It’s time to enter the world of the European fairytale-like castles
We all grew up with fairytales, princesses, and princes and wanted to enter their world for just a second, now it’s time to see what a fairytale castle really looks like. In this article, we have prepared the top 10 most beautiful European castles that make you think of childhood cartoons.
Europe is a continent with a lot of history, different traditions, architecture, and even different people. That’s why we chose European castles, to make the list as special as possible for you.
If you haven’t traveled to any European country, our advice is to do so. European traditions are very different from ours and exploring new cultures can be very exciting!
1. Alhambra, Spain
The name may not sound Spanish, but it is located there, more precisely in Granada, Andalusia. This European castle is one of the best-preserved monuments of Islamic architecture.
The origin of its name came from the reddish walls and the towers that surrounded the castle. The Arabs named it al-qal’a al-hamra which means red castle. Alhambra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
This castle is so important for several reasons: one would be that it dates back to the Islamic Golden Age, i.e. the late Nasdyr Dynasty which is part of the last Islamic kingdom in Western Europe.
The Alhambra Castle is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful historical sites in Spain. Each year, thousands of tourists from any part of the world visit this place. Would you?
2. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Some of us went to Disneyland, some of us didn’t, but we’ve all heard of it. Well, it’s time to find out that Neuschwanstein Castle is the influence of Disneyland Castle. This European castle is located in Southern Bavaria in Germany.
This construction is relatively new compared to other castles from Europe. The foundation stone of the Neuschwanstein was laid in 1869, but the king moved into the castle in 1884. The sad part is that the king didn’t enjoy his castle for long, as he died two years later.
In terms of how many visitors this castle attracts, the number is very high: 1.4 million visitors each year. What do you think about this stunning construction? Let us know in the comments.
3. Castello di Miramare, Italy
If you ever find yourself wandering in Trieste, Italy you have to see this castle! It is just a 30-minute drive from the city and the view is absolutely stunning.
This European castle was built between 1856 and 1860 by the order of Ferdinand Maximilian, the younger brother of Franz Joseph. The Miramare Castle is placed on a 54-acre park and has many other constructions there.
The architecture has Gothic and Renaissance influences combined in a unique manner. The public can visit over 20 rooms in the castle, and the two most interesting rooms are Sale di Massimilano and Sala del Trono, which was recently restored.
For those interested in the history of this palace you can check Miramare Castle: The Historic Museum to find out more.
4. Corvin Castle, Romania
Romania is a small country in Eastern Europe and is best known for its massive and steadfast castles. This is where the vampire stories were inspired, but it’s not Dracula’s castle.
The Corvin Castle is also a Gothic-Renaissance construction that dates from the 15th century. This European castle has a dense history of reigns, wards, and dominations.
The placement is strategic because, during those times, the country was divided and many battles of conquest were happening.
Although this is not Dracula’s historical site, The Corvin Castle has a connection to him, Vlad the Impaler was held prisoner here because he didn’t follow the Christian cause of the time.
The castle has three large areas which can be visited: the Knight’s Hall, the circular stairways, and the Diet Hall.
5. Frederiksborg Castle, Denmark
Build in the 17th century for King Christian IV of Denmark, this European castle is the largest Renaissance residence in Scandinavia.
This majestic castle is the reconstructed form, unfortunately, on 16 December 1859 a fire broke out. A chimney was under repair and started the fire and because the lake outside was frozen, the only water that they could use to extinguish it was the one in the kitchen which didn’t withstand the flames.
The Frederiksborg Castle has three enormous rooms that can be visited: Valdemar Room, the Chapel, the Great Hall, and the Rose.
You can see there 500 years of Danish history because the castle is also a museum that has portraits, furniture, paintings, and sculptures from so many artists.
6. Predjama Castle, Slovenia
This European castle is special because it is built within a cave, which you don’t see every day. The castle’s placement is strategic, as they wanted it to be difficult to access and easy to get out of it because it has secret tunnels.
As with many other castles, it was reconstructed more than one time. The final form was done in 1579 and was built in the Renaissance style and is placed right next to where the original used to be.
The castle was later inherited by Count Michael von Cronberg and sold to another family that remained the owners until the end of World War II when it was confiscated and nationalized by the Communists and turned into a public museum.
There are so many fascinating stories behind these charming castles, what do you think?
7. Château de Chambord, France
Maybe this castle is not the best-known in France, definitely is one of the loveliest. This castle has one of the most recognizable French Renaissance architecture which makes it an authentic château.
Until this day, experts can’t tell who built the castle: Domenico da Cortona or Andre Felibein (or both!).
The Château de Chambord is a popular castle influencer, impacting the design of the Schwerin Castle, the Founder’s Building, and the main building of Fettes College.
This château has a 13,000-acre wooden park with a game reserve with red deer and is surrounded by a 19-mile wall. It would take a day to visit the whole place, can you imagine the views?
8. Bojnice Castle, Slovakia
The Bojnice is a medieval castle in Slovakia that is known for its original Reinaissance-Gothic elements. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come each year to see this magnificent European castle.
This castle dates from 1113 according to some documents held at the Zobor Abbey. It is said that, originally, it was built from wood and gradually replaced with stone.
Another attraction of this castle is the International Festival of Ghosts and Spirits and Summer Music Festival which is held in the castle’s area every year. Also, a romantic movie was filmed there and attracted that year 200,000 visitors.
We can conclude that Europe has many medieval palaces with rich histories that are worth visiting, but our country also has many grandiose ones that should have a place on your travel list. If you are interested in finding out what American castles you should visit we’ve made an article about The Most Enchanting Castles in the US
What do you think about these top European castles? Have you ever visited a European medieval castle? Tell us your experiences in the comments.
