Fairytale architecture: the most beautiful castles in the world. Perhaps the most fabulous castle in the world: exploring Neuschwanstein Bodiam Castle, UK

Neuschwanstein is a fantasy come true, a fairy tale castle that rises its toy-like turrets and galleries above the wooded hills in the Bavarian Alps near the city of Fussen near the Austrian border.

It gives the impression of a theatrical set, and in part it is one, since it was created under the active leadership of the Munich theater artist Christian Jank. At the same time, the castle has a very impressive size, and it took seventeen years to build. Ludwig grew up in the nearby Hohenschwangau Castle. This is stylized medieval fortress the structure was built by his father Maximilian II. Ludwig was a passionate admirer of Germanic mythology and appears to have identified himself with the swan knight Lohengrin. Having attended the premiere of Richard Wagner's opera of the same name in 1858, he was beside himself with delight. When three years later, at the age of eighteen, Ludwig inherited the royal throne, one of his first acts of state was to invite the composer to Munich.

Now, with money and power, he became a patron of Wagner, paid all the composer's debts and promised to establish a festival to perform Wagner's works. In his operas, Wagner brought the world of German legends and tales to the stage on a grand scale, trying to captivate the audience with the drama of the eternal confrontation between Good and Evil. Ludwig, meanwhile, ordered the construction of a fairy-tale castle to begin, which in all respects would correspond to the ideals of ancient German chivalry.

This, as well as his other decisions, increasingly inclined those around him to the idea that the king was damaged in his mind and, as a ruler, was not able to look at things sensibly. When Ludwig was still young, Bismarck publicly announced that he was completely sane, although even then many of the oddities of his behavior, his manner of dressing bizarrely, and his whole way of life were striking - he, for example, sometimes slept all day long, and sometimes invited for lunch... the spirit of Louis XIV. But at the end of his life his madness was completely obvious and no one doubted it.
Eyewitnesses and contemporaries claimed that fifteen master carvers worked on the manufacture of a carved wooden bed for Ludwig for four and a half years. The interior of the castle is a mixture of various architectural and artistic styles, a combination of Moorish, Gothic and Baroque elements: there are stalactite columns, a throne room in a decadent Byzantine spirit, and a singing hall with exquisite lighting, intended for the production of Wagner's operas.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Where: Schwangau, Bavaria, Germany.

Price: an adult ticket will cost 13 euros (855 rubles); for children and teenagers under 18 years of age, admission is free.

It was this place that became the prototype of the Sleeping Beauty Castle - the same one that greets guests at Disneyland. Neuschwanstein was built in XIX century at the whim of King Ludwig II, spending a record amount for construction at that time - six million gold marks! True, the monarch himself had a chance to live in fairytale castle only about 170 days. Construction was completely completed after his death.

Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular attractions in Bavaria and perhaps the most famous and popular castle in Europe, so there are a lot of tourists here. Experienced travelers advise arriving early in the morning and giving preference to sportswear: Neuschwanstein stands on a cliff, which means the path to it will not be easy. You can get there from Munich by train - the castle is located 130 kilometers from this large city.

Windsor Castle, England

Where: Windsor, Berkshire, England.

Price: for adults - 20.5 pounds (1,500 rubles), for students and people over 60 years old - 18.7 pounds (1,400 rubles), for teenagers under 17 years old and disabled people - 12 pounds (900 rubles), for children under five years old - for free.

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 British monarchs, but despite the fact that the castle is “active”, anyone can get here. However, before visiting, we advise you to look at the website of Windsor Castle and find out whether Elizabeth II is going to visit her residence on this day: the castle is closed during the Queen’s visits.

If you want to see with your own eyes how the current reigning monarchs live, and also learn the history of the British royal family, be sure to come to Windsor Castle: it is located only 30 kilometers from London, you can get there in 20 minutes by train.

Chenonceau Castle, France

Where: Chenonceau, Indre-et-Loire department, France.

Price: for adults - 13 euros (855 rubles), for students and children under 18 years old - 10 euros (650 rubles), children under seven years old can visit the castle for free.

One of the most romantic French castles is located on the Cher River, 214 kilometers from Paris and only 34 kilometers from Tours. France has good rail connections, so getting here won't be difficult. The people called the Chenonceau castle "ladies' castle", and all because most of its owners were women. IN different times Diana de Poitiers, Catherine de Medici, and the wife of King Henry III, Louise de Vaudemont, lived here. So it is not surprising that the female “influence” is noticeable here in everything: in the elegant decoration of the castle, in the beautiful gardens located nearby.

Bran Castle, Romania

Where: Bran city, Romania.

Price: for adults - 7.8 euros (515 rubles), for people over 65 years old - 5.6 euros (370 rubles), students - 4.5 euros (300 rubles), schoolchildren - 1.5 euros (100 rubles).

