Fairy palaces and castles. Fairy tale castles that actually exist
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Where: Schwangau, Bavaria, Germany.
Price: an adult ticket will cost 13 euros (855 rubles), for children and teenagers under 18 years old admission is free.
It was this place that became the prototype of the Sleeping Beauty Castle - the one that welcomes guests to Disneyland. Neuschwanstein was erected in the 19th century at the whim of King Ludwig II, having spent a record sum for those times - six million gold marks! True, the monarch himself had a chance to live in a fairy-tale castle for only about 170 days. The construction was 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 rock, which means that the path to it will not be easy. You can get 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 (1500 rubles), for students and people over 60 years old - 18.7 pounds (1400 rubles), for teenagers under 17 and the disabled - 12 pounds (900 rubles), for children under five years old - is free.
Favorite country residence of 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 the British monarchs, but despite the fact that the castle is "active", anyone can get here. True, we advise you to look at the website of Windsor Castle before visiting and find out if Elizabeth II is going to raid her residence on that day: during the visits of the Queen, the castle is closed.
If you want to see firsthand how the current reigning monarchs live, as well as learn the history of the British royal family, be sure to come to Windsor Castle: it is 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 from Tours. France has a well-developed rail connection, so getting here will not be difficult. The people called the castle of Chenonceau "ladies", and all because most of its owners were women. At different times, Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Medici, the wife of King Henry III Louise de Vaudemont lived here. So it is not surprising that the female "influence" is noticeable in everything here: in the elegant decoration of the castle, in the beautiful gardens that lie nearby.
Bran Castle, Romania
Where: city of Bran, 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 Tepes, 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 Ryshnov.
Himeji Castle, Japan
Where: Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Price: for adults - 1000 yen (530 rubles), for schoolchildren and students - 300 yen (160 rubles).
Himeji, which means White Heron Castle, got its name due to its snow-white color and elegant shape, which resembles 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 filmmakers - for example, it was here that the filming of the Bond movie You Only Live Twice took place.
Getting to the castle is not difficult: Himeji is only 1.5 hours drive from the Japanese city of Osaka or four from Tokyo (you will need to travel by high-speed train). Experienced travelers are advised to come during the cherry blossom season.
Hluboka Castle, Czech Republic
Where: Hluboka nad Vltavou, České Budějovice district, Czech Republic.
One of the most beautiful castles in Europe, built in the middle of the 13th century, is located 140 kilometers south of Prague (you can get there by bus). Initially, the castle of Gluboka 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 the British monarchs in the city of Windsor, Duchess Eleonora Schwarzenberg decided to create its analogue in the Czech Republic - only in a slightly more "romantic" spirit. Now anyone can appreciate the efforts of the Duchess.
Miramare Castle, Italy
Where: Trieste, Italy.
Price: for adults - 8 euros (530 rubles), reduced rate - 5 euros (330 rubles).
Miramare Castle, which means “looking at the sea”, rises majestically over the Adriatic in Grignano Bay, west of Italian city Trieste. It was erected by order of the Austrian Archduke Maximilian in 1860. According to legend, Maximilian was still that jealous, 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 walk through the luxurious park that descends to the very sea. The most convenient way to get to Miramar is from the city of Trieste on 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 take a walk through the fabulous interiors and walk along 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 advise you to take a hiking route through the mountains (for the lazy, a bus also goes to the rock).
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 descended 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, a few words about them, of course, do not forget to tell!
Chenonceau castle, France
It has a "folk" name - "Lady's 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 - an ancient fortress on Castle Rock in the center of the Scottish capital
Hearst Castle ("Hearst Castle"), California, USA
National Historic Landmark on the Pacific Coast of California. The house has 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 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 (currently without animals).
Herstmonceau Castle, built in the 15th century, is located 10 km northeast of Eastbourne. It is the oldest and largest brick building in England.
