Its oldest building is a castle. Fairytale architecture: the most beautiful castles in the world. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

If you are a fan of traveling to places with a centuries-old history, from which it blows archaic, take a look at what ancient castles are still inhabited by people and even ghosts.

Modern skyscrapers and design exhibition centers are gradually crowding out traditional architecture from cities. Amid their popularity, the desire to live in a secluded castle seems extravagant. Nevertheless, in every corner of Europe you can find old houses, preserved thanks to the efforts of loving owners. And even if they are not as comfortable as the penthouses equipped with the latest technology, castles have their own charm.

1. Chateau Plessis Bourrét, France

Its appearance is so severe that the castle is more like a defensive fortress. Its interior decoration will amaze even the most sophisticated person, accustomed to luxurious furnishings. It has not undergone any modifications: the absolute safety of the primary design makes it truly unique. Plessis Bourré was built in 1472 by Jean Bourré, who served as Minister of Finance under King Louis XI. The bribe taker Bure was so afraid of the uprising of the inhabitants of his lands that he ordered the palace to be fenced with the widest moat in France. The drawbridge, which makes it possible to leave it, is still used for its intended purpose.

Modern owners do not hide their historical monument neither from curious tourists, nor from filmmakers. In 2003, Penelope Cruz spent several unforgettable weeks in the castle, starring in the film "Fanfan Tulip" with Vincent Perez. Today, anyone can follow her example by renting one of the rooms of Plessis Bourré as a hotel room. For those who prefer five-star hotels, free and individual tours with a guide lasting several hours are provided.

2. Queen's residence in Berkshire, England

Windsor Castle is the largest and most famous among the so far considered residential brothers. Its splendor and scale frighten and amaze at the same time: on an area of \u200b\u200b45 thousand m² there is a complex of buildings with 1000 residential premises. For 900 years, Windsor belongs to the ruling dynasty, and all its members have the right to modernize the estate to their taste. Each new monarch kept expanding and expanding the area of \u200b\u200bpossessions until the adjacent deciduous forest became Berkshire Park. At the end of the last century, the Queen’s residence was urgently reconstructed due to an extensive fire.

The Queen of England today uses Windsor as a means of defeating the heads of other states and other eminent guests. She invites them to live in rooms decorated with the scripts of Rembrandt and Rubens, antique candlesticks and gilded molding on the ceiling. Who after this will be able to refuse a political request to a royal person?

3. Berkeley Castle, England

The second most populous palace in England after Windsor. At the end of the XII century, he was bought by the name Berkeley, which is in the title of Lords. In 1327, members of an influential family involuntarily became custodians of a prison in their own home. Opponents of King Edward II overthrew him and placed him in Berkeley, demanding that his owners commit to prevent any attempt to escape. In the same year, the estate began to be distinguished from the rest of the castles in the district by a high fence instead of a ditch with the usual eye in those days. For six months, the prisoner twice tried to leave Berkeley, after which he was executed by the new ruler.

The heirs of the castle inhabit only 20% of its area: the rest is used as a hotel and museum. But the main article of their income is cinema. Interiors of Berkeley can be seen in the TV series “Wolf Hall”, “Castle in the Country” and the film “Another of the Boleyn Family”.

4. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

Built on a faded volcano, the palace rises 120 meters above sea level. Scientists have found that the first walls appeared here in the Iron Age: they were built by soldiers who planned a raid on the tribes of the Angles. Edinburgh Castle for many centuries passed from the ownership of England to Scottish and vice versa. Ten years ago, the British Department of Defense finally abandoned it. For residents of the largest tourist attractions in Scotland, this decision did not affect. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the castle has been the home of a caretaker dynasty, whose only duty remains to be the hourly cannon shot during daylight hours.

5. Warwick Castle, England

The vast majority of the inhabitants of the house are the stars of television and Youtube. The estate, built back in 1068 by William the Conqueror, is a regular participant in the show with psychics, "ghostbusters" and magicians. It even got into the book “Ghost Houses of Great Britain and Ireland”. Anyone can find on video hosting sites shooting internal surveillance cameras with evidence of their existence.

