Initially, monumental ceremonial buildings with distinctive and magnificent architecture were the residences of the reigning persons, both in Europe and in the Asian region. But already from the XIII century, many palaces in some countries began to be used to house public authorities.
Our review presents the most beautiful palaces in the world, in which royal dynasties still live, and most of them have long been monuments of architecture and museums.
Chambord Castle
One of the many castles built among the picturesque landscapes of the Loire Valley, Chambord was erected at the direction of Francis I, and today the most recognizable castle in France.
Most likely, Leonardo da Vinci participated in the development of the project, but it is not known who actually erected a masterpiece of medieval architecture. But he successfully implemented all the ideas of the sculpture and painter of the Renaissance.
The majestic castle itself and its towers are surrounded by a park. And the wall surrounding the 32-kilometer-long park is the longest wall in France.
The Alhambra
Literally from Arabic, the name of this architectural masterpiece in southern Spain is translated as “Red Castle”. The first towers on the hill of La Sabica began to be built during the time of Muslim rule on the Iberian Peninsula.
In 1492, the Alhambra became the residence of the Catholic kings of Spain, but with the accession of the Bourbon dynasty, interest in this place was lost.
Having suffered from a major earthquake, the palace was completely restored in the 30s of the XX century, and now a beautiful castle surrounded by greenery inspires artists and writers.
Potala
It is difficult to find a more majestic and beautiful palace in the world, harmoniously blending into the Buddhist temple complex. Potala rises above the city of Lhasa in Tibet.
But the story of the most beautiful creation of ancient architects dates back to the first half of the 7th century, when King Gampo erected a building on the mountain for solitude and meditation.
Later, the complex grew, reaching unprecedented size and beauty. Today it is a functioning palace museum attracting not only pilgrims, but also thousands of tourists.
Palace of versailles
At 20 kilometers from the capital of France, Versailles Palace and Park complex spread its magnificent buildings, shady parks and amazing fountains.
It all started with a modest and very inconspicuous hunting lodge, which was erected on the outskirts of Paris at the request of Louis XIII. Subsequent kings considered it their duty to expand not only the territory, but also to build new buildings.
They spared neither money nor labor on the interior and exterior, and Versailles became one of the most magnificent and beautiful palace complexes in the world.
Foam
A harmonious combination of oriental architecture with European traditions of construction was displayed in the Pena Palace, located among the wooded hills of Portugal.
The author of the project was a German architect, and the place for construction in 1838 was chosen on a high hill, from where beautiful views opened. The result was a real synthesis of various architectural styles, making the structure unique.
The last owner of the magnificent apartments was Queen Amelia, and since 1910 the furnishings of the halls remained untouched.
Mysore Palace
Once this magnificent palace was the very center of the kingdom of Mysore. The residence of the rulers was erected in the classical architectural traditions of India in 1897.
But, despite the predominance of Indo-Saracen elements in architecture, here you can find Gothic and Muslim motifs. The palace itself is framed by tall towers, and the entire complex stands in the center of a lush garden with artificial lakes and fountains.
The complex includes twelve temples, and the main building has 3 unique halls of decoration, used for personal audiences of kings.
Schonbrunn Palace
Austria is famous for its many architectural monuments of the Middle Ages and modern times, but in this variety we can single out Schönbrunn as one of the most beautiful and monumental.
Made in the classical style of the Austrian Baroque, the castle was the residence of the Habsburg dynasty until the fall of the Auto-Hungarian Empire.
The first buildings on the site of the future architectural masterpiece appeared in the XIV century, and in 1659 became the residence of the kings of Austria. Today, thousands of tourists come to look at the palace and walk through its halls.
Summer Palace Chinese Emperors
It is difficult to find a more beautiful place in the world than Yiheyuan Park, over the shady alleys of which the Summer Residence of the Chinese monarchs rises.
The history of the park began in the 15th century, and since then it has significantly increased and modified. The park complex itself has about 3,000 buildings, but the real gem, of course, is the summer imperial palace.
It was built at a time when the world preferred not only practicality, but also beauty, so the construction turned out to be monumental, but at the same time airy.
Buckingham Palace
And today it is the official residence of the British monarchs, currently there is the mistress of Elizabeth II, who also entered its halls as a full-fledged queen in 1952.
It was originally built by order of the Duke of Buckingham, but in 1762 it was acquired by King George III, and made the beautiful building of London his residence.
A large army of tourists come to see the change of the guard of the Royal Guard, and in summer you can visit the halls of the palace, as well as take a walk along the alleys of the royal garden.
Peterhof
The pearl of Peter's courtyard (as the name of the complex is translated), undoubtedly, is the Grand Peterhof Palace. Initially, a small, modest structure under Elizabeth took on the appearance of a magnificent and pompous building.
Architect B. Rastrelli performed the work in the style of the late or, as is often called, mature baroque. Its halls simply shine with splendor, and the main staircase is surrounded by fountains and sculptures.
It is difficult to convey the beauty of the residence of Russian emperors, but hopefully the photographs will at least slightly reveal this grandeur and variety of architectural elements. After all, even getting on an excursion, tourists do not have time to go around all the halls in one day.
Finally
As you can see, the royal people loved to surround themselves with magnificence, because the most beautiful palaces have survived to their days in their original form, preserving an unprecedented national color and architectural delights.
Article author: Valery Skiba