Castle is a huge building in general of the medieval period, carrying weapons against attack with thick walls, towers, battlements, and often a moat. It is true that, world is beautiful with numerous impressive building. With the improvement in machinery and fresh means many amazing buildings have been designed, some of them are new but a variety of beautiful buildings belong to ancient times.
Following are the top 10 Most Famous Castles In The World
10. Windsor Castle, England
The original castle was built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Windsor Castle is famous for its long relationship with the English and later British royal family and also for its architecture. In these days, The Occupied Royal Palaces Estate is the owner of this beautiful castle. Windsor Castle survived the turbulent period of the English Civil War, when it was used as a forces headquarters for Parliamentary forces and a jail for Charles I. In terms of population, Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and the longest-occupied palace in Europe. During 2007, 993,000 tourists visited the castle.
9. Kilkenny Castle, Ireland
Kilkenny Castle was built in 1195 by William Mashal. Kilkenny Castle is very beautiful and famous castle in Kilkenny Ireland. The gardens and parkland adjoining the castle are open to the public. The property was transferred to the people of Kilkenny in 1967 for £50. During the Irish Civil War in 1922, Republicans were besieged in the Castle by Irish Free State forces. In these days, it is an appealing and attractive beauty of Ireland.
8. Alcazar of Segovia, Spain
Alcazar of Segovia is one of the most distinctive castles in Spain by virtue of its shape, like the bow of a ship. The Alcazar of Segovia is very beautiful stone fortification, located in the old city of Segovia, Spain. Alcazar of Segovia, during the Middle Ages was remained one of the preferred residences of the monarchs of the Kingdom of Castile and a key fortress in the defense of the kingdom. In 1258, parts of the Alcazar of Segovia had to be rebuilt by King Alfonso X of Castile.
7. Krak des Chevaliers, Syria
Krak des Chevaliers one of the most important preserved medieval castles in the world. Krak des Chevaliers is a Crusader castle in Syria. The Hospitallers began rebuilding the castle in the 1140s and were finished by 1170 when an earthquake damaged the castle. Krak des Chevaliers was amongst the most important and acted as a centre of administration as well as a military base. In the 13th century, Krak des Chevaliers became a concentric castle. Krak des Chevaliers sits atop a 650-metre-high at hill east of Tartus, Syria, in the Homs Gap.
6. Leeds Castle, Kent
Leeds Castle is one the most beautiful castle, it is located in Kent, England. Leeds Castle has been on the site since 1119. In the 16th century, Henry VIII (King of England) used it as a residence for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. The king enhanced its defenses, and it was probably Edward who created the lake that surrounds the castle. The castle escaped destruction during the English Civil War because its owner, Sir Cheney Culpeper, sided with the Parliamentarians. The castle was used as both an arsenal and a prison during the war. The last private owner of the castle was the Lady Baillie. The castle was opened to the public in 1976.
5. Akershus Fortress, Oslo
The first construction on the castle started around the late 1290s, by King Haakon V. It was constructed in response to the Norwegian nobleman, Earl Alv Erlingsson of Sarpsborg’s earlier attack on Oslo. Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison. Akershus Fortress was first used in battle in 1308. Akershus Fortress has never been successfully captured by a foreign enemy. Akershus fortress is still a military area, but is open to the public daily. Akershus Fortress has been used for official events and dinners for dignitaries and foreign heads of state.
4. Prague Castle, Prague, Czech Republic
Prague Castle is the official residence and office of the President of the Czech Republic. Prague Castle occupies an area of almost 70,000 m2, at about 570 meters in length and an average of about 130 meters wide. The Guinness Book of Records lists Prague Castle as the largest ancient castle in the world. During the Hussite Wars and the following decades, the castle was not inhabited. In 1485, King Ladislaus II Jagello began to rebuild the Prague Castle. Most of the castle areas are open to tourists.
3. Conwy Castle, Wales, United Kingdom
This beautiful castle was built by Edward I, during his conquest of Wales, between 1283 and 1289. Over the next few centuries, the castle played an important part in several wars. UNESCO considers one of “the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe”, and it is classed as a World Heritage site. Work began on cutting the ditch around Conwy Castle within days of Edward’s decision.
2. Hohensalzburg Castle, Austria
Hohensalzburg Castle is the biggest fortification of Europe and consists of numerous courtyards and wings. Hohensalzburg Castle is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe. Construction of the fortress began in 1077 under Archbishop Gebhard von Helfenstein. Prince-Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach during his term from 1495 until 1519 further expanded the castle. The only time that the fortress actually came under siege was during the German Peasants’ War in 1525. Hohensalzburg castle was refurbished from the late 19th century onwards and became a major tourist attraction with the Festungsbahn cable car, opened in 1892. During the early 20th century it was used as a prison, holding Italian prisoners of war during World War I and Nazi activists in the 1930s.
1. Mont Saint Michel, France
Mont Saint Michel is a famous castle and is located on a stony tidal island nearly a mile off coast of Normandy, and almost 1500 miles away from Paris. Mont Saint Michel is one of the most recognizable landmarks of France and is simply outstanding. Mont Saint Michel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is visited by over three million individuals annually.
Top 10 Most Famous Castles In The World
No comments:
Post a Comment