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Our Most Impressive Castles
Michel
Truly one of the world's most beautiful castles, Neuschwanstein Castle is definitely fairy tail material. It was build way after the middle ages in 1869 for King Ludwig II and probably would not stand a war. But its numerous slim ornamental turrets make you want to immediately save a hundred Rapunzels.
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The first owner, a king, lived only several months in the castle before he died.
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The castle is one of the main works in the historicism architecturial style.
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The structure features numerous gracile turrets, balconies and sculptures.
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Neuschwanstein was built in the Romanticism era when kings dreamt of long forgotten times.
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King Ludwig II devoted the building to the great componist Richard Wagner.
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Already in year 1886 the castle was opened for the public.
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The nazis temporaily stored large amounts of gold and looted art in the castle.
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The huge central turret is 45 meters tall and gives an amazing view from the top.
This impressive stronghold is more than two thousand years old and once hosted more than 3000 people. It has seen probably more wars than all history movies combined and was over the centuries conquered by the Romans, Goths and the Arabs before finally being held by the french.
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The outer and inner wall imbed a total of 52 strong turrets.
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The castle's area spans 14 hectare, approximately 20 soccer fields.
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"Carcassonne" stems from french "Madame Carcas sonne" which means "Madame Carcas rings [a bell]"
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The bridge leading to the enormous castle.
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In the 13th century the castle was the french inquisition's headquarter.
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After seeing the stronghold, Edward the "Black Prince" changed his plans to conquer Carcassonne in 1353.
This magnificient beast is one of the largest fortified castles you can find. The Romans built it as a fort side piece and later it was home to several dukes and earls. They even carved parts of its spacious cellars out of the underlying rocks.
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Vianden houses a weaponary hall, a ballroom, a crypt and several bedrooms and living rooms.
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In 1820 the mayor bought the castle and sold parts of the roof, the windows, doors and more.
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The structure originates in a Roman castell from 360 to 450 Anno Domini.
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Long time owners, the earls of Vianden, were the most powerful family in the area.
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The EU helped financing the great castle's restauration.
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The great knights' hall can host 500 guests while the whole structure measures 85 to 30 meters.
Built in 1267, Burg Hohenzollern resides in a wild sea of green forests and hosts three chapels: Catholic, evangelic and russian orthodox - constructed for prince Louis Ferdinand's beautiful russian wife. Nowadays they even host a christmas market in winter.
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The enourmous structure consists of the fortification, the chapels, the gardens and the castle itself.
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This is actually the third version of the castle - it was brought to ruins two times throughout the centuries.
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Burg Hohenzollern embodies the prototype of a knights' castle.
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The Hohenzollern were one of Germany's most influent dynasties.
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The coffins of king Friedrich Wilhelm I and Friedrich the Great were stored here.
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The interior is astonishing and offers invaluable furniture, floors and paintings.
Not many castles provide such an intense medievel flair, that's why you probably have already seen this beauty in several top movies. Rebuilt in 1874 it watches over Europe's prettiest and second longest river, the Danube.
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You can also have some beers in the awesome medieval tavern at the hill's bottom.
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The dynasty House of Habsburg owned the castle for a solid 350 years.
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You can find the castle right near Vienna which is always worth a visit.
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The Swedes conquered the castle in the Thirty Years' War and held it for over 10 years.
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The current castle's form consists of pieces collected from all over Europe.
If Dracula ever was real, this would have been his castle. Every corner and staircase here remind you of those mystical legend. Many tried to conquer this amazing keep in the middle of Romania but built over 700 years ago it resisted all forces.
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In 1595 an army of 40.000 men passed through to fight the Turks in the east.
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The Turks managed to overthrow Castle Bran in 1789 with only 5.000 men.
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Currently this magnificent structure is for sale for 80 million Euros.
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Castle Bran lies in beautiful, wild Transylvania that you have to visit anyway at one point in your live.
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Transylvania is a part of Romania only since 1918, following the first World War.
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When establishing communism after the second World War the castle was confiscated by Romania.
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You can rent the castle for a gala dinner, your wedding or just a mind-blowing party.
Risen on the ruins of a monestary the Pena National Palace combines several historical architectural styles and results in an astonishingly beautiful and impressive building right in southwest Portugal.
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In 1755 large parts were destroyed during an earthquake and later rebuilt.
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The park area around the castle was initially designed to resemble a classic english garden.
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There is still so much realistic interior decoration that it feels like being in the 19th century.
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Palácio Nacional da Pena is sometimes titled as the Neuschwanstein of Portugal.
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This pretty place has been a popular kings' residence since the 14th century.
Leeds castle is one of only a few moated castles, surrounded by beautiful waters. Six medieval queens called it their home and it stands it ground since more than a thousand years. You may want to look out for the music festival season at Leeds Castle as for the magnificent setting.
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For hundreds of years the wealthy and mighty took refuge in this mighty bastion.
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In 1321 King Edward II's wife was not granted entry to the castle so he started an immediate siege attack.
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When planning your trip, don't confuse the village Leeds with the far away city Leeds.
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The castle still features a painting of Henry IV meeting Francis I in 1523.
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The castle's surrounding lake was created approximately 800 years ago and served as a defence.
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The castle was used as a prison during the English Civil War.
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The castle also offers an awesome maze where you can easily get lost in.
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Inside you can find a banqueting hall, a dining room, a library and a lot of other great rooms.
One of Germany's most loved castles and in the background mysterious, dark forests - Eltz Castle was build in the 12th century on a 70 meter elliptical rock formation. Standing right in front of it gives you a hint on how much work conquering such an outstanding bastion must have been.
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Eltz Castle was actually never conquered or destroyed.
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For more than 800 years the same family owns this castle.
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Between 1331 and 1336 was the only time the castle was involved in conflicts.
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Only a hundred years after construction the castle was devided between three brothers, but later reunited.