There are only a handful of monarchies left in the world. Most of them just hold a titular power. But wonderful castles are still around in different places in the world. As times change, most of these castles have become grand hotels, monuments, and museums.
Here are the top 20 most beautiful royal palaces on Earth:
20.Pena National Palace (Portugal)
This Portuguese castle is the oldest castle in Europe. King Ferdinand II had this castle built in Romanticism style back in 1842. This palace is a reconstruction of the old monastery ruins that was destroyed by the 1977 Great Lisbon Earthquake. It is one of the most visited monuments in Portugal today.
19.Mysore Palace (India)
This is considered as the City of Palaces found in the area of historic palaces in India. After fire destroyed the old palace, Mysore was commissioned in 1987 and was finished in 1912. This palace provides a magnificent sight every September and October when it is lit up by 10,000 bulbs during the Dasara festival.
18.Schönbrunn Palace (Austria)
This is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Austria and Vienna. Just like Versailles, this palace is known for its many rooms, with 1,441 rooms. Emperor Leopold had this palace built in 1696 and was finished in 1712.
17.Summer Palace (China)
As the name indicates, this palace is used as a summerhouse for royalties to get away from the Forbidden City. The Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake dominates the area of this palace.
16.Topkapi Palace (Turkey)
Sultan Mehmet had this palace built in Constantinople after he conquered the place in 1453. This palace served as the enclave of the rulers of the Ottoman stretching for four centuries from 1465 to 1853.
15.The Istana Nurul Iman Palace (Brunei)
Considered as the largest residential palace in the world, the Istana Nurul Iman is the Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah’s official residence. The castle is just several kilometres south of Brunei’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. It is right beside the Brunei River and it is built on a wonderful sprawl of hills.
Though its name translates to the “Palace of the Faith Light,†it looks more luxurious than spiritual, especially with its $1.4 billion price tag. This palace was built in 1984. With money coming from oil wealth, the sultan designed the palace with over-the-top details. It has a floor space that covers up to 2, 152, 782 square feet. The palace has 1,800 rooms and an air-conditioned stable to make sure that the Sultan’s favourite horses remain comfortable and healthy.
14.Château de Chambord (France)
This is the most visited château in France next to Versailles. It has 440 rooms and 365 fireplaces with 84 staircases. King Francois I had this palace constructed in 1519 near the forest so that it will be easy for him to hunt.
13.Palace of Versailles (France)
King Louis XIII had this palace built in 1624 as a hunting lodge. This was expanded in 1682 and ultimately became the center of control in France when Louis XIV succeeded. This was the official abode of the royalties in France until 1789.
12.Alhambra (Spain)
This garden-palace, used to be a fortress. This palace was constructed by the Nasrid sultans in the 14th century on a plateau near Granada, Spain.
11.Potala Palace (China)
This palace rises 170 meters above the Lhasa valley on top of Marpo Ri hill. This palace is considered as the greatest monument in Tibet. Since the 7th century, this has been the residential place of the Dalai Lama until 1959, after China invaded Tibet.
10.Forbidden City (China)
This is perhaps the most mystic and wonderful Palace on Earth covering 72 hectares. This palace was created in 1406 and was finished in 1420. At present it has 980 buildings and 8,707 rooms. For five centuries, twenty-four emperors ruled China in the Forbidden City.
9.Buckingham Palace (UK)
This is the official residence and workplace of the United Kingdom monarchy. This beautiful palace is located in the City of Westminster, London. This palace is most of the time the center of national rejoicing, royal hospitality and other state accessions.
8.Blenheim Palace (England)
This huge country house in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, is the house of the duke of Marlborough. This palace was built from 1705 to 1722. In 1987, it was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
7.The Winter Palace (Russia)
This magnificent palace in St Petersburg, Russia is the official residence of the country’s monarchs. This palace is located between the Palace Square and the Palace Embankment. This palace stood from 1732 to 1917, when it was stormed as depicted in paintings and films. The storming of the Winter Palace became the symbol of the Russian Revolution.
6.Lake Palace (India)
This palace is located in Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India. This is a luxury hotel that has 83 rooms. It stands on a 4 acre rock located on the Jag Niwas Island. This palace was voted as the most romantic hotel, not only in India, but the world.
5.Dolmabahce Palace (Turkey)
This palace can be found in Turkey’s Besiktas district of Istanbul. The Ottoman Empire used this as the main administrative center from 1856 to 1922.
4.The Stockholm Palace (Sweden)
This is also known as the Royal Palace. This is the official residence of the Swedish monarchs. This palace is located the city island Stadsholmen, in Galma Stan, Stockholm. IN its neighbouring areas are the Stockholm Cathedral and the Riksdag building.
3.Royal Palace of Madrid or The Palacio Real de Madrid (Spain)
This is the Madrid official residence of Spain’s royal family. However, this beautiful palace is usually used to hold state ceremonies, because King Juan Carlos and his family choose to live in Palacio de la Zarzuela.
2.Bangalore Palace (India)
This palace can be found in Bangalore, India. This was built by Central High School Principal Rev. Garrett.
1.Windsor Castle (England)
This is a royal residence located at Windsor of Berkshire, England. This palace has a beath taking architecture. According to art historian Hugh Roberts, the palace is the best expression of the later Georgian architecture.
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