Names of fortresses and castles. The most beautiful castles in the world: rating, names, interesting facts and reviews
Since childhood, many dream to visit the present fairytale castle. We present a list of the most beautiful and famous castles and palaces in the world. You can use it to plan trips, or you can just admire the buildings and marvel at the imagination of architects and the skill of builders.
Rating principles
Almost every country in the world has its own castles built in different time, for different purposes, different styles. But in the list of "10 most beautiful castles of the world" only the most deserving can enter. How to choose them? The criteria were: the organic connection of the structure and landscape, the originality of the architectural solution, the grandeur of the idea. Such parameters, of course, include many buildings in the world, but let's focus on the most famous of them.
Neuschwanstein
List of "Most beautiful castles of the world”, certainly deserves to open a fabulous castle in Bavaria - Neuschwanstein. By order of the Bavarian King Louis II in 1896, the architect Christian Jank began to build a unique building - Neuschwanstein Castle near Swan Lake, high in the mountains. The structure is spectacularly inscribed in the landscape, the castle looks organically growing out of the rocks and the forest, its white pointed towers look spectacular in the clouds and fog, which are not uncommon here. The idea of building a castle was inspired by Wagner's opera Lohengrin. Appearance buildings absorbed all the romantic trends of the late 19th century. The chambers of the castle amaze with harmony and luxury, wall paintings, rooms in different colors and comfort made the castle a favorite refuge of the king. Near him, unfortunately, Louis ended his earthly journey.
Chambord
Many of the most beautiful castles in the world are concentrated in a valley in France, one of the most famous among them is Chambord. It was built as a hunting lodge of King Francis the first, where he rested after a hard day. The building was erected on the banks of the Kosson River, in which it is so effectively reflected. In terms of style, the castle is an example of the transition from medieval architecture to the Renaissance, there is a version that Leonardo da Vinci took part in the development of the project. Next to the park there is a beautiful regular park in which rare plants. The interiors of the castle corresponded to its purpose - entertainment and fun. The famous double staircase of Chambord is a masterpiece of architectural thought, its design was created by the great Leonardo. It will take more than one day to get around the 440 rooms of the residence, but several hours will be enough to inspect the main chambers.
Mont Saint Michel
One of the oldest fortresses in Europe - Mont Saint-Michel is rightfully included in the list of "Most beautiful palaces and castles of the world. The monastery-fortress dates back to 708, when a monk was ordered to build a monastery on an island off the coast. Atlantic Ocean. The location on the top of an impregnable cliff made the fortress invulnerable, and today such an original location attracts an endless series of tourists here. The castle is built in its brutal walls and towers make an indelible impression with their power. Inside the castle, you can see a collection of antique ancient books and jewels.
Conwy (Conway)
Listing the most beautiful castles in the world, the names of which excite the soul of travelers, it is worth remembering the castle-fortress in Wales, Conwy from the time of Edward the First. The castle was built with the unique landscape in mind, it rises on a rocky ledge washed by the waters of the Conway River. The relief fortress with battlements and massive towers was part of the fortifications called the "iron ring". The castle had to prove its reliability more than once. And today it makes a strong impression, its thick stone walls and brutal architecture evoke thoughts of power and might. The fortress was built by one of the most famous military architects of that time, James. Today, Conwy is one of the best preserved castles in Wales. Its eight round towers more than once became the scenery for movies and photo shoots.
De la Pena
Describing the most beautiful castles from all over the world, one cannot ignore the most romantic building in the Portuguese Sintra - the Pena Palace. In the middle of the 19th century, on the site of a dilapidated monastery, a summer castle was built for King Ferdinand II. Architect Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege created a unique building that absorbed the best trends of romanticism of that time. The building combines Manueline features and Pena Castle makes an indelible impression with its brightness, the combination of elements of the Middle Ages and the refined Manueline style. Its diverse turrets, battlements and luxurious park make it a real castle for a princess. Around the palace there is a magnificent park-forest, in which eucalyptus trees, roses and many other plants are fragrant.
