiting which is worth the journey, which sometimes needs to be overcome, once in a particular country.

List of beautiful castles and palaces

1. Chambord, France
2. Ussay, France
3. Schönbrunn, Austria
4. Matsumoto, Japan
5. Ashford, Ireland
6. Fasilides, Ethiopia
7. Schwerin, Germany
8. Versailles, France
9. Grand Palace, Thailand
10. Peles, Romania
11. Neuschwanstein, Germany
12. Royal Palace, Cambodia
13. Buckingham Palace, England
14. Bran, Romania
15. Windsor Castle, England
16. Frontenac, Canada
17. Petrodvorets, Russia

Photos taken from Instagram accounts.

Chambord Castle, France

The largest, most beautiful and majestic castle in the Loire Valley was built by order of François I and it plunges you into the heart of the Renaissance. Chambord is built in the heart of the largest closed forest park in Europe and has hardly ever been inhabited.

What impresses him the most appearance reminiscent of fairytale castles, its square and the double staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Chambord Castle in 1981 listed world heritage UNESCO.

Usse Castle, France

This castle overlooking the river Indre is also located in the Loire Valley. The main building in the form of a fortress was built in the 11th century. In 1442, on its ruins, Jean V de Buel (Lord of Usset and captain of King Charles VII) began the construction of the current castle, which is currently owned by the Blacas family. Today the building is open to the public, and to add to the charm of the place, a visitor's tour of the castle includes a viewing of the tale of Sleeping Beauty.

Schönbrunn Castle, Austria

In the middle of the 18th century, Maria Theresa (from the Habsburg family) ordered to restore this majestic building which served as her summer residence. The baroque décor was replaced by rococo, and the transformation resulted in large-scale rooms such as the large gallery, which is 40 meters long and 10 meters wide.

Schonbrunn impresses not only with its rich decoration, extensive baroque gardens, which are included in the World Heritage List. The territory of the park includes a giant labyrinth (built in 1720), a zoo (1752) and the world's longest greenhouse (dating back to the middle of the 18th century).

Matsumoto Castle, Japan

Matsumoto Castle is one of four castles designated as national cultural heritage Japan. Built around 1593-1594, Matsumoto differs from other buildings of its kind in that it stands on a flat surface of the soil, and not on a hill, as it seems at first glance. And it has not 5, but 6 floors.

Ashford Castle, Ireland

This castle was built in 1228 on the north bank of Lough Corrib, and throughout its existence it passed into the possession of different owners. In the 19th century, when the castle was in the possession of the Guinness family, it underwent significant changes under the influence of the Victorian style. In 1939, the building became the property of Noel Huggart, who turned it into a luxurious five-star hotel.

Fasilides Castle, Ethiopia

In 1636, the Ethiopian Emperor Fasilides settled in Gondar and made it his capital. He founded Fasil Gebbi, a fortified city that is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its territory includes monasteries, public and private institutions, royal residences. imperial city has more than one medieval castle, but Fasilides is the main and most impressive one.

Schwerin Castle, Germany

In 1160, on the site of the recently burned down Slavic fortress, Heinrich the Lion built the fortified castle of Schwerin. Later, from 1843 to 1857, grandiose reconstruction works were carried out here, which laid the foundation for the majestic castle that stands today on the island of Schwerin. Since 1990 the castle has been the seat of parliament federal state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Palace of Versailles, France

Excessive luxury, dizzying opulence, imperial chic... These are the words that best describe this embodiment of classic French art, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The former hunting lodge of Louis XIII was converted into a palace during the reign of Louis XIV.

Versailles is also famous for its gardens, which required forty years of work and the efforts of thousands of people. It is in these gardens that the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon palaces are located - favorite place rest of Marie Antoinette.

Grand Palace, Thailand

Its construction began during the reign of Rama I in 1782, but it was later expanded by other rulers. The construction was completed in the second half of the 19th century. The body of this amazing palace covers about 218,000 m² and includes other buildings, including the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which houses famous statue from jade. Today it hosts foreign leaders and dignitaries of the Buddhist clergy, invited by the ruler, who sits in the Chitralada Palace.

