Prepare a report about one of the famous medieval castles in Europe. Castles of Europe in pictures

The origin of castle building in Europe dates back to the end of the 10th century and reaches its peak by the 14th century. The castle was originally defined as a fortified dwelling of the feudal lord, containing a complex of all necessary services for defense. Over the decades, the structure of such fortified castles has changed. Around the beginning of the 10th century, in the era of feudalism, the most characteristic type of castles for Western Europe was formed - a donjon (from the Latin domineon - the dwelling of the owner of the estate). The donjon included phased lines of defense. Inside the lower courtyard of the castle there were many religious and household buildings. Higher on the bulk hill there was a residential tower of the feudal lord. The seigneurial and economic parts were connected by a wooden drawbridge, which could be easily removed and, if necessary, turned the feudal lord's dwelling into an independent defensive site. All these buildings of the castle were surrounded by a powerful oak palisade with a drawbridge system. Such a feudal castle was very impregnable and could defend itself for a long time when attacked by enemies. The oldest surviving castle is located in the Loire Valley, France. This keep was built in 950.

With the end of the Middle Ages at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th century, the ideas of the Renaissance gradually cover the whole of Europe. From now on, European monarchs understand that power can be determined not only by the strength of weapons, but also by the development of culture, lifestyle, wealth and grace. Castles are starting to change. Powerful and harsh castles of feudal lords cease to serve only defensive purposes. They rebuild, descend from the hills into the valleys and begin to harmonize with the natural landscape. Now the greatest attention is paid to the palace part of the castle. The interior is filled with new furniture and art. Ascetic feudal dwellings are transformed into luxurious royal residences. The origin of castle building in Europe dates back to the end of the 10th century and reaches its peak by the 14th century. The castle was originally defined as a fortified dwelling of the feudal lord, containing a complex of all necessary services for defense. Over the decades, the structure of such fortified castles has changed. Around the beginning of the 10th century, in the era of feudalism, the most characteristic type of castles for Western Europe was formed - a donjon (from the Latin domineon - the dwelling of the owner of the estate). The donjon included phased lines of defense. Inside the lower courtyard of the castle there were many religious and household buildings. Higher on the bulk hill there was a residential tower of the feudal lord. The seigneurial and economic parts were connected by a wooden drawbridge, which could be easily removed and, if necessary, turned the feudal lord's dwelling into an independent defensive site. All these buildings of the castle were surrounded by a powerful oak palisade with a drawbridge system. Such a feudal castle was very impregnable and could defend itself for a long time when attacked by enemies. The oldest surviving castle is located in the Loire Valley, France. This keep was built in 950.

Warwick Castle is a fine living example of a medieval castle. It is located in the city of the same name on the high bank of the River Avon, which skirts the castle from the east. The castle ranks first in the list of cultural and historical places and monuments of Great Britain. The first Norman castle was built here on the site of a former Anglo-Saxon fortification (burgh), by order of William the Conqueror. In 1088, the castle and the title of 1st Earl of Warwick were granted to Henry de Beaumont. For several centuries, the castle became the main residence of several generations of the Earls of Warwick.

The magnificent Windsor Castle located in the county of Berkshire is the oldest and most active castle in the world. For over 900 years, it has been towering over the surrounding landscape, personifying a symbol of royal power. Today, the castle is one of three official residences of the Queen, along with Buckingham Palace and Holyrood House.

Dover Castle is one of the most powerful historical fortresses in Western Europe. For many centuries it has stood guard over the shortest sea route from England to the continent. Its location on the banks of the Pas de Calais, known in England as the Straits of Dover, gave Dover Castle great strategic importance, resulting in the castle playing an important role in the history of England.

The current buildings of Amboise were built from 1492 on the orders of Charles VIII, son of Louis XI, who was born here on June 30, 1470. Inspired by his expedition to Italy, from where he brought back many treasures, his entire reign was marked by Italian influence. Having arrived together with architects and sculptors, the king decorated the castle. With the help of a gardener, Pacello arranged a decorative garden in a special way.

The Royal Castle of Blois is perhaps one of the most famous castles of the Loire, whose biography is oversaturated with significant events that left a bright mark on the history of not only France, but also Europe. Home to seven kings and ten queens of France, today's Château Blois is a place that provides a visual representation of the life of the royal court during the Renaissance.

