Time is relentless, and ancient structures reach us mainly in the form of ruins, which are more interesting for archaeologists than tourists. But fate favored some especially durable ones, and they were well preserved. So some of the oldest castles in the world turned out to be available for tourists, visits to which are always interesting and informative. In Europe, castles began to be actively built at the end of the 10th century, and by the 14th century this type of architecture had reached its perfection.

1. Bernstein Castle, (Austria)

The long history of Bernstein Castle is rich in events, it changed owners so many times that neither the exact number of them nor the name of the one who built this castle remained. It was first mentioned in documents in 860, and in the 13th century it served as a border fortress. It was built in a place where the borders of Austria, Bohemia and Hungary closed, so the leaders of these countries competed for possession of the castle.
Bernstein is a remarkable example of bastion architecture. It has an oval perimeter, it has very thick, almost fortress walls with rare turrets and narrow windows. The courtyard now has a beautiful garden. The nature around Bernstein is untouched, and there is a golf course and a famous golf club nearby - this game is an important reason why guests come to the castle. In 1953, the castle was converted into a hotel, which it remains today. The owners of the castle were able to preserve its authenticity - this applies not only to the walls, but also to the interiors and furniture, which are also very old. Entering the Bernstein Castle, a person immediately feels like he has fallen into the era of knights.

Most castles began to be built in the Middle Ages, when housing was supposed to be not only a place to relax and solve everyday problems, but also as a...

2. Foix Castle (France)

This castle, located in the south of France, in the Pyrenees, belonged to the once famous family of the Counts of Foix. Its history begins in 987. In the will of Count Roger I of Carcassonne in 1002, the castle was transferred to his younger son Bernard. In 1034, it becomes the center of government of the county of Foix, leaving a noticeable mark on medieval military history. Since the 15th century, the castle has been the residence of the governor of this region, while at the same time it continued to perform protective functions throughout the religious wars. Before the French Revolution, the castle housed a garrison.
Count de Treville, known from the Three Musketeers, and the future minister of Louis XVI, Marshal Segur, ruled here. In 1930, the museum of the department of Ariège was placed here, which has expositions dedicated to the prehistoric, Gallo-Roman and medieval eras on this land.

3. Castle of the Black Falcon (France)

This wonderful castle is located in the French department of Indre-et-Loire, in the town of Montbazon and is the oldest surviving stone defensive structure in France. The fortress was built in the period 991-996 by order of Count Fulk Nerra of Anjou, then several more defensive buildings joined it. Despite its long and not the most peaceful history, this castle has been perfectly preserved, and since 2003 it has been opened to the public. The modern outlines of the castle were given during the Middle Ages - in the XII century, the feudal lords of Montbazon, who owned it.
The dominant feature of the complex is a 28-meter-high quadrangular donjon, in addition, there is a small tower fortified by a number of ledges, a massive fence and a closed courtyard. In 1791, the period of decline of this castle began, along with the fall of the small tower and the dungeons adjacent to it, and after 7 years, lightning struck the donjon. By the way, the cracks that ran along its eastern wall are evidence of this episode.

4. Langeai Castle (France)

In 992, the construction of Langeai Castle began, which was originally a wooden donjon built on an artificial hill. This place is located 24 kilometers from Tours, the owner of these lands was the first Count of Blois. Unlike other capital donjons, this one was built in a hurry, but its walls were 1.5 meters thick. Then followed one war after another. For example, during the Hundred Years War, the castle was repeatedly captured by the British. Finally, they agreed to leave it in 1428, but on the condition that the castle be destroyed, leaving only the donjon.
King Louis XI ordered the restoration of the castle in 1465, after which many monarchs owned it. Anne of Brittany came to Langeais. When in 1797 the castle was acquired by Charles-Francois Moisan, he was noted only for the fact that he led it into disrepair, sold the surrounding land, and set up a stable on the first floor of the castle. After the purchase of the castle in 1839 by Christophe Baron, a revival begins for it. In 1886, the Minister of Trade and Mayor of Le Havre, Jacques Siegfried, became the new owner of Langeais, who devoted the next two decades to the restoration of the complex, especially its interiors. And in 1904 he donated the castle to the Institute of France.

Castles are defensive structures that combine not only residential buildings, but also fortifications. Most often called castles ...

