The origin of castle building in Europe dates back to the end of the 10th century and, by XIV century reaches its peak. The castle was originally defined as a fortified dwelling of the feudal lord, containing a complex of all necessary services for defense. Over the decades, the structure of such fortified castles has changed. Around the beginning of the 10th century, in the era of feudalism, the most characteristic type of castles for Western Europe was formed - a donjon (from the Latin domineon - the dwelling of the owner of the estate). The donjon included phased lines of defense. Inside the lower courtyard of the castle there were many religious and household buildings. Higher on the bulk hill there was a residential tower of the feudal lord. The seigneurial and economic parts were connected by a wooden drawbridge, which could be easily removed and, if necessary, turned the feudal lord's dwelling into an independent defensive site. All these buildings of the castle were surrounded by a powerful oak palisade with a drawbridge system. Such a feudal castle was very impregnable and could defend itself for a long time when attacked by enemies. The oldest surviving castle is located in the Loire Valley, France. This keep was built in 950.
With the end of the Middle Ages at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th century, the ideas of the Renaissance gradually cover the whole of Europe. From now on, European monarchs understand that power can be determined not only by the strength of weapons, but also by the development of culture, lifestyle, wealth and grace. Castles are starting to change. Powerful and harsh castles of feudal lords cease to serve only defensive purposes. They rebuild, descend from the hills into the valleys and begin to harmonize with the natural landscape. Now most attention is given to the palatial part of the castle. The interior is filled with new furniture and art. Ascetic feudal dwellings are transformed into luxurious royal residences. The birth of castle building in Europe dates back to the end of the 10th century and reaches its peak by the 14th century. The castle was originally defined as a fortified dwelling of the feudal lord, containing a complex of all necessary services for defense. Over the decades, the structure of such fortified castles has changed. Around the beginning of the 10th century, in the era of feudalism, the most characteristic type of castles for Western Europe was formed - a donjon (from the Latin domineon - the dwelling of the owner of the estate). The donjon included phased lines of defense. Inside the lower courtyard of the castle there were many religious and household buildings. Higher on the bulk hill there was a residential tower of the feudal lord. The seigneurial and economic parts were connected by a wooden drawbridge, which could be easily removed and, if necessary, turned the feudal lord's dwelling into an independent defensive site. All these buildings of the castle were surrounded by a powerful oak palisade with a drawbridge system. Such a feudal castle was very impregnable and could defend itself for a long time when attacked by enemies. The oldest surviving castle is located in the Loire Valley, France. This keep was built in 950.
With the end of the Middle Ages at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th century, the ideas of the Renaissance gradually cover the whole of Europe. From now on, European monarchs understand that power can be determined not only by the strength of weapons, but also by the development of culture, lifestyle, wealth and grace. Castles are starting to change. Powerful and harsh castles of feudal lords cease to serve only defensive purposes. They rebuild, descend from the hills into the valleys and begin to harmonize with the natural landscape. Now the greatest attention is paid to the palace part of the castle. The interior is filled with new furniture and art. Ascetic feudal dwellings are transformed into luxurious royal residences.
Warwick Castle is a fine living example of a medieval castle. It is located in the city of the same name on the high bank of the Avon River, which skirts the castle from the east. The castle ranks first in the list of cultural and historical places and monuments of Great Britain. The first Norman castle was built here on the site of the former Anglo-Saxon fortification (burgh), by order of William the Conqueror. In 1088, the castle and the title of 1st Earl of Warwick were granted to Henry de Beaumont. For several centuries, the castle became the main residence of several generations of the Earls of Warwick.
The magnificent Windsor Castle located in the county of Berkshire is the oldest and most active castle in the world. For over 900 years, it has been towering over the surrounding landscape, personifying a symbol of royal power. Today the castle is one of three official residences Queens, along with Buckingham Palace and Holyrood House.
Dover Castle is one of the most powerful historical fortresses Western Europe. For many centuries it has stood guard over the shortest sea route from England to the continent. Its location on the banks of the Pas de Calais, known in England as the Straits of Dover, gave Dover Castle great strategic importance, resulting in the castle playing an important role in the history of England.