Extreme temperature fluctuations, light anomalies, and mysterious rustles suit the Gray Lady and her assistants. The pensioner, who is the heiress of the graph-owner of Warwick, is also familiar with her. For 100 years, her figure has stumbled upon the inhabitants of the palace in its long corridors and scaredly shies away to the side at the sight of children. She does not know how to pass through walls, so in Warwick they are used to suddenly opening doors. Those who saw her close say that this is a ghost of an old woman dressed in a gray dress. The “Gray Lady” is assisted by the earl-named poet Fulk Greville, strangled in the Water Tower in 1628. His cries, chilling, are heard from the Tower several times a week. In addition to this couple, more than 10 unidentified ghosts live in Warwick.

6. Rock Cough, Ireland

The keeper of the cemetery, spontaneously arising near its walls, lives in a castle on the rock of Cachel. A group of medieval buildings built in the 12-15 centuries, is adjacent to the chapel of Cormac - a small Romanesque church that stores the sarcophagus of the first owner of the fortress, in whose honor it is named. During an unexpected attack by the enemy, the locals tried to hide in the church, but everyone was brutally killed. They were buried there, and soon new graves began to appear around the graves of the unfortunate victims. According to legend, dozens of spirits live there too.

7. Kronborg Estate, Denmark

Built in 1420, the castle on the outskirts of Copenhagen is officially included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In order to protect against capture by the Swedes, it was designed in the form of a complex system of labyrinths and underground passages. Creative people live in Kronborg - directors, actors, screenwriters. Each spring, they create a new interpretation of William Shakespeare's theatrical production of Hamlet and present it to the audience.

8. Bran Palace, Romania

In the picturesque Transylvania is the estate of the bloodiest Romanian of all time - Count Dracula. Bran is a well-known tourist attraction in the country, as well as a hotel with rooms in the form of wooden log cabins decorated with tiles. The legendary vampire loved to stay in it during his lifetime, but he did not leave any reminders in Bran. The interior of the castle has been preserved since the time of Queen Mary: she lived in it after the count and decorated it with a large number of books, porcelain and icons. The latter, according to rumors, she needed to prevent the vampire’s night visits.

9. Manor Pfalzgrafenstein, Germany

Even native Germans are unable to pronounce the name correctly the first time. It is located in the middle of the Rhine River: the island of Pfalzgrafenstein used to be completely deserted and uninhabited. The fortress was built on it as a royal customs, checking ships passing by. Later it became the residence of the local nobility. In the XX century, there was a state need to use Pfalzgrafenstein as a lighthouse. Now the caretaker lives there and in order to go to visit him, you will have to cross the Rhine in a boat in the old fashioned way.

10. Fortification of Castell del Monte, Italy

The author of this structure was never found. In the XV century, it was created as an astronomical calendar, in each room of which you can find out the time by the sundial or the date by the light calendar. Castel del Monte has 8 floors, each of them has 8 rooms designed. Modern astronomers have been able to prove that the location of the fortress is really ideal for observing the starry sky. It was equipped as an observatory in which scientists live year-round.

Have you ever been to medieval castles? They say that almost any fortress that has survived to this day has long been a haven for real ghosts. Of course, rational thinking tells us that you should not be afraid of these tales - but what about the facts that prove the real existence of paranormal activity?

Medieval Europe was not the most pleasant place to live. Here reigned the cult of the lord, capable of sending the peasants to death for the slightest offense. The time of the witch hunt left the widest clearing in the female population of half the continent, and the bones of the so-called sorceresses are still found embedded in the walls of medieval castles. Here is a dozen of these fortresses that even local residents try to avoid.

Germany

It is believed that here for five centuries a whole horde of ghosts has been living. Around the beginning of the 16th century, the castle owner 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 is considered damned.

