Even if you can't afford to live in your own palace, you can see what it might be like by visiting some of the most beautiful palaces in Europe - these royal palaces are like a fantasy come to life.
Credit: Bigstock.comPena Castle
Pena Palace, Sintra, Portugal (Hotels nearby)
Perched high above the village of Sintra, this romantic palace is one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal, encompassing a variety of architectural styles including eclectic, neo-Gothic, neo-Manueline, Islamic and neo-Renaissance. Considered to be one of the best expressions of 19th century Romanticism in the world, it was originally the monastery of Nossa Senhora da Pena, but the monastery was abandoned in 1834 when religious orders were suppressed in Portugal and remained in ruins. Inspired by German romanticism, King Ferdinand bought the building and transformed it into this eclectic castle, planting exotic flowers and over 500 species of trees on the grounds. The palace was built so that it was visible from anywhere in the park, atop a rocky peak in its eastern part. The palace itself comprises two wings that are surrounded by a third architectural structure that is a fantasy version of a castle, with walls that can be walked through that include watchtowers, battlements, an entrance tunnel and drawbridge.
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Credit: bigstock.comChateau de Versailles, FranceChateau de Versailles, France
Chateau de Versailles, France (Hotels nearby)
Chateau de Versailles is among the most visited sites in France and one of the most extraordinary examples of 17th and 18th century royal residences anyone can experience. It boasts some 2,143 windows, 1,252 fireplaces, 67 staircases and five chapels. One of the many highlights is the Hall of Mirrors, which consists of 17 arched windows, with each window adorned with 21 individual mirrors. Considered Louis XIV's finest contribution to the Palace, historically it was also the place where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 to end World War II. Many consider the gardens to be the best feature of all, with its 250 hectares full of winding paths leading to flower beds, ornamental lakes, quiet corners decorated with statues and a canal, used by the king himself for gondola rides.
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Credit: bigstock.comRundale Palace, LatviaRundale Palace, Latvia
Rundale Palace, Latvia (Hotels nearby)
Nicknamed the Versailles of the Baltics, a visit to Rundale Palace will transport you to an era of splendour. Designed by Francesco Rastrelli, the architect who also created the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, it is a Baroque and Rococo masterpiece, laden with artistic treasures and surrounded by a beautiful rose garden. Originally built for the Dukes of Courland, it has gone through a series of incarnations over the past 250 years or so, including the office of a German army commander, an infirmary and a school. Today, after extensive renovations that took about half a century, the 54 rooms look very much like they did in the latter part of the 18th century. You will see brocade tapestries, fine tile work and elaborate mouldings in the salon, while the Guild Hall is often compared to the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles.
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Credit: Bigstock.comBuckingham PalaceBuckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace (Hotels nearby)
The London residence of Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace, is a real working palace as the centrepiece of Britain's constitutional monarchy. It houses the offices of those who support the daily activities and duties of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh and their family. It is open during the summer months while Her Majesty is on holiday, with the exception of the Queen's private quarters. Highlights include the State Rooms where the Queen and members of the royal family entertain guests for official business - visitors can see some of the most magnificent pieces from the Royal Collection, including opulent chandeliers, paintings by Van Dyck and Canaletto and beautiful French and English Furniture If you've watched the Royal Wedding, you may recognise the Throne Room, which served as the backdrop for the official photographs of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
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Credit: bigstock.comTopkapi Palace, IstanbulTopkapi Palace, Istanbul
Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey (Hotels nearby)
First built by Mehmet the Conqueror in the 15th century, the sultans of the Ottoman Empire ruled their domains from this grand palace along the banks of the Bosphorus until the 19th century. The enormous palace, which takes at least half a day to explore, once housed 5,000 full-time residents, including hundreds of concubines and eunuchs. The complex is a dazzling display of Islamic art, with opulent courtyards lined with intricate hand-painted tiles connecting sumptuously decorated rooms, all bordered by crenellated walls and towers. In addition to the harem, courtyard gardens and architecture, highlights of the courtyard museums, of which there are more than a dozen, include: the Palace Kitchens housing the Imperial Porcelain Collection of more than 10,000 pieces, the Costume Collection with formal imperial robes worn by the sultans themselves, including the more than 500-year-old fur-lined caftan of Mehmet II, the Imperial Treasury and the Archaeological Museum.
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Bigstock.com Castleham Castle
Chateau de Chambord, Loire Valley, France (Hotels nearby)
Chateau de Chambord is considered to be the largest of the French Renaissance chateaux in the Loire Valley, a region popular for its picturesque vineyards, historic villages, glorious castles and spectacular landscapes. The huge castle has more than 400 rooms, as well as numerous turrets, towers, domes, gables and chimneys. Henry James declared that its towers were "more like the spires of a city than the highlights of a single building." The restored castle has been furnished and during your visit you can explore almost 100 rooms of the castle. Apart from the building itself, you can also explore the extensive park, visit the hunting reserve, the stables and even admire a collection of traditional horse-drawn carriages.
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Credit: bigstock.comRoyal Palace of AmsterdamRoyal Palace of Amsterdam
Royal Palace Amsterdam, Netherlands (Hotels nearby)
In the 17th century, in the heart of the Dutch Golden Age, the Royal Palace was nicknamed 'the eighth wonder of the world'. At that time it was the town hall of Amsterdam, in the city that was the largest business centre in the world. Today it serves as the King's residence when he is in Amsterdam and is used for ceremonies and events. Based on the architecture of ancient Rome, the exterior is strictly classical, but step inside and you will be fascinated by the magnificent furnishings, the flats decorated with elaborate ornaments, marble sculptures and friezes, as well as the ceilings by Ferdinand Bol and Government Flinck, students of Rembrandt. You will also discover one of the most beautiful furniture collections in the world, and the Council Chamber, the largest and most important room in the palace, richly decorated and considered one of the most beautiful cabins in Europe.
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Credit: bigstock.com Royal Garden of Catta Palace, Italy Royal Garden of Catta Palace, Italy
Royal Palace of Caserta, Italy (Hotels nearby)
The Royal Palace of Caserta, designed and largely built by Dutch architect Ludwig Van Wittel, who received the onomatopoeic Italian name of Vanvitelli, is the pride of the Bourbon dynasty, its foundation stone laid on 20 January 1752 in an official ceremony celebrating King Charles' 36th birthday. Its visual impact is immediate, with the fountains in the background completing the grandeur. Inside, massive rooms follow one after the other, all extraordinarily opulent, from the royal flats to the throne room. The palace also features a theatre, the only space entirely completed by Vanvitelli himself before his death. While the plasterwork and frescoes make it an impressive venue, what is most unique is the stage, where behind the backdrop is a portal opening onto the park, used as a stage for plays.
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Credit: bigstock.com Schoenbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria Schoenbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria (Hotels nearby)
The word palatial should have been created for this sprawling palace on the outskirts of Vienna. The former imperial summer residence of Austria's Habsburg rulers, it is considered the country's most important cultural landmark and its design was inspired by the Baroque extravagance of Versailles. Guided or recorded audio tours include many of the palace's opulent rooms, including a grand ballroom, bedrooms, private dining rooms and the study of Emperor Franz Joseph, as well as the room where six-year-old Mozart played one of his first public concerts for Empress Maria Theresa. The palace also played a starring role in the James Bond film 'The Living Daylights', when 007 and his female accomplice rode through the gardens in a horse and carriage.
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