Fairytale castles that actually exist. Fairytale architecture: the most beautiful castles in the world Hohenschwangau Castle, Germany
We at TravelAsk decided that our lives are sorely lacking in fairy tales, magic and majestic beauty. And what could be more fabulous than a magnificent old castle as if stepped from the pages of a book? Therefore, today we introduce you to another portion of the most beautiful and impressive castles on the planet. Well, of course, we won’t forget to tell you a few words about them!
Chenonceau Castle, France
It has a “folk” name - “Ladies' Castle”. One of the most beloved, famous and 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 - 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
California Pacific Coast National Historic Landmark. The house has 56 bedrooms, 61 restrooms, 19 living rooms, on the estate there are several swimming pools and tennis courts, a cinema, an airfield and the world's largest private zoo (now without animals).
Herstmonceux Castle, built in the 15th century, is located 10 km north-east of Eastbourne. This is the oldest and largest brick building in England.
Hohenwerfen Castle is located in Austria, at a level of 155 m above the Salzach River valley, 40 km from Salzburg
Hohenzollern Castle - an ancient castle-fortress in Baden-Württemberg, Germany
For the first time medieval castle fortress 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 worthwhile grief, called Hohenzollern. Among local population this mountain is better known as Zollenberg or simply Zoller.
Today the castle is a popular tourist attraction.
Lichtenstein Castle is a 19th-century “fairytale castle” 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 is an ancient Japanese castle in the city of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture.
Pantanassa Monastery, Mystras, Greece
Pena Palace is a palace in Portugal, located on a high cliff above Sintra and characterized by a fantastic pseudo-medieval style
The entire composition of the mountain, the castle and the adjacent park with an area of 270 hectares is one of the early examples of romantic landscape architecture of the 19th century century. The castle and park arose in 1840 as a royal summer residence on the site of a small abandoned monastery.
Quinta da Regaleira, Portugal
A 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 vagaries
Named after Baroness Regaleira, who acquired the estate in 1840, it is also known as the palace of the millionaire Monteiro.
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, India
Mont Saint Michel, France
Cité or Carcassonne fortress is a medieval architectural ensemble located in the French city of Carcassonne in the Aude department
Moritzburg Castle, Germany
The Alhambra (“Red Castle”) is 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 is the largest surviving ancient castle in Lithuania
Wischering Castle, Lüdinghausen, Germany
Fernyhurst Fortress in Scotland
Ninomaru Castle, Japan
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Where: Schwangau, Bavaria, Germany.
Price: an adult ticket will cost 13 euros (855 rubles); for children and teenagers under 18 years of age, admission is free.
It was this place that became the prototype of the Sleeping Beauty Castle - the same one that greets guests at Disneyland. Neuschwanstein was built in XIX century at the whim of King Ludwig II, spending a record amount for construction at that time - six million gold marks! True, the monarch himself only had a chance to live in the fairy-tale castle for about 170 days. Construction was completely completed after his death.
Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular attractions in Bavaria and perhaps the most famous and popular castle in Europe, so there are a lot of tourists here. Experienced travelers advise arriving early in the morning and giving preference to sportswear: Neuschwanstein stands on a cliff, which means the path to it will not be easy. You can get there from Munich by train - the castle is located 130 kilometers from this large city.
Windsor Castle, England
Where: Windsor, Berkshire, England.
Price: for adults - 20.5 pounds (1,500 rubles), for students and people over 60 years old - 18.7 pounds (1,400 rubles), for teenagers under 17 years old and disabled people - 12 pounds (900 rubles), for children under five years old - for free.
Darling country residence Queen Elizabeth II, magnificent castle with almost a thousand years of history, a repository of paintings by Rembrandt and Rubens, a symbol of the monarchy - all this is about him, about Windsor Castle. For more than 900 years it has been the residence of British monarchs, but despite the fact that the castle is “active”, anyone can get here. However, before visiting, we advise you to look at the website of Windsor Castle and find out whether Elizabeth II is going to visit her residence on this day: the castle is closed during the Queen’s visits.