Lip Castle

Ireland

In the 12th century, the castle was built by the influential O’Bannon clan. The family nest of eminent Irish very soon turned into a scarecrow of 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 in it, and then brought the children there and made them pray for seven days over the rotting bodies of adulterers. Are there ghosts here? Still would!

Zvikov

Czech Republic

This is one of the most important and significant Gothic castles of medieval Czech Republic. In the castle, according to rumors, lives the local Zvikovsky devil, who really does not like people. Jokes are jokes, but here strange, unpleasant things actually happen. Animals refuse to enter some rooms of the castle, sometimes curtains in the main hall spontaneously light up, and those who sleep in the main tower die during the year. So, at least, 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 time of the witch hunt turned Moosham into a real stronghold of the Inquisition, blood poured in 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 hunting at night.

Bran Castle

Romania

One of the worst castles in the world, Bran Castle was the residence of Vlad III, the brutal Romanian ruler, better known as Vlad Dracula or Vlad Tepes. It was this man who inspired Bram Stoker to the 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 horror? Easy. In one of the main halls of Bran there is a golden casket where the heart of Queen Mary is hidden. Naturally, it still beats - according to rumors.

Chateau de Brissac

France

Built in the XI century, the Brissac Castle is considered the home of all the ghosts and ghosts of the west-central part of France. According to legend, one of the first owners of the castle caught his wife with another man and killed both of them. Today, the new owners are arranging receptions for high society among those who want to tickle their nerves.

Fraser Castle

Scotland

Located in eastern Scotland, Fraser Castle is famous for the terrible story of a princess killed in a dream by demons. They say that the unfortunate body was dragged down the stone steps of the tower, and the servants could not wash the blood after that. The owners allegedly had to sheathe the steps with wooden panels, but in the full moon the blood again appears through them.

Horst

Belgium

The dilapidated Horst Castle is inhabited to this day. True, it’s 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 wagon drawn by six pitch-black horses.

Predyama castle

Slovenia

Here once lived the famous knight-pirate Erasemus, who raided the coast and passing ships. The castle is riddled with hundreds of underground passages, caves and shelters, which are certified and certified by “demon hunters”.

Dragsholm

Denmark

One of the worst places in Denmark. Here lives the famous White Lady - the ghost of a young girl who fell in love with a local commoner. 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. At the beginning of this century, shocked builders working on the restoration of part of the walls discovered a secret room where a skeleton sat in a white wedding dress at the table.

Old castles keep secrets. Majestic, saturated with self-esteem, gloomy and magnificent, they attract to themselves, promising to show something special. The most ancient castles amaze with their scale and mastery of decoration.

Old castles. General Features and Functions

If we consider these buildings outside eras, we can distinguish the following features that distinguish old castles:

Locks as a means of protection

The prototypes of these buildings appeared in Iran, later moved to Ancient Rome, and then moved to Byzantium, where they became very popular due to the fact that they were used as forts.

However, castles flourished during the Middle Ages, they were used as dwellings of feudal lords and were primarily of a defensive nature. It was then that they came to our usual form. Castles were geographically located on steep hills and hills in order to complicate the possible assault as much as possible. These measures were not associated with the widespread persecution mania of the world at that time. We must not forget that the Middle Ages passed "under the auspices" of feudal fragmentation and unrest, the protection of life in such conditions was paramount.

Locks as a sign of status

Time passed, mores changed, the Middle Ages with its theological dictates and the need to live, looking around, was replaced by the Renaissance, which raised anthropocentrism to a cult. Castles naturally transformed simply into people's homes. The buildings became lighter, more elegant, more beautiful, each created something of their own, competing with a neighbor as much as possible.

Locks as the center of secrets

Walking along the winding corridors of castles, it is difficult to get rid of the feeling that they are watching you. They keep too many secrets and innuendos. Overthrown monarchs, corrupt servants, miserable love stories - all this excites the imagination and causes goosebumps. Consider some of the secrets of ancient castles?

