How to Appreciate Castles and Palaces
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Visiting a castle or palace is like stepping out of one world and into another. To go from a world of speeding cars, roaring sirens and Starbucks on every corner, to the quiet, pristine grandeur of castle grounds. To visit these sites is to drench yourself in history and architecture. For these reasons, castles and palaces are my very favorite travelling experience. You've just pushed and shoved your way out of a crowded train station and you begin to walk down a busy street filled with traffic jams and hurrying people. You're on your way to see your very first castle. You turn off down another street, walk a bit further and then, suddenly, you're standing in front of something massive. Set back behind ornate wrought iron gates, sits the turrets and towers you have always heard about but never seen. Your jaw drops and you can't seem to grasp your camera fast enough. Looking through the view finder you realize that it's impossible to get the whole thing in the shot. My God, this place is huge! It sounds like quite a nice day dream but it doesn't have to be just fantasy. Castles are dotted all over the European and Asian countrysides and they are easy enough to get to. With all the film and book hype that surrounds castles, you may wonder if they are really that great or even worth a trip. I can tell you from experience that castles and palaces deserve every “ooh” and “ahh” that they receive. If you think it looks incredible from the outside, just wait until you step over the threshold. Every castle is different in its layout and interior design, depending upon its location and year of construction. No matter which castle you visit, however, you are sure to find high ceilings, long corridors, magnificent staircases and enough rooms to start asking yourself “how many sitting rooms did they actually need?” Once you have had your fill of the king's bedchamber, take a stroll out back. Many castles such as Versailles and Hampton Court have beautiful and extensive gardens. Don't fool yourself into thinking you are merely going to see a few roses and be done with it. Versailles, one of the larger examples, includes everything from winding pathways of trees and shrubbery to fountains and sculptures. It is so huge in fact, that there are small cafes spread around for the weary wanderer. Hampton Court has an entire maze set up in its gardens. Castles and palaces are not something that you can just stop and glance at. If you are planning to visit a castle, you should set aside at least a half day to visit. Allow yourself enough time to wander around. Don't be in a rush to move on to the next activity, but rather, savor the fact that you are standing on a piece of history, where previously only royalty stood. Try to ignore the crowds, stand still, take a deep breath and delight in being a part of this timeless beauty. |
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Browse all castles and palaces » Great Castles and Palaces to Visit
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Chateau de VersaillesCastles & Palaces in Paris, France Famous for its gardens and fountains, its magnificent Hall of Mirrors, and above all for the man who built it (and eventually 'did for' the French Monarchy) - the Sun King Louis X1V. From 1682, when it was completed in grand baroque style, until the Revolution in 1789, it was the principal residence of the French Kings. The fact that the King had his court pay homage to him so far out of Paris, far from the 'hoi polloi', in no small part led to the monarchy's alienation from the French people - as well as the sheer extravagance of the place.
It is now one of Paris's premier tourist destinations, a 30 minute ride south by car. A nightmare to visit in high summer, when you have to queue for hours with the coach tours, and then shuffle around amongst the crowd, it's best seen off season and very early in the day - though Paris is a year round destination. As soon as the crowds arrive, duck out into the magnificent gardens, a worthwhile attraction in their own right.
Review by Photo by flickr user Panoramas |
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AlhambraCastles & Palaces in Granada, Spain The calm tinkle of water is the overriding first impression of the Alhambra palace. Built in a particularly arid spot, it is none the less a veritable park of water features; fountains run into ponds into little man made streams and channels into larger pools. The second thing you will probably note is the way, as the water features are like art, the rest of the details of the palace are as well: think intricate woodwork, careful mosaics and ceramics and complex calligraphy and designs rendered in plaster and tile. One particularly impressive room has a roof of inlaid cedar wood panelling made up of 8,000 pieces of jigsaw. Further back in the kings private quarters are themed rooms, many with indoor pools and channels. The Alhambra is the world’s most carefully kept Muslim palace and dates originally from the 13th and 14th centuries. Originally built as a fortress in red stone, only parts of the original remain, much was redone in the new ‘pleasure palace’. The surrounding wall looks fairly weak and is more to offer the harem girls nice views than to defend the kings of Granada. It is now said to be one of the greatest examples of Islamic architecture.