The current buildings of Amboise were built from 1492 on the orders of Charles VIII, son of Louis XI, who was born here on June 30, 1470. Inspired by his expedition to Italy, from where he brought back many treasures, his entire reign was marked by Italian influence. Having arrived together with architects and sculptors, the king decorated the castle. With the help of a gardener, Pacello arranged a decorative garden in a special way.
The Royal Castle of Blois is perhaps one of the most famous castles of the Loire, whose biography is oversaturated with significant events that left a bright mark on the history of not only France, but also Europe. Home to seven kings and ten queens of France, today's Château Blois is a place that provides a visual representation of the life of the royal court during the Renaissance.
Burghausen Castle is a classic fairy tale castle. This castle, the longest in Europe (1043 meters) and one of the largest in Germany, rises above the town of Burghausen in Upper Bavaria on the border with Austria. The elongated structure of the castle is subdivided into six separate courtyards. Each of them had its own important functions, and each of them was an independent fortified bastion with its own gate, moat and drawbridge. The towers were the living quarters for all the inhabitants of the castle, from foresters, barn keepers, court employees and ending with the chief treasurer.
Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most visited castles in Germany, and one of the most popular tourist places Europe. It is located in the state of Bavaria near the city of Füssen. This monumental piece of architecture was erected by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, also known as the "Fairy King".
Today's Reichenstein Castle is a typical example of a castle resurrected from oblivion at the dawn of the Rhenish Romantic craze. The rich collection of the castle museum invariably attracts many tourists traveling along the Rhine. Many interesting and attractive expositions await the guests of the castle.
Trausnitz Castle, built in Landshut, got its present name in the 16th century. Initially, it had the same name as the city, since it was built to protect the city and surrounding lands.
The castle of Aragonese rises above the islet, perched on top of a cliff. A 15th century stone bridge, 220 meters long, links it to the eastern side of the island of Ischia. The rocky base of the islet on which the castle is located is a bubble of magma, which formed here during the long-term activity of volcanic phenomena.
For over six hundred years, the Vienna Hofburg was the main home of the royal court of the rulers of Austria. Over the centuries it has played many important roles in the course of European history. Since the XIII century, the Habsburgs ruled their possessions from here. First as large feudal landowners, then from 1452 as Holy Roman Emperors, and finally from 1806 to 1918 as Emperors of the Austrian Empire.
The Schönbrunn Imperial Palace can rightfully be considered one of the significant cultural and historical monuments, not only in Austria, but throughout Europe. Since the 1960s he has been attractive tourist center for guests of Vienna.
To the north of the mouth of the Vistula, on the right bank of the river Nogat, the Teutonic Order crusaders began the construction of the castle of Marienburg in 1274, and in 1276 they granted city rights to the settlement formed near the castle. In connection with the transfer in 1309 of the main residence of the Grand Masters of the Order from Venice to Marienburg (Malbork), the castle was significantly expanded.
This most famous of Scottish castles has a long and varied history of building. Its oldest part, St. Margaret's Chapel, dates back to the 12th century. Big hall was founded by James IV around 1510. Crescent Battery by Regent Morton in the late 16th century, and the Scottish National War Memorial after the First World War.
Original post by Vitaly_KalashnikovThe birth of castle building in Europe dates back to the end of the 10th century and reaches its peak by the 14th century. The castle was originally defined as a fortified dwelling of the feudal lord, containing a complex of all necessary services for defense. Over the decades, the structure of such fortified castles has changed. Around the beginning of the 10th century, in the era of feudalism, the most characteristic type of castles for Western Europe was formed - a donjon (from the Latin domineon - the dwelling of the owner of the estate). The donjon included phased lines of defense. Inside the lower courtyard of the castle there were many religious and household buildings. Higher on the bulk hill there was a residential tower of the feudal lord. The seigneurial and economic parts were connected by a wooden drawbridge, which could be easily removed and, if necessary, turned the feudal lord's dwelling into an independent defensive site. All these buildings of the castle were surrounded by a powerful oak palisade with a drawbridge system. Such a feudal castle was very impregnable and could defend itself for a long time when attacked by enemies. The oldest surviving castle is located in the Loire Valley, France. This keep was built in 950.
