Beautiful old castles from all over the world. Fairy tale architecture: the most beautiful castles in the world

The castles that have survived to our times are attractive and interesting, like memories of the past of our ancestors. They remind us of fateful historical events, mysterious legends and beautiful romantic stories. Of all the variety and magnificence of castle structures on the planet, it is difficult to choose only 10 of the most beautiful, but we tried. So, the most beautiful castles in the world:

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10

Mont Saint Michel, France

One of the most famous sights of France, included in the list world heritage UNESCO, is considered a small island of Saint-Michel. The abbey of the same name, located on the island, was built in the form medieval castle. His two big towers designed to protect the entrance. This sanctuary is also known as a symbol of the Allied landings in Normandy during World War II.

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9

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

The Romanesque Revival castle was built in the 19th century on a steep hill above the small village of Hohenschwangau in southwestern Bavaria. The castle represents Ludwig II of Bavaria's tribute to Richard Wagner. More than 1.3 million tourists visit this attraction every year. The castle has featured in several films and has become an inspiration for the authors of the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.

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8

Hohensalzburg, Austria

Considered one of the largest medieval castles throughout Europe. Hohensalzburg stands on a small 506 m high hill in Salzburg, Austria. At the end of the 19th century, this beautiful castle was restored and after that it became the main mecca for tourists in Salzburg, along with the Salzburg funicular, which was opened in 1892 and connects the city and the castle hill. Today Hohensalzburg is one of the best preserved castles.

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7

Conwy, Wales

UNESCO considers Conwy to be one of the "finest examples of late 12th and early 14th century military architecture in Europe" and is classified by the organization as a World Heritage Site. The medieval fortress was built by Edward I at the time when the conquest of Wales was going on. Conwy played an important role in several wars, and in 1399 became a temporary home for Richard II.

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6

Prague Castle, Czech Republic

According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest old castle in the world. Its history dates back to the 9th century, and it is currently the official residence of the Czech president. Prague Castle was the center of power for the kings of Bohemia, the Holy Roman Emperors and the presidents of Czechoslovakia. In a special Crown Komor in one of the cathedrals inside the castle, Czech coronation regalia are kept.

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5

Bran, Romania

Bran Castle, which is located in Romania near the city of Brasov, is a national monument fanned by the world-famous legend of Dracula. In fact, this is the home of the main character in Bram Stoker's Dracula. This castle is currently open to tourists as a museum displaying paintings and furniture from the collection of Queen Mary. Tourists can explore the interior individually or together with a tour.

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4

Castle in Osaka, Japan

Osaka Castle can be called one of the most famous Japanese landmarks. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who built the castle, wanted it to become the center of a unified Japan under Toyotomi's rule. However, after his death, the troops of the Tokugawa shogun attacked the castle and destroyed the Toyotomi dynasty in 1615. Oskai Castle was rebuilt by Hidetado Tokugawa in the 1620s, and its main tower was struck by lightning in 1665 and burned down. It was renovated much later, in 1931.

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3

Neo-Renaissance Peles Castle was built between 1873 and 1914. Is located in Carpathian mountains, near Sinai in Romania on the existing medieval route between Transylvania and Wallachia. It was erected by order of Charles I, whose inauguration took place in 1883. Now it is one of the most visited attractions in Romania.

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2

Versailles, France

The Palace of Versailles is located in a wealthy suburb of Paris, 20 kilometers southwest of the capital. The royal court, located in Versailles, has been the center of all political power in France since 1682, when King Louis XIV came here from Paris, while the royal family was forced to go to Paris in October 1789 after the outbreak of the French Revolution. Versailles is known throughout the world not only for its beauty, but also for its historical significance, being a symbol of the absolute monarchy of pre-revolutionary France.

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Chillon Castle, Switzerland

Château de Chillon (Chilleon Castle) is an island castle, stands on the shore Lake Geneva. It is located in the eastern part of the lake on a cliff between Montreux and Villeneuve, overlooking the Alpine Rhone Valley. Thus, the landscape surrounding the castle is truly extraordinarily beautiful, making Château de Chillon one of the most visited castles in Switzerland and Europe.