5. Loches Castle (France)

Among all the medieval donjons that have survived to this day, the one located in the castle of Loches is perhaps the oldest. It began to be built in 1005 and finished around 1070. It turned out a 38-meter-high structure with three-meter-thick walls, almost impregnable. The history of the Loches fortress began during the reign of Count Fulk Nerra of Anjou, a restless warrior who had been at enmity with de Blois's neighbors all his life. It was he who decided to build a square stone fortress.
Part of the premises of the castle is open to the public today, the 15th century torture chamber built by Charles VII is especially popular - you can see the shackles that held the legs of the executed during the quartering. A copy of the cell of Louis XI, in which Bishop Balu sat for 11 years, is also kept here. The French Ministry of Culture in 1861 recognized loches castle significant historical monument.

6. Bled Castle (Slovenia)

Near the Slovenian city of Bled, on a 130-meter cliff towering over Lake Bled, the Bled Castle rises. It was first mentioned in a document of 1004, announcing the transfer of Feldes Castle (then German name) by Emperor Henry II to Bishop Albuin of Brixen. Its oldest building is the Romanesque donjon, used for defense, living and viewing the surroundings.
In the medieval period, other buildings clung to the cliff, and stone defensive walls with towers were built on its very top. In 1947, the castle was on fire, but a few years later it was restored and set up there. historical Museum, which presents weapons, clothing and household items of that time.

7. Angers Castle (France)

Another castle from the banks of the Loire from the department of Maine and Loire. This area was part of the Roman Empire in the 3rd century. There was a small border outpost on the banks of the river Men, with wooden walls to protect against Vikings and barbarians. In 851, the fortress came under the control of Geoffroy II, Count of Anjou, who managed to turn a modest wooden fort into a large stone castle. In 1939, the Polish government-in-exile settled here, but already in 1940 the Germans smoked it out of there too.
After the war, Angers Castle was restored. Its main attraction was the cycle of tapestries "Apocalypse" - 7 paintings on biblical subjects, woven by 1378 according to the sketches of the Flemish painter Jean by the weaver Nicolas Batailly. The canvases have a total length of 144 meters with a height of 5.5 meters.

Switzerland is not only a country of magnificent mountains, but also beautiful examples of medieval architecture. Centuries-old turbulent history this alpine...

8. Chepstow Castle (Wales)

This castle stands on the banks of the River Wye in the town of Chepstow in south Wales. It was built by William Fitz-Osburn between 1067 and 1071. The Earl of Pembroke added a couple of towers to it in 1200, and his sons added a barbican protecting the drawbridge and a gatehouse. This is the first castle on the entire island of Great Britain, built entirely of stone. In the middle of the 19th century, holidays and horticultural exhibitions began to be held in the castle, which were soon supplemented by festivals and historical competitions that continue to this day. In 1914, it was bought by a businessman who mothballed the castle, and in 1953 his family handed over the castle to the state, after which it became open to the public.

9. Windsor Castle (England)

This is the current residence of the British monarchs located in the city of Windsor. For over 900 years, towering on a hill in the Thames Valley, it is a symbol of the monarchy. Having captured England in 1066, William I the Conqueror over the next decade surrounded London with a ring of castles standing on artificial hills 30 kilometers from the capital and from each other. At first, the castle was wooden, but with a stone wall around the perimeter, it stood on a limestone hill about 30 meters above the level of the Thames.
The first to use Windsor Castle as his residence was King Henry I in 1110, and then he married Adele in 1121. By this point, the wooden structures had partially collapsed due to the gradual subsidence of the hill. Then wooden piles were driven into the hill, on which a stone fortress was erected. Henry II, who ascended the throne in 1154, continued the construction of the castle.
Today, Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world, with about 500 people working and living there. The Queen visits there in March-April and a week in June each year, where she conducts ceremonies related to the Order of the Garter. Here she officially receives foreign representatives. About a million tourists visit Windsor every year.

Each of the mighty of this world, who lived on sinful earth, tried to perpetuate himself in history with the help of construction magnificent palace. To the residence like...