With the end of the Middle Ages at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th century, the ideas of the Renaissance gradually cover the whole of Europe. From now on, European monarchs understand that power can be determined not only by the strength of weapons, but also by the development of culture, lifestyle, wealth and grace. Castles are starting to change. Powerful and harsh castles of feudal lords cease to serve only defensive purposes. They rebuild, descend from the hills into the valleys and begin to harmonize with the natural landscape. Now the greatest attention is paid to the palace part of the castle. The interior is filled with new furniture and art. Ascetic feudal dwellings are transformed into luxurious royal residences. The birth of castle building in Europe dates back to the end of the 10th century and reaches its peak by the 14th century. The castle was originally defined as a fortified dwelling of the feudal lord, containing a complex of all necessary services for defense. Over the decades, the structure of such fortified castles has changed. Around the beginning of the 10th century, in the era of feudalism, the most characteristic type of castles for Western Europe was formed - a donjon (from the Latin domineon - the dwelling of the owner of the estate). The donjon included phased lines of defense. Inside the lower courtyard of the castle there were many religious and household buildings. Higher on the bulk hill there was a residential tower of the feudal lord. The seigneurial and economic parts were connected by a wooden drawbridge, which could be easily removed and, if necessary, turned the feudal lord's dwelling into an independent defensive site. All these buildings of the castle were surrounded by a powerful oak palisade with a drawbridge system. Such a feudal castle was very impregnable and could defend itself for a long time when attacked by enemies. The oldest surviving castle is located in the Loire Valley, France. This keep was built in 950.
With the end of the Middle Ages at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th century, the ideas of the Renaissance gradually cover the whole of Europe. From now on, European monarchs understand that power can be determined not only by the strength of weapons, but also by the development of culture, lifestyle, wealth and grace. Castles are starting to change. Powerful and harsh castles of feudal lords cease to serve only defensive purposes. They rebuild, descend from the hills into the valleys and begin to harmonize with the natural landscape. Now the greatest attention is paid to the palace part of the castle. The interior is filled with new furniture and art. Ascetic feudal dwellings are transformed into luxurious royal residences.
Warwick Castle is a fine living example of a medieval castle. It is located in the city of the same name on the high bank of the Avon River, which skirts the castle from the east. The castle ranks first in the list of cultural and historical places and monuments of Great Britain. The first Norman castle was built here on the site of the former Anglo-Saxon fortification (burgh), by order of William the Conqueror. In 1088, the castle and the title of 1st Earl of Warwick were granted to Henry de Beaumont. For several centuries, the castle became the main residence of several generations of the Earls of Warwick.
The magnificent Windsor Castle located in the county of Berkshire is the oldest and most active castle in the world. For over 900 years, it has been towering over the surrounding landscape, personifying a symbol of royal power. Today, the castle is one of the three official residences of the Queen, along with Buckingham Palace and Holyrood House.
Dover Castle is one of the most powerful historical fortresses in Western Europe. For many centuries it has stood guard over the shortest sea route from England to the continent. Its location on the banks of the Pas de Calais, known in England as the Straits of Dover, gave Dover Castle great strategic importance, resulting in the castle playing an important role in the history of England.
The current buildings of Amboise were built from 1492 on the orders of Charles VIII, son of Louis XI, who was born here on June 30, 1470. Inspired by his expedition to Italy, from where he brought back many treasures, his entire reign was marked by Italian influence. Having arrived together with architects and sculptors, the king decorated the castle. With the help of a gardener, Pacello arranged a decorative garden in a special way.
The Royal Castle of Blois is perhaps one of the most famous castles of the Loire, whose biography is oversaturated with significant events that left a bright mark on the history of not only France, but also Europe. Home to seven kings and ten queens of France, today's Château Blois is a place that provides a visual representation of the life of the royal court during the Renaissance.
Burghausen Castle is a classic fairy tale castle. This castle, the longest in Europe (1043 meters) and one of the largest in Germany, rises above the town of Burghausen in Upper Bavaria on the border with Austria. The elongated structure of the castle is subdivided into six separate courtyards. Each of them had its own important functions, and each of them was an independent fortified bastion with its own gate, moat and drawbridge. The towers were the living quarters for all the inhabitants of the castle, from foresters, barn keepers, court employees and ending with the chief treasurer.
Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most visited castles in Germany, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. It is located in the state of Bavaria near the city of Füssen. This monumental piece of architecture was erected by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, also known as the "Fairy King".
Today's Reichenstein Castle is a typical example of a castle resurrected from oblivion at the dawn of the Rhenish Romantic craze. The rich collection of the castle museum invariably attracts many tourists traveling along the Rhine. Many interesting and attractive expositions await the guests of the castle.
Trausnitz Castle, built in Landshut, got its present name in the 16th century. Initially, it had the same name as the city, since it was built to protect the city and surrounding lands.
The castle of Aragonese rises above the islet, perched on top of a cliff. A 15th century stone bridge, 220 meters long, links it to the eastern side of the island of Ischia. The rocky base of the islet on which the castle is located is a bubble of magma, which formed here during the long-term activity of volcanic phenomena.
For over six hundred years, the Vienna Hofburg was the main home of the royal court of the rulers of Austria. Over the centuries it has played many important roles in the course of European history. Since the XIII century, the Habsburgs ruled their possessions from here. First as large feudal landowners, then from 1452 as Holy Roman Emperors, and finally from 1806 to 1918 as Emperors of the Austrian Empire.
The Schönbrunn Imperial Palace can rightfully be considered one of the significant cultural and historical monuments, not only in Austria, but throughout Europe. Since the 1960s it has been an attractive tourist center for visitors to Vienna.
To the north of the mouth of the Vistula, on the right bank of the river Nogat, the Teutonic Order crusaders began the construction of the castle of Marienburg in 1274, and in 1276 they granted city rights to the settlement formed near the castle. In connection with the transfer in 1309 of the main residence of the Grand Masters of the Order from Venice to Marienburg (Malbork), the castle was significantly expanded.
This most famous of Scottish castles has a long and varied history of building. Its oldest part, St. Margaret's Chapel, dates back to the 12th century. The Great Hall was founded by James IV around 1510. The Crescent Battery by Regent Morton in the late 16th century, and the Scottish National War Memorial after the First World War.
Castles are a symbol of the Middle Ages; for centuries they have fascinated not only lovers of history and architecture. On no other continent, except Europe, you will find so many beautiful monumental castles that are evidence of bygone, bygone eras. We have prepared a rating of the ten largest castles in Europe that have been admiring, captivating and surprising for centuries.
1. Castle in Malbork
The castle in Malbork is considered by many to be the largest castle not only in Europe, but also in the world. Built out of bricks gothic castle located on the right bank of the Nogat, built in the XIII - XV centuries, was the capital of the Teutonic Order and the residence of its masters. Recognized as a historical monument and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.
2. Prague Castle in Prague
The impressive size of the castle complex (about 70,000 m2), which from time immemorial was the residence of the kings of the Czech Republic, and since 1918 the president Czech Republic. The castle includes many objects, including St. Vitus Cathedral, where the Czech crown jewels are kept.
3. Castle Burghausen
Burghausen Castle is a powerful castle lying above the old town of Burghausen, is the longest building of its type in Europe. Its length is 1043 m. It owes its modern appearance to the Wittelsbach family living on its territory in 1393-1505. In subsequent years, it was the property of the city of Burghausen and was used as a military garrison, which led to a significant restructuring of the castle fortifications.
4. Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle has been the residence of the English kings since 1100. Currently, along with the palace in Edinburgh, it is one of the main official residences of Queen Elizabeth II. This is one of the largest castles in Europe, 800 m long, has 19 towers, and total area is 45,000 m2. Interestingly, the largest permanently inhabited castle in the world. It has very rich collections of paintings and arts and crafts.
5. Castle Hohensalzburg
Hohensalzburg Castle, unusually majestic, is located on the Festung hill, above the city of Salzburg. The fortress is 150 m wide and 250 m long, making it one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe. After the sights of Vienna (for example, St. Stephen's Cathedral), the castle in Salzburg is the most visited place in Austria by tourists. It was built approximately in the XI-XII centuries. It was used as the residence of aristocratic families, and not rarely as a prison for political opponents.
