This fairy-tale castle is the historical domain of Prussian kings and German emperors. It was built during the Middle Ages, in the 11th century, then was completely destroyed in 1423 and rebuilt in 1461. The castle is located on the top of the Hohenzollern mountain, about 50 kilometers south of Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg.
Castle Howard, England
Although the building looks like a castle, Howard is actually just a luxurious home - the private residence of the Howard family, who have lived there for over 300 years. This house is located in North Yorkshire, and is one of the largest residences in the UK. Its construction began at the end of the 17th century and lasted about 15 years. The castle is surrounded by fabulous gardens, as well as endless spacious meadows.
Alcazar in Segovia, Spain
The Castle of Segovia, located in central Spain, was originally (in the 12th century) used as a fortress. Externally, the Alcazar resembles the bow of a ship - a unique feature that distinguishes it from other castles. It served as the inspiration for many of the castles in Walt Disney films.
Himeji Castle, Japan
Himeji Castle, also known as White Heron Castle, is a magnificent white complex consisting of 83 wooden buildings. One of the castle's most extraordinary defenses is the spiral labyrinth with many dead ends leading to the main watchtower. The gates and courtyard of the castle were built in such a way that people entering there would get lost. The castle was built in the 14th century and is located in Kansai, Japan.
Prague Castle, Czech Republic
Prague Castle is one of the largest and oldest castles in the world, and is also a symbol of the capital of the Czech Republic. The length of the castle is 570 meters, width 130 meters. This building represents every architectural style of the last millennium, from Gothic and Romanesque to Baroque. The construction of the very first buildings of the complex dates back to the beginning of the 9th century.
Peles Castle, Romania
Situated in a picturesque location on Carpathian mountains in Romania, Peles Castle is a truly fabulous building. The start of construction dates back to 1873. Workers from different countries. Queen Elizabeth of Romania said: “The Italians were masons, the Romanians built terraces, the gypsies worked as laborers. Albanians and Greeks laid stones, Germans and Hungarians were carpenters. The Turks burned bricks. It was designed by the Poles, the stone carvers were Czechs. The French drew, and the British measured…” Presumably, workers who spoke 14 languages participated in the construction.
Chateau de Chambord, France
It is known that Chambord was used only as a hunting lodge. The view of this castle is quite impressive. Interestingly, the location of this castle was chosen by King Francis I, as he wanted to be closer to his beloved lady, Claude Rohan, whose palace was located next door. The huge castle has 440 rooms, 365 fireplaces and 84 staircases. This is the largest castle in the Loire Valley in France.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
The castle, whose reconstruction began in 1896, was designed by Christian Janck at the request of the Bavarian King Ludwig II, who was declared insane before the castle was completed. This explains a lot. The architecture, location and size of Neuschwanstein are deeply impressive. Situated on a rugged hill in southwest Bavaria, the castle is today one of the most visited tourist sites.
Corfe Castle, England
Even though the ruins are all that remains of Corfe Castle, its fortifications still make a deep impression. The castle, located in Dorset on the Isle of Purbeck, was built in the 9th century. However, there is a possibility that Corpheus could have been built much earlier and could also have served as a defensive structure in the fight against the Romans. The part of the building that can be seen today was reconstructed in the 11th century. Two centuries later, the fortress began to be used as a repository for royal jewels, as well as a prison.
Matsumoto Castle. Japan
The wonderful Matsumoto Castle is located in the city of Matsumoto near Tokyo. The castle was built in 1504 and is a National Treasure of Japan. The castle was inhabited until the mid-19th century. In 1868, during the reign of Emperor Meiji, the building was restored. However, due to the insolvency of the new Japanese government, it was decided to demolish the castle and sell off the wood and iron from which it was built. In those days, this fate befell many castles. Matsumoto was saved local residents, having bought it.
Jeltz Castle, Germany
Jeltz is another of Germany's outstanding castles. This stunning medieval structure in southwest Germany is still owned by the same family who have lived here for over 800 years. Currently, the castle is owned by Count Karl von Jeltz, a representative of the 33rd generation of the family.
Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
Built in the 13th century during Viking times, today Eilean Donan Castle is one of Scotland's most famous landmarks. The castle was probably named after Bishop Donan, who came to Scotland in the 6th century. The castle is located on an island surrounded by stunning scenery in the Scottish Highlands. The fortress was rebuilt at least 4 times. The castle lay in ruins for about 200 years (from the 18th to the 20th centuries). It was restored in 1932 and since then it has been open to visitors all over the world.
The most famous castles are those from fairy tales, legends and myths. All princesses, kings and dragons, according to legend, live in castles. IN modern world, where there is no place for magic, castles become simply examples of medieval architecture and a place where historical values. This list contains the 10 most popular ones.
Surrounded by forested mountains Bran Castle is the hallmark of Romania and is popularly called “Dracula’s Castle”, despite the fact that Vlad the Impaler himself never called it home. Life in the castle began in 1378, when the area was defended against the Ottomans, then it was turned into a customs post at the pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. Vlad the Impaler, the hero of Bram Stoker's vampire novel, never lived here permanently, he simply spent 2 days in the castle's dungeon, locked by the Ottoman invaders who invaded Transylvania.
Germany is famous for its medieval architecture, and this 80-meter castle stands out among others for its large size and beauty, despite the fact that it is now in ruins. The castle is located on the northern slope of Mount Königstuhl, overlooking Heidelberg. Him rich story, which began in the 13th century. It was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War, further damage was caused by the French in the 17th century, and in 1764 it was struck by lightning. Local residents used the castle stone to build their houses. They started to restore it several times, which led to confusion architectural styles and added some charm to the castle.