Peles Castle, Romania

This is one of the first castles in Europe to have electricity. Construction began in 1873 under the reign of Prince Carol I of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and continued for more than ten years. The 160 rooms of the castle show an eclecticism of different styles, including German baroque, rococo and Moorish style.

Among the most impressive halls are the armories, which contain about 400 weapons, including the executioner's sword, once used to behead the nobility, oriental sword samurai, swords made of ivory and sapphires.

Castle of the Teutonic Order, Poland

It is one of the most important monuments erected by the Knights of the Teutonic Order, monks from the monastic state of Prussia who fought against the pagans. Construction of the castle began in 1270. Its brick hue is stunning when combined with bright green vegetation. The Teutonic Order Castle is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

It is called the "Castle of the Fairy King" because it embodies exactly how we imagine castles and palaces from fairy tales and legends. The construction of the castle began in 1868 and continued for twenty years.

The construction of Neuschwanstein took place under the decree of Ludwig II, who was famous for his low sociability. For him, it was supposed to be a refuge that embodies the world of fantasy. The decor of the building reflects medieval legends, which inspired Wagner, and the paintings that adorn its walls are inspired by the operas of the composer, a close friend of the king.

Every year, about 1.3 million people come here to admire the dazzling beauty of this castle, which is today one of the most visited in Europe.

Royal Palace, Cambodia

The palace, built in 1866 during the reign of King Norodom, has an area of ​​183,135 m2, including grandiose buildings that have been built over the years. Among them there is a dazzling throne room with a 59 m high tower.

The palace is used for important ceremonies such as the coronation of monarchs or for royal weddings. The throne room serves as a meeting place for the current king of Cambodia with honored guests.

Buckingham Palace, England

At first it was a hotel, then it became a private mansion, turning into a palace at the beginning of the 19th century, during the reign of George IV. The king died before the work was completed, and Queen Victoria became the first monarch to settle here in 1837. Since then, Buckingham Palace has been one of the official residences of the British monarchy, enjoying its 775 rooms, including a sumptuous ballroom. Buckingham Palace is not private property: it belongs to England and is open to tourists for several weeks a year.

Peña National Palace, Portugal

The incredibly colorful palace could not go unnoticed with its combination of styles - Gothic, Egyptian and Moorish. Like the entire ensemble of Sintra, it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its construction began in the middle of the 19th century by order of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and ended in 1885. A few years later, in 1910, the palace became state property. Today it hosts music concerts and various exhibitions.

Bran Castle, Romania

Known around the world as "Dracula's castle", Bran attracts many tourists who want to get in touch with the legends surrounding this name. In reality, Vlad Tepes (the same Count Dracula) has never even been in this medieval castle. In 1377 King Louis I of Hungary built a fortress on top of Dietrich Rock, on the site of a former castle of the Teutonic Order. In 1920, the building passed into the possession of the Romanian royal family.

Windsor Castle, England

Windsor Castle is located in the suburbs of London, and unlike Buckingham Palace, which is open to visitors for a limited time, Windsor receives tourists regularly throughout the year. This is one of the residences of the royal family, which has owned the castle since the Middle Ages. The castle itself was built in the 13th century.

Frontenac Castle, Canada

Frontenac Castle is located in the Canadian province of Quebec, where it was built at the end of the 19th century under the direction of Canadian railway companies. Originally owned by Fairmont, this luxury hotel quickly became a symbol of Quebec.

Today Chateau Frontenac continues its work as a museum hotel, where you can admire antiques, beautiful paintings, dazzling gilding on the walls and ceiling. This castle is named after Count Louis de Buade de Frontenac. They say there are even ghosts here.

Petrodvorets, Russia

There is Versailles French, Austrian, and there is also Russian. Petrodvorets is located 29 km from St. Petersburg, on the Gulf of Finland. As the name suggests, it was once the residence of the Russian Emperor Peter the Great, who ordered its construction after visiting Versailles in 1717.