Burghausen Castle is a classic fairy tale castle. This castle, the longest in Europe (1043 meters) and one of the largest in Germany, rises above the town of Burghausen in Upper Bavaria on the border with Austria. The elongated structure of the castle is subdivided into six separate courtyards. Each of them had its own important functions, and each of them was an independent fortified bastion with its own gate, moat and drawbridge. The towers were living quarters for all the inhabitants of the castle, from foresters, barn keepers, court employees and ending with the chief treasurer.

Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most visited castles in Germany, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. It is located in the state of Bavaria near the city of Füssen. This monumental piece of architecture was erected by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, also known as the "Fairy King".

Today's Reichenstein Castle is a typical example of a castle resurrected from oblivion at the dawn of the Rhenish Romantic craze. The rich collection of the castle museum invariably attracts many tourists traveling along the Rhine. Many interesting and attractive expositions await the guests of the castle.

Trausnitz Castle, built in Landshut, got its present name in the 16th century. Initially, it had the same name as the city, since it was built to protect the city and surrounding lands.

The castle of Aragonese rises above the islet, perched on top of a cliff. A 15th century stone bridge, 220 meters long, links it to the eastern side of the island of Ischia. The rocky base of the island on which the castle is located is a magma bubble, which formed here during the long-term activity of volcanic phenomena.

For over six hundred years, the Vienna Hofburg was the main home of the royal court of the rulers of Austria. Over the centuries it has played many important roles in the course of European history. Since the XIII century, the Habsburgs ruled their possessions from here. First as large feudal landowners, then from 1452 as Holy Roman Emperors, and finally from 1806 to 1918 as Emperors of the Austrian Empire.

The Schönbrunn Imperial Palace can rightfully be considered one of the significant cultural and historical monuments, not only in Austria, but throughout Europe. Since the 1960s it has been an attractive tourist center for visitors to Vienna.

To the north of the mouth of the Vistula, on the right bank of the river Nogat, the Teutonic Order crusaders began the construction of the castle of Marienburg in 1274, and in 1276 they granted city rights to the settlement formed near the castle. In connection with the transfer in 1309 of the main residence of the Grand Masters of the Order from Venice to Marienburg (Malbork), the castle was significantly expanded.

This most famous of Scottish castles has a long and varied history of building. Its oldest part, St. Margaret's Chapel, dates back to the 12th century. The Great Hall was founded by James IV around 1510. The Crescent Battery by Regent Morton in the late 16th century, and the Scottish National War Memorial after the First World War.