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Conclusion

The list of the most beautiful castles in the world has come to an end. Yes, this is only a small part of those castles that could be included in this list, but we had to choose, and this choice was not easy. These were Most beautiful castles peace. TOP 10. Thank you for your attention.

Today we have prepared for you a selection of the most beautiful castles in the world. All these structures were built at a time when there were no technologies similar to modern ones. Nevertheless, these castles amaze us with their beauty, grandeur and original architectural designs. Let's take a look at all these structures together

The beauty of these castles is beyond doubt, I will only give brief information for each of them with links to more detailed materials. I have selected a dozen of the most beautiful buildings, and I will start with the 10th place that I have identified in Italy. It rises above the sea at a height of 113 meters and covers an area of ​​56,000 square meters. m. This is one of the most popular castles in Italy, located in a picturesque area, on an island in the middle of the sea. Even if you have reached the island itself, you still have to get to the castle - a mule trail leads here, winding through the rocks to the fortress. For lazy tourists there is an elevator built in the 70s. The elevator shaft is carved directly into the rock, its height is 60 meters

The citadel of the Aragonese castle participated in many military events and sieges, and from the beginning of the 19th century long time was in a state of disrepair. Only at the beginning of the 20th century, restoration work was carried out, which continues to this day. Step by step, this beautiful castle is being restored, attracting tourists from all over the world.

Now let's move on to Portugal - there is an equally beautiful castle, De la Pena, or simply Pena, as it is called here. The Pena National Palace clearly demonstrates the old European style of romanticism. Built on a hill in the city of Sintra, on a sunny day the castle is visible even from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. - a national monument and is one of the main examples of romanticism of the 19th century. This building is listed cultural heritage UNESCO and is one of the seven wonders of Portugal. The palace is often used for state ceremonies of the President of Portugal and others. official events. Many architectural styles are mixed here - this is neo-gothic, Islamic style and neo-renaissance.

It is well known that many of the most beautiful castles in the world are located just in Germany. One of them is Hohenschwawangau. It appeared on the site of an ancient fortress built by the knights of the 17th century. During the period of its existence, the castle was extremely damaged during many battles, and during the Napoleonic wars it was completely destroyed. Being still the crown prince, the future king Maximilian II took possession of these ruins and undertook to restore the historical building. Restoration work stretched for as much as 4 years - from 1832 to 1836


The future famous King Ludwig II was also born here. His childhood and early years of life flew by. Social life in its most luxurious manifestations constantly reigned here - daily receptions, royal balls and large-scale jousting tournaments

Then we go to the other end of the world - to Japan. Classical Japanese architecture is very attractive to tourists, and the castles of Japan are a vivid embodiment of it. Matsumoto is one of the best historical castles in Japan. It is located in the city of Matsumoto in the Nagano region, which can be easily reached from Tokyo. The castle was completed at the end of the 16th century and is characterized by its original wooden interior and stone exterior. built on a plain, thus it stands out among other castles in the world

Matsumoto was built as a fortress during the war. In the year 1550, this area was in the possession of the Takeda and Tokugawa clans. Under their leadership, the main towers of the structure were built. Matsumoto is also called the Crow's Castle because the black walls and roof resemble the wings of a raven.

There is a famous castle in France. Its Gothic-style monastic buildings were built in the 13th century in the heart of a rocky island in Normandy. This island is named after Saint Michel, and is located at a distance of one kilometer from the northern French coast at the mouth of the Couesnon River. Since prehistoric times, the island has been surrounded by a sea that has continued to recede, exposing the coastline, for many millions of years.

The island was originally connected to the mainland through an isthmus, which eventually went under water. Therefore, Mont Saint Michel became an island, and in 1879 the isthmus was rebuilt into a bridge.

Our next destination is the top of the world, Tibet. Here, in the picturesque area of ​​Lhasa, is the legendary, named after the mountain of the same name. This castle was the home and residence of the Dalai Lama, and now it houses a museum. The building itself is very grandiose - 400 meters long, 350 meters wide, and the walls are 3 to 5 meters thick. The foundation is made of copper to prevent damage from earthquakes. The Potala includes approximately 1,000 rooms, more than 10,000 temples and 200,000 statues. The height of the palace is approximately 117 meters. The summit is called Marpo Ri, which means red hill.