The magnificent facade of the palace stretches for 260 meters, but the most impressive is, of course, the interior, which includes many dazzling halls, salons and galleries.

The palace is associated with a simple layman with luxury and wealth that aristocratic or royal dynasties can afford. Sometimes palaces are residences where heads of state or high-ranking officials live or work. Sometimes the beauty and splendor of the interiors make one admire the refined taste of the owner, sometimes they surprise with their excessive magnificence. The ten largest palaces presented in our rating can easily be called examples of grace, style and an incredible flight of design ideas.

Pena Palace, Sintra, Portugal

Pena National Palace rises on a cliff right above the city and makes a fantastic impression on any person at first sight. The styles in which the building is made are a mix of pseudo-medieval, Moorish, eclectic and Manueline. The architect of the palace, a German, Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege, put his soul into his brainchild, thanks to which the descendants of the first kings who lived in Pena received 270 hectares of a complex of indescribable beauty at their disposal. The palace ensemble includes the building itself, part of the mountain and the adjacent park, made in the style of romantic architecture of the 19th century. The summer residence of Prince Ferdinand II was built in 1838, while the cost of the work, even at that time, was considered simply enormous. Previously, there was a monastery on this site, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1755. The palace could be the perfect setting for a costume film about the kings and queens of the past. Today, Pena is an architectural monument and, at the same time, a museum.

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Mysore Palace, Mysore, India

The second name is Amba Villas Palace, the object is located in the southern part of India, in the city of Mysore. The castle was once built as the official residence of the Wodeyar dynasty, who were local kings. In the city itself, an abundance of attractions is striking, and locals Mysore is called the "city of palaces", but the Amba Vilas citadel is the only one here. The modern version of the palace was built in the period from 1897 to 1912, today about 3 million people come here every year, who are allowed to inspect the building from the inside, since photography and filming are prohibited here. The architectural style of the palace is considered Indo-Saracenic, but in addition to it, the interior contains Gothic details, Islamic and Indian elements. The building has three floors, the facade is made of gray granite, and the marble domes are cast in soft pink, the 44-meter tower looks very original. The author of the project is Henry Irwin.

Versailles, Paris, France

Versailles is one of the most attractive and picturesque palace and park ensembles Fifth Republic. Initially, this place was a small hunting lodge, erected in 1624 at the direction of Louis XIII. The Palace of Versailles is made in a classical style with baroque details and is an example of true French architectural art of the 17th-18th centuries. The construction was supervised by Lee Levo, who personally thought through every detail that meets the canons of classicism: decor elements are arranged strictly symmetrically, the facade with a colonnade gives the building solidity, and mythical and ancient sculptures unobtrusively decorate the entrance portals. Versailles is not in vain considered one of the largest palaces in the world: inside the building there are more than 2 thousand rooms and other premises, about 2,100 windows, 1252 fireplaces and almost 70 flights of stairs.

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Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria

Schönbrunn is known throughout the world as summer residence Habsburgs. Today, the delightful and sophisticated palace is one of the most visited attractions in the Austrian capital. The architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach immediately decided to create a building in the Baroque style. The palace turned out to be incredibly large - there are 1441 spacious rooms within its walls. The building was founded in 1638, construction continued from 1696 to 1712 under the close attention of Emperor Leopold I. After the Turks laid siege to Vienna and the city was partially destroyed, Schönbrunn also had to be restored. The following changes awaited the palace during the reign of Maria Theresa, who ordered part of the rooms to be decorated in the rococo style, so some rooms were decorated in snow-white color, and walls and ceilings began to be decorated with ornaments and patterns made of high-quality natural gold. The interior was completed with chandeliers made of world-famous Bohemian glass and stoves with original tiles.