Tower

The ancient castles with their secrets and ghosts were mentioned - what comes to mind first? Of course, the Tower. This is a London building

served as a prison for those who henceforth had only one road - to the scaffold. Anna Boleyn, the second wife of Henry the Eighth, did not escape this fate. The church did not allow him to divorce, and new love required decisive action. The monarch, who became the prototype of Bluebeard, found a way out - he accused his wife of incest and sentenced to death. Eyewitnesses said that the queen was infinitely calm and majestic, ascending to the block, no tantrums and tears. In turn, her husband, too, "had mercy" - he provided a skilled French executioner and after Anna's death did not put his head on public display, but buried him by placing her under his right hand. Since then, not only in the Tower, but also on the territory of London itself, they have periodically begun to notice the blurry image of a woman in a luxurious dress that holds her head with her right hand.

Mayerling Castle

When you look at this photo, the old castle seems so serene that it is difficult to believe in its dark and tragic history for Austria. It was there, under mysterious circumstances, that the heir to the throne, Rudolph, the only son of Sisi and Franz Joseph, died. Rudolf, according to contemporaries, suffered from depression and temporary clouding of the mind, from which he was "treated" with shock doses of alcohol. On one frosty January day of 1899, he, together with his mistress, Maria Vechery, entered Meyerling Castle, never to return. They were found dead after some time - the girl was shot and Rudolph poisoned. There are many versions of what happened: some say that the crown prince persuaded Maria to leave with him and shoot himself after he takes the poison, others that the heir killed her and then committed suicide, while others insist that both were killed by opponents crowns to destabilize the situation in Austria.

Olesky castle

When the old ones are mentioned, this structure is first of all remembered.

Its history is rich in events - what is worth at least the fact that in the XVII century the father served at the court at the same time there was a tragedy, which is still being talked about. The owner of the Olesko castle had a beautiful daughter, whose hands persistently, but to no avail, sought young Adam. The mission to receive the blessing of the beloved father was initially doomed to failure, since he only wanted to see the representative of the royal family in his son-in-law. Unable to withstand another failure, Adam committed suicide in front of everyone. Due to the fact that he became a suicide, they buried him without a Christian rite - according to one version, they buried him near the walls of the castle, according to another, they simply threw the body into a swamp. The owner’s daughter could not survive the loss and also took her own life. The daredevils, who decide to spend the night in the Olesky castle, claim that two restless souls still roam the structure, breaking the silence with moans.

Woodstock Castle

The most famous ancient castles of the world include Woodstock.

Speaking about the distinguishing features, we can mention the fact that the echo in it is surprisingly distinctly heard 17 times in a row. However, this is not what excites the imagination of people. In the XII century, he witnessed a love triangle, two corners of which were represented by the most influential spouses of that time, and a brilliant beauty was the third corner. We are talking about Henry II Plantagenet, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Rosamund Clifford. According to legend, Henry hid his mistress Rosamund in the tower of the Woodstock castle. The path went through a labyrinth that it was impossible to blindly overcome. And this measure was justified, for the monarch knew very well that his crowned wife was not only smart, but also extremely vindictive. Despite everything, Eleanor followed her husband and found a beauty. Her decision was inexorable - Rosamund had to die. The choice was given her death from a dagger or poison. Beloved Henry chose the latter and met death in terrible agony - indeed, it is difficult to expect a quick, merciful death from an angry woman. Plantagenet, learning about the tragedy, went mad with grief and forever imprisoned the insidious wife. He kept the memory of Rosamund until the end of his days and presumably died on the same day as she, but 13 years later. The girl’s spirit is still wandering around the castle, waiting for her king.

Which castle inspired Pyotr Tchaikovsky to create the Swan Lake? Where did Indiana Jones star? How do ancient European castles function today? Lovers of mystical landscapes, romantic travels and mysterious legends! Our material is especially for you!