Original post by Vitaly_Kalashnikov
The birth of castle building in Europe dates back to the end of the 10th century and reaches its peak by the 14th century. The castle was originally defined as a fortified dwelling of the feudal lord, containing a complex of all necessary services for defense. Over the decades, the structure of such fortified castles has changed. Around the beginning of the 10th century, in the era of feudalism, the most characteristic type of castles for Western Europe was formed - a donjon (from the Latin domineon - the dwelling of the owner of the estate). The donjon included phased lines of defense. Inside the lower courtyard of the castle there were many religious and household buildings. Higher on the bulk hill there was a residential tower of the feudal lord. The seigneurial and economic parts were connected by a wooden drawbridge, which could be easily removed and, if necessary, turned the feudal lord's dwelling into an independent defensive site. All these buildings of the castle were surrounded by a powerful oak palisade with a drawbridge system. Such a feudal castle was very impregnable and could defend itself for a long time when attacked by enemies. The oldest surviving castle is located in the Loire Valley, France. This keep was built in 950.
With the end of the Middle Ages at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th century, the ideas of the Renaissance gradually cover the whole of Europe. From now on, European monarchs understand that power can be determined not only by the strength of weapons, but also by the development of culture, lifestyle, wealth and grace. Castles are starting to change. Powerful and harsh castles of feudal lords cease to serve only defensive purposes. They rebuild, descend from the hills into the valleys and begin to harmonize with the natural landscape. Now the greatest attention is paid to the palace part of the castle. The interior is filled with new furniture and art. Ascetic feudal dwellings are transformed into luxurious royal residences. The birth of castle building in Europe dates back to the end of the 10th century and reaches its peak by the 14th century. The castle was originally defined as a fortified dwelling of the feudal lord, containing a complex of all necessary services for defense. Over the decades, the structure of such fortified castles has changed. Around the beginning of the 10th century, in the era of feudalism, the most characteristic type of castles for Western Europe was formed - a donjon (from the Latin domineon - the dwelling of the owner of the estate). The donjon included phased lines of defense. Inside the lower courtyard of the castle there were many religious and household buildings. Higher on the bulk hill there was a residential tower of the feudal lord. The seigneurial and economic parts were connected by a wooden drawbridge, which could be easily removed and, if necessary, turned the feudal lord's dwelling into an independent defensive site. All these buildings of the castle were surrounded by a powerful oak palisade with a drawbridge system. Such a feudal castle was very impregnable and could defend itself for a long time when attacked by enemies. The oldest surviving castle is located in the Loire Valley, France. This keep was built in 950.
With the end of the Middle Ages at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th century, the ideas of the Renaissance gradually cover the whole of Europe. From now on, European monarchs understand that power can be determined not only by the strength of weapons, but also by the development of culture, lifestyle, wealth and grace. Castles are starting to change. Powerful and harsh castles of feudal lords cease to serve only defensive purposes. They rebuild, descend from the hills into the valleys and begin to harmonize with the natural landscape. Now the greatest attention is paid to the palace part of the castle. The interior is filled with new furniture and art. Ascetic feudal dwellings are transformed into luxurious royal residences.
Warwick Castle is a fine living example of a medieval castle. It is located in the city of the same name on the high bank of the River Avon, which skirts the castle from the east. The castle ranks first in the list of cultural and historical places and monuments of Great Britain. The first Norman castle was built here on the site of a former Anglo-Saxon fortification (burgh), by order of William the Conqueror. In 1088, the castle and the title of 1st Earl of Warwick were granted to Henry de Beaumont. For several centuries, the castle became the main residence of several generations of the Earls of Warwick.
The magnificent Windsor Castle located in the county of Berkshire is the oldest and most active castle in the world. For over 900 years, it has been towering over the surrounding landscape, personifying a symbol of royal power. Today, the castle is one of three official residences of the Queen, along with Buckingham Palace and Holyrood House.
Dover Castle is one of the most powerful historical fortresses in Western Europe. For many centuries it has stood guard over the shortest sea route from England to the continent. Its location on the banks of the Pas de Calais, known in England as the Straits of Dover, gave Dover Castle great strategic importance, resulting in the castle playing an important role in the history of England.
The current buildings of Amboise were built from 1492 on the orders of Charles VIII, son of Louis XI, who was born here on June 30, 1470. Inspired by his expedition to Italy, from where he brought back many treasures, his entire reign was marked by Italian influence. Having arrived together with architects and sculptors, the king decorated the castle. With the help of a gardener, Pacello arranged a decorative garden in a special way.
The Royal Castle of Blois is perhaps one of the most famous castles of the Loire, whose biography is oversaturated with significant events that left a bright mark on the history of not only France, but also Europe. Home to seven kings and ten queens of France, today's Château Blois is a place that provides a visual representation of the life of the royal court during the Renaissance.
Burghausen Castle is a classic fairy tale castle. This castle, the longest in Europe (1043 meters) and one of the largest in Germany, rises above the town of Burghausen in Upper Bavaria on the border with Austria. The elongated structure of the castle is subdivided into six separate courtyards. Each of them had its own important functions, and each of them was an independent fortified bastion with its own gate, moat and drawbridge. The towers were living quarters for all the inhabitants of the castle, from foresters, barn keepers, court employees and ending with the chief treasurer.
Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most visited castles in Germany, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. It is located in the state of Bavaria near the city of Füssen. This monumental piece of architecture was erected by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, also known as the "Fairy King".
Today's Reichenstein Castle is a typical example of a castle resurrected from oblivion at the dawn of the Rhenish Romantic craze. The rich collection of the castle museum invariably attracts many tourists traveling along the Rhine. Many interesting and attractive expositions await the guests of the castle.
Trausnitz Castle, built in Landshut, got its present name in the 16th century. Initially, it had the same name as the city, since it was built to protect the city and surrounding lands.
The castle of Aragonese rises above the islet, perched on top of a cliff. A 15th century stone bridge, 220 meters long, links it to the eastern side of the island of Ischia. The rocky base of the island on which the castle is located is a magma bubble, which formed here during the long-term activity of volcanic phenomena.
For over six hundred years, the Vienna Hofburg was the main home of the royal court of the rulers of Austria. Over the centuries it has played many important roles in the course of European history. Since the XIII century, the Habsburgs ruled their possessions from here. First as large feudal landowners, then from 1452 as Holy Roman Emperors, and finally from 1806 to 1918 as Emperors of the Austrian Empire.
The Schönbrunn Imperial Palace can rightfully be considered one of the significant cultural and historical monuments, not only in Austria, but throughout Europe. Since the 1960s it has been an attractive tourist center for visitors to Vienna.
To the north of the mouth of the Vistula, on the right bank of the river Nogat, the Teutonic Order crusaders began the construction of the castle of Marienburg in 1274, and in 1276 they granted city rights to the settlement formed near the castle. In connection with the transfer in 1309 of the main residence of the Grand Masters of the Order from Venice to Marienburg (Malbork), the castle was significantly expanded.
This most famous of Scottish castles has a long and varied history of building. Its oldest part, St. Margaret's Chapel, dates back to the 12th century. The Great Hall was founded by James IV around 1510. The Crescent Battery by Regent Morton in the late 16th century, and the Scottish National War Memorial after the First World War.