Summer Imperial Palace, Beijing, China

The area of ​​the summer imperial residence of the Qin dynasty is 2.9 km2, the location of the architectural object is 15 km from the central part of Beijing. The garden and park ensemble includes more than 3 thousand buildings and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The name is translated from Chinese as "a garden in order to maintain harmony and health." In China, this building is the largest that has come down to us. imperial palace. It was first erected in 1750, however, constant wars and clashes did not have the best effect on the safety of the citadel, which was repeatedly restored, last time in the middle of the 19th century. The version that we see today was finally built in 1886, and has since been recognized as a masterpiece. landscape design. The palace complex includes about three thousand ancient structures created by skilled craftsmen. There are buildings on the territory, the area of ​​which exceeds 70,000 m2. Unique combination natural beauty, halls, pavilions, temples and bridges makes this architectural ensemble one of the largest in the world.

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Chambord, Loire, France

Chambord Castle was built at the direction of King Francis I for romantic dates with his favorite - Countess Turi. Construction lasted almost 30 years from 1519 to 1547 under the guidance of the architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart. Chambord is called a masterpiece of design ideas, one of the best buildings made in the style of the Renaissance. Every day, about 2,000 workers of various specialties worked here, and more than 220 thousand tons of stone were used for the foundation alone. For the greatest stability, carpenters drove piles into the ground to a depth of more than 12 meters, which was unbelievable for that time. During its history, the palace has changed many rulers - from the Dukes of Orleans, Louis XIII and Stanislav Leshchinsky to Napoleon Bonaparte and the Dukes of Parma. Chambord was bought by the state in 1930, and since 1952 it has become a full-fledged museum, which has more than 400 rooms, 282 fireplaces, 77 stairs and 800 capitals.

Buckingham Palace, London, UK

There are few people who do not know that Buckingham Palace is the official residence of British royalty. In 1705 the building was built by the Duke of Buckingham as Vacation home, but in 1761 the palace was bought for his wife by King George III. The next monarch, George IV, wished to expand the house and invited the architect John Nash to do this. Officially, the first who began to live here permanently was Queen Victoria, who also made some adjustments to its interior. During her lifetime, the East Wing was built, which is famous for incredible amount rooms and a 40-meter hall where balls were held. Most of the photographs popular all over the world depict the eastern part of the palace. For those wishing to admire a sample of true English architecture, the castle opens its doors in August and September each year.

Alhambra, Granada, Spain

The Alhambra is an amazing architectural and park complex that stretches on the hills of southern Spain. Initially, a fortress was erected on this site in 889, and only four and a half centuries later, Sultan Yusuf turned the building into a royal palace. Christian rulers also appreciated the favorable location of the citadel and its extraordinary beauty. After Emperor Charles V lived in Granada for several months, he ordered some changes to be made to the interior of the palace. Each subsequent owner of the house considered it his duty to equip it to his liking, change the design, decor elements, reconstruct individual rooms. Unfortunately, from the 18th to the end of the 19th century, the castle fell into disrepair, thieves and beggars lived here, and under Napoleon its luxurious rooms became barracks for soldiers. Only since 1870, the Alhambra was officially proclaimed as a national treasure, and since then tourists from all over the world come to see this pearl.

Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet

The Potala Royal Palace is located in the Tibetan Autonomy, on picturesque hill Marpo Ri. The uniqueness of the structure lies in the fact that this structure is located above all the most ancient world citadels - at an altitude of 3767 meters. The name of the complex is given by the name of the sacred Indian mountain, which is translated from Sanskrit as "Buddha of Mercy". The palace was the residence of the Dalai Lama, however, after the leader of the Buddhists was forced to flee to India, the ensemble became a museum that annually receives thousands of tourists from all over the world. The palace consists of two buildings - the Red one, which includes places of worship, and the White one, which is the administrative center.

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Forbidden City, Beijing, China

The largest palace complex ever built in the world - the structure is a rectangle with sides of 961 meters by 753 meters. In Chinese, the name sounds like Zijincheng and literally translates as "Purple Forbidden City". The majestic and luxurious architectural ensemble was built in the period from 1406 to 1420 AD. and was the residence of 24 emperors of two dynasties of Chinese rulers - Ming and Qing for 500 years. Inside the Forbidden City, 980 various structures and buildings were erected, and the total area of ​​​​the imperial palace exceeds 720 thousand m2!