Eltz (German: Burg Eltz) - a castle located in the land of Rhineland-Palatinate (commune Wirsch) in the valley of the Elzbach River. Together with the palace, Burresheim is considered the only building in western Germany, which has never been destroyed and captured. The castle was not damaged even during the wars of the XVII and XVIII centuries. and the events of the French Revolution.

The castle has been perfectly preserved to this day. On three sides it is surrounded by a river and rises on a rock 70 meters high. This makes it invariably popular among tourists and photographers.

Official site

Bled Castle, Slovenia (11th century)

One of the oldest castles in Slovenia (Slovenian. Blejski grad) is located on top of a 130-meter cliff by the eponymous lake near the town of Bled. The most ancient part of the castle is the Romanesque-style tower, which was used both for housing, and for defense, and for observing the surrounding areas of the castle.

During World War II, the headquarters of German troops was located here. In 1947, a fire broke out in the castle, due to which part of the buildings suffered. A few years later the castle was restored and it resumed its activity as a historical museum. The museum's collection includes clothing, weapons and household items.

Official site

(XIX century)

The romantic castle of King Ludwig II is located near the town of Füssen in southwestern Bavaria. The castle became a source of inspiration during the construction of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris. Neuschwanstein (German: Schloß Neuschwanstein) is also featured in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as a castle of the fictional land of Vulgaria. The view of Neuschwanstein was fascinated by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. According to historians, it was here that he came up with the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating the ballet Swan Lake.

Neuschwanstein Castle is shown in the films Ludwig II: The Shine and the Fall of the King (1955, dir. Helmut Koitner), Ludwig (1972, dir. Luchino Visconti), Ludwig of Bavaria (Ludwig II, 2012, dir. Marie Noel and Peter Zer).

Currently, the castle is a museum. To visit, you need to buy a ticket at the ticket center and climb to the castle by bus, as well as on foot or horse drawn cart. The only person who "lives" in the castle at the moment and is his guardian is a watchman.

Official site

The castle in Livorno got its name from the fact that the local coast is known as Bokkale (Pitcher) or Cala dei Pirati (Gulf of Pirates). The center of modern Castello del Boccale was an observation tower, built by order of the Medici in16th century, presumably on the ruins of a more ancient structure of the period of the Pisa Republic. Throughout its history, the appearance of the castle has undergone changes more than once. In recent years, a thorough restoration of Castello del Boccale has been carried out, after which the castle was divided into several residential apartments.

The legendary castle (room. Bran Castle) is located in the picturesque town of Bran, 30 km from Brasov, on the border of Mountenia and Transylvania. It was originally built at the end of the XIV century by the forces and means of local residents for exemption from taxes in the state treasury for several centuries. Due to its location on a cliff top and trapezoidal shape, the castle served as a strategic defense fortress.

The castle has 4 levels connected by a staircase. Over the course of its history, the castle has been replaced by several owners: it belonged to Lord Mirce the Old, residents of Brasov and the Habsburg Empire ... According to legend, the famous governor Vlad Tepesh-Dracula spent the night in his castle, and its surroundings were the favorite hunting ground of the emperor Tepes.

Currently, the castle belongs to a descendant of the Romanian kings, the grandson of Queen Mary, Dominic Habsburg (in 2006, according to the new Romanian law on the return of territories to their former owners). After the castle was handed over to the owner, all the furniture was taken to the museums of Bucharest. And Dominik Habsburg had to recreate the decoration of the castle, buying various antique items.

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Official site

Alcazar Castle, Spain (9th century)

The fortress of the Spanish kings Alcázar (Spanish: Alcázar) is located in the historical part of Segovia on a cliff. Over the years of its existence, Alcazar was not only a royal palace, but also a prison, as well as an artillery academy. According to archaeologists, even in ancient Roman times there was a military fortification on the site of Alcazar. In the Middle Ages, the castle was the favorite residence of the kings of Castile. In 1953, the Alcazar was turned into a museum.