For some reason, at the mention of the word "fairy tale", medieval castles and fortresses first of all come to mind. Maybe because they were built in those ancient times, when wizards freely roamed the fields and meadows, and fire-breathing dragons flew over the mountain peaks.

Be that as it may, even now, looking at the castles and fortresses that have been preserved in some places, one involuntarily imagines princesses sleeping in them and evil fairies conjuring over magic potions. Let's look at the once luxurious housing of the powers that be.

(German: Schloß Neuschwanstein, literally “New Swan Stone”) is located in Germany, near the town of Füssen (German: Fussen). The castle was founded in 1869 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The construction was completed in 1891, 5 years after the unexpected death of the king. The castle is magnificent and attracts curious tourists from all over the world with its beauty of architectural forms.

This is the "dream palace" of the young king, who was never able to see her incarnation in her full glory. Ludwig II of Bavaria, founder of the castle, ascended the throne too young. And being a dreamy nature, imagining himself as a fairy-tale character Lohengrin, he decided to build his own castle in order to hide in it from the harsh reality of the defeat of Bavaria in alliance with Austria in 1866 in the war with Prussia.

Away from state concerns, the young king demanded too much from the army of architects, artists and artisans. Sometimes he set completely unrealistic deadlines, the observance of which required round-the-clock work of masons and carpenters. During the construction, Ludwig II went deeper and deeper into his fictional world, for which he was later recognized as crazy. The architectural design of the castle was constantly changing. So the rooms for guests were excluded and a small grotto was added. The small audience hall was transformed into the majestic Throne Room.

A century and a half ago, Ludwig II of Bavaria tried to hide from people behind the walls of a medieval castle - today they come by the millions to admire his fabulous refuge.

(German: Burg Hohenzollern) - an old castle-fortress in Baden-Württemberg, 50 km south of Stuttgart. The castle was built at an altitude of 855 m above sea level on the top of Mount Hohenzollern. Only the third castle has survived to this day. The medieval castle fortress was first built in the 11th century and completely destroyed after the capture, at the end of a grueling siege by the troops of the cities of Swabia in 1423.

A new fortress was built on its ruins in 1454-1461, which served as a refuge for the House of Hohenzollern throughout the Thirty Years' War. Due to the complete loss of the fortress of strategic importance, by the end of the 18th century, the castle was noticeably dilapidated, and some parts of the building were finally dismantled.

The modern version of the castle was erected in 1850-1867 on the personal instructions of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, who decided to completely restore the family castle of the Prussian royal house. The construction of the castle was led by the famous Berlin architect Friedrich August Stüler. He managed to combine new, large-scale neo-Gothic castle buildings and the few surviving buildings of the former ruined castles.