Determining the world's largest palace is quite difficult, since many countries use different standards by which they consider their palaces to be the largest. In fact, even the very definition of a palace is quite ambiguous.

Some sources claim that the palace was supposed to serve as a royal residence at least once, while another commonly used definition states that the palace is the official residence of a ruler, head of state (monarch or president), archbishop or bishop.

However, despite these disagreements, there is a generally accepted classification of the largest palaces in the world, and you can familiarize yourself with it in this post.

From the Royal Palace in Brussels to the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, here are the 25 largest palaces in the world!

25. Royal Palace of Brussels, Belgium

Situated in front of the Brussels Park in the center of the Belgian capital, the Royal Palace is the official residence of the King and Queen of Belgium. Built in neoclassical architectural style, the palace has an area of ​​over 33,000 sq. m.

24. Mafra National Palace, Mafra, Portugal


Mafra National Palace is a monumental baroque and Italianized neoclassical palace-monastery located in the Portuguese city of Mafra. In 1910 announced national monument The palace covers an area of ​​almost 40,000 sq. m.

23. Grand Serail, Beirut, Lebanon


Also known as the Government Palace, the Grand Palace is the headquarters of the Lebanese Prime Minister. Built in 1853, it is an important historical building and a stunning example of Ottoman architecture. The palace has an area of ​​40,000 sq. m.

22. Hampton Court Palace, Richmond Upon Thames, UK


One of the most significant palaces in the UK, Hampton Court is 1,000 rooms, 60 acres (almost 24 hectares) of English gardens and 750 acres (about 303.5 hectares) of royal park. Originally built as a royal palace, it is now open to the general public. Hampton Court has an area of ​​47.330 sq. m.

21. Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen, Denmark


Seat of the Danish Parliament, Prime Minister's Office and Supreme Court, Christiansborg Palace has over 800 years of center history state power as a royal palace and parliament. Completed in 1928, it covers an area of ​​51.660 sq. m.

20. Windsor Castle, Windsor, UK


Built in the 11th century after Norman conquest England, Windsor Castle is the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world, as well as the longest occupied royal palace in Europe. Being interesting combination original gothic elements with Victorian architecture design, the castle covers an area of ​​55.000 sq. m.

19. Winter Palace, Saint-Petersburg, Russia


nestled between Palace embankment And Palace Square in the central part of St. Petersburg, the Winter Palace from 1732 to 1917 was the official residence of the Russian emperors. Built on a monumental scale to reflect might tsarist Russia The palace covers an area of ​​60,000 sq. m.

18. Royal Palace of Caserta (Palace of Caserta), Caserta, Italy


Located in Caserta, in southern Italy, the Royal Palace was built for the Bourbons in the second half of the 18th century. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, the Royal Palace of Caserta is the largest royal palace in the world in terms of volume (2,000,000 cubic meters) and 18th in area (61,000 square meters).

17. Stockholm Royal Palace (Royal Palace of Stockholm), Stockholm, Sweden


Located on the island of Stadholmen (Stockholm), Stockholm Palace is the official residence and main royal palace of the Swedish monarchy. The palace has 1430 rooms and has an area of ​​61.210 square meters. m.

16. Palace of Versailles, Versailles, France


Located 20 kilometers southwest of the central part French capital, The Palace of Versailles was the seat of French political power from 1682 to 1789 (until the royal family was forced to return to the capital after the start of the French Revolution). Known as a symbol of the system of absolute monarchy, the palace covers an area of ​​67,000 sq. m.

15. Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey


Built in the 15th century, Topkapı Palace was one of the main residences of the Turkish sultans for nearly 400 years. At its peak, the palace was home to 4,000 people. Today it serves as a museum and a major tourist attraction in Turkey. The palace has an area of ​​70,000 sq. m.

14. Prague Castle(Prague Castle), Prague, Czech Republic


Dating back to the 9th century, Prague Castle is one of the oldest and largest royal palaces in the world. It was the seat of government for the kings of Bohemia, the Holy Roman Emperors and the presidents of Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic. Attracting 1.8 million tourists annually, the palace covers an area of ​​70,000 sq. m.

