Neuschwanstein is a fantasy come true, a fairy tale castle that has raised its toy towers and galleries above the wooded hills in the Bavarian Alps near the city of Füssen near the Austrian border.
It gives the impression of a theatrical scenery, and partly is it, since it was created under the active guidance of the Munich theater artist Christian Jank. At the same time, the castle has a very impressive size, and it was built over the course of seventeen years. Ludwig grew up in the nearby castle of Hohenschwangau. This building, stylized as a medieval fortress, was built by his father Maximilian II. Ludwig was a passionate admirer of Germanic mythology and, apparently, identified himself with the swan knight Lohengrin. Having visited the premiere of the opera of the same name by Richard Wagner in 1858, he was beside himself with delight. When three years later, at the age of eighteen, Ludwig inherited the royal throne, one of his first acts of state was to invite the composer to Munich.
Now, having money and power, he became a patron of Wagner, paid all the debts for the composer and promised to establish a festival for the performance of Wagner's works. In his operas, Wagner on a grand scale transferred the world of German legends and tales to the stage, trying to captivate the audience with the drama of the eternal confrontation between Good and Evil. Ludwig, meanwhile, ordered the construction of a fairy-tale castle to begin, which in all respects would correspond to the ideals of the ancient German chivalry.
This, as well as his other decisions, increasingly inclined those around him to think that the king was damaged in his mind and, as a ruler, was not able to look at things sensibly. When Ludwig was still young, Bismarck publicly announced that he was quite sane, although even then many oddities of his behavior, his bizarre manner of dressing, in general, his whole lifestyle, were evident - he, for example, sometimes slept all day, and sometimes invited to for dinner.. the spirit of Louis XIV. But at the end of his life, his madness was quite obvious and no one doubted it.
Eyewitnesses and contemporaries claimed that fifteen master carvers worked on the manufacture of a carved wooden bed for Ludwig for four and a half years. The interior of the castle is a mixture of various architectural and artistic styles, a combination of Moorish, Gothic and Baroque elements: here are stalactite columns, a throne room in the decadent-Byzantine spirit, and a singing hall with exquisite lighting, intended for productions of Wagner operas.
Have you ever been to medieval castles? They say that almost any fortress that has survived to this day has long been a haven for real ghosts. Of course, rational thinking tells us that we should not be afraid of these tales - but what about the facts that prove the real existence of paranormal activity?
Medieval Europe was not the most pleasant place to live. Here reigned the cult of the lord, capable of sending peasants to death for the slightest offense. The times of the witch hunt left the widest clearing in the female population of half the continent, and the bones of the so-called sorceresses are still found embedded in the walls of medieval castles. Here are a dozen of these fortresses, which even the locals try to avoid.
Germany
It is believed that a whole horde of ghosts has been living here for five centuries. Around the beginning of the 16th century, the owner of the castle hired a couple of farmers to deal with his unfaithful wife. Soon after, both the man himself and his sons died in their own beds. Since then, the castle has been considered cursed.
Lip Castle
Ireland
In the 12th century, the castle was built by the influential O'Bannon clan. The family nest of eminent Irish people very soon turned into a scarecrow for the whole district: fratricidal feasts, constant executions and even sacrifices took place here. The local chapel was nicknamed the "Bloody Chapel" after a jealous husband stabbed his wife and lover in it, then brought his children there and forced them to pray over the rotting bodies of adulterers for seven days. Are there ghosts here? Still would!
Zvikov
Czech
It is one of the most important and significant Gothic castles of medieval Bohemia. According to rumors, the local Zvikovsky devil lives in the castle, who does not like people very much. Jokes aside, but strange, unpleasant things actually happen here. Animals refuse to enter some rooms of the castle, curtains in the main hall sometimes spontaneously light up, and those who sleep in main tower, die within a year. At least that's what the locals say.
Moosham
Austria
Built at the end of the 12th century, Moosham Castle has become a silent witness to the death of thousands of young girls. The times of the witch hunt turned Moosham into a real stronghold of the Inquisition, blood flowed like a river for the glory of the papacy and Christian virtues. Much later, in the 19th century, the remains of dead deer and livestock began to be found near the castle, which gave rise to a new wave of rumors. To this day, it is believed that a clan of ancient werewolves lives in the basements of Moosham, hunting at night.
Bran Castle
Romania
One of the most feared castles in the world, Bran Castle was the residence of Vlad III - the cruel Romanian ruler, better known as Vlad Dracula or Vlad the Impaler. It was this man who inspired Bram Stoker's famous gothic novel "Dracula": you can imagine how gloomy the atmosphere is in the family nest of the world's main vampire. A little more creepy? Easily. In one of the main halls of Bran, there is a golden casket where the heart of Queen Mary is hidden. Naturally, it is still beating - if you believe the rumors.