10. Dover Castle (England)

This is one of the largest English castles in terms of size, located in Dover (Kent), on the English Channel, which separates the British Isles from the continent. Part of the buildings of the castle dates back to ancient times. The fortress was surrounded by a huge moat, which was dug out, possibly in the Iron Age. At the beginning of a new era before british isles came the troops of the Roman Empire, they built two lighthouses on this site, while one of them has survived to this day. It can still be seen today when visiting Dover.
In the region of the 10th century, the church of St. Mary of Castro was attached to the lighthouse, and the lighthouse was also its bell tower. This church also managed to survive. In 1066, the Normans, led by William I, captured the castle and all of England. Henry II - his grandson began to build a defensive system and main tower castle. The construction then took a colossal amount - 7,000 pounds, of which 4,000 were spent on the construction of the donjon. In the 18th century, during the wars with Napoleon, at a depth of 15 meters under the fortress, tunnels were cut in the rocks for the living of soldiers in the amount of 2000 bayonets. The castle was also expanded and fortified to withstand the onslaught of the French. But after 1826, when Bonaparte was finished, the castle was abandoned, and all its inhabitants left it without using it in any way.
Only about a century later, in 1939, when the war with Germany began, they remembered the tunnels, which were converted first into bomb shelters, and then into a military hospital. Now the castle houses a large museum complex open to everyone.

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05.06.2016

The grandeur of the castles is mesmerizing. Most of these monumental structures were built at the time of brave knights and quivering ladies. Perhaps that is why the gloomy walls are literally shrouded in medieval romance, which attracts millions of tourists. Or maybe the secret of their popularity in legends and real stories witnessed by the castle walls. Well, let's try to figure it out, but the Top 10 stories of ancient castles will help us in this.

10. Chateau Frontenac

If in Europe there are quite a lot of ancient castles of incredible beauty, then in the New World it is almost impossible to meet such architectural delights. True, there is one exception, whose name is Chateau Frontenac. Traveling through the Canadian province of Quebec, you can find yourself under the walls of a medieval French castle. And here even a tourist who is poorly versed in history has a lot of questions. Indeed, in the Middle Ages, the territory of Canada was inhabited by aborigines who did not even know about the existence of the castle, preferring to live in traditional Indian villages. But the castle exists, that's a fact! The solution to this charade is incredibly simple. In fact, Château Frontenac was built at the end of the 19th century as a grand hotel. The initiator and main sponsor of this project was the Canadian Pacific Railway". The hotel owes its name to Louis de Buade de Frontenac, the founding father of Canada. The castle was finally completed in 1926. Since then, over the years, such prominent personalities as Alfred Hitchcock, Charles de Gaulle, Ronald Reagan, Jacques Chirac and Queen Elizabeth have stayed here. In 1943, Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt were negotiating within the walls of Château Frontenac. Today, Frontenac is the most photographed hotel in the world, which is not at all surprising.

9. Eltz

Since the castles mainly performed a defensive function, many of them got pretty bad during enemy attacks. In this regard, Eltz Castle is almost the only exception. This castle has never been captured, and was not destroyed. Thanks to this, the appearance of the castle has not changed at all since the 12th century, that is, from the moment it was built. All this time the castle is owned by representatives of the same family. In total, the walls of the castle remember more than 30 generations of the Eltz family. And if earlier up to 100 members of this family could live in the castle at the same time, today the owners of the castle prefer to live separately. And Eltz daily receives guests-tourists, and sometimes becomes a shooting location for the next historical film. It must be said that Eltz Castle is a convincing decoration, because all the furniture in it is genuine, and served the owners as early as the 15th century. Why are there films, the image of Eltz still quite recently flaunted on a banknote with a face value of 500 German marks.

8. Brissac

This castle in the Loire Valley got its name from a dishonest miller. Legend has it that the castle was built in places surrounded by windmills on all sides. The rogue miller used leaky bags, the flour from which spilled a little on the floor. The swindler carefully collected the spilled flour to offer it to the next buyers. In such a simple way, the miller deceived his customers, because they paid for a full bag. Soon his trick was discovered, and the miller was nicknamed "the hole in the bag." In French it sounds like Breche-sac. Over time, they began to call the area where the mill stood, and later a castle was built here. By the way, this is the highest castle in France. The French castle of Brissac began its history as a defensive structure. It was erected in the 11th century, and until 1434 it was owned by military people. In the same year, a new owner settled in the castle. He was Pierre Breze, who served as minister at the court of Charles VII. Rumor has it that it was during this period that events took place in the castle, due to which a ghost walks along the corridors of the Brissac castle even today. The young wife of Pierre Breze had an affair with a commoner, and soon rumors of her infidelity reached her husband. The angry husband was merciless to his lovers, and both took their lives. And the castle, a witness to a terrible massacre, was hastily sold to a new owner. So, from 1502 to this day, the castle has been the property of the Cosse-Brissac family.

