Some of its most famous attractions include the palaces and castles that formerly (and in some instances still do) house the monarchs of Europe. Here are 10 of the Most Famous Castles In Europe. The Chateau de Chambord is a must-see of course, but maybe I am not very objective.. haha. Located on a lake in  Ludwigsburg in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, this palace blends three different architectural styles. Your email address will not be published. Virtual Palaces Tours; French Castles; Palace of Versailles; Loire Valley Chateau; German palaces; Kingdom of the Netherlands; Austrian Palaces; Palaces of the Bonaparte Family; Tours & Tickets; People. Located in front of Brussels Park, this Neoclassical building was designed for King Leopold II. Palaces. Six papal conclaves were held in the Palais, before the popes returned to Rome in 1377. Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany The area is known for its concentration of historical castles thanks to its strategic location along the Loire river. Review: Virgin Atlantic A350 (new) Upper Class from London to New York. The green water is matched by the green myrtle bushes bordering the courtyard. I hereby present you my top 10 list of the most spectacular palaces and castles in Europe, the ones that you need to put on your bucket list. I really love Austria, Vienna in particular and its incredible list of palaces. The “Château des Dames” was built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet, successively embellished by Diane de Poitiers then Catherine de Medici, and protected from the hardship of the French revolution by Madame Dupin. The Peterhof Palace in St Petersburg is named after Peter the Great. Book a guided tour to make the most of your time there. Another must-see is The Schlosstheater, one of the oldest theaters in Europe. Built on a hilltop overlooking Granada, the Alhambra Palace was commissioned by King Mohammed ibn Yusuf Ben Nasr. Kids and adults will love the Maze in Hampton Court Palace Royal Gardens. Another highlight is the Alameda de la Alhambra park, planted with oranges, roses and English elm trees. Don’t miss The King’s Staircase, designed by Sir Christopher Wren or The Tudor Kitchens. Property of the Crown, then royal residence, Chenonceau Castle is an exceptional site not only because of its stunning design (spanning the river Cher) and the richness of its decorations, but also because of its destiny, since it was loved, administrated and protected by women, who were all extraordinary and who, for the most part have marked history. These abandoned palaces of Europe will take your breath away Abi Harman ... is located high up on an old vineyard surrounded by beautiful landscape in the middle of the famous … Istanbul is brimming with stunning architecture, but it is the palaces, pavilions and royal residences that are among the most atmospheric of buildings. The location of the castle, its famous terraced gardens and the stylish splendor of its interiors, make King Frederick’s love for the beautiful surroundings , the “Prussian Arcadia” palpable for the 21st century tourists. 1 Minute Read. Construction was started in 1335 and completed in less than twenty years under the leadership of two builder popes, Benedict XII and his successor Clement VI. A masterpiece of French Renaissance architecture, Chambord Castle is situated in the heart of the Loire Valley. The Popes’ Palace is the biggest Gothic palace in all of Europe (15,000 m2 or 160,000 sq feet of floor space, which is the equivalent of 4 Gothic cathedrals). “The Red One“, “The Red Fortress”) is known to be one of the most interesting and unique palaces in Europe. SCHLOSS NEUSCHWANSTEIN, SCHWANGAU, GERMANY, Winter Palace St Petersburg (Hermitage Museum), most ravishingly romantic places in France, Top10: best underwater hotels in the world, Review: Trans Maldivian Airways seaplane transfer. A few years ago, I stayed at t, I published on my blog (link in profile) a detaile, I published one my travel blog (link in profile) a, I published on my YouTube channel (link in profile, Tomorrow, I will publish on my YouTube channel (li. It is thought of as one of the seven wonders in Portugal. There are also lesser known gems to admire such as Kadriorg Palace in Estonia and Caserta in Italy. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is the largest Loire Valley castle. Water from natural springs is collected in reservoirs in the Upper Gardens. Click here to subscribe to my Youtube channel. An English garden designed by Carlo Vanvitelli features flowering plants, meadows and the Carolino Aqueduct, which carries water from Mount Taburno to the royal garden fountains. In the East Wing, you’ll find the Gallery of Paintings, Sculpture and the Decorative Arts, with two portraits by Rembrandt, as well as the Canaletto Room. Take an early access guided tour to see the palace before public opening hours with an expert bilingual guide. Half a century later under Maria Theresa Schönbrunn Palace was to become the magnificent focus of court life. Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. 19. The Royal Palace of Belgium is one of the most beautiful official buildings in the capital, Brussels . Once the homes of kings, popes and emperors, palaces and castles represent an important part of the architectural heritage of European history. Discover the most impressive European palaces, from colorful Palacio Nacional da Pena in Portugal to majestic Fontainebleau in France. The name Alhambra means Red Castle and this former fortress in Granada, Spain takes on a reddish tinge in the early evening light. This article may contain affiliate links. These splendid palaces are among the most famous monuments in the world. There are said to be many ghosts haunting Hampton Court, including Jane Seymour, King Henry’s third wife who died in childbirth. Inside Palacio Real, there are some beautiful frescoes and paintings by Goya and Velazquez. On the first Wednesday of each month, the Solemn Changing The Guard ceremony is held. The palace served as a summer residence for the royal family of king Dom Fernando the second. Visitors can also admire the 19 State Rooms, bronze Grand Staircase and paintings by Canaletto, Rembrandt and Rubens. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Versailles is visited by over 10 million people each year. These perks may include an upgrade, daily breakfast, spa treatment, resort credit, early check-in, and late check-out. Exhibiting a unique mix of Islamic and Christian architecture, it is composed of a defensive area, the Alcazaba, the Nasrid Palaces, and the Gardens of the Generalife. It’s a good idea to book a skip the line Schonbrunn tour to see this UNESCO World Heritage Site in the best way. This is the longest Baroque orangery in the world, at 189 meters. Nowadays, more than 600,000, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), “We travel, some of us forever, to seek other pl, I pubslihed on my YouTube channel a video featurin, Tomorrow, I’ll publish on my YouTube channel a v, Throwback Thursday! From hidden gems to unique experiences, we’ve got you covered.Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter. As for the Hermitage museum collections, they include over 3 million exhibits! Schönbrunn was the summer palace for many of the Habsburg rulers. The Royal Palace of Brussels. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The main hall is one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in Europe. Empress Sisi; King Louis XIV; Marie Antoinette; Catherine of Aragon, queen of England; Louise of Belgium; Madame du Barry; Madame de Pompadour; Josephine de … Standing opposite the Parliament building on the other side of the Royal Park, the Royal Palace symbolises our system of government, that is to say, a constitutional monarchy . There are not one but two palaces at The Belvedere in Vienna, Austria. One of the largest surviving Baroque buildings in Europe, Ludwigsburg is nicknamed the Versailles of Swabia. Pena Palace is a triumphant mix of architectural styles, from Neo-Gothic to Neo-Manueline and Romanesque Revival. From the palace, the Tsar ruled over 22,400,000 square kilometres (8,600,000 sq mi) (almost 1/6 of the Earth’s landmass) and over 125 million subjects by the end of the 19th century. The Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles (Image: AFP/Getty Images) If you're after a palace that's ridiculously luxurious, then the Palace of … The king and subsequently his son Muhammed V, created an ornate palace with a series of intricate rooms and courtyards. Versailles is one of the most famous castles in the world and definitely deserves its reputation. It has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. I publish one new clip per week (hotel or flight review). The palace’s vibrant colors have been restored to their former glory, with bright hues of yellow and red. Castle and Old Town, Tossa de Mar, Catalonia, Spain. They come to marvel at the Hall of Mirrors, a Baroque gallery with 357 mirrors! Considered to be the best preserved European palace kitchens, the Royal Kitchen has two coal-fired stoves. The former residence of the Kings of Naples, Caserta is the world’s largest royal palace by volume. One of the most famous palaces in Europe, the Winter Palace served as the official residence of the Russian imperial family between 1732 to 1917, even though the last two tsars spent more time in other palaces. Following the Russian Revolution, the palace was briefly used as a seat of government. The Empire Room was the setting for concerts and ceremonies, while the Large Gallery hosted dinners and receptions. The most famous and notable of the places include the ornate Sanssouci Palace and Park which houses many of the palaces in Potsdam on this list as well as the grand and enormous New Palace and Cecilienhof Palace that was used for … They furthered the political foundations of dynasties, ruling powers and royal families. Click here to book your hotel online on the Classic Travel website. Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. The name kadriorg means Catherine’s valley, and the palace was built for Catherine I by Peter the Great. You enter through the 16th century Gate of Pomegranates, passing into the Nasrid Palaces. Kings and Princes built their palaces and summer residences in the most beautiful and strategically located spots. You can reach the palace on a cruise along Lake Mälaren from Stockholm or by public transport. Inspired by Versailles, this estate is the former Summer residence of Russian nobility. St George’s Hall makes a spectacular setting for a State Banquet, when a single table, stretching the length of the hall and seating 160 people, is decorated with porcelain, and silver-gilt from the Royal Collection. Located along the Bosporus – or at strategic points on the Asian and European sides of the city – these ornate palaces are open to visitors, and some are even museums. When he was just six years old, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed a concert in the Hall of Mirrors with his sister for Empress Maria Theresa in 1772. Sanssouci is often considered to be the German equivalent of  Versailles (see below), although its features a more intimate Rococo style and is far smaller than its French Baroque counterpart. Today, the Chateau de Chambord is the most visited castle in the Loire Valley. Louis XIV, known for his lavish taste, turned Versailles into one of the largest palaces in Europe (and the world) and used it as the seat of the monarchy. The Mirror Room has walls lined with copper and mirrors, as well as a ceiling and chandeliers covered with stunning jewelled beetles. There are also lesser known gems to admire such as Kadriorg Palace in Estonia and Caserta in Italy. The seat of the Prince of Monaco, this former Genoese fortress was built in 1191. Schonbrunn Palace continues to promote music, with concerts in the Orangery. Outside the palace, the changing of the guard takes place every day at 11.55 am. The palace has 775 rooms and a 39 acre garden. Each of these palaces has a very distinctive architectural style and interesting history. Set on a hilltop in Granada, the Alhambra (lit. There are 452 rooms and 4 wings in the palace, which is set in 32 hectares of grounds. It is an official residence of Her Majesty The Queen, who spends most of her private weekends here. From the elegant State Apartments to the Baroque Trinity Chapel, there’s much to admire. Located in Berlin, Charlottenburg Palace is a wonderful example of Baroque architecture. Built as a hunting lodge for King Francois I, the castle lay empty for nearly 100 years after his passing. Dating from the 17th century, Charlottenburg was built for Queen Sophia Charlotte, hence the name. Visitors can also admire the world’s only complete Stradivarius string quintet in the Royal Chapel. Henry was so impressed with the palace that he took it for himself. The main royal residence of France from 1682 to 1789, the Palace of Versailles is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. With its dual inspiration, the château was the perfect instrument to sing the praises of King Francis I of France, who commanded it construction (which was never completed). One of the highlights of Ludwigsburg for families is Kinderreich, an interactive museum for children. The shy king had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life; today Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular of all the palaces and castles in Europe with 1.4 million people year visiting “the castle of the fairy-tale king”. He established the Nasrid kingdom in the 13th century. Top 15 Famous Palaces in the World. The original stage machinery is still intact and used during regular performances during Summertime. 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