If you want to see with your own eyes how the current reigning monarchs live, and also learn the history of the British royal family, be sure to come to Windsor Castle: it is located only 30 kilometers from London, you can get there in 20 minutes by train.
Chenonceau Castle, France
Where: Chenonceau, Indre-et-Loire department, France.
Price: for adults - 13 euros (855 rubles), for students and children under 18 years old - 10 euros (650 rubles), children under seven years old can visit the castle for free.
One of the most romantic French castles is located on the Cher River, 214 kilometers from Paris and only 34 kilometers from Tours. France has good rail connections, so getting here won't be difficult. The people called the Chenonceau castle "ladies' castle", and all because most of its owners were women. IN different times Diana de Poitiers, Catherine de Medici, and the wife of King Henry III, Louise de Vaudemont, lived here. So it is not surprising that the female “influence” is noticeable here in everything: in the elegant decoration of the castle, in the beautiful gardens located nearby.
Bran Castle, Romania
Where: Bran city, Romania.
Price: for adults - 7.8 euros (515 rubles), for people over 65 years old - 5.6 euros (370 rubles), students - 4.5 euros (300 rubles), schoolchildren - 1.5 euros (100 rubles).
This place attracts with its gothic romance. According to legend, it was in this castle, built at the end of the 14th century, that Prince Vlad the Impaler, the prototype of the famous Count Dracula, stayed. There is no historical evidence for this, but it is thanks to the myth that Bran Castle is the most visited place in Romania. The atmosphere in the castle is the most mystical, and it is very easy to plunge into it: you can get there by bus from Brasov or Rasnov.
Himeji Castle, Japan
Where: Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Price: for adults - 1000 yen (530 rubles), for schoolchildren and students - 300 yen (160 rubles).
This place got its name Himeji, which means White Heron Castle, due to its snow-white color and elegant shape, which resembles the outline of a bird. The castle was built in the 14th century by the princes of Akamatsu. At that time, bloody internecine wars were fought in Japan, so initially the fortress, surrounded by a labyrinth garden, served as a defensive structure. Today, the castle attracts not only tourists, but also film directors - for example, it was here that the film from the Bond series “You Only Live Twice” was filmed.
Getting to the castle is not difficult: Himeji is located just 1.5 hours from the Japanese city of Osaka or four hours from Tokyo (you will need to travel by high speed train). Experienced travelers advise coming during the cherry blossom season.
Hluboka Castle, Czech Republic
Where: Hluboka nad Vltavou, Ceske Budejovice district, Czech Republic.
One of the most beautiful castles in Europe, built in the mid-13th century, is located 140 kilometers south of Prague (you can get there by bus). Initially, the castle of Hluboká nad Vltavou was called Frauenberg, and its appearance was very different from the modern one: in the first 400 years alone, 26 owners changed here, and each owner of the castle did not deny himself the pleasure of rebuilding it to his own taste. The castle owes its current appearance to the Schwarzenberg family: enchanted by the residence of British monarchs in the city of Windsor, Duchess Eleanor of Schwarzenberg decided to create its analogue in the Czech Republic - only in a slightly more “romantic” spirit. Now anyone can appreciate the duchess’s efforts.
Miramare Castle, Italy
Where: Trieste, Italy.
Price: for adults - 8 euros (530 rubles), reduced rate - 5 euros (330 rubles).
Miramare Castle, which means "looking into the sea", rises majestically above the Adriatic in the bay of Grignano to the west of Italian city Trieste. It was erected by order of the Austrian Archduke Maximilian in 1860. According to legend, Maximilian was also a jealous person, so the castle became a “golden cage” for his wife Charlotte of Belgium.
Now this beautiful “cage” is one of the pearls of Trieste - and annually attracts a lot of tourists. Visitors can not only enjoy the decoration of the castle, but also stroll around luxury park, which goes down to the sea itself. The most convenient way to get to Miramare is from the city of Trieste to public transport or by car.