Chateau de Brissac
France
Built back in the 11th century, Brissac Castle is considered the home of all the ghosts and ghosts of the west-central part of France. According to legend, one of the original owners of the castle caught his wife with another man and killed them both. Today, the new owners arrange receptions here for high society from among those who want to tickle their nerves.
Fraser Castle
Scotland
Located in eastern Scotland, Fraser Castle is famous for the horror story of a princess killed in her sleep by demons. They say that the body of the unfortunate woman was dragged down the stone steps of the tower, and the servants could not wash off the blood after that. The owners allegedly had to sheathe the steps with wooden panels, but on a full moon, blood again appears through them.
Horst
Belgium
The dilapidated castle Horst is inhabited to this day. True, not people live here, but real ghosts. At least that's what the locals say. They also say that the ghost of the former owner of the castle returns every full moon on a wagon drawn by six pitch black horses.
Predjama Castle
Slovenia
The famous pirate knight Erazem once lived here, who raided the coast and passing ships. The castle is riddled with hundreds underground passages, caves and hideouts that even certified "demon hunters" dare not explore.
Dragsholm
Denmark
One of the most scary places Denmark. The famous White Lady lives here - the ghost of a young girl who fell in love with a local commoner. The father walled up his own daughter in the room where she ended her days. It sounds like an ordinary legend, but there is a place for truth. At the beginning of this century, shocked builders working on the restoration of part of the walls discovered a secret room where a skeleton in a white wedding dress sat at the table.
Incredible in their beauty, architectural relics have been left to us by history, which you can admire for a long time, because they keep so much in themselves. These castles are located in beautiful and unusual places, for example, on top of mountains or on the water, which add even more charm to them. If castles could talk, they could tell us a lot, a lot..
Castle Howard, Yorkshire
One of the grandest mansions in the UK, this beautiful castle has been home to the Howard family for over 300 years.
Hohenschwangau Castle, Germany
It was built in the 19th century in Germany, it is visited by more than 300,000 tourists a year
Corfe Castle, Dorset
Corfe Castle is a fortress that was built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror.
Malbork Castle, Poland
Malbork is the largest castle in the world (in terms of area) and it is also the largest brick building in Europe.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Ludwig II of Bavaria built this castle as a personal retreat. After he died in 1886, Neuschwanstein Castle became open to visitors because tourists were trying to raise money for its upkeep. Since then, there have been over 60 million visitors a year visiting this castle.
Chambord Castle, France
This palace was built as a hunting lodge for Francis I and has a very clear view. French. architecture of the Renaissance. It has been open to visitors since 2007 and attracts over 700,000 visitors a year.
Castle in Osaka, Japan
One of the most famous castles in Japan, Osaka. It was built on top of a high hill in the 16th century to protect its inhabitants from enemies.
Hohenwerfen Castle, Austria
The castle was built in the 11th century and is located in a part of Bavaria in the place Berchtesgaden and built on the Tennengebirg mountain. The exterior of this castle was used as a French hotel in the movie Honeymooners.
Kilkenny Castle, Ireland
Kilkenny was built in 1195 by William Marshal. Now serves as conferences of diplomatic negotiations.
Peles Castle, Romania
This castle was built in the neo-Renaissance architectural style. The castle is located in the Carpathians, built between 1873 and 1914.
Moritzburg Castle, Germany
Named after Duke Moritz of Saxony, this palace sits on man-made land and is surrounded by forests used for hunting.
Castillo de Coca, Spain
This castle was built on the site of ancient Cauca, the birthplace of the Roman Emperor Theodosius. The castle now serves as a training facility for foresters.
Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland, California
Sleeping Beauty Castle was built based on the Neuschwanstein castle we wrote about above and acts as a landmark in Disneyland
Kronborg Castle, Denmark
Built in the 1420s, Kronborg is one of the most important fortifications in northern Europe. It has been immortalized as Elsinore in William Shakespeare's work Hamlet.
Alnwick Castle, Northumberland (England)
The exterior of Alnwick Castle was used in the Harry Potter movie and was the prototype for Hogwarts Castle. It has approximately 800,000 visitors a year.
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
This 12th-century palace sits on volcanic rock and has become a recognizable symbol of Edinburgh.
Highclere Castle, UK
A 19th-century castle that serves as the main filming location for the hit TV series Downton Abbey.
Chateau de Versailles, France
This royal castle in France has a whopping 2,300 rooms, 67 staircases, and 5,210 pieces of furniture.
Prague Castle, Czech Republic
Prague Castle was named the largest and oldest castle in the world in the Guinness Book of Records, covering 70,000 square meters.