6. Spiš Castle
The Spis fortress, located on the territory of the Slovak village of Zhegra, is a historical castle complex at the turn of the 11th-12th centuries. It is one of the largest fortresses in Central Europe and the largest in Slovakia. Occupying about 4 hectares, the castle is mostly destroyed, only part of the fortress walls has been restored in our time. On the territory of the castle there is a small museum with exhibits related to the history of the castle. In 1993 he was included in the UNESCO list.
7. Pierrefonds Castle
Pierrefonds Castle is medieval castle a fortress located in french region Pierrefonds, built around the 12th century. The building was in a deplorable state for many years, which led to religious wars in the 17th century. In later times, it was owned, in particular, by Napoleon Bonaparte and the House of Bourbon. However, it was only in 1857 that the reconstruction of the castle was started, which was led by Viollet-le-Duc. Unfortunately, the restoration has erased the medieval character of the building.
8 Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly Castle is the largest castle in Wales and the second largest (after Windsor Castle) in the UK. Built by the English Earl Gilbert de Clare in the 13th century over artificial lake. Known for its half-ruined tower, the angle of which is greater than that of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Pisa. The building fell into disrepair during the civil war, and its current appearance is the result of reconstruction carried out in the 19th and 20th centuries.
9. Royal Palace in Budapest
Royal Palace in Budapest, the majestic and huge royal castle, located on the southern tip of the Castle Hill in the center of the Hungarian capital. Since the 13th century, royal residences have been located on Castle Hill, but only the Habsburgs, who ruled Hungary, created the luxury known today. Its interiors, which were not reconstructed after the Second World War, house modern public institutions and museums.
10 Chambord Castle
Chateau de Chambord, the largest and most famous castle in the Loire Valley. It is one of the greatest architectural works of the Renaissance, and its silhouette is one of the most recognizable. Built in the 16th century as a royal residence. The size of the building can be evidenced by the fact that it has 440 rooms, 84 stairwells and 6 large towers.
Castles, fortresses and palaces have been built by people since ancient times. Being built at a time when there was no modern technology, they amaze the imagination with their architectural grandeur. Although these impregnable symbols of the Middle Ages were built as fortifications, this does not prevent them from pleasing the eye with their appearance. And we offer to admire those of them that are considered the most beautiful in Europe.
Neuschwanstein Castle (Germany)
This majestic, romantic castle is considered the most beautiful in the world. And even in the photo you can see that he deserved his title. Built by order of the Bavarian King Ludwig II, during the lifetime of its creators, it became associated with the embodiment of a fairy-tale dream that became a reality.
Eltz Castle (Germany)
A pearl of European architecture, one of the most beautiful castles in Germany and the world. For more than 30 generations it has remained in the possession of the same family and has never been captured or plundered, not even during the great wars and revolutions.
Pierrefonds Castle (France)
Built in the 90s of the XIV century, it became an arena where historical events for Europe unfolded. Partially destroyed by the troops of Cardinal Richelieu, it was restored in the 1880s.
Hohenzollern Castle (Germany)
Stunningly beautiful, this castle seems to have stepped out of the pages of a fantasy novel. The first mention of it is found in documents from 1267, and in our time many interesting events are held here.
Chambord (France)
Built on the orders of Francis I, Chambord Castle was presented to his beloved and soon became one of the recognizable symbols of France. History has not preserved the name of the architect, but it is known for sure that Leonardo da Vinci worked on the project, shortly before his death.
Corvin Castle (Romania)
Rising on a rock near the river, this family fortress of the Hunyadi house changed more than 20 owners in its time. There are legends that Vlad Tepes, known as Dracula, was imprisoned here for 7 years.
Coca Castle (Spain)
A magnificent example of fortification art, built in the 15th century. It is surrounded by double brick walls 2.5 meters wide, and the best architects of Toledo worked on the construction.
Chenonceau (France)
Although it is privately owned, the owners have opened it to the public, which attracts many tourists from all over the world. Due to its characteristic appearance, among the local population it was called the "ladies' castle".