Currently, it remains one of the most visited places in Spain by tourists. A museum has been opened in the palace, where furniture, interiors, a collection of weapons, portraits of the kings of Castile are exhibited. There are 11 halls and the highest tower - the tower of Juan II.

Chambord Castle, France (16th Century)

Chambord (Fr. Château de Chambord) - one of the most recognizable castles in France, an architectural masterpiece of the Renaissance. The length of the facade is 156 m, width 117 m, the castle has 426 rooms, 77 stairs, 282 fireplaces and 800 sculpturally decorated capitals.

According to historical studies, Leonardo da Vinci himself took part in the design. Since 1981, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Since 2005, the castle has the status of a state public-commercial enterprise. On the second floor of the castle is now a branch of the Museum of Hunting and Nature.

Official site

Windsor Castle, United Kingdom (11th century)

Situated on a hill in the Thames Valley, Windsor Castle has been a symbol of the monarchy for over 900 years. Over the centuries, the appearance of the castle has changed in accordance with the capabilities of the ruling monarchs. It acquired a modern look as a result of reconstruction after the 1992 fire. The castle occupies 52 609 square meters and combines the features of a fortress, a palace and a small town.

Today, the palace is owned by the Occupied Royal Palaces Estate (residential royal palaces) on behalf of the nation, and the Royal Household department provides consumer services. Windsor Castle is the largest residential castle in the world (about 500 people live and work in it). Elizabeth II spends in the castle a month in the spring and a week in June to participate in traditional ceremonies associated with the Order of the Garter. About a million tourists visit the castle annually.

Official site

Corvinov Castle, Romania (XIV century)

Ancestral nest of the feudal house of Hunyadi in the south of Transylvania, in the modern Romanian city of Hunedoara. Initially, the fortress had an oval shape, and the only defensive tower was located in the north wing, while on the south side it was covered by a stone wall.

In the years 1441-1446, when the governor Janos Hunyadi was built, seven towers, and in 1446-1453. laid the chapel, built the main halls and the south wing with utility rooms. As a result, the appearance of the castle combines elements of late Gothic and early Renaissance.

In 1974, the castle was opened to visitors as a museum. Tourists are taken to the castle along the gigantic bridge, they are shown an extensive hall for knights' feasts and two towers, one of which bears the name of the monk John Kapistran, and the second - the romantic name "Do not be afraid."

They also say that it was in this castle that Hunyadi kept Vlad Tepes Dracula who was ousted from the throne for 7 years.

Official site

Liechtenstein Castle, Austria (XII century)

One of the most unusual castle architecture (German - Burg Liechtenstein) is located on the edge of the Vienna Forest. The castle was built in the XII century, but was twice destroyed by the Ottomans in 1529 and 1683. In 1884 the castle was restored. Another damage was done to the castle during the Second World War. Finally, in the 1950s, the castle was restored by the citizens. Since 2007, the castle, like more than 800 years ago, has been run by the relatives of its founders - the princely family of Liechtenstein.

The modern popularity of the castle of Liechtenstein is associated with the theater festival of Johann Nestroy held here in the summer. The castle is open to visitors.

Official site

The Chillon Castle (Fr. Château de Chillon) is located near Lake Geneva, 3 km from the city of Montreux, and is a complex of 25 elements from different eras of construction.The peculiarities of location and construction allowed the castle owners to completely control the strategically important road that ran between the lake and the mountains. For a certain period of time, the road to the St. Bernard Pass served as the only transport route from Northern Europe to Southern. The depth of the lake provided security: an attack from this side was simply impossible. The stone wall of the castle, facing the road, is fortified with three towers. The opposite side of the castle is residential.

Like most castles, Chillon Castle also served as a prison. Louis the Pious kept abbot Valu of Corvey here. In the middle of the XIV century, during the plague epidemic, Jews who were accused of poisoning water sources were kept and tortured in the castle.