Kylemore Abbey, Ireland
Kylemore was built as a private residence for a wealthy London doctor, Mitchell Henry. But he was forced to sell it in 1909 due to gambling debts.
Bodiam Castle, UK
The 14th-century moated castle was built by Sir Edward Dalingrigg to defend the area from French invasion during the Hundred Years' War.
Hochosterwitz Castle, Austria
One of the most impressive medieval castles in Austria, Hochosterwitz is 160 meters high and can be seen from 30 km on a clear day.
Chillon Castle, Switzerland
This castle-island consists of 100 separate buildings that have combined into a palace.
Catherine Palace, Russia
The residence of Catherine I was founded in 1717 and was built for the rest of the Empress. In 1752 it was rebuilt.
Windsor Castle, England
This 11th century castle was a royal residence and is the longest fortress in Europe.
Hogwarts Universal Studios, Orlando
The main building of the wildly successful Harry Potter movie. Hogwarts was brought to life at the Universal studios in Orlando, Florida.
Balmoral Castle, UK
Balmoral has been the residence of the British Royal Family since 1852, when it was purchased by Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert.
Conwy Castle, North Wales
This medieval fortress was built by Edward I in 1283 and cost approximately £15,000.
Schwerin Castle, Germany
The first reports of this castle date back to 973, and it currently serves as the seat of the state parliament.
The most famous castles are castles from fairy tales, legends and myths. All princesses, kings and dragons, according to legend, live in castles. IN modern world where there is no place for magic, castles become just examples of medieval architecture and a place where historical values are stored. This list contains 10 of the most popular ones.
Surrounded by forested mountains bran castle is a visiting card of Romania and is popularly called the "Castle of Dracula", despite the fact that Vlad Tepes himself never called it his home. Life in the castle began in 1378, when the area was defended from the Ottomans, then it was turned into a customs post on the pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. Vlad the Impaler, the hero of Bram Stoker's vampire novel, never lived here permanently, he just spent 2 days in the castle's dungeon, locked up by the Ottoman invaders who invaded Transylvania.
Germany is famous for its medieval architecture, and this 80-meter-high castle stands out for its great size and beauty, despite now being in ruins. The castle is located on the northern side of Mount Königstuhl, towering over Heidelberg. It has a rich history dating back to the 13th century. During the Thirty Years' War, it was destroyed, the French inflicted even more damage in the 17th century, and in 1764 it was struck by lightning. The locals used the stone of the castle to build their houses. Several times it began to be restored, which led to a mixture of architectural styles and added some charm to the castle.
This castle is located on a high hill overlooking the Alsatian plain in the Vosges mountains. The heyday of life in the castle fell on the period from the Middle Ages to the Thirty Years' War, when, after a 52-day siege, the castle was burned and plundered by Swedish troops. After that, the castle stood in ruins for several years and was even overgrown with forest. In 1899, the German emperor Wilhelm II ordered to restore it in its original form, the way it was before the start of the Thirty Years' War. After the First World War, the castle was taken over by the French, and now there is a museum within its walls.
located in picturesque place chke, between the shores of Lake Geneva and the Alps, the castle is one of the most popular attractions in Switzerland. The castle consists of 100 buildings, which were originally separate, but over time they were combined into a single architectural ensemble. Since the middle of the 12th century, the counts of the Savoy dynasty lived here. It is noteworthy that this castle was never besieged, its owners always managed to solve any problems through diplomatic negotiations.
Matsumoto Castle, built in the 16th century in the city of Matsumoto (Nagano Prefecture), is one of the most famous in Japan. It does not crown the top of a mountain and does not hang over the city from a hillside, but stands on a plain, which is why a man-made network of special walls, ditches and secret passages was used to protect it. The design of the castle, reminiscent of outstretched wings, and the pitch-black color, gave it another name - "Crow's Castle". Over the many years of its existence, the castle changed owners more than once and was even under the threat of demolition. It is now a popular attraction as it can be visited as part of a day trip from Tokyo.
Fortress Eltz, built during the Middle Ages, is located in the mountains on the Moselle River, between Koblenz and Trier, the oldest city Germany. It is still owned by the Eltz family, who have owned it since the 12th century. Anyone can visit the Rübenach and Rodendorf houses, where the armory, kitchen, and living quarters are located. The castle also houses a rich treasury with jewelry, weapons and works of art.
This castle is located in the city of Warwick, on a cliff above the River Avon. It is included in the Catalog of Antiquities and the List of Architectural and historical monuments Great Britain. Since its construction in the 11th century, the castle has undergone several upgrades and renovations. Initially, the main building was wooden, but in the 12th century it was replaced with a stone structure. During the Hundred Years' War, the façade was redesigned, making it one of the most recognizable examples of military architecture from the 14th century. In 2001, the castle was included in the list of "Top 10 Historic Buildings and Monuments" published by the British Department of Tourism. Today it is one of the most popular attractions in England.