13. Buckingham Palace, London, UK


Located in Westminster in Central London, Buckingham Palace is the London seat and administrative headquarters of the ruling monarchy of the United Kingdom. The palace has 775 rooms, a large garden of 40 acres (almost 16 hectares) and has an area of ​​77,000 square meters. m.

12. Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad, India


Translated meaning "like the sky" or "mirror of the sky", Falaknuma is a large palace located in Hyderabad, the capital of the Indian state of Telangana. Completed in 1893, the palace is now used as a hotel. It covers an area of ​​94.000 sq. m.

11. Quirinal Palace, Rome, Italy


Situated on the Quirinal Hill, the highest of the seven hills of Rome, the Quirinal Palace was once papal palace and is now the official residence of the President of Italy. It was home to 30 popes, 4 kings of Italy and 12 presidents of Italy. With an area of ​​110.500 sq. m, it is 20 times larger than the White House in Washington.

10. Royal Palace of Madrid (Royal Palace of Madrid), Madrid, Spain


Completed in 1755, the Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish royal family, but is used only for state ceremonies. With an incredible number of rooms - 3148 - it is currently the largest functioning palace in Europe. Its area is 135.000 sq. m.

9. Castle in Malbork (Malbork Castle), Poland


Originally erected as a fortress by the Teutonic Knights, the German spiritual and knightly order of the Crusaders, Malbork Castle served as one of several Polish castles. royal residences. Today, the castle hosts exhibitions and houses a museum. With an area of ​​143.000 sq. m, it is the 9th largest palace in the world.

8. forbidden city(Forbidden City), Beijing, China


The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty (1420 to 1912). Located in the center of Beijing, it served as a home for the emperors and their household, as well as a ceremonial and political center the Chinese government. It consists of 980 individual buildings and has total area 150.000 sq. m.

7. Apostolic Palace, Vatican


Located in the Vatican, the Apostolic Palace is the official residence of the Pope. The building houses the Pontifical Apartments, various institutions of the Roman Catholic Church, private and public chapels, the Vatican Museums and the Vatican Library. The total area of ​​the palace is 162,000 sq. m.

6. Istana Nurul Iman, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei


Completed in 1984, the $1.5 billion palace is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei and the seat of the government of Brunei. After its completion, Istana Nurul Iman became the world's largest residential palace ever built. It has an area of ​​200.000 sq. m.

5. Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, India


Formerly known as the residence of the Viceroy, Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official home of the President of India. Located at the western end of the ceremonial Rajpath Avenue in New Delhi, the palace has a total area of ​​200,000 sq. m, making it the 5th largest palace in the world.

4. Aksaray, Ankara, Turkey


Located in Ankara, Aksaray is presidential palace Turkey. It has at least 1150 rooms, there are additional guest houses, Botanical Garden, a park, a convention center, an operational headquarters with satellite and military communications systems, as well as bunkers capable of withstanding the use of biological, nuclear and chemical weapons. The palace has an area of ​​200.000 sq. m.

3. Louvre Palace, Paris, France


Originally acting as a fortress built in medieval period, the Louvre became a royal palace in the 14th century under Charles V, and was occasionally used by the kings of France as their main Parisian residence. Today most of The building is used as a museum. The palace covers an area of ​​210,000 sq. m.

2. Hofburg Palace, Vienna, Austria


Built in the 13th century and greatly expanded since then, the Hofburg is a former imperial palace that has housed some of the most powerful people in European and Austrian history, including the Habsburg monarchs and the rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The palace has 2600 rooms and has an area of ​​240,000 sq. m.

1. Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, Romania


Located in the central part of Bucharest, the Palace of the Parliament is the seat of the Romanian Parliament. As the largest palace in the world, it is also the heaviest building in the world, the second largest administrative building in the world, and the fourth largest building in the world. The palace has an area of ​​330.000 sq. m.
photos: wikipedia.org