The majority of people have dreamed of living in castles thanks to the fairy tale bedtime stories they grew up to. They have developed a deep fascination and wishes of living in a castle some day. However, as they grew up, they came to realize that it’s not that easy to live in a castle and have a royal life. But this reality shouldn’t deter you from experiencing how life in a castle is. You can have a glimpse of that prestigious life by visiting the best castles existed in this world.
“We admire the castles, because we admire the security!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan
Check out these five majestic castles and be sure to include them in your itinerary list as you travel the world.
Edinburgh Castle
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Located in the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland, this castle is a mark of history. The Edinburgh Castle is one of the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, having existed since in the 12th century. The Margaret’s Chapel was also built here. It has an astounding vast area of 35, 737 square meters. There’s no doubt that it is one of the must-see tourist’s spots when you visit Edinburgh.
Himeji Castle
Who said that castles and royalties only exist in the Western world? Asia also has its fair share of beautiful castles too! One of the Asian pride is Himeji Castle, one of the most beautiful castles in Japan. It is the perfect embodiment of prototypical oriental castle architecture and was constructed in the 14th century.
True to its name, the Himeji castle has survived several calamities and catastrophes such as civil wars, bombings, and earthquakes. This majestic castle still stands proudly since its completion in 1609 AD. It occupies a vast area of 41, 648 square meters and has 83 buildings. Every building is equipped with the unique defensive system.
Buda Castle
Buda Castle is known for its beauty and grandeur especially during the night. It glamours up the sky with its bright chandeliers lightening up the horizon from the surrounding blanket of darkness. The Buda Castle is located on the southern tip Hill of Budapest, Hungary. Buda citizens wanted to defend themselves from the invading Mongols, so they constructed the castle to protect themselves.
Despite their heroic efforts to defend the castle, it had been invaded numerous times. In fact, the castle still bears evidence of the invasions. Over the past centuries, the castle has undergone a massive transformation from Baroque style to Gothic style. The final style that it has today was built around 1266 AD. In the present time, it now serves as the national museum and National Gallery of Hungary.
Windsor Castle
Of course, when we talk about castles and royalties, England has to feature in the list. The Windsor Castle is located in the heart of England and is deemed as one of the oldest and largest inhabited castles in the world. It’s also the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II. This notable structure also houses Queen Mary’s doll house and State apartment. The Castle covers an area so vast that a portion of it also served as the burial site for monarchs.
Prague Castle
The Prague castle was built in the 9th century, but it was only after the 18th century that the castle was expanded and given the appearance it has today. It is situated in the capital of Czech Republic with an area of 66,761 square meters. The castle consists of the St. Vitus Cathedral, where rare crown jewels are preserved. Its Gothic structure represents the Czech monarchs and religious leaders that resided the castle during the Holy Roman Empire. In the present day, it is used as an official residence for the head of state.