The quaint palace is located on a high cliff and rises above Atlantic Ocean, so here you can not only stroll through fabulous interiors and stroll through beautiful park, but also to admire the endless expanses. Sintra (the city closest to the palace) can be reached in half an hour by train from Lisbon, and from there we recommend taking walking route through the mountains (for the lazy, there is also a bus going to the rock).
This fairy-tale castle is the historical domain of Prussian kings and German emperors. It was built during the Middle Ages, in the 11th century, then was completely destroyed in 1423 and rebuilt in 1461. The castle is located on the top of the Hohenzollern mountain, about 50 kilometers south of Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg.
Castle Howard, England
Even though the building looks like a castle, Howard is actually just luxury home is the private residence of the Howard family, who have lived there for over 300 years. This house is located in North Yorkshire, and is one of the largest residences in the UK. Its construction began at the end of the 17th century and lasted about 15 years. The castle is surrounded fairy gardens, as well as endless spacious meadows.
Alcazar in Segovia, Spain
The Castle of Segovia, located in central Spain, was originally (in the 12th century) used as a fortress. Externally, the Alcazar resembles the bow of a ship - a unique feature that distinguishes it from other castles. It served as the inspiration for many of the castles in Walt Disney films.
Himeji Castle, Japan
Himeji Castle, also known as White Heron Castle, is a magnificent white complex consisting of 83 wooden buildings. One of the castle's most extraordinary defenses is the spiral labyrinth with many dead ends leading to the main watchtower. The gates and courtyard of the castle were built so that people entering there would get lost. The castle was built in the 14th century and is located in Kansai, Japan.
Prague Castle, Czech Republic
Prague Castle is one of the largest and oldest castles in the world, and is also a symbol of the capital of the Czech Republic. The length of the castle is 570 meters, width 130 meters. This building represents every architectural style of the last millennium, from Gothic and Romanesque to Baroque. The construction of the very first buildings of the complex dates back to the beginning of the 9th century.
Peles Castle, Romania
Located in picturesque place on Carpathian mountains in Romania, Peles Castle is a truly fabulous building. The start of construction dates back to 1873. Workers from different countries. Queen Elizabeth of Romania said: “The Italians were masons, the Romanians built terraces, the gypsies worked as laborers. Albanians and Greeks laid stones, Germans and Hungarians were carpenters. The Turks burned bricks. It was designed by the Poles, the stone carvers were Czechs. The French drew, and the British measured…” Presumably, workers who spoke 14 languages participated in the construction.
Chateau de Chambord, France
It is known that Chambord was used only as a hunting lodge. The view of this castle is quite impressive. Interestingly, the location of this castle was chosen by King Francis I, as he wanted to be closer to his beloved lady, Claude Rohan, whose palace was located next door. The huge castle has 440 rooms, 365 fireplaces and 84 staircases. This is the largest castle in the Loire Valley in France.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
The castle, whose reconstruction began in 1896, was designed by Christian Janck at the request of the Bavarian King Ludwig II, who was declared insane before the castle was completed. This explains a lot. The architecture, location and size of Neuschwanstein are deeply impressive. Situated on a rugged hill in southwest Bavaria, the castle is today one of the most visited tourist sites.
Corfe Castle, England
Even though the ruins are all that remains of Corfe Castle, its fortifications still make a deep impression. The castle, located in Dorset on the Isle of Purbeck, was built in the 9th century. However, there is a possibility that Corpheus could have been built much earlier and could also have served as a defensive structure in the fight against the Romans. The part of the building that can be seen today was reconstructed in the 11th century. Two centuries later, the fortress began to be used as a repository for royal jewels, as well as a prison.
Matsumoto Castle. Japan
The wonderful Matsumoto Castle is located in the city of Matsumoto near Tokyo. The castle was built in 1504 and is a National Treasure of Japan. The castle was inhabited until the mid-19th century. In 1868, during the reign of Emperor Meiji, the building was restored. However, due to the insolvency of the new Japanese government, it was decided to demolish the castle and sell off the wood and iron from which it was built. In those days, this fate befell many castles. Matsumoto was saved local residents, having bought it.
