Once the home of the kings, queens, emperors, princes and princess, the images of magnificent palaces have been etched in our minds, thanks to those fairy tales and Walt Disney classic movies. Here are some spectacular palaces that resemble those you have read about or seen in movies.
Palace of Versailles
Located in Versailles, France, the palace was originally King Louis XIII’s old hunting pavilion and a private retreat. It was then transformed by his son Louis XIV in 1962. The palace follows a baroque style of architecture. One must walk through the Hall of Mirrors, the French Gardens and the Hameau de la Reine, cottage.
Chateau de Chambord
The palace is located at Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France, and is well-renowned for its French Renaissance architecture. It was built in 1519 for King François, who was a lover of the arts, architecture and culture. The palace boasts of 426 rooms, 282 fireplaces and 77 sets of stairs, including one double helical spiral stairs inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s double helix.
Peterhof Palace
This is the Russian equivalent of the Versailles and forms a series of palaces and gardens in Peterhof, Saint Petersburg, Russia built under the command of Peter the Great. Some of the notable marvels here include the Grand Palace, The Fountains of Peterhof, and Peterhof Park and Gardens.
Himeji Palace
This is an early 17th-century castle follows Japanese architecture and was built during the Shogun period in the Japanese history. It is locally called Hakuro-jo or Shirasagi-jo translated as White Egret Castle or White Heron Castle” as the castle has a white hue and the façade resembles a bird taking off.
Schönbrunn Palace
The palace was built according to the order of Emperor Leopold I by the Baroque architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. Located in Vienna, Austria, the palace served as a hunting lodge and later it was transformed into a marvellous imperial residence for empress Eleonora of Gonzaga.