So we got to the top three most beautiful castles in the world. In third place is located in the Wilhelmscholl park. It is also called the Lion's Castle. Built by William IX, the castle was designed by a royal architect named Heinrich Christoph, an experienced builder who specialized in similar structures in France, Italy, and England.

This castle is also one of the first neo-gothic buildings in Germany. There are many rooms and bridges at the back of the buildings, and a tower at the front. There is a chic park around, also designed by Heinrich. The park is called the Disneyland of its century - it looks very fabulous

In neighboring Poland, there is an equally beautiful castle -. Built in 1274 during the reign of Prussia, this brick castle is located on the river Nogat. The castle, also known as Malbork, was expanded several times by the owner and became the largest building of the Gothic style in Europe.

The castle consists of three separate sections, the top, middle, and base, separated by a dry moat and towers. The building could accommodate up to 3,000 troops, occupying 210,000 square meters in area, which is 4 times larger than Windsor Castle. Second World War destroyed almost half of the building, but the worst damage was caused by a fire in 1959. In 1962 Marienburg was restored.

So, we come to the first place. It is generally recognized that this is the most beautiful and famous castle in the world. The castle was built in the 19th century in southern Bavaria by Ludwig II of Bavaria. Although tourists are not allowed inside, the castle remains the main attraction of Bavaria, and the most popular destination among foreign tourists. Approximately 1.3 million visitors come here every year, especially in summer, up to 6,000 per day. The image of this castle was often used in Disney cartoons - it is very beautiful

I told you only about the most beautiful castles in my opinion. On the pages of Lifeglobe you can find information about almost any palace in the world

The most beautiful castles in the world, built centuries ago, amazed our ancestors, and now they impress us with their beauty, grandeur and original architectural solutions. These are not mansions or private expensive houses, which we wrote about. These chic stone buildings are giants that not all people on the planet managed to visit. Therefore, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with them at least from photographs. So, here are the 10 most beautiful castles in the world.

Neuschwanstein - Bavaria, Germany

The name of this castle in Germany is translated from German as "New Swan Rock". More than 1 million tourists come to see this beautiful building every year. It was built at the end of the 19th century by order of Ludwig II. It is worth noting that this castle served as the prototype for the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Paris.

Trakai - Lithuania

In Lithuania, on Lake Galve, there is Trakai Castle - this is the former residence of the Lithuanian princes. The building is one of the most impregnable fortresses Europe. In the past, the castle did not receive tourists, but today it has been restored and is open to guests. The castle hosts festivals and historical exhibitions.

Windsor Castle - Berkshire, England

This magnificent castle is almost a thousand years old. This architectural object is a favorite country residence Queen of Great Britain. It can be visited by everyone on weekdays. Visitors can look at the apartments of George IV and enjoy the paintings of Rembrandt and Rubens.

Mont Saint Michel - Normandy, France

The imposing castle of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy is actually an abbey. At first it was a chapel, which eventually grew into a fortress. This building survived more than one attack and fire, and has survived to this day almost in its original form. After Paris, it is the second most visited place in France.

Hluboka, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

This monumental pseudo-Gothic castle was erected under the reign of Duchess Eleonora Schwarzenberg, who wished to turn it into a "Bohemian Windsor". Architects even claim that the copy is far superior to the original. It is distinguished by sophistication and romance compared to the prim and harsh castles of the Czech Republic.

De Haar - Utrecht, Netherlands

This castle was reconstructed from the ruins by the Dutch architect Peter Kuipers. Titanic efforts were not in vain - thanks to his efforts, today everyone can admire the luxurious architectural landmark with bridges, towers and spiers, as well as parks and gardens.

Coca Castle - Segovia, Spain

Coca Castle was built in the late 15th century in the Spanish-Arabic Mudéjar style. The owners of the castle - the Alba family - gave it to the state. Since then, the building has been elevated to the status of a National Monument and restored. Today there is a school of foresters.