Hohenwerfen Castle is located in Austria, at a level of 155 m above the Salzach river valley, 40 km from Salzburg
Castle Hohenzollern - an ancient castle-fortress in Baden-Württemberg, Germany
The medieval castle fortress was first mentioned in 1267, but it is assumed that it was built earlier, in the 11th century.
The castle is located at an altitude of 855 m above sea level on a detached mountain called Hohenzollern. Among the local population, this mountain is better known as Zollenberg or simply Zoller.
Today the castle is a popular tourist attraction.
Lichtenstein Castle - "fairytale castle" of the XIX century in the town of Honau, in the commune of Liechtenstein 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 Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture
Monastery of Pantanassa, Mystras, Greece
Pena Palace - a palace in Portugal, located on a high cliff above Sintra and featuring a fantastic pseudo-medieval style
The whole composition of the mountain, the castle and the adjacent park with an area of 270 hectares is one of the earliest examples of romantic landscape architecture of the 19th century. The castle and park appeared in 1840 as a summer royal residence on the site of a small abandoned monastery.
Quinta da Regaleira, Portugal
The palace and park complex, on the territory of which there is a romantic neo-Gothic palace, a chapel and a park with lakes, grottoes, fountains and various architectural whims
It bears the name of the Baroness Regaleira, who acquired the estate in 1840, is also known as the palace of the millionaire Monteiro.
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, India
Mont Saint Michel, France
Cité or fortress of Carcassonne is a medieval architectural ensemble located in the French city of Carcassonne in the department of Aude
Moritzburg Castle, Germany
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 - the largest of the ancient castles preserved in Lithuania
Vischering Castle, Lüdinghausen, Germany
Furnihurst fortress in Scotland
Ninomaru Castle, Japan
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 we 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 peasants to death for the slightest offense. The times 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 are a dozen of these fortresses, which even the locals 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.
Lip Castle
Ireland
In the 12th century, the castle was built by the influential O'Bannon clan. The family nest of eminent Irish people very soon turned into a scarecrow for the whole district: 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, then brought his children there and forced them to pray over the rotting bodies of adulterers for seven days. Are there ghosts here? Still would!
Zvikov
Czech
It is one of the most important and significant Gothic castles of medieval Bohemia. According to rumors, the local Zvikovsky devil lives in the castle, who does not like people very much. Jokes aside, but strange, unpleasant things actually happen here. Animals refuse to enter some rooms of the castle, sometimes curtains in the main hall spontaneously light up, and those who sleep in 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 has become 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 papacy 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 new wave rumors. To this day, it is believed that a clan of ancient werewolves lives in the basements of Moosham, hunting at night.
Bran Castle
Romania
One of the most feared castles in the world, Bran Castle was the residence of Vlad III - the cruel 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 world's main vampire. 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 the home of all the ghosts and ghosts of the west-central part of France. According to legend, one of the original owners of the castle caught his wife with another man and killed them both. Today, the new owners arrange receptions here for high society from among those who want to tickle their nerves.
Fraser Castle
Scotland
Located in eastern Scotland, Fraser Castle is famous for the horror story of 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 could not wash off the blood after that. The owners allegedly had to sheathe the steps with wooden panels, but on a full moon, blood again appears through them.
Horst
Belgium
The dilapidated castle Horst is inhabited to this day. True, not people 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.
Predjama Castle
Slovenia
The famous pirate knight Erazem once lived here, who raided the coast and passing ships. The castle is riddled with hundreds underground passages, caves and hideouts that even certified "demon hunters" dare not 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. At the beginning of this century, shocked builders working on the restoration of part of the walls discovered a secret room where a skeleton in a white wedding dress sat at the table.
Fairytale castles have always been present in history, art, fairy tales and legends. The castle is a house that shows power, protects from enemies, and gives a feeling of complete peace and spaciousness. Most of the castles you have ever seen actually exist. Even the castle from the Walt Disney intro actually exists. Each of these majestic structures stands for many centuries and decades, so it is not surprising that they keep their secrets and their history.
1. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany.
Time of construction:: 1869-1886
The building was built by King Ludwig and, despite the difficult pronunciation for a Russian person, its name is very romantic in meaning. Translated from German language, the castle is called "New Swan Rock". This amazing building was chosen as the prototype for the Sleeping Beauty Castle, which was built for Disneyland Paris.
Despite the fact that Neuschwanstein was not completed in 1886, the death of the king halted construction. That is why there are unfinished objects in it. The interiors of the premises are amazing, Ludwig obviously did not skimp on decoration and had a very good taste for those times. During the Second World War, the German government took advantage of the castle's impregnability and hid some of the Reichsbank gold there, which later disappeared. In addition, paintings, antiques and jewelry that belonged to Hitler were brought there.
2. Hohenwerfen Castle, Austria
Years of construction: 1075-1078
Relative to the previous castle, Hohenwerfen was built very quickly, in the shortest possible time. Prince-Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg very well chose the place of construction, making it almost impossible to break into the castle. In 1524 the rebellious peasants captured Hohenwerfen and allowed it. However, this uprising was quickly suppressed, and subsequently, the destroyers themselves restored all the buildings.
Over the centuries, princes and bishops completed and improved Hohenwerfen, but in 1931 a huge fire destroyed everything inside. Today, this gloomy castle is the object of tourist attention, and to attract money, tour organizers regularly hold bird shows on the premises of Hohenwerfen.
3. Vaduz Castle, Liechtenstein
Time of construction: XII century
It is still not known for certain who built the castle. Scientists believe that Vaduz Castle was created by order of the Werdenberg-Sargans counts, at least they were the first documented owners. This is one of the few historical buildings in which people live to this day. Vaduz is closed to the public, as the princely family lives there to this day.
Throughout all these centuries, the castle was owned by historical figures. It is not surprising that each of the owners brought something of their own to the decoration of this building, and at the beginning of the last century, Prince Johann II carried out a large-scale reconstruction and modernization of Vaduz, which lasted 15 years.
4. Rock of Cashel, Ireland
Time of construction: IV century
Associated with this castle interesting legend. According to legend, in the 5th century, St. Patrick was engaged in the expulsion of Satan from the caves in the mountains. The enemy, without hesitation, bit off a piece of rock and broke a tooth. A piece of rock fell out of Satan's mouth and fell 30 kilometers from its original location. It is on this strange 60-meter rock that the Gothic Rock of Cashel stands.
The history of the castle is as dark as it is. in the 17th century, Cromwell's troops attacked Cashel and captured it. Despite being protected from enemies, the townspeople found themselves face to face with danger. At that terrible time for them, more than 3,000 people died, of which the main number of people were burned alive. Until today, the castle reminds of the heartlessness of the medieval English, and the doomed courage of the brave Irish.
5. Bodiam Castle, England
Time of construction: 1385
One of the most unusual and photogenic castles was built during the Hundred Years War, when the British, not without reason, feared a French attack. Thanks to a huge moat filled with water, the fortress remained impregnable. Despite the external severity, the premises of Bodiam were amazing, but at the beginning of the last century it all fell into disrepair. The main property was looted and destroyed.
It's amazing how the builders created truly comfortable and cozy living conditions for people inside and such an impregnable facade - outside. Today, Bodiam is one of the most visited castles due to its picturesque view, water lily lake and great camera angles.
6. Estense Castle, Italy
Time of construction: 1385
This castle is a real lucky one, as one of the few that has been completely restored. The history of its construction began with an uprising of an angry people against tax increases and the exhaustion of people in Ferrara. Marquis Nicollo II d "Este thought about building a residence in which nothing would threaten him. The defensive structure was fenced with a moat, and military equipment looked at the inhabitants of the city from its walls.