Hurst
Despite short story, The United States also contributed to the creation of castles, and the list of "The most beautiful castles in the world" cannot do without mentioning Hearst Castle. This historical monument began to be built on the California coast since the late 19th century, but the main buildings were erected in the early 20th century. Some of the buildings are designed in Mexican colonial style, and the main building - in the Spanish style, for him the architect bought carved ceilings in Spain for whole rooms. Broken on a vast adjacent territory magnificent garden with many sculptures and fountains. The park has a luxurious decorated with columns and a portico in the ancient Greek style, big amount statues around. During the life of the owner, there was a zoo here, but later it was disbanded due to high cost content.
Dannotar
All the most beautiful castles in the world have their own history, and the Scottish fortress of Dunnottar is also unique. It stands on a high cliff above the sea since the 7th century, and at one time was the country itself. Today, the state of the castle does not allow living in it, but you can walk here. Powerful medieval stone structures that have survived secret passages allow you to feel the power that the castle had during its heyday. He had to endure many attacks, and he withstood them with honor, but he failed to survive the test of time. Walking around the castle amaze with the grandeur of the building and the grandeur of the builders of the past.
Matsumoto
Japan is famous for its unique buildings made in the traditional style. And the names of beautiful castles are also poetic with deep meaning. For its black color and wide "wings" of the roof, the castle in Matsumoto is called the "Crow". It was built in the 16th century by order of the head of the Takeda clan. Today, the castle is considered the most beautiful in Japan, its architectural style called "Hirajiro", which is associated with its inscription in the flat landscape. Beautiful multi-tiered pagoda towers are spectacularly reflected in the water of the moat surrounding the castle. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom in the castle garden, and tourists from all over the world come here to see a picture of stunning harmony. In autumn, a unique moon festival is held here and the Japanese come to the park to watch the moon rise above the towers, reflected in the waters of the moat and a cup of sake, which is an indispensable attribute of the ritual.
Himeji - Egret Castle
Another beautiful castle in Japan stands in the city of Himeji, it also has a poetic name - White Heron Castle. This building impresses with its harmony, sharp lines and incredible elegance. The castle was built at the end of the 14th century and served as a model for subsequent buildings for many centuries. The castle is organically integrated into the hilly landscape and is surrounded by a garden in the form of a spiral labyrinth. This was done in case of an attack by enemies so that they could not immediately reach the building. Himeji is the only castle in Japan that has never suffered from earthquakes, but fires have caused some damage to it. Various films were filmed on the territory of the castle, various festivals and holidays are held here every year. Himeji - favorite place for Japanese travel.
Alhambra
Our list must include Spanish fortress Alhambra near Granada. This palace complex, stunning in its scope, began to be built in the 13th century during the Nasrid dynasty, when Granada became the capital. The composition of the palace is created by light and water. In every yard there is a place to hide from the soaring sun and enjoy the murmur of water. by the most famous objects in the Alhambra are the Lion's Courtyard with a fountain in the center, the Myrtle Courtyard with a symmetrical composition of trimmed plants, the Hall of Stalactites, in which the ceiling is decorated with amazing wooden carvings, the Golden Room. A huge garden with various buildings adjoins the palace, in which thousands of roses and fruit trees grow.
Full list
Listing the most beautiful castles in the world from France to Japan, it is impossible to limit yourself to 10 names. Indeed, around the world there are many buildings worthy of admiration. I would also like to add to the list of beauties such masterpieces of architecture as Prague Castle, Hohenzollern, Catherine Palace, Versailles, Potala Palace in Nepal, Castel Sant'Angelo, Chenonceau, Peles, Schwerin, Eltz, Alcazar, Quinta da Regaleira.
The most beautiful castles in the world: medieval, ancient and modern. Castles of Europe. Photos and videos about best castles peace.
Castles are perhaps the most beautiful and majestic sights of many cities. They are reminiscent of the Middle Ages, knights, romance. A halo of legends always winds around these majestic buildings, myths are composed. The oldest castles in the world have stood for over a thousand years! So, the royal residence of Loches, standing near french river Indre in the Loire Valley, was laid out around 1005. Until now, this building is in excellent condition, it withstood sieges, in which Joan of Arc persuaded Charles to be crowned.