Conwy - Wales, UK

Initially, the owner of this monumental castle was King Edward I. The construction has survived a lot in its lifetime - from attacks to sieges. Today, this fortress can be visited by tourists from any country. From the towers of Conwy, a stunning view of the city and the beautiful embankment opens up.

Bran - Brasov, Romania

Bran Castle is considered the pride of Romania and one of the main attractions of the country. It was built at the beginning of the 13th century by the Knights of the Teutonic Order, and a few centuries later it became a royal residence. According to one of the legends, the prototype of the vampire Dracula, Vlad the Impaler, stayed here. Therefore it creepy place is very popular among tourists, like other scary places planets, for example

The castle is a real greeting from the past and an opportunity to plunge into a fairy tale. What castles are the most famous?

The most famous castles

We offer you the top 10 most famous castles in the world:

Located in Southwestern Bavaria (Germany) near the town of Füssen. It is, in fact, a figment of the imagination of the monarch Ludwig II, who decided in 1869 to lower the rock plateau and create a unique piece of architecture. By the way, the name of the castle is translated as "New Swan Stone".

The construction lasted for 17 years, it took a fabulous amount (about 6 million gold marks), but under Ludwig it was never completed, although, of course, to this day it is the one that its monarch invented. The throne room is incredibly beautiful, which is more like a museum with many works of art. The Grotto also attracts attention - a room located on the third floor and designed in the form of a fabulous cave with a waterfall.

It is located in southern Italy in the city of Andria. The name translates literally as "castle on the mountain", and this building was built at the behest of the Emperor of the Roman Empire, Frederick II. And although this castle is considered one of the most famous, it does not have the characteristic features of castles.

There was no bridge, no rampart, no moat. In addition, there are no pantries, storages and stables. The purpose of this building is still unknown. Some historians considered the castle a hunting residence, while others argue that bold experiments were carried out here to transform metals.

Later, the castle was abandoned almost completely and was only occasionally used as a refuge for noble families, shepherds, or bandits. But in 1966 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

This unique castle is located near the small German town of Darmstadt, in Hesse. And this place is notable for the fact that a slightly eccentric alchemist and Dr. Joseph Conrad Dippel, who called himself von Frankenstein (yes, the same Frankenstein about which many films were made), once lived and worked here.

In the castle, he carried out his crazy experiments and made horrific experiments. So, during experiments with nitroglycerin, he destroyed one of the castle towers, and some accused the doctor of stealing corpses from the cemetery.

According to rumors, Joseph even tried to resurrect the dead (although this is probably not a rumor at all). One way or another, everyone was afraid of the doctor. By the way, the castle was originally built as a defensive structure. Today, only one tower remains intact, but the atmosphere is still ominous.

It was originally built as a sea fortress in 1524-1531. It was planned to defend the castle from attacks from the sea. The building was erected literally in haste, and that is why it looks very carelessly. But there was not a single attack, and later it was decided to use the castle not quite for its intended purpose.

Its location was ideal for keeping criminals, so in 1580 it was decided to organize a state prison here. Various politicians, Huguenots, leaders of the Paris Commune and the most dangerous criminals served their sentences in it.

But this castle became famous and popular thanks to Alexandre Dumas and his immortal work The Count of Monte Cristo. The hero of this novel, Edmond Dantes, known as the prisoner of the Iron Mask, was in the Chateau d'If.

Located in Italy on top of a limestone rock, from which it got its name. The village of the same name sprawled nearby. The first mention of this place dates back to 1078, but most likely the castle was built earlier.

This is a unique structure that was erected on an uneven surface, but at the same time it is incredibly durable and strong. TO lower level(there are two in total) is a staircase. Surely everyone has seen this place, since its main feature is a huge sculpture called "Heart of Jesus", which is a figure of Jesus with outstretched arms, 14 meters high. This is a copy of the originally erected statue, but quite successful.

It was built in the distant 21st century by order of William the Conqueror. Initially, this structure was a building made of wood and earth and was built for defense. Then it was decided to strengthen the castle with stone. This building has seen so many battles and battles, as no other fortress has ever seen.