This place attracts with its gothic romance. According to legend, it was in this castle, built at the end of the 14th century, that Prince Vlad the Impaler, the prototype of the famous Count Dracula, stayed. There is no historical evidence for this, but it is thanks to the myth that Bran Castle is the most visited place in Romania. The atmosphere in the castle is the most mystical, and it is very easy to plunge into it: you can get there by bus from Brasov or Rasnov.

Himeji Castle, Japan

Where: Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

Price: for adults - 1000 yen (530 rubles), for schoolchildren and students - 300 yen (160 rubles).

This place got its name Himeji, which means White Heron Castle, due to its snow-white color and elegant shape, which resembles the outline of a bird. The castle was built in the 14th century by the princes of Akamatsu. At that time, bloody internecine wars were fought in Japan, so initially the fortress, surrounded by a labyrinth garden, served as a defensive structure. Today, the castle attracts not only tourists, but also film directors - for example, it was here that the film from the Bond series “You Only Live Twice” was filmed.

Getting to the castle is not difficult: Himeji is located just 1.5 hours from the Japanese city of Osaka or four hours from Tokyo (you will need to travel by high speed train). Experienced travelers advise coming during the cherry blossom season.

Hluboka Castle, Czech Republic

Where: Hluboka nad Vltavou, Ceske Budejovice district, Czech Republic.

One of the most beautiful castles in Europe, built in the mid-13th century, is located 140 kilometers south of Prague (you can get there by bus). Initially, the castle of Hluboka nad Vltavou was called Frauenberg, and its appearance was very different from the modern one: in the first 400 years alone, 26 owners changed here, and each owner of the castle did not deny himself the pleasure of rebuilding it to his own taste. The castle owes its current appearance to the Schwarzenberg family: enchanted by the residence of British monarchs in the city of Windsor, Duchess Eleanor of Schwarzenberg decided to create its analogue in the Czech Republic - only in a slightly more “romantic” spirit. Now anyone can appreciate the duchess’s efforts.

Miramare Castle, Italy

Where: Trieste, Italy.

Price: for adults - 8 euros (530 rubles), reduced rate - 5 euros (330 rubles).

Miramare Castle, which means "looking into the sea", rises majestically above the Adriatic in the bay of Grignano to the west of Italian city Trieste. It was erected by order of the Austrian Archduke Maximilian in 1860. According to legend, Maximilian was also a jealous person, so the castle became a “golden cage” for his wife Charlotte of Belgium.

Now this beautiful “cage” is one of the pearls of Trieste - and annually attracts a lot of tourists. Visitors can not only enjoy the decoration of the castle, but also stroll through the luxurious park, which goes down to the sea. The most convenient way to get to Miramare is from the city of Trieste on public transport or by car.

The quaint palace is located on high cliff and rises above Atlantic Ocean, so here you can not only stroll through fabulous interiors and stroll through beautiful park, but also to admire the endless expanses. Sintra (the city closest to the palace) can be reached in half an hour by train from Lisbon, and from there we recommend taking walking route through the mountains (for the lazy, there is also a bus going to the rock).

The most famous castles are those from fairy tales, legends and myths. All princesses, kings and dragons, according to legend, live in castles. IN modern world, where there is no place for magic, castles become simply examples of medieval architecture and a place where historical values ​​are stored. This list contains the 10 most popular ones.

Surrounded by forested mountains Bran Castle is business card Romania is popularly called “Dracula’s Castle”, despite the fact that Vlad the Impaler himself never called it his home. Life in the castle began in 1378, when the area was defended against the Ottomans, then it was turned into a customs post at the pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. Vlad the Impaler, the hero of Bram Stoker's vampire novel, never lived here permanently, he simply spent 2 days in the castle's dungeon, locked away by the Ottoman invaders who invaded Transylvania.

Germany is famous for its medieval architecture, and this 80-meter castle stands out among others for its large size and beauty, despite the fact that it is now in ruins. The castle is located on the northern slope of Mount Königstuhl, overlooking Heidelberg. Him rich story, which began in the 13th century. It was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War, further damage was caused by the French in the 17th century, and in 1764 it was struck by lightning. Local residents used the castle stone to build their houses. It was restored several times, which led to a mixture of architectural styles and added some charm to the castle.

This castle is located on a high hill overlooking the Alsatian plain in the Vosges Mountains. The heyday of life in the castle occurred from the Middle Ages until the Thirty Years' War, when, after a 52-day siege, the castle was burned and looted by Swedish troops. After this, the castle stood desolate for several years and was even overgrown with forest. In 1899, the German Emperor Wilhelm II ordered it to be restored to its original form, as it was before the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War. After the First World War, the castle went to the French, and now there is a museum within its walls.