(Karlštejn), built by decree of the Czech king and emperor Charles IV (named after him) on a high limestone rock above the Berounka River, as a summer residence and a place of storage of sacred relics of the royal family. The first stone in the foundation of Karlštejn Castle was laid by Archbishop Arnošt, close to the Emperor, in 1348, and already in 1357 the construction of the castle was completed. Two years before the end of construction, Charles IV settled in the castle.

The stepped architecture of Karlštejn Castle, which ends with a tower with the Grand Cross Chapel, is quite common in the Czech Republic. The ensemble includes the castle itself, the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Catherine Chapel, the Big Tower, the Mariana Tower and the Well Tower.

The majestic Student Tower and the imperial palace, which housed the king's quarters, take tourists back to the Middle Ages, when a powerful monarch ruled the Czech Republic.

Royal palace and fortress in the Spanish city of Segovia, in the province of Castile and Leon. The fortress is built on a high rock, above the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores rivers. Such a good location made it almost impregnable. Now it is one of the most recognizable and beautiful palaces in Spain. Originally built as a fortress, the Alcazar was once a royal palace, a prison, and an artillery academy.

The Alcazar, which was a small wooden fortress in the 12th century, was later rebuilt into a stone castle and became the most impregnable defensive structure. This palace became famous for great historically significant events: the coronation of Isabella the Catholic, her first marriage to King Ferdinand of Aragon, the wedding of Anna of Austria with Philip II.

(Castelul Peleş) was built by King Carol I of Romania near the city of Sinai in the Romanian Carpathians. The king was so fascinated by the local beauty that he bought up the surrounding land and built a castle for hunting and summer recreation. The name of the castle was given by a small mountain river flowing nearby.

In 1873, the construction of a grandiose building began, under the leadership of the architect Johann Schulz. Along with the castle, other buildings necessary for a comfortable life were built: royal stables, guard houses, a hunting house and a power station.

Thanks to the power plant, Peles became the first electrified castle in the world. The castle officially opened in 1883. At the same time, central heating and an elevator were installed in it. The construction was completed in 1914.

It is a symbol of the small city-state of San Marino on the territory of modern Italy. The beginning of the construction of the fortress is considered to be the 10th century AD. Guaita is the first of three San Marino fortresses built on the peaks of Mount Titano.

The construction consists of two rings of fortifications, the inner one has retained all the signs of the forts of the feudal era. The main entrance gate was located at a height of several meters, and it was possible to pass through it only by a drawbridge, now destroyed. The fortress was restored many times in the 15th-17th centuries.

Well, so we looked at some medieval castles and fortresses in Europe, of course, not all of them. Next time we will admire the fortresses on the tops of impregnable rocks. There are so many exciting discoveries ahead!

The legacy of the Middle Ages, European castles today are shrouded in a veil of legends, traditions and real dramatic events. Their thick stone walls remember sieges, internecine wars, intrigues and romantic stories. Their sumptuous or, on the contrary, ascetic interiors excite the imagination, which, having played out, takes away to the world of the knights of King Arthur, Lohengrin and Dracula. And, in general, at this moment it does not matter whether these characters actually existed.

Abbey of Mont Saint Michel

Bran Castle, Transylvania, Romania

Bran Castle, 30 kilometers from the city of Brasov, is one of those places whose mythological history has overshadowed the real one, I must say, very rich. Thanks to the novel by the Irishman Bram Stoker, published in 1897, Bran became "the" castle of Count Dracula, the most popular bloodsucker of mass culture and the main vampire of all time. Yes, there is a deadly negative charm in this image: “He had an energetic, original face, a thin nose and some special, strangely shaped nostrils; an arrogant high forehead, and hair that grew scantly and at the same time in thick tufts near the temples; very thick, almost meeting on the forehead eyebrows. The mouth, as far as I could see under the heavy moustache, was resolute, even cruel in appearance, with extraordinarily sharp white teeth protruding between the lips, the bright color of which struck with its vitality in a man of his age. But what struck me the most was the unusual pallor of the face. However, one should not associate Stoker's Dracula with his prototype, the 15th-century Wallachian prince Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad Dracula. Although the governor did not differ in special humanity, he was not a bloody despot, as he appears in the annals, either. The executions of the boyars after Tepes came to power in Transylvania - quite in the spirit of that by no means vegetarian time and internecine struggle, were also attempted on him more than once. Vlad Dracula has an indirect relationship to Bran Castle: dissatisfied with the refusal of the German merchants of Brasov to obey the trading rules established by him, he organized military campaigns against the obstinate city more than once. However, no written evidence of his capture of the castle has been preserved.