7. Bran

At Bran Castle, in Transylvania, quite interesting story. But it gained wide popularity due to what is considered the castle of Count Dracula. The irony is that Vlad the Impaler did not live in the castle. They say that he was here only a couple of times, and then only in transit. But hundreds of years have passed since then, and more or less serious evidence of this has not been preserved. As well as it is not known for certain whether Vlad Tepes was a vampire. Perhaps this is the fruit of the imagination of the writer Bram Stoker, who was born 400 years later than the formidable Count Dracula. As for the castle, it was built by local residents as a defense against constant Turkish raids. For this, they were allowed not to pay taxes to the state treasury for several centuries. Today the owner of the castle is an American architect, heir to the Romanian monarchs. The sinister glory of the castle played into his hands. Dracula's castle annually attracts hundreds of tourists like a magnet. And in 1992, its walls became the backdrop for the film "Dracula" by the legendary director Coppola.

6. Peles

It is believed that even the most beautiful castles not very comfortable to live in. There is an opinion that these are eternally cold gloomy rooms, daylight into which is extremely rare and extremely dosed. In part, these words are true, however, in the Romanian Peles castle, things are completely different. King Carol I of Romania decided to build a castle in picturesque corner Carpathians. Before settling on the project on which the castle was later built, the king successively brushed aside several others. One project seemed too pretentious and expensive to the monarch, the other was not original enough. The idea of ​​the architect Johann Schulz was to Karol I's liking. Moreover, the estimate of the future construction by royal standards was very modest. Today, these costs equate to US$120 million. In addition to the original appearance and exquisite interiors, the castle amazed the imagination thanks to the technical innovations of that time. So, Peles became the first castle that was illuminated by electricity. The latter was generated by a power plant built near the castle. In addition, Peles was equipped with an elevator, which, you see, is very atypical for the castle, even if it was built at the beginning of the progressive twentieth century. In 1947, the castle was nationalized, and for a long time, except for the Romanian party elite, no one had a chance to admire Peles Castle. In 1989, the political system in Romania changed, and the castle was returned to the descendants of the former owners. But they agreed to monetary compensation in the amount of 30 million euros. Today, Peles is the property of the state, and receives up to half a million tourists a year.

5. Chenonceau

Not in vain the most beautiful castle France is informally called "ladies". It so happened that the whole history of the castle of Chenonceau is connected with women. In 1512, the land on which the castle now stands was bought by the Boyes. The couple decided to build on the spot old fortress beautiful castle. Due to the employment of the spouse in state affairs, Catherine led all the work. It seems that the Boyes were very vain, this is evidenced by an eloquent inscription on one of the walls of the castle. Next to the initials of the spouses are engraved words that invite each visitor to remember the first owners of the castle. Whatever the motives of the Boyes couple, but in 1521 the construction of the castle was completed. However, Thomas Boye, like his wife, was not destined to enjoy the new home to the fullest. Thomas died in 1524, his wife survived him by only a couple of years. The estate was inherited by the son. But the castle of incredible beauty fell in love with King Francis I, who hastened to confiscate Chenonceau. Later, the castle was presented by King Henry II to his favorite, Diane de Poitiers. It was she who came up with the idea of ​​building a bridge over the river, thanks to which it seems that the water passes through the castle. The king was crazy about his beloved, despite the fact that Diana was 19 years older than him. The king was not embarrassed by the fact that during his stormy romance he was married to Catherine de Medici. Needless to say, the latter hated the favorite, and after the ridiculous death of the king, she hurried to expel de Poitiers from the castle, becoming the rightful mistress there. After the Medici, the castle received many more charming and influential women of France. Among the many rooms in Chenonceau there is even a bedroom of the five queens. Three daughters-in-law of Catherine de Medici lived here in different years, as well as the legendary Queen Margot and Elizabeth of Valois. Today the castle is the private property of the Meunier family. But this status does not prevent him from receiving hundreds of tourists every day.

