Fabulous architecture: the most beautiful castles in the world. Probably the most fabulous castle in the world: an introduction to Neuschwanstein Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

The most famous castles are castles from fairy tales, legends and myths. All princesses, kings and dragons, according to legends, live in castles. In the modern world, where there is no place for magic, castles are simply examples of medieval architecture and a place where historical values ​​are kept. This list contains the 10 most popular ones.

Surrounded by wooded mountains Bran Castle is an business card Romania and the people are called "Dracula's Castle", despite the fact that Vlad Tepes himself never called it his home. Life in the castle began in 1378, when the area was protected from the Ottomans, then it was turned into a customs post on the pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. Vlad Tepes, the hero of the vampire novel by Bram Stoker, never lived here permanently, he just spent 2 days in the dungeon of the castle, locked up by the Ottoman invaders who invaded Transylvania.

Germany is renowned for its medieval architecture, and this 80-meter castle stands out among others for its large size and beauty, despite the fact that it is now in ruins. The castle is located on the northern side of the Königstuhl mountain slope, towering over Heidelberg. Him rich story, which began in the 13th century. During the Thirty Years War, it was destroyed, the French inflicted even more damage in the 17th century, and in 1764 it was struck by lightning. Locals used the stone of the castle to build their houses. Several times it began to be restored, which led to a mixture of architectural styles and added a certain amount of charm to the castle.

This castle sits on a high hill overlooking the Alsatian plain in the Vosges mountains. The heyday of life in the castle fell on the period from the Middle Ages to the Thirty Years War, when after a 52-day siege the castle was burned and plundered by Swedish troops. After that, the castle for several years stood in desolation and even overgrown with forest. In 1899, the German Emperor Wilhelm II ordered to restore it to original form, the way it was before the start of the Thirty Years' War. After the First World War, the castle was taken over by the French; now it houses a museum.

Located in a picturesque area between the shores of Lake Geneva and the Alpine ridge, the castle is one of the most popular attractions in Switzerland. The castle consists of 100 buildings, which were originally isolated, but over time they were united into a single architectural ensemble. From the middle of the 12th century, the counts of the Savoy dynasty lived here. It is noteworthy that this castle was never besieged, its owners always managed to solve any problems through diplomatic negotiations.

Matsumoto castle, built in the 16th century in the city of Matsumoto (Nagano Prefecture), is one of the most famous in Japan. It does not crown the top of the mountain and does not hang over the city from the hillside, but stands on the plain, which is why a man-made network of special walls, ditches and secret passages was used to protect it. The structure of the castle, reminiscent of outstretched wings, and the color black as pitch, gave it another name - "Crow's Castle". Over the years of its existence, the castle changed owners more than once and was even threatened with demolition. It is now a popular attraction as it can be visited on a day trip from Tokyo.

Eltz Fortress, built during the Middle Ages, located in the mountains on the Moselle river, between Koblenz and Trier, the oldest city Germany. It still belongs to the Eltz family, who have owned it since the 12th century. Anyone can visit the Rübenach and Rodendorf houses, where the armory, the kitchen, and the living quarters are located. The castle also houses a rich treasury of jewelry, weapons and art.

This castle is located in the city of Warwick, on a cliff above the Avon River. It is included in the Catalog of Antiquities and the List of Architectural and Historical Monuments of Great Britain. Since its construction in the 11th century, the castle has undergone several modernizations and renovations. Initially, the main building was wooden, but in the 12th century it was replaced by a stone structure. The façade was redesigned during the Hundred Years War, making it one of the most recognizable examples of 14th century military architecture. In 2001, the castle was included in the list of "Top 10 Historic Buildings and Monuments" published by the UK Department of Tourism. Today it is one of the most popular attractions in England.

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 ..

Howard Castle, Yorkshire

One of the grandest mansions in Britain, 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 and is visited by over 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 (by area) and the largest brick house in Europe.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Ludwig II of Bavaria built this castle as a personal refuge. After he died in 1886, Neuschwanstein Castle became open to visitors because with the help of tourists it was possible to raise money for its maintenance. 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 is very clear. French. Renaissance architecture. It has been open to visitors since 2007 and attracts over 700,000 visitors a year.

Osaka castle, 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 part of Bavaria in the place of Berchtesgaden and was built on the Tennengebirg mountain. The exterior of this castle was used as a French hotel in the film Newlyweds.

Kilkenny Castle, Ireland

Kilkenny was built in 1195 by William Marshal. Now serves as conferences for diplomatic negotiations.

Peles Castle, Romania

This castle was built in the architectural direction of the neo-renaissance. 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 that were 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 an educational institution for foresters.

Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, California

Sleeping Beauty Castle was based on the castle that we wrote about above Neuschwanstein and serves as a landmark in Disneyland

Kronborg Castle, Denmark

Built in the 1420s, Kronborg is one of the most important fortifications in Northern Europe. It was immortalized as Elsinore in William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Alnwick Castle, Northumberland (England)

The exterior of Alnwick Castle was used in the Harry Potter movie and was the prototype for Hogwarts Castle and has approximately 800,000 visitors a year.

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

Perched on volcanic rock, this 12th-century palace 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 in the Guinness Book of Records, occupying 70,000 square meters.

Kylemore Abbey, Ireland

Kylemore was built as a private residence for London's wealthy physician, Mitchell Henry. But he was forced to sell it in 1909 due to gambling debts.

Bodiam Castle, UK

A 14th century castle surrounded by a moat was built by Sir Edward Dalingrigg to protect the area from French invasion during the Hundred Years War.

Hochosterwitz Castle, Austria

One of the most impressive medieval castles in Austria, Gochosterwitz is 160 meters high and can be seen 30 km away on a clear day.

Chillon Castle, Switzerland

This island castle is made up of 100 separate buildings that are combined into a palace.

Catherine Palace, Russia

The construction of the residence of Catherine I was laid in 1717 and was built for the rest of the empress. In 1752 it was rebuilt.

Windsor Castle, England

This 11th century castle was a royal residence and is the longest fortress in Europe.

Hogwarts Universal Studios, Orlando

The main building of the wildly successful Harry Potter movie. Hogwarts was brought to life at the Universe Studios (Universal) in Orlando, Florida.

Balmoral Castle, UK

Balmoral has been the seat of the British royal family since 1852, when it was acquired by Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert.

Conwy Castle, North Wales

This medieval fortress was built by Edward I in 1283 and costs approximately £ 15,000.

Schwerin Castle, Germany

The first reports of this castle date back to 973, and currently serves as the seat of the state parliament.

A fairy-tale castle, hidden in the forests of the Bavarian Alps, is a real masterpiece that has earned insane popularity among tourists and brings fabulous profits to Germany. Neuschwanstein became the prototype for the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris, Tchaikovsky's inspiration for the ballet Swan Lake and the embodiment of Ludwig II's love for Wagner's music ...
Author: P_I_F.
Neuschwanstein translates as "New Swan Stone". The entire architecture of the building is permeated with a swan motif. The swan is a heraldic symbol of the ancient family of the Counts of Schwangau, whose successor was Ludwig II's father, Maximilian II of Bavaria. Ludwig was a huge fan of Richard Wagner, identifying himself with one of the characters in his operas - The Swan Knight. Having inherited the royal throne, Ludwig II realized his old fantasy - a swan castle of incomparable beauty.

Myths and facts

Far from the bustling cities, almost at the very border with Austria, construction began in 1869 under the direction of Munich-based theater artist Christian Jank. But due to Ludwig's extravagant tastes and quirks, this process progressed very slowly. For example, 14 carpenters worked only on woodcarving in one bedroom of the king for 4.5 years.


The construction of the castle was stopped when Ludwig was removed from power due to intrigues in his own office. The king rarely dealt with matters of state personally, and with his antics he earned the glory of a madman. In addition, he suffered from hallucinations - for example, he dined with the spirit of Louis XIV. Under Bavarian law, the king can be removed from power if found unfit for government. And after the report of his cabinet in 1886, he was overthrown.
Ludwig was transported to Berg Castle, where he soon drowned in Lake Starnberg. However, regarding this mysterious death, which was considered a suicide at the time, it is suggested that the cabinet was not happy with the simple removal of Ludwig from power. Especially considering that his treating psychiatrist also shared the fate of his patient.
These mysterious events have spawned many legends and created an intriguing halo around Neuschwanstein Castle, making it the most famous castle in Germany.
You can climb to it from the town of Füssen either on foot or by horse.


On the way, you have to admire the views of Lake Alpsee and Hohenschwangau Castle - the headquarters of the parents of the "fairy king".


Here it is close.


Gradually, contours begin to appear in the fog ...


... and then the walls of Neuschwanstein Castle appear - the New Swan Cliff, if we call it.


Since all this was built not so much for show-off as for the soul, a special observation bridge was also erected in a strategic place at the same time. It is not visible here yet.


But now the wind disperses the fog and the Marienbrücke bridge appears in the distance. It is from here that one of the two best views of the castle opens.


There are always so many people here that it is not so easy to squeeze through. Some push strollers in front of them.
Actually, I was lucky - having settled down behind one family, just equipped with a battering ram, I entered the bridge.


Even in nasty weather, the views here are pretty pretty.


