For a long time, a castle is seen to be a type of firm structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages. This is distinct from a fortress- a public defence, which was not a home and from a fortified town. Over nearly 900 years, castles were built in various forms with many different features such as curtain walls and arrowslist. From South Africa to Louisiana and from New Zealand to Iran, a curious traveler can find a castle in just every corner in the world. The oldest castles restored until now witnesses the world's long-lasting history. Below are the most amazing castles worldwide existing for centuries and standing today.
Babelsberg Castle, the main castle in Park Babelsberg, Germany, was originally built as a small summer palace for Prince William of Prussia in the 1800s. However, such a magnificent was served as a paleontology museum during the Cold War. Nowadays, this place has become a part of the Potsdam World Heritage Site.
Castle Babelsberg in Germany
Blarney Castle, built by the McCarthy clan in the 1400s, is a well-known medieval stronghold in Blarney. Nowadays, the old castle is partially ruined; nevertheless, there are some rooms to be accessible for tourists. At the top of the castle, the legendary Stone of Eloquence is considered to be the gift of eloquence attracting lots of attention of international tourists.
Blarney Castle in Ireland
Biltmore Estate in North Carolina was built at the end of the 19th century and is recognized to be the largest privately owned estate in the USA. It’s a truly beautiful place and definitely worth visiting. The old Biltmore Estate was freely opened to the public in March of 1930 as a house museum.
Biltmore Estate in North Carolina
Boldt Castle on Heart Island hid a very beautiful love story behind. George Boldt, the Prussian self-made millionaire was spending summer vacations with his wife Louise in a cottage on Heart Island in the 1900s. At that time, he decided to build a luxurious mansion for them, but then the building was stopped in 1904 due to the death of Boldt’s wife. Since then, silence covered the island castle for over 70 years.
Boldt Castle in the Thousand Islands, New York
Prague Castle, located in Hradcany, the Czech Republic is among the biggest castles in the world. It is famous for the ancient history dating back to the 9th century. Prague Castle became the place of residence of the Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. The beautiful architecture is the greatest thing to visit here.
Prague Castle in the Hradcany
Windsor Castle, its area of 484,000 square feet is recognized to be one of the most gorgeous castles in England and the largest castles in the world. Windsor Castle is among the principal official residences of the British monarch together with Buckingham Palace in London and Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.
Windsor Castle in England
Edinburgh Castle is ever the prestigious destination to visit. This castle has become a royal residence since the reign of David I in the 12th century, up to Union of the Crowns in 1603. The fortress standing on the volcanic Castle Rock dating back from the 9th century BC made the castle become a military base with a spacious garrison. In the 19th century, this place was recognized to be a historic monument.
Edinburgh Castle in Scotland
Related links:
Prague Castle
Castle Howard
Top Beautiful Castles Worldwide