The legacy of the Middle Ages, European castles today are shrouded in a veil of legends, traditions and real dramatic events. Their thick stone walls remember sieges, internecine wars, intrigues and romantic stories. Their sumptuous or, on the contrary, ascetic interiors excite the imagination, which, having played out, takes away into the world of the knights of King Arthur, Lohengrin and Dracula. And, in general, at this moment it doesn’t matter whether these characters actually existed.
Abbey of Mont Saint MichelBran Castle, Transylvania, Romania
Bran Castle, 30 kilometers from the city of Brasov, is one of those places whose mythological history has overshadowed the real one, I must say, very rich. Thanks to the novel by the Irishman Bram Stoker, published in 1897, Bran became "the same" castle of Count Dracula, the most popular bloodsucker of mass culture and the main vampire of all times and peoples. Yes, there is a deadly negative charm in this image: “He had an energetic, original face, a thin nose and some special, strangely shaped nostrils; an arrogant high forehead, and hair that grew scantly and at the same time in thick tufts near the temples; very thick, almost meeting on the forehead eyebrows. The mouth, as far as I could see under the heavy moustache, was resolute, even cruel in appearance, with extraordinarily sharp white teeth protruding between the lips, the bright color of which struck with its vitality in a man of his age. But what struck me the most was the unusual pallor of the face. However, one should not associate Stoker's Dracula with his prototype, the 15th-century Wallachian prince Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad Dracula. Although the governor did not differ in special humanity, he was not a bloody despot, as he appears in the annals, either. The executions of the boyars after Tepes came to power in Transylvania - quite in the spirit of that by no means vegetarian time and internecine struggle, he himself was also attempted more than once. Vlad Dracula has an indirect relationship to Bran Castle: dissatisfied with the refusal of the German merchants of Brasov to obey the trading rules established by him, he organized military campaigns against the obstinate city more than once. However, no written evidence of his capture of the castle has been preserved.
Chillon Castle, Montreux, Switzerland
Chillon stands in the bosom of the waters;
There, in the dungeon, seven columns
Covered with damp moss.
A sad light dawns on them.
Unlike Bram Stoker, who used some of the features and fragments of the biography of Vlad Dracula to create an image, Byron poeticized in The Prisoner of Chillon real story a prisoner of a gloomy castle on the shores of Lake Geneva. The basis of the poem, written by him in two days in June 1816, based on fresh impressions from visiting this place with his friend Percy Bysshe Shelley, was the events of the 16th century. The prototype of the Chillon prisoner was the rector of one of the Geneva abbeys, Francois Bonivard, who opposed the persistent attempts of the Savoy Duke Charles III to seize power in Geneva. Bonivar spent six years in captivity and was released in 1536 by the Bernese. To be fair, in centuries of history the castle, built in the middle of the 12th century as the residence of the Savoy dukes, had many dramatic episodes. So, in 1798, under the influence of the French Revolution, the French-speaking canton of Vaud, refusing to recognize the authority of the German-speaking Bern, proclaimed the Leman Republic. When French troops entered the canton, to which its inhabitants turned for help, the Chillon castle was turned into a warehouse of weapons and uniforms.
Abbey of Mont Saint Michel, Normandy, France
According to legend, the abbey on a rocky island at the mouth of the Cusnon River owes its appearance to St. Michael, who in 708 appeared three times to Bishop Ober, until he was finally convinced of the correctness of his interpretation of the sign from above. Since then, the mountain, called the Grave, bears the name of its heavenly patron - Mont Saint-Michel. In the 8th century, it all started with a modest chapel, in 966, on the orders of the Duke of Normandy, a proto-Roman church appeared here, and over the course of the 11th-15th centuries, the abbey was gradually expanded and rebuilt, including due to the destruction caused by a series of wars. In 1090, the abbey, in which the youngest son of William the Conqueror Henry took refuge, was besieged by his brothers William the Red and Duke of Normandy Robert Short Pants. At the beginning of the 13th century, the abbey was captured by the French king Philip Augustus, who, however, in expiation of his guilt before the monks and God, donated a large amount to the affected Benedictine monastery, thanks to which the Miracle was erected on the northern slope - a building in the Gothic style with an extensive cloister. During the French Revolution and the Second Empire, the abbey managed to visit a prison, and today Mont Saint-Michel, an object world heritage UNESCO, - one of the most touristic places in France. Its outlines can be seen in many films, including Terence Malick's To the Miracle (2012), whose story begins with a visit to the abbey by a couple in love going through a relationship crisis.
