The most beautiful castles in the world: rating, names, interesting facts and reviews

Since childhood, many dream to visit this fairy-tale castle. We present a list of the most beautiful and famous castles and palaces of the world. They can be used for travel planning, or you can simply admire the buildings and be surprised by the architects' fantasies and mastery of builders.

Principles of rating

Almost every country in the world has its own castles, built at different times, with different goals, in different styles. But the list of "10 most beautiful castles of the world" can only get the most worthy. How to choose them? The criteria of steel: the organic nature of the compound of the structure and landscape, the originality of the architectural solution, the grandiosity of the design. Under such parameters, of course, many of the world's structures fall, but we will dwell on the most famous of them.

Neuschwanstein

The list "The most beautiful castles of the world" certainly deserves to open a fairytale castle in Bavaria - Neuschwanstein. At the request of the Bavarian King Louis II in 1896, the architect Christian Jank began to erect a unique structure - the Neuschwanstein castle near Swan Lake, high in the mountains. The structure is effectively inscribed in the landscape, the castle looks organically growing out of rocks and woods, its white pointed towers look spectacularly in the clouds and fog, which are not uncommon here. The idea of building a castle to the king was inspired by Wagner's opera Lohengrin. The external appearance of the building absorbed all the romantic tendencies of the late 19th century. The locks of the castle amaze with harmony and luxury, wall murals, solutions of rooms in different colors and comfort made the castle a favorite sanctuary of the king. Near him, unfortunately, Ludovik also ended his earthly journey.

Chambord

Many of the world's most beautiful castles are concentrated in the Loire Valley in France, one of the most famous among them is Chambord. It was built as the hunting lodge of King Francis of the first, here he rested after a hard day. The construction is erected on the bank of the river Kosson, in which it is so effectively reflected. From the point of view of style, the castle is a model of the transition from medieval architecture to the Renaissance, there is a version that Leonardo da Vinci participated in the development of the project. Near the park is a beautiful regular park, in which rare plants grow. The interiors of the castle corresponded to its purpose - amusements and amusements. The famous double staircase of Chambord is a masterpiece of architectural thought, its design was created by the great Leonardo. To bypass the 440 rooms of the residence, it will take more than a day, but a few hours will be enough to inspect the main chambers.

Mont Saint-Michel

One of the oldest fortresses in Europe - Mont Saint-Michel is on the list "The most beautiful palaces and castles of the world". The monastery-fortress dates back to 708, when the monk was ordered to build a monastery on the island off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The location at the top of the impregnable rock made the fortress invulnerable, and today such an original location attracts an endless series of tourists. The castle is built in Romanesque style, its brutal walls and towers make an indelible impression with its power. Inside the castle you can see a collection of ancient church utensils, ancient books and jewelry.

Conwy (Conway)

Listing the most beautiful castles in the world, whose names excite the soul of travelers, it is worth remembering the castle-fortress in Wales Conway of the times of Edward the First. The castle is built with a unique landscape, it rises on a rocky outline washed by the waters of the Conway River. The relief fortress with crenellated walls and massive towers was part of the fortification structure called the "iron ring". The castle had to prove its reliability more than once. And today he makes a strong impression, his thick stone walls and brutal architecture cast thoughts on power and might. The fortress was built by one of the most famous military architects of the time, James. To date, the Conwy is one of the best preserved castles in Wales. Its eight round towers became decorations for movies and photo sessions more than once.

De la Fena

Describing the most beautiful castles from around the world, one can not ignore the most romantic building in Portuguese Sintra - the Palace of Pena. In the middle of the 19th century, on the site of a dilapidated monastery, a summer castle was built for King Ferdinand II. Architect Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege created a unique structure that absorbed the best trends of romanticism of the time. The building combines the lines of the Manueline and the Moorish style. The castle of Pena makes an indelible impression with its brightness, a combination of elements of the Middle Ages and exquisite Manueline style. Its various turrets, a wall with battlements and a magnificent park make it a real castle for the princess. A magnificent park-forest is scattered around the palace, in which eucalyptus, roses and many other plants are fragrant.