Review by Photo by flickr user clspeace |
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Schloss NeuschwansteinCastles & Palaces in Tyrol, Austria Neuschwanstein is not a thousand year old castle build for defense like most other castles, but the dream castle of a Bavarian King in the 19th century. In 1869, King Ludwig II began to build this castle in the sky. The castle is set high in the Bavarian Alps on the site of the ancient ruins of two castles, Vorder and Hinterhohenschangau. Its snow white walls and tall towers are the very image of a fairytale castle befitting a King. It is built in the style of the late Romanesque castles of the Hohenstaufen dynasty as interpreted by King Ludwig II. The construction of Schloss Neuschwanstein was never completed. A castle keep was to be built in the main courtyard that would have towered above the existing structures in true fairytale style, but the tower was never built. Only 14 rooms inside the castle were completed. The King spent lavishly on Neuschwanstein and was also building two other castles at that time, the Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee. The Linderhof was the only one to be completed. Plans for a fourth castle, Falkenstein, were also being designed. The royal family was distressed by the amount of money that Ludwig was spending on his dream castles. So they developed evidence to have the King declared instable and unfit to rule due to mental illness and had him taken away to Berg Castle in June of 1886. The next day the King went on a walk with his doctor. A few hours later both their bodies were found drown in Lake Starnberg. All construction on Ludwig’s castles stopped after his death. It was ruled suicide, although some say he was murdered. It remains a mystery to this day. A few weeks after his death, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public. The completed rooms can be visited via a guided tour and showcase tales of Parsifal and other epic sagas. Today, Schloss Neuschwanstein is Germany’s most photographed building and most visited castle.
Review by Photo by flickr user joiseyshowaa |
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Himeji CastleCastles & Palaces in Himeji, Japan Initially built as a fortress by the Harima district ruler in 1333, Himeji Castle has been repeatedly expanded throughout the centuries and now stands intact on a hill in the centre of Himeji City, surrounded by a tangled network of spiralling paths and high walls. In Japanese it is known as 'White Heron Castle', because its wooden walls are covered in a type of pure white, fire-retardant plaster and, coupled with its delicately curved, pagoda-style roofs, this endows it with an almost ethereal, glowing elegance. The castle's best known story is that of Okiku, a servant girl who is said to have worked at the castle. The tale is a very old one of folk origins, and it has never been established whether Himeji Castle was the true setting. There are an unusually large number of variations on the story but they all revolve round the idea that Okiku was desired as a mistress by a wealthy aristocrat or a powerful samurai who lived in the castle where she worked, but she refused his advances due to her love for another. The would-be seducer is then said to have entrusted Okiko with the responsibility for ten very valuable plates belonging to his family, but removed one of them beforehand. The story goes that on discovering the plate's disappearance, Okiko was terrified of the consequences and after blaming its absence on her, the amorous gentleman offered to protect her if she would agree to become his lover. She is then said to have either thrown herself into the well in desperation or been cast into it by her enraged admirer when she refused to agree to his suggestion. Either way, her ghost is said to rise from Himeji Castle's famous well by night and count to nine out loud, stopping before ten because of the missing plate, and then sobbing tragically and wildly.
Review by Photo by flickr user Freakland - フリークランド |
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Hampton Court PalaceCastles & Palaces in London, United Kingdom Hampton Court Palace is a hugely atmospheric place. Built by Cardinal Wolse, Henry XIII decided to remove it from his uppity cleric, and have it for himself. And the tone of the place is still defined by this most charismatic of English kings.
Still part of an extensive area of public park land grazed by deer, one can easily picture Henry and chums out hunting. The maze now echoes to the laughter of children, but one can imagine the giggles of young tudor maids. The grounds, with elegant topiary and plashing fountains now hosts music and flower festivals, but surely once witnessed a manolin playing royal seducer.
Well, maybe not, but you get the idea. Whilst much of this palace actually post dates Henry, his vibrant legend suffuses it with interest beyond the interesting architecture, elegant gardens, ancient 'real tennis' courts and river views.
It is also a very lively place these days. In its drive to fund the maintenance of the palace, the trustees have introduced a wide range of commercial events, but all with appropriate elegance and taste. Each month there is real cookery undertaken in the vast tudor kitchens. Not quite the roast swan and deep fried wolf's nipple of legend, but still of great interest to all ages.
Around Christmas there is skating in front on the place, the summer flower show claims to be the world's biggest, and the music festival, held in an ancient tudor courtyard, is wonderfully atmospheric.
Within half a mile of the palace are a range of other activities - golf on the 110 year old Hampton Court palace Golf Club, there's a lovely open air swmiimg pool in Hampton Hill, walking and cycling in Bushy Park and boating on the river. All in all, a decent day out. And surely after such exertions, ole 'Enery the Eighth would have had a beer - if so the pub next to the "lion Gate" entrance to the palace is just the job.
Review by Photo by flickr user edwin.11 |
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Hawa MahalCastles & Palaces in Jaipur, India This ornate stone palace in salmon sandstone was constructed in 1799 to resemble the god Krishna’s crown. These five storeys were home to the ladies of the royal harem, one of its main features are its beautiful, delicately grilled windows allowing the women of the harem to watch the streets and markets below without being seen. 953 small windows open onto the street side, allowing in the breezes to keep the palace cool in all seasons but not much else, this gives the palaces its name, translated to Palace of Winds. Another interesting feature of the palace is that is doesn’t have any stairs, only ramps. The back of the palace opens on to a courtyard.
Review by Photo by flickr user The Wandering Angel |