4. Mont Saint-Michel

Mont Saint-Michel castle is visited by 1.5-2 million tourists a year. Such popularity of the complex is explained not only by unusual architecture, but also by the peculiarities of nature in these places. However, first things first. According to legend, in 708 the local bishop had a sign, the Archangel Michael appeared to him. It was he who indicated where the church should be built. The castle was built very slowly: it took five centuries to build the abbey. But when the construction was completed, the castle was named after its patron Saint Michael's Mount. In those turbulent times, while the castle was being built, it became a real impregnable fortress. Thanks to its strong walls and location, Mont Saint-Michel could withstand a multi-day siege. Behind long history the castle happened to be an abbey, the residence of kings and even a prison. The castle stands in amazing place where you can watch the tides rise and fall twice a day. It would seem that this is so amazing. But at low tide, the water recedes by 15-20 km, exposing the muddy bottom around the castle. With high tide, the area around the castle is covered with water to a depth of 14 meters. Since 1879, the castle can be reached by a causeway, regardless of the tide regime. True, a couple of times a year, during the autumn and spring equinoxes, Mont Saint-Michel, as in the good old days, becomes an island. These days, the waters of the grand tide flood the dam.

3. Neuschwanstein

The beauty of the German castle Neuschwanstein is mesmerizing. Even its name sounds like music. After all, translated from German, it very poetically means a new swan cliff. The castle owes its birth to the Bavarian king Ludwig II. He gave the order to blow up the rock in order to clear the plateau for the future castle. I must say, the king was a great original, and a fan of architecture. So, during his reign, in addition to Neuschwanstein, three more castles were built. But this one, according to the idea of ​​the king, was to become the most grandiose building. Work on the castle lasted for 17 years, but was never completed. Some ideas of Ludwig II were not destined to come true. He became a victim of the intrigues of his own government, which declared him insane, and therefore incompetent. The king was accused of irrational spending of public funds, including the construction of castles. Then, under strange circumstances, the disgraced king died. According to the official version, he committed suicide by drowning himself in the lake. Historians, however, tend to regard his death as an assassination. And there are big doubts about the madness of the king. Be that as it may, but the castles, on the construction of which a lot of Bavarian money was spent in the 19th century, thanks to tourists, have long paid off. Income from tourists who annually visit Neuschwanstein regularly and tangibly replenish the budget of these lands. As for spiritual values, this castle became a source of inspiration for P.I. Tchaikovsky. Under the influence of what he saw, the composer created the ballet "Swan Lake". And visitors to Disneyland Paris will recognize the familiar features of Neuschwanstein in the fairy-tale castle of Sleeping Beauty.

2. Predjama Castle

In Slovenia, you can visit perhaps the most unusual castle. By itself, this grandiose structure, as it were, blocks the entrance to a huge cave 123 meters high. It creates a complete feeling that the castle is part of the rock. We are talking about the famous Predyama Castle, located 10 km from the town of Postojna. For connoisseurs of the Slovenian language, the name of the castle does not raise questions. The thing is that in Slovenian “pit” is a cave. Looking at the location of the castle, you understand that this name suits it perfectly. You can get into the castle both through the main entrance, and with the help of many secret passages. Secret caves allowed the inhabitants of the castle to hold a siege for a long time. After all, through secret manholes it was possible to leave the castle without being noticed by the enemy. After a thorough restoration in 1990, Predjama Castle opened its doors to numerous tourists. And the most inquisitive can explore not only the castle, but also wander through the caves, which served as secret passages in the Middle Ages.

1. Chambord

Someone, in order to be closer to the woman they love, is in a hurry to buy a plane or train ticket, and someone decides to build a castle. Surprisingly, this is exactly the backstory of Chambord Castle. The French king Francis I, in order to be close to his beloved Countess Turi, starts a grandiose construction project. About 2 thousand people worked on the construction of the castle for almost three decades. The castle stands on 12-meter oak piles, as the soil under it is unstable, swampy. Difficult conditions did not prevent grandiose construction. In 1547, Chambord Castle, consisting of 426 rooms, 282 fireplaces and more than 7 dozen staircases, was completed. But Chambord did not become a love nest for Francis I. The owner had only visited the castle a few times, hunting in the woods nearby. It seems that feelings did not stand the test of time, because such a grandiose construction is not a quick matter. After the death of the first owner, the castle changed many owners. Today Chambord is the state property of France, and one of the most popular tourist sites in the country.

Looking at photographs of castles, the most difficult thing is to choose the one that you want to visit before the rest. Have you already made your travel itinerary around the castles?

Still, medieval architects were geniuses - they built castles, luxurious buildings that were also extremely practical. Castles, unlike modern mansions, not only demonstrated the wealth of their owners, but also served as powerful fortresses that could hold the defense for several years, and at the same time life did not stop in them.