This fairy-tale castle is the historical possession of the Prussian kings and German emperors. It was built during the Middle Ages, in the 11th century, then was completely destroyed in 1423 and rebuilt in 1461. The castle is located on the top of the Hohenzollern mountain, about 50 kilometers south of Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg.
Castle Howard, England
Despite the fact that this building looks like a castle, Howard is actually just luxury house is the private residence of the Howard family, who have lived there for over 300 years. This house is located in North Yorkshire and is one of the largest residences in the UK. Its construction began at the end of the 17th century and lasted about 15 years. The castle is surrounded by fabulous gardens, as well as endless spacious meadows.
Alcazar in Segovia, Spain
Segovia Castle, located in central Spain, was originally (in the 12th century) used as a fortress. Externally, the Alcazar resembles the bow of a ship - a unique feature that distinguishes it from other castles. It served as the inspiration for many castles in Walt Disney films.
Himeji Castle, Japan
Himeji Castle, also known as White Heron Castle, is a magnificent white complex, consisting of 83 wooden buildings. One of the castle's most extraordinary defenses is the spiral labyrinth, with many dead ends, leading to the main watchtower. The gates and courtyard of the castle are built in such a way that people entering there get lost. The castle was built in the 14th century and is located in the city of Kansai, Japan.
Prague Castle, Czech Republic
Prague Castle is one of the largest and oldest castles in the world, and is also a symbol of the capital of the Czech Republic. The castle is 570 meters long and 130 meters wide. Every architectural style of the last millennium is represented in this building, from Gothic and Romanesque to Baroque. The construction of the very first buildings of the complex dates back to the beginning of the 9th century.
Peles Castle, Romania
Located in a picturesque location on Carpathian mountains in Romania, Peles Castle is a truly fabulous building. Construction began in 1873. Workers from different countries. Queen Elizabeth of Romania said: “The Italians were masons, the Romanians built terraces, the gypsies worked as laborers. Albanians and Greeks laid stones, Germans and Hungarians were carpenters. The Turks burned bricks. Designed by Poles, stone carvers were Czechs. The French drew, and the British measured…” Presumably, workers speaking 14 languages took part in the construction.
Chambord Castle, France
It is known that Chambord was used only as a hunting lodge. The view of this castle is quite impressive. Interestingly, the location of this castle was chosen by King Francis I, as he wanted to be closer to his beloved lady, Claude Roen, whose palace was next door. The huge castle has 440 rooms, 365 fireplaces and 84 staircases. This is the largest castle in the Loire Valley in France.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
The castle, whose reconstruction began in 1896, was designed by Christian Janck, commissioned by the Bavarian king Ludwig II, who was declared insane before the castle was completed. This explains a lot. The architecture, location and size of Neuschwanstein are impressive. Situated on a jagged hill in the southwest of Bavaria, today the castle is one of the most visited places by tourists.
Corfe Castle, England
Despite the fact that the ruins are all that remains of Corfe Castle, its fortifications still make a deep impression. The castle, located in the county of Dorset on the Isle of Purbeck, was built in the 9th century. However, there is a possibility that Korfe could have been built much earlier, and could also serve as a defensive structure in the fight against the Romans. The part of the building that can be seen today was reconstructed in the 11th century. Two centuries later, the fortress began to be used as a repository of royal jewels, as well as a prison.
Matsumoto Castle. Japan
The wonderful Matsumoto Castle is located in the city of Matsumoto near Tokyo. The castle was built in 1504 and is the National Treasure of Japan. The castle was inhabited until the middle of the 19th century. In 1868, during the reign of Emperor Meiji, the building was restored. However, due to the failure of the new government of Japan, it was decided to demolish the castle and sell the wood and iron from which it was built. In those days, this fate befell many castles. Matsumoto was saved by the locals by ransoming him.
Eltz Castle, Germany
Eltz is another of Germany's outstanding castles. This stunning medieval building in southwestern Germany is still owned by the same family, who have been living here for over 800 years. Currently, the castle is owned by Count Karl von Eltz, a representative of the 33rd generation of the family.
Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
Built in the 13th century during the Viking Age, today Eilean Donan Castle is one of Scotland's most famous landmarks. The castle was probably named after Bishop Donan, who came to Scotland in the 6th century. The castle is located on an island surrounded by the stunning scenery of the Scottish Highlands. The fortress was rebuilt at least 4 times. For about 200 years, the castle lay in ruins (from the 18th to the 20th century). In 1932 it was restored and since then it has been open to visitors from all over the world.