Hurst

Despite the short history, the USA also contributed to the creation of castles, and the list of "The Most Beautiful Castles of the World" can not do without mentioning Hurst Castle. This historic monument began to be built on the California coast from the end of the 19th century, but the main buildings were erected in the early 20th century. Some of the structures are in the Mexican colonial style, and the main building is in the Spanish style, for him the architect bought carved ceilings in Spain in whole rooms. On the vast adjoining territory is a magnificent garden with a lot of sculptures and fountains. In the park, a magnificent Neptune fountain was created , decorated with columns and a portico in the ancient Greek style, with a large number of statues along the perimeter. During the life of the owner there was a zoo, but later it was disbanded because of the high cost of maintenance.

Dannotar

All the most beautiful castles in the world have their own history, and it is unique in the Scottish fortress of Dunnottar. It stands on a high cliff over the sea from the 7th century, and in its time was the most impregnable fortress of the country. Today, the state of the castle does not allow him to live, but here you can walk. Powerful medieval stone structures, preserved secret passages allow you to feel the power that the castle had in its heyday. He had to suffer many attacks, and he withstood them withstood, but he could not survive the test of time. Walking around the castle is striking with the grandeur of the building and the greatness of the builders of the past.

Matsumoto

Japan is famous for its unique buildings, made in the traditional style. And the names of beautiful castles are also poetic with a deep meaning. For black color and wide "wings" of the roof, the castle in Matsumoto is called the "Raven". It was built in the 16th century by order of the head of the clan Takeda. Today, the castle is considered the most beautiful in Japan, its architectural style is called "Hirajiro", which is due to its inscription in the flat landscape. Beautiful multi-storey towers-pagodas are effectively reflected in the water surrounding the castle moat. In the spring, cherry blossoms in the castle garden, and tourists from all over the world come here to see a picture of amazing harmony. In the autumn, a unique festival of the Moon is held here and the Japanese come to the park to see how the Moon rises above the towers, is reflected in the waters of the moat and cup of sake, which is an indispensable attribute of the ritual.

Himeji - the castle of the white heron

Another beautiful castle in Japan stands in the city of Himeji, it also has a poetic name - the castle of the white heron. This structure is striking with harmony, sharp lines and incredible elegance. The castle was built in the late 14th century and served as a model for subsequent buildings for many centuries. The castle is organically inscribed in a hilly landscape and is surrounded by a garden in the form of a spiral labyrinth. This was done in case of an attack by the enemy, so that they could not immediately reach the building. Himeji is the only castle in Japan that has never suffered from earthquakes, but fires have caused some damage to it. On the territory of the castle, various films were shot repeatedly, every year various festivals and festivals are held here. Himeji is a favorite place for traveling with the Japanese.

Alhambra

In our list, you must include the Spanish fortress of the Alhambra next to Granada. This stunning palace complex was built in the 13th century under the Nasrid dynasty, when Granada became the capital of the Granada Emirate. The device of the palace is amazing not only for luxury, but also for thoughtfulness. The composition of the palace creates light and water. In each yard there is a place to hide from the soaring sun and enjoy the murmur of water. The most famous objects in the Alhambra are the Lion Patio with a fountain in the center, the Myrtian courtyard with a symmetrical composition of trimmed plants, the Hall of stalactites, in which the ceiling is decorated with amazing wooden carvings, the Golden Room. To the palace adjoins a huge garden with various buildings, in which thousands of roses and fruit trees grow.

Full list

Listing the most beautiful castles in the world from France to Japan, it is impossible to limit the number to 10 titles. After all, there are many structures around the world worthy of admiration. In the list of beauties I would like to add such masterpieces of architecture as Prague Castle, Hohenzollern, Catherine Palace, Versailles, Potala Palace in Nepal, Castle of Saint Angel, Chenonceau, Peles, Schwerin, Elts, Alcazar, Quinta da Regaleira.