Many people think castles are only part of stories and fairytales but in reality, there are many glorious and magnificent castles around the world. Here’s a list of luxurious palaces which hold rich history:
Château de Chambord, France
This castle located in Chambord, France is an incomplete building which comprises of French Renaissance style architecture. This palace was built to serve as a hunting lodge for François I. It opened to the public in 2007 and has drawn in more than 700,000 visitors till then.
Osaka Castle, Japan
Osaka Castle comprises of five storeys from the outside and eight storeys from the inside and was built atop a tall stone foundation. It is a small castle which covers 15 acres of land only. The castle has featured in many films and is also open the public.
Castle Howard, Yorkshire
Castle Howard is a stately home to the Howard family since over 300 years. The castle took over a hundred years to build while the place is built using the Baroque style architecture technique. The home is adjoined with thousands of acres of gardens which contains lakes, fountains, statues, etc. Although a private residence, Castle Howard is open to public for visit. It has also been featured in many films and sitcoms.
Malbork Castle, Poland
The largest castle in the world, by surface area, and the largest brick building in Europe, Malbork Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle was built in the 13th century and nowadays serves as an exhibition site and a museum.
Windsor Castle, England
Windsor castle is home to the British Royal family and a popular tourist spot. The architecture comprises of Baroque style interior mixed with Georgian, Victorian and Gothic design elements. The original castle was built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion of England by William the Conqueror.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
This beautiful castle is located in Bavaria, Germany. Ludwig II of Bavaria built this castle as a personal refuge. After he died in 1886, Neuschwanstein opened to the paying public and has since had over 60 million visitors. The castle is designed using the Romanesque Revival style architecture. Having prominently featured in many movies, the palace is most famous for being an inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
Château de Versailles, France
An incredibly popular palace in France, Château de Versailles is now a historical monument and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The castle is designed with French classical and Italian Baroque style architecture. Apart from being a grand palace, the surroundings include fountains and many glorious gardens. The palace has been featured in many movies and TV shows and even hosted Indian business tycoon, Lakshmi Mittal’s daughters wedding.
Chateau de Chillon, Switzerland
An island castle, this castle is one of the most visited places in Switzerland. The palace comprises of Medieval style architecture with 100 individual buildings merged together to become one palace.
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
One of Scotland’s most famous castles, the Edinburgh Castle stands at the head of old town of Edinburgh. The castle now serves as a military station and is home to the Scottish National War Memorial. Edinburgh Castle has famously been an inspiration for the Harry Potter film series.