Even the fact that many castles, having survived wars, natural disasters and the carelessness of the owners, are still intact, suggests that they have not yet come up with a more reliable home. And they are insanely beautiful and seem to have appeared in our world from the pages of fairy tales and legends. Their high spiers are reminiscent of the times when beauties fought for the hearts, and the air was saturated with chivalry and courage.

Reichsburg Castle, Germany

The thousand-year-old castle was originally the residence of the King of Germany, Conrad III, and then of the King of France, Louis XIV. The fortress was burned down by the French in 1689 and would have sunk into oblivion, but a German businessman purchased the remains in 1868 and spent most of his wealth rebuilding the castle.

Mont Saint Michel, France

Swallow's Nest, Crimea

Initially, on the rock of Cape Ai-Todor there was a small wooden house. And the Swallow's Nest got its current look thanks to the oil industrialist Baron Steingel, who loved to relax in the Crimea. He decided to build a romantic castle that resembles medieval buildings on the banks of the Rhine River.

Castle Stalker, Scotland

Castle Stalker, which means "Falconer", was built in 1320 and belonged to the MacDougal clan. Since that time, its walls have experienced a huge number of strife and wars, which affected the state of the castle. In 1965, Colonel D. R. Stewart of Allward became the owner of the castle, who personally restored the structure with his wife, family members and friends.

Bran Castle, Romania

Bran Castle is the pearl of Transylvania, a mysterious museum-fort, where the famous legend of Count Dracula, a vampire, murderer and governor Vlad the Impaler, was born. According to legend, he spent the night here during the periods of his campaigns, and the forest surrounding Bran Castle was Tepes's favorite hunting ground.

Vyborg Castle, Russia

Vyborg Castle was founded by the Swedes in 1293, during one of crusades to Karelian land. It remained Scandinavian until 1710, when the troops of I drove the Swedes back far and for a long time. Since that time, the castle managed to visit both a warehouse, and a barracks, and even a prison for the Decembrists. And today there is a museum here.

Cashel Castle, Ireland

Cashel Castle was the seat of the kings of Ireland for several hundred years before the Norman invasion. Here in the 5th century A.D. e. Saint Patrick lived and preached. The walls of the castle witnessed the bloody suppression of the revolution by the troops of Oliver Cromwell, who burned soldiers alive here. Since then, the castle has become a symbol of the cruelty of the British, the real courage and fortitude of the Irish.

Kilchurn Castle, Scotland

The very beautiful and even slightly creepy ruins of Kilchurn Castle are located on the shores of the picturesque Lake Eyve. The history of this castle, unlike most castles in Scotland, proceeded quite calmly - numerous earls lived here, who succeeded each other. In 1769, the building was struck by lightning and was soon completely abandoned, as it remains to this day.

Lichtenstein Castle, Germany

Built in the 12th century, this castle has been destroyed several times. It was finally restored in 1884 and since then the castle has become a filming location for many films, including the film The Three Musketeers.

Ancient castles overgrown with ivy amaze with grandeur, produce unforgettable impression. There are such historical buildings in many European countries. Among them are the oldest and most original. Ancient castles amaze with their beauty, grandeur and practicality. They were built not only to demonstrate the wealth of their owner, but also as defensive structures. Even with a long siege of castles, life did not stop there. Almost every architectural monument has become part of local legends, some got fame unusual place, which is haunted.

Germany is proud of Reichsburg Castle with thousand years of history. At one time, it was the residence of King Conrad III. At the end of the seventeenth century, it was almost completely destroyed, but in the nineteenth it was restored by a local businessman.

The Austrian castle Hochosterwitz, towering one hundred and sixty meters above the terrain, seems to be vigilantly watching its possessions even today. It belongs to the ninth century. This medieval building looks great even from a distance of thirty kilometers.

Bled Castle hangs over Lake Bled on a hundred-meter cliff. The windows of this historic Slovenian building offer a magnificent view. It is known that the castle was once the residence of Josip Broz Tito, and even earlier - the residence of the royal dynasty.

Castle-fortress Hohenschwangau is located in Germany. It was built by knights in the twelfth century. It served as the residence of several rulers, including Louis II. The famous composer Richard Wagner visited this castle.

The most original castles

Visiting castles is always impressive. It seems that you are in a fairy tale or acting in a movie about knights and beautiful princesses. There are castles that are completely original, unlike those that we are used to seeing in films or book illustrations.

