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What associations does the word castle evoke in you? Oh yes, we are now talking about grandiose structures, and not about what hangs on the doors of the barn. Surely strict fortresses flashed in your head (always with towers and water moats), which are almost impossible to approach. In general, you are right, this is the essence of castles. However, such buildings are not always tasteless buildings, devoid of architectural sophistication. That is why today we have selected for you the 10 most beautiful castles in the world, looking at which you will forever part with the stereotype mentioned above.
10 Peles, Romania
The history of this castle in the northwest of Sinai takes us back to the 1872th century. In 168, a certain Carol I, being the king of Romania, was inspired by nostalgia for his native Germany and bought the land for a summer residence. The king liked the plan of the castle by Johann Schulz. Actually, Peles is still in its original form (of course, with elements of restoration). Today, this majestic and at the same time sophisticated castle is open to tour groups. You can touch history from Wednesday to Sunday in any month except November. The huge building includes 35 rooms, of which only XNUMX are accessible to the tourist.
9. Hohenzollern, Germany
The giant palace-fortress of Hohenzollern is located on top of the mountain of the same name in Baden-Württemberg, which is 50 kilometers south of Stuttgart. The history of the castle as such goes back to the distant Middle Ages. The mention of the first building dates back to 1267, but in 1423 the fortress was completely destroyed. Nothing survived, so only manuscripts remained from the first castle. By 1460, a new castle was rebuilt, but a sad fate awaited him. Due to the lack of strategic importance, the fortress was not used, and by the end of the 1850th century, Hohenzollern turned into ruins. Today, our eyes see the third building of the castle, erected in the period from 1867 to 300. This is a tourist site, which is visited by an average of XNUMX thousand people every year.
8. Chillon Castle, Switzerland
Chillon Castle is a real jewel of the Swiss Riviera. For the first time the building appears in the annals in 1160, however, some information refers the building to the XNUMXth century. During its rich history, Chillon Castle was both a defensive fortress, a prison, and a museum (which, by the way, it has been from the beginning of the XNUMXth century to this day). The uniqueness of the building is that it consists of two dozen elements, each of which was erected at different times. The more surprising is the fact that Chillon looks very holistic and harmonious. The modernization of the fortress began in the second half of the XNUMXth century, and the castle took on the shape familiar to the gaze of a modern person in the XNUMXth century.
7. Beaumaris, Wales
Literally, the name “Bomaris” is translated as “beautiful swamp”. It is not known what was meant by the swamp, but the castle itself is really beautiful and majestic. The construction of the fortress began in 1295 at the initiative of King Edward I. Over the next 35 years, the building was never completed, and then the king simply ran out of money due to the start of the Scottish campaign. Subsequently, Beaumaris was nevertheless completed. It is noteworthy that there is no donjon (central tower) in the construction of the castle. The building is surrounded by a moat with water, and also has two rows of towers and walls, which protected it quite well at that time. It is worth noting that Beaumaris has survived to this day in excellent condition.
6. Chapultepec, Mexico
Unlike some of its colleagues, Chapultepec Castle was originally doomed to noble exploitation. The first stone of the building was laid back in 1785 at the suggestion of King Bernardo de Galvez, but the construction costs turned out to be prohibitive even for His Majesty, as a result of which the king ordered that the unfinished castle be put up for auction. In 1806, the palace was bought by the Mexican government, and from 1833 to 1939 served as the residence of the country’s first persons. In parallel with this, the building at different times housed the highest military academy and the national observatory. Today, the castle houses the main museum of Mexico.
5. Egret Castle, Japan
It’s Himeji Castle. This palace is one of the oldest preserved in Japan to this day. Its history begins in 1333, when the stone foundation of the future masterpiece of Japanese architecture was laid. The comparison with the white heron in the name of the castle owes its elegance, sharpness of forms and grace – these are the qualities inherent in the famous bird. During its history, Himeji has changed more than a dozen owners. The most extensive modernization was carried out under the Toyotomi family in the XNUMXth century, when the main elements of the modern structure were erected. At the same time, the adjacent territory was actually turned into a labyrinth for enemies with many dead ends and roundabouts. However, in the case of such a cunning idea has not been tested.
4. Mont Saint Michel, France
Mont Saint-Michel is actually an island-fortress, because apart from the abbey building there really is nothing here. Stop though. The most powerful tides in Europe occur on the island, which annually attracts tourists no less than a fortress. As for the only building on Mont Saint-Michel, it is an old Benedictine abbey built in the Middle Ages. The building of the shrine impresses not only with its beauty, but also with its size. The area of the palace is 55 square meters. Despite the fact that in 000 the abbey lost its status as a spiritual center, today the monastery operates, and anyone can take part in the daily service.
3. Chambord, France
One of the most famous castles in France was built in the 1519th century (presumably between 1547 and 156), while becoming one of the most grandiose constructions of the Renaissance. To appreciate the scale of the palace, just look at the following figures. 117 meters – the length of the facade, 426 meters – its width. Inside the castle there are 800 rooms and more than 77 decorations in the form of sculptures and capitals. The spans are interconnected by means of 282 stairs. Also in the palace there are 220 fireplaces. And further. 000 – this is exactly the number of tons of stone it took to build a miracle of French architecture. To say that Chambord is impressive is simply to keep silent. Everyone should see this at least once in their life.
2. Ashford, Ireland
Ireland is rich not only with its whiskey, but also with medieval castles. Unfortunately, many of them have simply turned into ruins over time, but some feel quite good, despite their age. One of these is the famous Ashford Castle, built in 1228. During its almost 800-year history, the palace has changed a lot of guests, with whom it has been transformed, expanded, modernized, dilapidated and even sometimes partially destroyed. One way or another, today this truly luxurious building is a five-star hotel, within the walls of which such personalities as John Lennon, Ronald Reagan, Prince Edward and many other first-rate guests have been.
1. Neuschwanstein, Germany
Well, we are finishing today’s trip in Germany, where the Neuschwanstein castle is located. A building from the XNUMXth century (second half) rises gracefully in the town of Füssen, in the southwest of Bavaria. The initiator of the construction was Ludwig II, who wished to see a “fabulous palace” instead of a rock. The king controlled the process so carefully (any drawing had to be confirmed personally) that people simply began to consider the castle his personal creation. Well, it seems that Ludwig did a great job, the palace really looks like it came out of the pages of a fairy tale. Today, this beautiful building is a museum, which anyone can visit.