This castle is located on a high hill overlooking the Alsatian plain in the Vosges Mountains. The heyday of life in the castle occurred from the Middle Ages until the Thirty Years' War, when, after a 52-day siege, the castle was burned and looted by Swedish troops. After this, the castle stood desolate for several years and was even overgrown with forest. In 1899, the German Emperor Wilhelm II ordered it to be restored to its original form, as it was before the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War. After the First World War, the castle went to the French, and now there is a museum within its walls.
Located in a picturesque place, between the shore Lake Geneva and the Alpine ridge, the castle is one of the most popular attractions in Switzerland. The castle consists of 100 buildings, which were initially separate, but over time they were combined into a single architectural ensemble. 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.
A fairytale castle hidden in the forests of the Bavarian Alps, a real masterpiece, which has earned incredible popularity among tourists and brings fabulous profits to Germany. Neuschwanstein became the prototype for Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Paris, Tchaikovsky's inspiration for the ballet Swan Lake and the embodiment of Ludwig II's love for the music of Wagner...
Author: P_I_F.
Neuschwanstein translates as "New Swan Stone". The entire architecture of the building is permeated with a swan motif. The swan is the heraldic symbol of the ancient family of the Counts of Schwangau, whose successor Ludwig II's father, Maximilian II of Bavaria, considered himself to be. Ludwig was a huge fan of Richard Wagner, identifying himself with one of the characters from his operas, the Swan Knight. Having inherited the royal throne, Ludwig II realized his old fantasy - a swan castle of incomparable beauty.
Myths and facts
Far from noisy cities, almost at the very border with Austria, construction began in 1869 under the direction of the Munich theater artist Christian Janck. But due to Ludwig's extravagant tastes and whims, this process moved very slowly. For example, 14 carpenters worked on wood carvings in the king’s bedroom alone for 4.5 years.
Construction of the castle was stopped when Ludwig was removed from power due to intrigue in his own office. The king rarely touched state issues personally, and with his antics he earned the reputation of a madman. In addition, he suffered from hallucinations - for example, he dined with the spirit of Louis XIV. According to Bavarian law, the king can be removed from power if he is found unfit to rule. And after the report of his cabinet in 1886, he was overthrown.
Ludwig was transported to Berg Castle, where he soon drowned in Lake Starnberg. However, regarding this mysterious death, which was ruled a suicide at the time, it is assumed that the cabinet was not happy with Ludwig's simple removal from power. Especially considering that his treating psychiatrist also shared the fate of his patient.
These mysterious events gave rise to many legends and created an intriguing aura around Neuschwanstein Castle, making it the most famous castle in Germany.
You can climb to it from the town of Fussen either on foot or on horseback.
On the way, you can admire views of Lake Alpsee and Hohenschwangau Castle - the headquarters of the parents of the “fairy-tale king”.
Here she is close.
Gradually, contours begin to appear in the fog...
... and then the walls of Neuschwanstein Castle appear - New Swan Cliff, if we say so.
Since all this was built not so much for show-off, but for the soul, a special observation bridge was also erected in a strategic place. He is not visible here yet.
But then the wind disperses the fog and the Marienbrücke Bridge appears in the distance. It is from here that one of the two opens best views to the castle.
There are always so many people crowding here that it is not so easy to squeeze through. Some people push baby strollers in front of them.
I was, in fact, lucky - having settled down behind a family equipped with a battering ram stroller, I got onto the bridge.
Even in nasty weather, the views here are quite nice.
Neuschwanstein Castle stands on the site of two fortresses. King Ludwig II ordered to lower the plateau by approximately 8 meters at this place by exploding the rock and thereby create a place for the construction of a “fairytale palace”. On September 5, 1869, the first stone was laid for the construction of a huge castle.
Construction work at the castle (1882-1885). In 1880, more than 200 carpenters, masons and auxiliary workers were employed at the construction site.
Ludwig II went down in history as the “fairy-tale king” thanks to the castles he built, on which he spent all his money and time. On June 13, 1886, he drowned on Lake Starnberg under mysterious circumstances. According to one common version, it was a political assassination of an inconvenient and uncontrollable king.
After the king's death in 1886, all construction work was suspended. Main tower The castle with the church, 90 m high, which should have towered over all the buildings, was not built at all.
Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria truly gives the impression of a fairytale castle. It was built at a time when castles had already lost their defensive functions.
Inside, Neuschwanstein is very different from the Prussian royal castles of Berlin and Potsdam. But filming there is strictly prohibited. Currently the castle is a museum. Visiting is only possible as part of a group.
The interior of the castle is a mixture of various architectural and artistic styles, a combination of Moorish, Gothic and Baroque elements: there are columns and a throne room. Interior of the Great Hall at Neuschwanstein Castle:
Although the throne room was not completed during construction, it is without a doubt the most impressive. Postcard, late 19th century:
Ludwig's bedroom at Neuschwanstein Castle. Eyewitnesses claimed that 15 craftsmen worked on the manufacture of a carved wooden bed for Ludwig for 4.5 years:
Views from the balcony of Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.
At the end of World War II, part of the Reichsbank gold was kept in the castle. IN last days During the war, the gold was taken away to an unknown destination.
Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria primarily amazes with its cold grandeur and pointed towers among the Alpine peaks:
Views from the castle balcony.
Neuschwanstein Castle in summer:
...and in winter.
Every year over 1 million 300 thousand visitors pass through the gates of Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.
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 actually exist. 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 stunning structure was chosen as the prototype for 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, 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 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 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
There is an interesting legend associated with this castle. 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 the local residents themselves 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.
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 was built over the course of seventeen years. Ludwig grew up in the nearby Hohenschwangau Castle. This structure, stylized as a medieval fortress, 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.