Jeltz Castle, Germany
Jeltz is another of Germany's outstanding castles. This stunning medieval structure in southwest Germany is still owned by the same family who have lived here for over 800 years. Currently, the castle is owned by Count Karl von Jeltz, a representative of the 33rd generation of the family.
Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
Built in the 13th century during Viking times, today Eilean Donan Castle is one of Scotland's most famous landmarks. The castle was probably named after Bishop Donan, who came to Scotland in the 6th century. The castle is located on an island surrounded by stunning scenery in the Scottish Highlands. The fortress was rebuilt at least 4 times. The castle lay in ruins for about 200 years (from the 18th to the 20th centuries). It was restored in 1932 and since then it has been open to visitors all over the world.
The most famous castles are those from fairy tales, legends and myths. All princesses, kings and dragons, according to legend, live in castles. In the modern world, where there is no place for magic, castles become simply examples of medieval architecture and a place where historical values are stored. This list contains the 10 most popular ones.
Surrounded by forested mountains Bran Castle is business card Romania is popularly called “Dracula’s Castle”, despite the fact that Vlad the Impaler himself never called it his home. Life in the castle began in 1378, when the area was defended against the Ottomans, then it was turned into a customs post at the pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. Vlad the Impaler, the hero of Bram Stoker's vampire novel, never lived here permanently, he simply spent 2 days in the castle's dungeon, locked by the Ottoman invaders who invaded Transylvania.
Germany is famous 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 slope of Mount Königstuhl, overlooking Heidelberg. Him rich story, which began in the 13th century. It was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War, further damage was caused by the French in the 17th century, and in 1764 it was struck by lightning. Local residents used the castle stone to build their houses. It was restored several times, which led to a mixture of architectural styles and added some charm to the castle.
This castle is located on a high hill overlooking the Alsatian plain in the Vosges Mountains. The heyday of life in the castle occurred from the Middle Ages until the Thirty Years' War, when, after a 52-day siege, the castle was burned and looted by Swedish troops. After this, the castle stood desolate for several years and was even overgrown with forest. In 1899, the German Emperor Wilhelm II ordered it to be restored to its original form, as it was before the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War. After the First World War, the castle went to the French, and now there is a museum within its walls.
Located in a picturesque place, between the shore 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 initially separate, but over time they were combined into a single architectural ensemble. Since the mid-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 a plain, which is why a man-made network of special walls, ditches and secret passages was used to protect it. The castle's wing-like design and pitch-black color gave it another name, Raven's Castle. Over the many years of its existence, the castle changed owners more than once and was even under threat of demolition. It is now a popular attraction as it can be visited as part of day excursion from Tokyo.
Eltz Fortress, built during the Middle Ages, is located in the mountains on the Moselle River, between Koblenz and Trier, oldest city Germany. It is still owned by the Eltz family, who have owned it since the 12th century. Anyone can visit the Rübenach and Rodendorf houses, where the armory, kitchen, and living quarters are located. The castle also houses a rich treasury with jewelry, weapons and works of art.
This castle is located in the city of Warwick, on a cliff above the River Avon. It is included in the Catalog of Ancient Monuments and the List of Architectural and historical monuments Great Britain. Since its construction in the 11th century, the castle has undergone several modernizations and renovations. Initially, the main structure was wooden; already in the 12th century it was replaced with a stone structure. During the Hundred Years' War the façade was redone, making it one of the most recognizable examples of 14th-century military architecture. In 2001, the castle was included in the list of “10 best historical buildings and monuments”, published by the UK Tourism Department. Today it is one of the most popular attractions in England.
Have you ever been to medieval castles? They say that almost any fortress that has survived to this day has long become a haven for real ghosts. Of course, rational thinking tells us that we shouldn’t be afraid of these tales - but what about the facts that prove real existence paranormal activity?