It was in this castle that Eleanor of Aragon with her children was saved from imminent death. Centuries later, in the 19th century, the castle was used as office building, and two hundred years later, a complete restoration of the facade and interior began. For ten years now, everyone can visit Estense and imagine the life of past centuries, and the events with which it was in full swing.
7. Chęcin Castle, Poland
Time of construction: 1306
Another stunning castle that was built in the 14th century, but already in Poland. Despite all its grandeur and imposingness, this historic building was abandoned in the 18th century and no one is still working on it. At first, the castle was used as a collection of troops under Casimir III the Great, then became the home of the Queen of Hungary, Vladislav III of Varna and Queen Bona Sforza.
Until the 16th century, Chęcin Castle was used as a prison, and it had already ceased to carry the original idea of protecting the royal family from an enemy conspiracy. The castle was destroyed twice, and then the locals themselves dismantled the walls brick by brick for their own needs. Already after the Great Patriotic War, the government partially tried to restore the historical building, however, as before, the castle is in great need of an economic hand and attention.
The most famous castles are castles 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 just examples of medieval architecture and a place where historical values are stored. This list contains 10 of the most popular ones.
Surrounded by forested mountains bran castle is an calling card Romania is popularly called "Dracula's Castle", despite the fact that Vlad Tepes himself never called it his home. Life in the castle began in 1378, when the area was defended from the Ottomans, then it was turned into a customs post on the pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. Vlad the Impaler, the hero of Bram Stoker's vampire novel, never lived here permanently, he just spent 2 days in the castle's dungeon, locked up by the Ottoman invaders who invaded Transylvania.
Germany is famous for its medieval architecture, and this 80-meter-high castle stands out for its great size and beauty, despite now being in ruins. The castle is located on the northern side of Mount Königstuhl, towering over Heidelberg. Him rich story that began in the 13th century. During the Thirty Years' War, it was destroyed, the French inflicted even more damage in the 17th century, and in 1764 it was struck by lightning. locals used the stone of the castle to build their houses. Several times it began to be restored, which led to a mixture of architectural styles and added 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 fell on the period from the Middle Ages to the Thirty Years' War, when, after a 52-day siege, the castle was burned and plundered by Swedish troops. After that, the castle stood in ruins for several years and was even overgrown with forest. In 1899, the German emperor Wilhelm II ordered to restore it in its original form, the way it was before the start of the Thirty Years' War. After the First World War, the castle was taken over by the French, and now there is a museum within its walls.
Located in a picturesque place, between the shores of Lake Geneva and the Alps, the castle is one of the most popular attractions in Switzerland. The castle consists of 100 buildings, which were originally isolated, but over time they were combined into a single architectural ensemble. Since the middle of the 12th century, the counts of the Savoy dynasty lived here. It is noteworthy that this castle was never besieged, its owners always managed to solve any problems through diplomatic negotiations.
Matsumoto Castle, built in the 16th century in the city of Matsumoto (Nagano Prefecture), is one of the most famous in Japan. It does not crown the top of a mountain and does not hang over the city from a 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 design of the castle, reminiscent of outstretched wings, and the color black as pitch, gave it another name - "Crow's Castle". For many years of its existence, the castle changed owners more than once and was even under the threat of demolition. It is now a popular attraction as it can be visited as part of a day trip from Tokyo.
Fortress Eltz, built during the Middle Ages, is located in the mountains on the Moselle River, between Koblenz and Trier, the 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 Antiquities and the List of Architectural and historical monuments UK. Since its construction in the 11th century, the castle has undergone several upgrades and renovations. Initially, the main building was wooden, but in the 12th century it was replaced with a stone structure. During the Hundred Years' War, the façade was redesigned, making it one of the most recognizable examples of military architecture from the 14th century. In 2001, the castle was included in the list of "Top 10 Historic Buildings and Monuments" published by the British Department of Tourism. Today it is one of the most popular attractions in England.