In the Chillon Castle, George Byron’s poem, The Prisoner of Chillon, is acting. The historical basis for the poem was the conclusion in the castle on the orders of Charles III of Savoy, Francois Bonivard in 1530-1536. The image of the castle was romanticized in their works by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Percy Shelley, Victor Hugo and Alexander Dumas.

Official site

Hohenzollern Castle, Germany (13th century)

Hohenzollern Castle (German: Burg Hohenzollern) is located in Baden-Württemberg, 50 km south of Stuttgart, on the top of the Hohenzollern mountain at an altitude of 855 meters. Over the years of its existence, the castle has undergone destruction several times.

One of the most famous relics stored in the museum is the crown of the Prussian kings and the uniform belonging to Frederick the Great. From 1952 to 1991, the remains of Frederick I and Frederick the Great rested in the castle museum. After the reunification of East and West Germany in 1991, the ashes of the Prussian kings were returned to Potsdam.

Currently, the castle on 2/3 belongs to the Brandenburg-Prussian line of the Hohenzollern and on 1/3 of the Swabian-Catholic line. About 300 thousand tourists visit it annually.

Official site

Walsen Castle, Belgium (11th century)

Ancient castles - this is what is the pride of the locals and delights tourists. Stunning buildings, originally designed to keep people from enemy attacks, now keep the country's history from oblivion, being witnesses to many events, happy and sad.

For example, the oldest surviving castles in the world - the castle of Lauches on the Loire in France (its donjon was built in the 9th century!) Witnessed virtually the entire history of France. Let's travel on a map and look at a photo of the most beautiful castle on the planet.

10 De la Pena, Portugal

It is very difficult to choose 10 of the most beautiful castles in the world - there are many more! And yet, usually in the top ten include the castle of de la Pena, one of the wonders of Portugal.

Built in a mixture of different styles, multi-color, similar to a childhood fanciful dream, it at the same time looks very harmonious. De la Pena was built in the 19th century, but did not delight its masters-kings for a long time. Already in 1910, the last mistress left the walls of the castle, and now it is sometimes used by the president of the country for ceremonies.

Often the Alhambra castle in Spain is put in 10th place. Built in an amazing Moorish style in the XIII-XIV centuries during the reign of Nasrid during the period of the conquest of Grenada by Muslims, it is very unusual for Europe. This is a stunning example of architecture that combines the features of Arabic luxury (ligature, carving, tiles) and elements of the Spanish style.

9 Aragonese castle in Italy

One of the oldest castles in Europe. The construction of fortifications on the island of Ischia began in the V century. The island on which the castle is located is a frozen splash of lava.

It is very small and yet is a famous attraction because of its beauty.
The Aragonese castle experienced its heyday in the 16th century, when there were monasteries and residences of the bishop and prince, and heroic events, when in the 18th century 1,800 families were saved from the pirates outside the walls of the castle. Now the castle belongs to a private individual, but is open to all who wish.

8 Mont Saint-Michel Castle in France - one of the most beautiful castles in the world

The castle is also located on the island, whose population today is several dozen people. It is connected to the mainland by a dam. The island is famous for strong tides exposing quicksand, which made the stronghold almost impregnable.

The beautiful castle arose after the appearance of the church on the island in the VIII century and is, in fact, an abbey, the construction of which took many years and ended by the XVI century.

Now the castle is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Every year it is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists.

7 Bomaris, Wales

An old castle in Wales was built for 35 years, but was never completed due to lack of funds. But even in this form, he completely coped with his defensive function in the 13th century, and now attracts many lovers of antiquities and the beauties of architecture with his power and charm.

Named Bomaris (“Beautiful Swamp”), it really looks extremely decorative, although it was built without a traditional dungeon, being concentric in the design.

6 Chambord, France

One of the most beautiful castles in the world, Chambord, located on the Loire, is also one of the largest. Its park, fenced by a 32-km-long wall with 1000 hectares open to visitors, houses exquisite plants and rare bird species.