Many cities survived in the Middle Ages only because they were under the protection of castles. For example, Torre de Belem in Lisbon was erected near the entrance to the Lisbon harbor, one might say, literally on the water, that is, on a small island. To this day, the capital of Portugal is proud of its castle. It has become a landmark of the entire state.
Some legends always spread around these romantic buildings, which take their roots from antiquity, but even today inspire respect and fear. The famous Blickling Hall - english castle in Norfolk County, built back in the 16th century, is considered one of the most famous haunted houses.
There were many witnesses who claimed to have seen in its rooms and halls the ghost of Anne Boleyn, who was killed by order of Henry VIII.
Previous photo 1/ 1 Next photo
Today, the castles store unique exhibits that are of interest to culturologists and historians. For example, in the Japanese castle of Inuyama, standing on the banks of the Kiso River, considered one of the oldest in the country, a unique collection of weapons and armor used by real samurai is now assembled. You can find such artifacts far from everywhere. But in the museum organized here, they are securely kept by its caretakers.
The famous Blickling Hall - an English castle in the county of Norfolk, built in the 16th century, is considered one of the most famous haunted houses...
But not all castles, which attract thousands and millions of tourists a year, were built in the Middle Ages. There are also modern record holders. For example, in the USA in Orlando (Florida) stands the world-famous Cinderella Castle. The construction of the second half of the 20th century is one of the main attractions of the world's most popular Walt Disney Park.
Not only European, Asian and American cities. There are unique buildings in Africa. The city of Cape Coast in Ghana has one of the oldest castles on the continent. It has the same name as the city and attracts many tourists, as it houses the world's largest museum of the slave trade.
The most beautiful castles in the world
Chillon Castle
The best countries and destinations for sightseeing tours
All articles about excursion tours on the "Subtlety"
- Austria Vienna
- Balkans: Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey (Istanbul), Croatia and Montenegro
- United Kingdom: England, London and its 10 free attractions, Scotland
- Spain: Barcelona and Madrid
- Italy: Venice, Rome, Sicily
- Baltic States: Latvia (Riga)
- Scandinavia: Norway, Finland
- France: Paris and its
The words "castle" and "castle" in Russian are really related - the castle "locks", blocks the way for enemies. In the Middle Ages, these powerful buildings played an important role in wars.
The first such structures were built in Western Europe in the IX-XX centuries. It was, as a rule, a wooden palisade (palisade), enclosing the yard and standing on a bulk hill, a donjon tower. Outside, a ditch was often dug, over which a bridge was thrown. Not a single building could do without loopholes through which it was possible to shoot back from uninvited guests or pour boiling tar on them, according to medieval custom. Later, the design became more complicated, castles began to be built of stone, but the essence remained the same. Approximately such an evolution - from the wooden palisade of William the Conqueror to the current chic and huge palace - over the 1000 years of its existence, the famous Windsor Castle, the residence of the British royal family, has passed.
Chenonceau castle, France
Interestingly, since most warriors were right-handed, spiral staircases the towers were built clockwise, this gave one more advantage over the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. True, sometimes the owner of the castle was also left-handed - then the stairs had to be built counterclockwise, which created some inconvenience for other right-handed warriors. The fortresses of Fernihurst in Scotland and the Wallenstein family in Germany are such examples.
The castles of Japan also had their own military tricks: for example, they learned about scouts with the help of nightingale (singing) floors. When someone stepped on the floorboards, they made a sound like birdsong. The most famous such castle - Ninomaru - is located in Kyoto.
Today, castles are an integral part of travel itineraries. Many fortresses house hotels or museums. Once upon a time, castles were just defensive structures, but today they inspire many writers, poets and just tourists with their romantic halo. Unapproachable and mysterious, hiding dark secrets and ghosts behind high walls, stories great love and knightly prowess - the most beautiful castles in the world in our photo selection.
It has a "popular" name - " lady's castle". One of the most beloved, famous and visited castles in France. Privately owned but open to the public
Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome, Italy
Cochem Castle, Germany
It was first documented in 1051.