Chillon Castle, Montreux, Switzerland

Chillon stands in the bosom of the waters;

There, in the dungeon, seven columns

Covered with damp moss.

A sad light dawns on them.

Unlike Bram Stoker, who used some of the features and fragments of the biography of Vlad Dracula to create an image, Byron in The Prisoner of Chillon poeticized the real story of a prisoner of a gloomy castle on the shores of Lake Geneva. The basis of the poem, written by him in two days in June 1816, based on fresh impressions from visiting this place with his friend Percy Bysshe Shelley, was the events of the 16th century. The prototype of the Chillon prisoner was the rector of one of the Geneva abbeys, Francois Bonivard, who opposed the persistent attempts of the Savoy Duke Charles III to seize power in Geneva. Bonivar spent six years in captivity and was released in 1536 by the Bernese. In fairness, in the centuries-old history of the castle, built in the middle of the XII century as the residence of the Savoy dukes, there were many dramatic episodes. So, in 1798, under the influence of the French Revolution, the French-speaking canton of Vaud, refusing to recognize the authority of the German-speaking Bern, proclaimed the Leman Republic. When French troops entered the canton, to which its inhabitants turned for help, the Chillon castle was turned into a warehouse of weapons and uniforms.

Abbey of Mont Saint Michel, Normandy, France

According to legend, the abbey on a rocky island at the mouth of the Cusnon River owes its appearance to St. Michael, who in 708 appeared three times to Bishop Ober, until he was finally convinced of the correctness of his interpretation of the sign from above. Since then, the mountain, called the Grave, bears the name of its heavenly patron - Mont Saint-Michel. In the 8th century, it all started with a modest chapel, in 966, on the orders of the Norman duke, a proto-Roman church appeared here, and over the course of the 11th-15th centuries the abbey was gradually expanded and rebuilt, including due to the destruction caused by a series of wars. In 1090, the abbey, in which the youngest son of William the Conqueror Henry took refuge, was besieged by his brothers William the Red and Duke of Normandy Robert Short Pants. At the beginning of the 13th century, the abbey was captured by the French king Philip Augustus, who, however, in expiation of his guilt before the monks and God, donated a large amount to the affected Benedictine monastery, thanks to which the Miracle was erected on the northern slope - a building in the Gothic style with an extensive cloister. During the French Revolution and the Second Empire, the abbey also served as a prison, and today Mont Saint-Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most touristic places in France. Its outline can be seen in many films, including Terence Malick's To the Miracle (2012), which begins with a visit to the abbey by a couple in love going through a relationship crisis.

Hohensalzburg, Austria

It is the baroque towers and powerful walls of Hohensalzburg that form the textbook view of the Austrian capital, replicated in numerous photographs and postcards. One of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe, built in 1077 by Gebhard I, archbishop of Salzburg, Hohensalzburg was significantly expanded in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. At the same time, a symbol of the fortress appeared above the main entrance - a lion with a beetroot in its paws. Over the centuries, Hohensalzburg, towering over the Old Town of the Austrian capital, has maintained a reputation as an impregnable bastion for enemies - and indeed, this is one of the few Austrian fortresses that has never been conquered. In 1977, for the 900th anniversary of Hohensalzburg, the Austrian Mint issued a commemorative coin depicting the castle. And in 2006, he appeared on the commemorative coins of the old Nonnberg Abbey, to which Salzburg owes its appearance.

Egeskov, Funen, Denmark

In its current form, Egeskov was built in 1554 - a rather turbulent time of the beginning of the Reformation and slowly smoldering feudal wars, so the castle house was by no means a whim, but an urgent need. Egeskov was erected in the middle of the lake on a foundation of oak piles - according to legend, it took a whole oak grove. The castle consists of two long houses connected by a thick defensive wall with a complex system of secret stairs to supply the inhabitants with water in case of a siege. Add to this machicolations on the outer walls, from which it was possible not only to fire at enemies, but also to pour molten resin on them and drop stones. Today, Egeskov, still owned by the descendants of Henrik Bije, who bought the castle in 1784, looks quite peaceful. At the end of the 19th century, it turned into a farm equipped with the latest technology, which it is to this day. In addition to impressive interiors, mainly dating back to the 19th century, the castle has expositions that tell about its daily, non-ceremonial life.