The castle itself, although it was built in a medieval style, with a dungeon, was not intended for defense, but for entertainment, and was probably conceived with the participation of Leonardo da Vinci: some extremely witty finds betray the hand of a genius.

Now Chambord is a state museum complex in France, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; halls other than museums are provided to public organizations for celebrations.

5 Himeji Castle, Japan

So far, we have considered castles located in Europe, but now let's move to Asia and mentally visit Himeji - Castle of the White Heron.

This is one of the oldest castles in Japan, it was built in the XIV century and laid the foundations of Japanese architecture in the field of defensive structures.

Himeji has a stone base, but almost the entire structure is made of wood; many skillfully located loopholes and a kind of labyrinth that meets enemies who managed to get into its territory make up his secret weapon. It is practically impossible to get out of the maze without knowing it, and the defenders of the fortress could shoot the enemies at a dead end. The castle, of course, is also protected by UNESCO.

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4 Marienburg - the largest castle in the world

And now in front of us is not only the amazingly beautiful and largest castle in the world - Marienburg. It is located in Poland, in a city formerly also called Marienburg, and now Malbork.

Of course, when we talk about the largest castle, we mean medieval castles, which include Marienburg, built in the XIII - XIV centuries. Almost 4 and a half million bricks went to the construction of the walls and the castle!

Since the 14th century, Marienburg has been the capital of the Knights of the Teutonic Order; in XV - withstood the siege during the Battle of Grunwald, and although the city was destroyed, the castle never fell. It was given as a debt to the mercenaries who sold the unique structure to the Polish king.

During the Second World War, the castle became a peculiar element of nurturing the shift in the spirit of Nazism: children from the Hitler Youth were brought here to “touch the history of the Teutons”. The castle was later defeated, but has now been restored and is a museum.

3 Levenburg Castle in Germany

The beautiful castle seems to have descended from the pages of a chivalrous novel, but in fact it is a stylization made in the 18th century. It was never used for military purposes, but, like the castle of Chambord, served for entertainment - for romantic dates and similar entertainments.

It is difficult to imagine a more distinctive and “fabulous” structure! All buildings: arches, drawbridges, towers - are grouped around the center, which gives amazing harmony to the entire building.

Around the castle of Lviv (as its name translates) is an amazing park with small buildings in various styles. Unfortunately, the castle and the park were badly damaged during the Second World War, but they have almost been restored - alas, in a slightly modified form. The monument is now open to all comers.

2 Prague Castle in the Czech Republic

And again, a castle located in a Slavic country, which is considered the largest of all castles in the world in general. The fortress occupies the entire eastern part of the cliff and includes temples, cathedrals, fortifications, streets and buildings.

Now the residence of the President of the Czech Republic is here, and it is the largest residence in the world. Prague Castle leads its history from the 9th century, when it was a very small fortification. But over the course of several centuries, the fortress has grown and is decorated with amazing buildings in different styles, the Romanesque and Gothic, as well as Baroque, prevail.

Now, little by little, the parks and premises of Prague Castle are open for visiting to ordinary citizens and numerous tourists eager to enjoy the amazing beauty of the fortress. Already now you can see the Royal and several other gardens, a cathedral and two palaces.

1 Neuschwanstein in Germany - the most beautiful castle

Most connoisseurs give first place to Neuschwanstein, one of the pearls of German architecture. Built in neo-Gothic style, it strikes with grace and harmony of lines. The castle as a magnet attracts tourists from many countries of the world, and indeed, there is something to see here.

The “fairy-tale” castle was built by order of King Ludwig II in the 19th century in just 15 years, and the monarch spent all his free time here in the last years of his life. In the center of the building is the Hall of Singers, the design of the walls of which recalls the music of Wagner.

The throne room with marble columns and mosaic floors is striking in its splendor. Now no one lives in the castle, this is a museum that you can visit by paying 12 euros and climbing the mountain.