And that is why its appearance is constantly changing. According to the legends, one of the towers of the castle contained prisoners captured during the Hundred Years War. And in one of the parts of the castle, namely in the house of Sir Fulk Greville, who died at the hands of his own servant, the ghost of the owner of the building roams, according to tourists. One way or another, but the history of this place is very gloomy.

Located in Portugal. It is located on a hilltop above the city of Sintra. This is just a stunningly beautiful building that used to be summer residence royal nobility. Initially, there was an abandoned monastery, but then a chic palace appeared, which later became not only the hallmark of Portugal, but also a real national cultural monument.

According to one of the legends, it was in this place that the appearance of the Virgin Mary took place, and that is why the temple was built here. But later the land was acquired by Prince Ferdinand. And even today, there is something to see in the castle, as its decoration excites the imagination and makes you go back in time.

is not only incredibly beautiful, but also in its own way unique place. The construction consists of 83 buildings, and almost all of them, oddly enough, are built of wood. The construction of the castle began in the distant XIV century near the foot of Mount Hime. And he got the name for the smooth lines that look like the open wings of a heron.

Around the castle is a chic garden, which was previously a large labyrinth with many dead ends, designed to confuse enemies who decided to attack the inhabitants. The building passed from one samurai clan to another, and eventually became a local treasure. By the way, you may have seen the castle in one of the James Bond films, in which it was used as a secret ninja school.

Located in Romania, about 30 kilometers from the city of Brasov and 20 kilometers from Rasnov. If you believe the legends, then Vlad Dracula, known to this day, who was considered by many to be a vampire and a cruel killer, once lived in this castle. Like it or not - it is not clear, but the history of the castle is really interesting.

Initially, the building was used to protect the city. By the way, his rooms formed a labyrinth, and only "their" knew how to get out of here. There were many owners of the castle, they sometimes changed one after another.

But as for Vlad the Impaler Dracula, it is unclear whether he was here. Yes, a couple of times Dracula probably stayed at the castle. And others claim that he was imprisoned in local dungeons and subjected to severe torture. And yet the place became popular thanks to Vlad.

No wonder it attracts millions of tourists. It is considered one of the most exquisite castles. This building is located in Ireland, and it was erected in 1228 on the site of an Anglo-Norman house. For a long time the owners of the castle were the Burgos family, but then a discord arose between the knight John de Burgh and Sir Richard Bingham.

The feud lasted for a long time, but then the parties came to an agreement, but Richard Bingham eventually became the owner. He fortified the castle and began to develop it. Then the owners began to replace each other, and in 1910 Noel Huggard turned the castle into luxury hotel. By the way, he is such to this day and is included in the list of the most the best hotels Ireland.

Be sure to go on a trip and see with your own eyes at least one famous castle. You definitely won't regret it!

Each of us has our own associations with the word "castle": someone imagines impregnable walls with a moat and tall towers, for others, the citadel appears as a place where medieval knights gathered, tournaments were held, old songs were composed, and ladies waited for their gentlemen from military campaigns. In any case, ancient structures were created according to the same principle and were intended for reliable protection from enemies. Many castles for several centuries keep the history of their owners, who lived in their halls, died or decided the fate of countries and peoples. Fortresses are a living heritage for you and me, and moss-covered walls are permeated with former grandeur, legends and secrets. We present you the top 20 most beautiful castles, many of which have come down to us almost in their original state.

Egret Castle (Himeji), Japan

Date of foundation - 1346, construction lasted 13 years. It is one of the most ancient castles in the Land of the Rising Sun, it was originally built as a family fortress for one of the samurai clans. Three centuries later, a small settlement was formed near the citadel, bearing the name of Himeji. For more than six centuries, the castle has been rebuilt several times. Today, its complex has more than 85 buildings, including the famous tower. During the Second World War, the attraction miraculously remained unscathed, although the area around it was bombed more than once. Listed as object number 661 in the UNESCO World Heritage List. He served as scenery for such films as "You Only Live Twice", "Shadow of a Warrior", "The Last Samurai".

Chenonceaux, France