Neuschwanstein, Bavaria, Germany

Despite the impressive view built at the end of the 19th century, Neuschwanstein, unlike real medieval castles, was built not to protect its owners, but as the embodiment of a childhood dream of a beautiful Middle Ages, the time of brave knights and beautiful ladies. In 1866, Bavaria, which fought on the side of Austria in the Austro-Prussian war, was defeated, as a result of which it lost part of its land, and King Ludwig II lost the right to lead the army in case of war and the status of a sovereign monarch. In 1867, having imagined himself as Lohengrin, the knight of the Holy Grail, as a child, he found solace in a world of dreams, the material embodiment of which were palaces and castles - his small kingdom, in which he was the sole ruler. The Bavarian king was a fanatical admirer of Richard Wagner's music and a generous patron of the composer, and Neuschweinstein's interiors became a large-scale illustration for his operas. In addition to Wagnerian motifs, the image of a swan appears in the design of each room in one form or another - which would subsequently inspire Pyotr Tchaikovsky to create Swan Lake. A little later, the sight of the castle will enchant one of the main storytellers of the 20th century, Walt Disney, who uses the outline of the castle in the brand name of the company he founded.

Scotney Castle, Kent, UK

Although the first written evidence of a certain Scotney castle dates back to 1137, the oldest buildings that have come down to us, or rather the picturesque ruins left from them, date back to the end of the 14th century. In the 16th century, a magnificent building in the Elizabethan style appeared on the site of the fortified house with towers, and around 1630 the east wing was rebuilt in the Palladian spirit. Uninhabited already in the 40s of the 19th century, it remained a decoration of the garden and a living testimony to the long and eventful history of the castle. And the Hussey family, who then took over the estate, built a new castle, stylized as the era of King James I, the first representative of the Stuart dynasty on the English throne, who ruled in the first third of the 17th century. The castle was opened to the public only in 2007 - until that time it remained the residential building of the heiress of the family, Elizabeth Hussey. Full of paintings, antique furniture, books and photographs, it still has a homely, non-museum atmosphere. Around the castle - beautiful gardens, beech groves and moorlands.

Alhambra Palace(Arabic Al Hamra - literally "Red Castle") is an ancient mosque, palace and fortress of the Moorish rulers of the province Granada on South Spain. The castle occupies the top of a rocky plateau on the southeastern border of Granada. Moorish poets described the Alhambra as a "pearl in emeralds", highlighting the bright colors of the buildings against the background of the green forest that once grew at the foot. Despite many years of decline, vandalism and sometimes unreasonable restoration, the Alhambra is currently one of the best examples of Moorish architecture in Europe, freed from the cultural influence of Byzantium. During its history, the castle was the residence of both Muslim and Christian rulers, and now it has been turned into a museum and one of the most famous attractions in Spain.

Story

In any case, the first mention of the Alhambra dates back to the 9th century. Savwar ben Hamdun ( Sawwar ben Hamdun) in 889 sought refuge in the Alcazaba ( Alcazaba), the citadel of the current Alhambra from the constant wars that torn apart the Caliphate of Cordoba.
His activities in Granada were limited to strengthening the walls of the citadel. The real heyday of the Alhambra began with the arrival of the first king of the Nasrid dynasty ( Nasrid) Muhammad bin Al-Ahmar ( Mohammed Al-Ahmar, Mohammed I, 1238-1273) . In the XIII century. The Alhambra becomes a royal residence and its "golden age" begins.
First of all, the old part of the castle, the Alcazaba, was fortified: lookout tower (Torre de la Vela) and donjon (Torre del Homenaje).
Under Mohammed II (1273-1302) and Mohammed III (1302-1309), part of the Darro River was allotted and numerous warehouses and additional ramparts were built. Under Mohammed III, public baths were also built on the site where the church of St. Mary would later be built.
The most significant contribution to the formation of the Alhambra as we see it now was made by the following rulers of the Nasrid Dynasty: Yusuf I ( Yusuf I, 1333-1353) and Muhammad V (1353-1391). It is with them that the creation Palace of Lions ( Patio de los Leone s ) and adjoining rooms, Gate of Justice (Puerta de la Justicia), decoration of towers, construction of baths ( Banos), Cuarto de Comares and Sala de la Barca(Sala de la Barca). Very little remains in the Alhambra of the previous kings of the Nasrid dynasty.