Dunnottar Castle - medieval castle on east coast Scotland
Edinburgh castle — ancient fortress on Castle Rock in the center of the Scottish capital - Edinburgh
Hearst Castle ("Hearst Castle"), California, USA
National Historic Landmark on Pacific coast California. The house has 56 bedrooms, 61 restrooms, 19 living rooms, on the estate there are several swimming pools and tennis courts, a cinema, an airfield and the world's largest private zoo (currently without animals)
Herstmonceau Castle, built in the 15th century, is located 10 km northeast of Eastbourne. This is the oldest in England large building brick
Hohenwerfen Castle is located in Austria, on a peak 155 m above the Salzach river valley, 40 km from Salzburg
Hohenzollern Castle - an ancient castle-fortress in Baden-Württemberg, Germany
First time medieval castle fortress mentioned in 1267, but it is assumed that it was built earlier, in the XI century
The castle is located at an altitude of 855 m above sea level on a separate standing grief named Hohenzollern. Among local population this mountain is better known as Zollenberg, or simply Zoller
Today the castle is a popular tourist attraction.
The Rock of Cashel, also known as St. Patrick's Rock, is located in the town of Cashel in the county of South Tipperary in Ireland. Was the seat of the kings of Ireland for several hundred years before the Norman invasion
Lichtenstein Castle is a 19th-century "fairytale castle" in the town of Honau, in the municipality of Lichtenstein in Baden-Württemberg
Located at an altitude of 817 m. Today the castle is open to visitors. It houses a large collection of historical weapons and armor.
Matsumoto Castle is an ancient Japanese castle in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture.
Monastery of Pantanassa, Mystras, Greece
Pena Palace is a palace in Portugal, located on high rock over Sintra and has a fantastic pseudo-medieval style
The whole composition of the mountain, the castle and the adjacent park with an area of 270 hectares is one of the earliest examples of romantic landscape 19th architecture century. The castle and the park appeared in 1840 as a summer royal residence on the site of a small abandoned monastery.
Quinta da Regaleira, Portugal
Palace and park complex, on the territory of which there is a romantic neo-Gothic palace, a chapel and a park with lakes, grottoes, fountains and various architectural vagaries
It is named after the Baroness Regaleira, who acquired the estate in 1840, also known as the palace of the millionaire Monteiro
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, India
Mont Saint Michel, France
This is a small rocky island, turned into an island-fortress, on the northwest coast of France.
Neuschwanstein Castle, literally "New Swan Stone (cliff)" - romantic castle Bavarian king Ludwig II near the town of Füssen and Hohenschwangau Castle in southwestern Bavaria, not far from the Austrian border. One of the most popular tourist destinations in southern Germany
Pyotr Tchaikovsky was fascinated by the view of Neuschwanstein - and it was here, as historians believe, that the idea for the ballet was born " Swan Lake»
Sité, or the fortress of Carcassonne, is a medieval architectural ensemble located in French city Carcassonne in the department of Aude
The fortress stands on the right bank of the Ode River, southeast of modern city
Bird home, Crimea
Moritzburg Castle, Germany
The Alhambra (“red castle”) is an architectural and park ensemble located on a hilly terrace in the eastern part of the city of Granada in Southern Spain
Trakai Island Castle is the largest surviving castle in Lithuania ancient castles
Vischering Castle, Lüdinghausen, Germany
Furnihurst fortress in Scotland
Ninomaru Castle, Japan
Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
This fairy-tale castle is the historical possession of the Prussian kings and German emperors. It was built during the Middle Ages, in the 11th century, then was completely destroyed in 1423 and rebuilt in 1461. The castle is located on the top of the Hohenzollern mountain, about 50 kilometers south of Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg.
Castle Howard, England
Despite the fact that this building looks like a castle, Howard is actually just luxury home is the private residence of the Howard family, who have lived there for over 300 years. This house is located in North Yorkshire and is one of the largest residences in the UK. Its construction began at the end of the 17th century and lasted about 15 years. Castle surround fairy gardens, as well as endless spacious meadows.