Neuschwanstein Castle stands on the site of two fortresses. King Ludwig II ordered to lower the plateau by about 8 meters at this place by blowing up a rock and thereby create a place for building " fairytale palace". On September 5, 1869, the first stone was laid for the construction of a huge castle.
Construction work in the castle (1882-1885). In 1880, more than 200 carpenters, stone cutters and auxiliary workers were employed at the construction site.


Ludwig II went down in history as a "fairytale king" thanks to the castles he built, on which he spent all his money and time. On June 13, 1886, he drowned on Lake Starnberg under mysterious circumstances. According to one of the widespread versions, it was a political assassination of an inconvenient and uncontrollable king.
After the death of the king in 1886, all construction work was suspended. The main tower of the castle with a church, 90 m high, which was supposed to rise above all buildings, was not built at all.


Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria really makes an impression fairytale castle... It was built at a time when castles had already lost their defensive functions.


Inside, Neuschwanstein is very different from the Prussian royal castles of Berlin and Potsdam. But it is strictly forbidden to shoot there. The castle is currently a museum. Visiting is possible only as part of a group.


The interior of the castle is a mixture of various architectural and artistic styles, a combination of Moorish, Gothic and Baroque elements: there are columns and a throne room. The interior of the large hall in Neuschwanstein Castle:


Although the throne room was not completed during construction, it is without doubt the most impressive. Postcard, late 19th century:


Ludwig's bedroom at Neuschwanstein Castle. Eyewitnesses claimed that 15 craftsmen worked on the manufacture of a carved wooden bed for Ludwig for 4.5 years:


Views from the balcony of Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.


At the end of World War II, part of the Reichsbank's gold was kept in the castle. V the last days During the war, gold was taken away in an unknown direction.


Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria primarily impresses with its cold grandeur and pointed towers among the alpine peaks:


Views from the balcony of the castle.


Neuschwanstein Castle in summer:


... and in winter.


Every year over 1.3 million visitors pass through the gates of Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.

We at TravelAsk decided that our life is sorely lacking in fairy tales, magic and majestic beauty. And what could be more fabulous than a magnificent ancient castle, as if descended from the pages of a book? Therefore, today we are introducing you to another portion of the most beautiful and impressive castles on the planet. Well, and a few words about them, of course, we will not forget to tell you!

Chenonceau Castle, France

Has a "popular" name - "Ladies' Castle". One of the most beloved, famous and most visited castles in France. It is privately owned but open to the public.

Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome, Italy

Cochem Castle, Germany

It was first documented in 1051.

Dunnottar Castle - a medieval castle on the east coast of Scotland

Edinburgh Castle is an ancient fortress on Castle Rock in the center of the Scottish capital

Hearst Castle ("Hearst Castle"), California, USA

National historical monument on the Pacific coast of California. The house has 56 bedrooms, 61 restrooms, 19 living rooms, the estate has several swimming pools and tennis courts, a cinema, an airfield and the world's largest private zoo (now without animals).

Herstmonceau Castle, built in the 15th century, is located 10 km northeast of Eastbourne. It is the oldest and largest brick building in England.

Hohenwerfen Castle is located in Austria, 155 m above the Salzach valley, 40 km from Salzburg

Hohenzollern Castle - an ancient castle-fortress in Baden-Württemberg, Germany

The medieval castle fortress was first mentioned in 1267, but it is assumed that it was built earlier, in the 11th century.

The castle is located at an altitude of 855 m above sea level on a separate standing grief, bearing the name Hohenzollern. Among the local population, this mountain is better known as Zollenberg or simply Zoller.

Today the castle is a popular tourist attraction.

Lichtenstein Castle - "fairytale castle" of the 19th century in the town of Honau, in the commune 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 - an ancient Japanese castle in the city of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture

Monastery of Pantanassa, Mystra, Greece

Pena Palace - a palace in Portugal, located on a high cliff above Sintra and featuring a fantastic pseudo-medieval style

The entire composition of the mountain, the castle and the adjacent 270 hectare park is one of the earliest examples of romantic landscape architecture XIX century. The castle and park originated in 1840 as a summer royal residence on the site of a small abandoned monastery.

Quinta da Regaleira, Portugal

The palace and park complex, on the territory of which there is a romantic palace in the neo-Gothic style, a chapel and a park with lakes, grottoes, fountains and various architectural whims

Named after Baroness Regaleira, who acquired the estate in 1840, it is also known as the palace of the millionaire Monteiro.

Mehrangarh Fortress, Jodhpur, India

Mont Saint Michel, France

Cité or Carcassonne fortress is a medieval architectural ensemble located in the French city of Carcassonne in the department of Aude

Moritzburg Castle, Germany

Alhambra ("Red Castle") - 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 - the largest surviving ancient castle in Lithuania

Wischering Castle, Lüdinghausen, Germany

Fernichurst Fortress in Scotland

Ninomaru Castle, Japan