Situated in a picturesque location 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 initially separate, but over time they were combined into a single architectural ensemble. From the mid-12th century, the counts of the Savoy dynasty lived here. It is noteworthy that this castle was never besieged; its owners always managed to solve any problems through diplomatic negotiations.

Matsumoto Castle, built in the 16th century in the city of Matsumoto (Nagano Prefecture), is one of the most famous in Japan. It does not crown the top of the mountain and does not hang over the city from the hillside, but stands on a plain, which is why a man-made network of special walls, ditches and secret passages was used to protect it. The castle's wing-like design and pitch-black color gave it another name, Raven's Castle. Over the many years of its existence, the castle changed owners more than once and was even under threat of demolition. It is now a popular attraction as it can be visited as a day trip from Tokyo.

Eltz Fortress, built during the Middle Ages, is located in the mountains on the Moselle River, between Koblenz and Trier, oldest city Germany. It is still owned by the Eltz family, who have owned it since the 12th century. Anyone can visit the Rübenach and Rodendorf houses, where the armory, kitchen, and living quarters are located. The castle also houses a rich treasury with jewelry, weapons and works of art.

This castle is located in the city of Warwick, on a cliff above the River Avon. It is included in the Catalog of Ancient Monuments and the List of Architectural and historical monuments Great Britain. Since its construction in the 11th century, the castle has undergone several modernizations and renovations. Initially, the main structure was wooden; already in the 12th century it was replaced with a stone structure. During the Hundred Years' War the façade was redone, making it one of the most recognizable examples of 14th-century military architecture. In 2001, the castle was included in the list of "Top 10 Historic Buildings and Monuments" published by the UK Tourism Office. Today it is one of the most popular attractions in England.

Fairytale castles have always been present in history, art, fairy tales and legends. A castle is a house that shows power, protects from enemies, and gives a feeling of complete peace and spaciousness. Most castles you've ever seen are real. Even the castle from the Walt Disney screensaver actually exists. Each of these majestic buildings has stood for many centuries and decades, so it is not surprising that they keep their secrets and their history.

1. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany.

Construction time: 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 Cliff". This amazing the 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 suspended construction. That is why there are unfinished objects in it. The interiors of the premises are amazing; Ludwig clearly did not skimp on the decoration and had very good taste for those times. During World War II, the German government took advantage of the castle's inaccessibility 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

Compared to the previous castle, Hohenwerfen was built very quickly, in the shortest possible time. Prince-Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg chose the construction site very well, making it almost impossible to break into the castle. In 1524, rebel peasants captured Hohenwerfen and resolved it. However, this uprising was quickly suppressed, and subsequently, the destroyers themselves restored all the buildings.

Over the centuries, princes and bishops built and improved Hohenwerfen, but in 1931 a huge fire destroyed everything inside. Today this gloomy castle is an object of tourist attention, and to attract money, excursion 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 Counts of Werdenberg-Sargans, at least they were the first documented owners. This is one of the few historical buildings in which people still live today. Vaduz is closed to visitors because he still lives there to this day princely family.

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, Saint Patrick was engaged in expelling Satan from 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 itself. in the 17th century Cashel was attacked and captured by Cromwell's troops. Despite protection from enemies, the townspeople found themselves face to face with danger. During that terrible time for them, more than 3,000 people died, the majority of whom were burned alive. To this day, the castle recalls the heartlessness of the medieval English, and the doomed courage of the brave Irish.

5. Bodiam Castle, England
Built time: 1385

One of the most unusual and photogenic castles was built during the Hundred Years' War, when the British, not without reason, feared an attack by the French. Thanks to a huge moat filled with water, the fortress remained impregnable. Despite the external severity, the premises of Bodiam were stunning, 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 façade outside. Today Bodiam is one of the most visited castles thanks to its picturesque views, lake with water lilies and excellent camera angles.

6. Estense Castle, Italy
Built time: 1385

This castle is a real lucky one, as it is one of the few that has been completely restored. The history of its construction began with the uprising of angry people against rising taxes 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 from its walls military equipment looked at the city residents.

It was in this castle that Eleanor of Aragon and her children escaped certain death. Centuries later, in the 19th century, the castle was used as an 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
Built time: 1306

Another stunning castle that was built in the 14th century, but in Poland. Despite all its grandeur and impressiveness, this historical building was abandoned in the 18th century and no one is still working on it. At first, the castle was used as a gathering place for troops under Casimir III the Great, then it became home to 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 no longer carried the original idea of ​​protecting the royal family from an enemy plot. The castle was destroyed twice, and then local residents They dismantled the walls brick by brick for their own needs. After the Great Patriotic War, the government partially tried to restore the historical building, however, as before, the castle is in great need of economic help and attention.

 

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