Alcazar in Segovia, Spain
Segovia Castle, located in central Spain, was originally (in the 12th century) used as a fortress. Outwardly, the Alcazar resembles the bow of a ship - unique feature which distinguishes it from other castles. It served as the inspiration for many castles in Walt Disney films.
Himeji Castle, Japan
Himeji Castle, also known as White Heron Castle, is a magnificent white complex of 83 wooden buildings. One of the castle's most extraordinary defenses is the spiral labyrinth with many dead ends leading to the main watchtower. The gates and courtyard of the castle are built in such a way that people entering there get lost. The castle was built in the 14th century and is located in the city of Kansai, Japan.
Prague Castle, Czech
Prague Castle is one of the largest and oldest castles in the world, and is also a symbol of the capital of the Czech Republic. The castle is 570 meters long and 130 meters wide. Every architectural style of the last millennium is represented in this building, from Gothic and Romanesque to Baroque. The construction of the very first buildings of the complex dates back to the beginning of the 9th century.
Peles Castle, Romania
located in picturesque place on Carpathian mountains in Romania, Peles Castle is a truly fabulous building. Construction began in 1873. Workers from different countries. Queen Elizabeth of Romania said: “The Italians were masons, the Romanians built terraces, the gypsies worked as laborers. Albanians and Greeks laid stones, Germans and Hungarians were carpenters. The Turks burned bricks. Designed by Poles, stone carvers were Czechs. The French drew, and the British measured…” Presumably, workers speaking 14 languages took part in the construction.
Chambord Castle, France
It is known that Chambord was used only as a hunting lodge. The view of this castle is quite impressive. Interestingly, the location of this castle was chosen by King Francis I, as he wanted to be closer to his beloved lady, Claude Roen, whose palace was next door. The huge castle has 440 rooms, 365 fireplaces and 84 staircases. This is the most big castle in the Loire Valley in France.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
The castle, whose reconstruction began in 1896, was designed by Christian Janck, commissioned by the Bavarian king Ludwig II, who was declared insane before the castle was completed. This explains a lot. The architecture, location and size of Neuschwanstein are impressive. Situated on a jagged hill in the southwest of Bavaria, today the castle is one of the most visited places by tourists.
Corfe Castle, England
Despite the fact that the ruins are all that remains of Corfe Castle, its fortifications still make a deep impression. The castle, located in the county of Dorset on the Isle of Purbeck, was built in the 9th century. However, there is a possibility that Korfe could have been built much earlier, and could also have served defensive structure in the fight against the Romans. The part of the building that can be seen today was reconstructed in the 11th century. Two centuries later, the fortress began to be used as a repository of royal jewels, as well as a prison.
Matsumoto Castle. Japan
The wonderful Matsumoto Castle is located in the city of Matsumoto near Tokyo. The castle was built in 1504 and is the National Treasure of Japan. The castle was inhabited until the middle of the 19th century. In 1868, during the reign of Emperor Meiji, the building was restored. However, due to the failure of the new government of Japan, it was decided to demolish the castle and sell the wood and iron from which it was built. In those days, this fate befell many castles. Matsumoto rescued locals by buying it out.
Eltz Castle, Germany
Eltz is another of Germany's outstanding castles. This stunning medieval building in southwestern Germany is still owned by the same family, who have been living here for over 800 years. Currently, the castle is owned by Count Karl von Eltz, a representative of the 33rd generation of the family.
Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
Built in the 13th century during the Viking Age, today Eilean Donan Castle is one of Scotland's most famous landmarks. The castle was probably named after Bishop Donan, who came to Scotland in the 6th century. The castle is located on an island surrounded by the stunning scenery of the Scottish Highlands. The fortress was rebuilt at least 4 times. For about 200 years, the castle lay in ruins (from the 18th to the 20th centuries). In 1932 it was restored and since then it has been open to visitors from all over the world.
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, for example, 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 a hunting lodge for Francis I and has a very clear view. 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. Appearance 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 educational institution 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 oldest castle in the world by the Guinness Book of Records, covering 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 Austria, Hochosterwitz is 160 meters high and can be seen for 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 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.