Predjama Castle cannot be called otherwise than non-standard and unique. It is literally carved out of the rock. The left wing was carved at the beginning of the twelfth century, the right and middle parts were completed already in the sixteenth. At the end of the twentieth century, the castle was restored, returning its original appearance.

Who hasn't heard of swallow's nest? This castle is a gem and business card Crimea. It rises on the Aurora rock, on which huge waves break. Its romanticism, mystery and at the same time elegance contributed to the fact that several feature films were filmed in the castle.

Near the coast of Normandy there is an artificial island Mont Saint-Michel, on which a medieval French castle was built. Its peculiarity is that it is a functioning monastery.

The oldest castles

Castles began to be built in Europe from the tenth century. All of them are similar in layout, as they are fortifications. Usually castles were surrounded by a moat, which was filled with water.

One of the oldest buildings is the huge Dover Castle. Some of its buildings appeared about two thousand years ago - these are two lighthouses, however, only one has survived to this day. Already in the tenth century, a church was attached to the lighthouse, and in the eleventh century, the main tower was built nearby, and all the buildings were surrounded by a defensive wall.

Another ancient castle is located in the Czech Republic. It's about Prague Castle. It is known that its first tower was built as early as 879. Impressive is not only the age, but also the huge area of ​​the castle.

Kisimul is the name of a castle built on an island near Barra in the eleventh century. As confirmed by archaeological excavations, the first building was destroyed. It was rebuilt again in the fifteenth century. The castle has a source of fresh water, and this is very important during a siege. Kisimul has never been captured, which makes it unique in its own way.

The most unusual castle in the world

The most unusual, one might say fabulous, is Neuschwanstein Castle. It is also called the castle in the clouds. In Germany, this is one of the most interesting sights. The name translates as "New Swan Rock".

Construction was carried out in the nineteenth century. It is known that when creating the cartoon about the sleeping beauty, the world-famous animator Disney created the castle of the main character of the cartoon similar to Neuschwanstein Castle. The resemblance is striking.

Monarchs often prefer to live not in castles, but in palaces. Royal Palace in Stockholm they built almost 57 years. The site has a site with interesting facts about the largest palaces in the world. The editors of the site, continuing the theme of surprisingly unusual sights, invite you to get acquainted with abandoned places that take your breath away.
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This fairy-tale castle is the historical possession of the 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 this building looks like a castle, Howard is actually just a luxurious house - 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

Segovia Castle, located in central Spain, was originally (in the 12th century) used as a fortress. Outwardly, the Alcazar resembles the bow of a ship - unique feature which distinguishes it from other castles. It served as the inspiration for many castles in Walt Disney films.

Himeji Castle, Japan

Himeji Castle, also known as White Heron Castle, is a magnificent white complex 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 are built in such a way that people entering there get lost. The castle was built in the 14th century and is located in the city of 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 castle is 570 meters long and 130 meters wide. This building represents every architectural style 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

located in picturesque place on the Carpathian mountains in Romania, Peles Castle is a truly fabulous building. Construction began in 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. Designed by Poles, stone carvers were Czechs. The French drew, and the British measured…” Presumably, workers speaking 14 languages ​​took part in the construction.

Chambord Castle, 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 Roen, whose palace was 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, commissioned by 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 impressive. Situated on a jagged hill in the southwest of Bavaria, today the castle is one of the most visited places by tourists.

Corfe Castle, England

Despite the fact that the ruins are all that remains of Corfe Castle, its fortifications still make a deep impression. The castle, located in the county of Dorset on the Isle of Purbeck, was built in the 9th century. However, there is a possibility that Korfe could have been built much earlier, and could also serve 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 of 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 the National Treasure of Japan. The castle was inhabited until the middle of the 19th century. In 1868, during the reign of Emperor Meiji, the building was restored. However, due to the failure of the new government of Japan, it was decided to demolish the castle and sell the wood and iron from which it was built. In those days, this fate befell many castles. Matsumoto rescued locals by buying it out.

Eltz Castle, Germany

Eltz is another of Germany's outstanding castles. This stunning medieval building in southwestern Germany is still owned by the same family, who have been living here for over 800 years. Currently, the castle is owned by Count Karl von Eltz, a representative of the 33rd generation of the family.

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

Built in the 13th century during the Viking Age, 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 the stunning scenery of the Scottish Highlands. The fortress was rebuilt at least 4 times. For about 200 years, the castle lay in ruins (from the 18th to the 20th century). In 1932 it was restored and since then it has been open to visitors from all over the world.