In subsequent years, traces of Moorish architecture were gradually destroyed. In 1812, the French blew up one of the towers of the Alhambra, but the whole castle, fortunately, escaped a similar fate. This is related to the following story. The explosion of the castle was planned by Napoleon Bonaparte himself, however, one of the commanders, who was instructed to carry out all the work, defused the explosives and thereby saved the castle for posterity.
In 1821 the castle was partially destroyed by an earthquake. Restoration work was begun in 1828 by the architect José Contreras ( Jose Contreras) and continued until 1830. After the death of Contreras, his son Rafael and grandson Mariano continued his work. Nowadays, the Alhambra has become a museum that attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.

Architecture

The main decorative elements are stylized plant forms, their interlacing and rhombus nets. Also on the walls are many poems that belong to three poets. Ibn al-Yayyab (1274-1349), Ibn al-Jatib(1313-1375) and Ibn Zamrak(1333-1393), who were secretaries of the royal office and first ministers. It is believed that al-Zamrak is the most gifted among them. Examples of their poems can be found here .

And oddly enough, at the same time, there is a niche on the facade of the tower, in which there are sculptures of the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus Christ.
The area of the ponds (Plaza de los aljibes) The area got its name from the ponds that were built in 1494 by the Count of Tendilla ( Tendilla) in the moat between the Alcazaba and the Palaces.
wine gate (Puerto de Vino) - one of the most ancient. Their construction is attributed to the reign of Muhammad II. Now they stand alone in the middle Pond areas. Since 1556, the inhabitants of the Alhambra left wine here, which was not taxed.

Castles, fortresses and palaces have been built by people since ancient times. Being built at a time when there was no modern technology, they amaze the imagination with their architectural grandeur. Although these impregnable symbols of the Middle Ages were built as fortifications, this does not prevent them from pleasing the eye with their appearance. And we offer to admire those of them that are considered the most beautiful in Europe.

Neuschwanstein Castle (Germany)

This majestic, romantic castle is considered the most beautiful in the world. And even in the photo you can see that he deserved his title. Built by order of the Bavarian king Ludwig II, during the lifetime of its creators, it became associated with the embodiment of a fairy-tale dream that became a reality.

Eltz Castle (Germany)

A pearl of European architecture, one of the most beautiful castles in Germany and the world. For more than 30 generations it has remained in the possession of the same family and has never been captured or plundered, not even during the great wars and revolutions.

Pierrefonds Castle (France)

Built in the 90s of the XIV century, it became an arena where historical events for Europe unfolded. Partially destroyed by the troops of Cardinal Richelieu, it was restored in the 1880s.

Hohenzollern Castle (Germany)

Stunningly beautiful, this castle seems to have stepped out of the pages of a fantasy novel. The first mention of it is found in documents from 1267, and in our time many interesting events are held here.

Chambord (France)

Built on the orders of Francis I, Chambord Castle was presented to his beloved and soon became one of the recognizable symbols of France. History has not preserved the name of the architect, but it is known for sure that Leonardo da Vinci worked on the project, shortly before his death.

Corvin Castle (Romania)

Rising on a rock near the river, this family fortress of the Hunyadi house changed more than 20 owners in its time. There are legends that Vlad Tepes, known as Dracula, was imprisoned here for 7 years.

Coca Castle (Spain)

A magnificent example of fortification art, built in the 15th century. It is surrounded by double brick walls 2.5 meters wide, and the best architects of Toledo worked on the construction.

Chenonceau (France)

Although it is privately owned, the owners have opened it to the public, which attracts many tourists from all over the world. Due to its characteristic appearance, among the local population it was called the "ladies' castle".