Hohensalzburg, Austria
It is the baroque towers and powerful walls of Hohensalzburg that form the textbook view of the Austrian capital, replicated in numerous photographs and postcards. One of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe, built in 1077 by Gebhard I, Archbishop of Salzburg, Hohensalzburg was significantly expanded in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. At the same time, a symbol of the fortress appeared above the main entrance - a lion with a beetroot in its paws. Over the centuries, Hohensalzburg, towering over the Old Town of the Austrian capital, has maintained a reputation as an impregnable bastion for enemies - and indeed, this is one of the few Austrian fortresses that has never been conquered. In 1977, for the 900th anniversary of Hohensalzburg, the Austrian Mint issued a commemorative coin depicting the castle. And in 2006, he appeared on the commemorative coins of the old Nonnberg Abbey, to which Salzburg owes its appearance.
Egeskov, Funen, Denmark
In its current form, Egeskov was built in 1554 - a rather turbulent time of the beginning of the Reformation and slowly smoldering feudal wars, so the castle house was by no means a whim, but an urgent need. Egeskov was erected in the middle of the lake on a foundation of oak piles - according to legend, it took a whole oak grove. The castle consists of two long houses connected by a thick defensive wall with a complex system of secret stairs to supply the inhabitants with water in case of a siege. Add to this machicolations on the outer walls, from which it was possible not only to fire at enemies, but also to pour molten resin on them and drop stones. Today, Egeskov, still owned by the descendants of Henrik Bije, who bought the castle in 1784, looks quite peaceful. IN late XIX century, it turned into a farm equipped with the latest technology, which it is to this day. In addition to impressive interiors, relating mainly to XIX century, the castle has expositions that tell about its daily, informal life.
Neuschwanstein, Bavaria, Germany
Despite the impressive view built at the end of the 19th century, Neuschwanstein, unlike real medieval castles, was built not to protect its owners, but as the embodiment of a childhood dream of a beautiful Middle Ages, the time of brave knights and beautiful ladies. In 1866, Bavaria, which fought on the side of Austria in the Austro-Prussian war, was defeated, as a result of which it lost part of its land, and King Ludwig II lost the right to lead the army in case of war and the status of a sovereign monarch. In 1867, having imagined himself as Lohengrin, the knight of the Holy Grail, as a child, he found solace in a world of dreams, the material embodiment of which were palaces and castles - his small kingdom, in which he was the sole ruler. The Bavarian king was a fanatical admirer of Richard Wagner's music and a generous patron of the composer, and Neuschweinstein's interiors became large-scale illustrations for his operas. In addition to Wagnerian motifs, the image of a swan appears in the design of each room in one form or another - which later inspires Pyotr Tchaikovsky to create " swan lake". A little later, the sight of the castle will enchant one of the main storytellers of the 20th century, Walt Disney, who uses the outline of the castle in the brand name of the company he founded.
Scotney Castle, Kent, UK
Although the first written evidence of a certain castle of Scotney dates back to 1137, the oldest buildings that have come down to us, or rather the picturesque ruins left from them, date back to the end of the 14th century. In the 16th century, a magnificent building in the Elizabethan style appeared on the site of the fortified house with towers, and around 1630 the east wing was rebuilt in the Palladian spirit. Uninhabited already in the 40s of the 19th century, it remained a decoration of the garden and a living testimony to the long and eventful history of the castle. And the Hussey family, who then took over the estate, built a new castle, stylized as the era of King James I, the first representative of the Stuart dynasty on the English throne, who ruled in the first third of the 17th century. The castle was opened to the public only in 2007 - until that time it remained residential building heiress of the Elizabeth Hussey family. Full of paintings, antique furniture, books and photographs, it still has a homely, non-museum atmosphere. Around the castle - beautiful gardens, beech groves and moorlands.
