Europe’s many monarchies have left behind a priceless architectural legacy: exceptional royal palaces. Let’s take a look at the five most stunning royal palaces, locations you can’t miss during your visit.
Europe. These exceptional remnants of a bygone time offer a direct passage into a common past that remains captivating to this day.
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The Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles, the Sun King’s architectural embodiment of his ambition and the emblem of the king’s absolute authority, is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most stunning royal palaces, a genuine masterpiece of classical and baroque architectural design.
The Private Apartments, the symbolic 73 m long Hall of Mirrors, the French gardens designed by Le Nôtre, and the Queen’s Hamlet, a small, idyllically pastoral village built for Marie-Antoinette, where she liked to unwind.
Buckingham Palace, United Kingdom
As you step inside, you can just envision the life of the present-day royal family.
The Changing of the Guard, the throne room, and the Private Apartments, which are accessible to the public during the summer and decorated with works of art from the Royal Collection.
The Royal Palace of Madrid in Spain
At more than twice the scale of Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Versailles, the palace’s Baroque architecture and lavish interiors are sure to leave you enchanted, providing a deeper insight into Spanish history and culture.
The impressive throne room, featuring a remarkable collection of paintings by renowned artists including Goya, Velázquez, and Caravaggio, as well as the Royal Armoury and the Royal Kitchen, which demonstrates the evolution of royal cuisine over the centuries.
Schönbrunn Palace, Austria
Be sure to visit the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, a stunning Baroque and Rococo palace, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This magnificent palace, which was once the summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty, showcases the opulence and grandeur of that era.
The grand gallery with its frescoes decorating the ceiling, the apartments of Franz Joseph and Sisi, the Baroque gardens, and the world’s oldest zoo, the Schönbrunn zoo.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
The last century has already come to an end, the present to some extent is forgotten, and memories of past centuries revive in the minds of many.
The grand Byzantine-inspired throne room, the king’s bedchamber with intricately carved wooden paneling, and the specially designed Singers’ Hall perfect for music.