Medieval Europe was not the most pleasant place to live. The cult of the lord reigned here, capable of sending peasants to death for the slightest offense. The times of witch hunts left a wide gap in the female population of half the continent, and the bones of so-called witches are still found embedded in the walls of medieval castles. In front of you are a dozen of just such fortresses, which even local residents try to avoid.
Germany
It is believed that a whole horde of ghosts has been living here for five centuries. Around the beginning of the 16th century, the owner of the castle hired a couple of farmers to deal with his unfaithful wife. Soon after, both the man himself and his sons died in their own beds. Since then, the castle has been considered cursed.
Leap Castle
Ireland
In the 12th century, the castle was built by the influential O'Bannon clan. The family nest of the eminent Irish very soon turned into a scarecrow for the entire area: fratricidal feasts, constant executions and even sacrifices took place here. The local chapel was nicknamed the "Bloody Chapel" after a jealous husband stabbed his wife and lover to death there, then brought his children there and forced them to pray over the rotting bodies of the adulterers for seven days. Are there ghosts here? Still would!
Zvikov
Czech
It is one of the most important and significant Gothic castles medieval Bohemia. According to rumors, the local Zvikovsky devil lives in the castle, who really does not like people. Jokes aside, but strange, unpleasant things actually happen here. Animals refuse to enter some rooms of the castle, sometimes the curtains in the main hall spontaneously catch fire, and those who sleep in the main tower die within a year. At least that's what the locals say.
Moosham
Austria
Built at the end of the 12th century, Moosham Castle became a silent witness to the death of thousands of young girls. The times of the witch hunt turned Moosham into a real stronghold of the Inquisition, blood flowed like a river for the glory of the papal throne and Christian virtues. Much later, in the 19th century, the remains of dead deer and livestock began to be found near the castle, which gave rise to a new wave of rumors. To this day, it is believed that a clan of ancient werewolves lives in the basements of Moosham, going out hunting at night.
Bran Castle
Romania
One of the most feared castles in the world, Bran Castle was the residence of Vlad III - the brutal Romanian ruler, better known as Vlad Dracula or Vlad the Impaler. It was this man who inspired Bram Stoker’s famous gothic novel “Dracula”: you can imagine how gloomy the atmosphere is in the family nest of the main vampire of the world. A little more creepy? Easily. In one of the main halls of Bran there is a golden casket where the heart of Queen Mary is hidden. Naturally, it is still beating - if you believe the rumors.
Chateau de Brissac
France
Built back in the 11th century, Brissac Castle is considered home to all the ghosts and ghosts of west-central France. According to legend, one of the first owners of the castle caught his wife with another man and killed them both. Today, the new owners host receptions here for high society who want to tickle their nerves.
Castle Fraser
Scotland
Located in the eastern part of Scotland, Fraser Castle is famous for terrible story about a princess killed in her sleep by demons. They say that the body of the unfortunate woman was dragged down the stone steps of the tower, and the servants were unable to wash off the blood after that. The owners allegedly had to line the steps with wooden panels, but on a full moon, blood again appears through them.
Horst
Belgium
The dilapidated Horst Castle is still inhabited to this day. True, it is not people who live here, but real ghosts. At least that's what the locals say. They also say that the ghost of the former owner of the castle returns every full moon on a cart drawn by six pitch-black horses.
Predjama Castle
Slovenia
The famous pirate knight Erazem once lived here, launching raids on the coasts and passing ships. The castle is riddled with hundreds underground passages, caves and shelters that even certified “demon hunters” do not dare explore.
Dragsholm
Denmark
One of the most scary places Denmark. The famous White Lady lives here - the ghost of a young girl who fell in love with a local commoner. The father walled up his own daughter in the room where she ended her days. It sounds like an ordinary legend, but there is a place for truth here. At the beginning of this century, shocked builders working to restore part of the walls discovered a secret room where a skeleton in a white wedding dress sat at a table.