T H E R U S S I A N A B R O A D ' S GUIDE T O C A S T L E S I N E U R O P E
PHOTOS HISTORY LOCATION Learn how they look Learn their story Learn how to visit INTRO- DUCTION
There are two types of castles in Europe: those that are ridiculously awesome and those that are absolutely fantastic. Every castle has a certain “wow” factor that makes visiting them an unforgettable experience. It feels so great to sink into the atmosphere of medievality, imagine the life we only know from books now, touch the old stones, walk the dark corridors, visit the terrible dungeons, and enjoy the gorgeous views from atop of the defensive towers.
If you're holding this ebook in your hands (or, rather, reading it from your laptop screens), this means that you're a huge fan of castles. Luckily, Europe has plenty of them! That's why I decided to compile this little book to bring together Europe's most beautiful, most recognizable, most memorable castles.
Some castles in this list are medieval. Some are neo-Gothic. Some are crazy fairy-tale castles, some are ruins. All of
them, however, are meant to tell a story, C to inspire you, and to share something A S special with each and every one of us. T L E
G
This ebook provides some general info U I about the castle, tells you how much it D E
costs to get in, and how to get to the |
location. P A G E
So, let's begin the castle journey, shall we? 3 CONTENTS
A G P GERMANY pg. 15-18 POLAND pg. 29-30 AUSTRIA pg. 4-5 GREECE pg. 19 PORTUGAL pg. 31-32
B H R BELGIUM pg. 6 HUNGARY pg. 20-21 ROMANIA pg. 33-34
C I T CZECH IRELAND pg. 22-23 TURKEY pg. 40 REPUBLIC pg. 7 ITALY pg. 24
D L U
DENMARK pg. 8-9 LATVIA pg. 25 UKRAINE pg. 41 LITHUANIA pg. 26 UK pg. 42-26
E N ESTONIA pg. 10 NETHERLANDS pg. 27 NORWAY pg. 28 F S
FINLAND pg. 11-12 SLOVAKIA pg. 35 FRANCE pg. 13-14 SPAIN pg. 36-38 SWITZERLAND pg. 39 AUSTRIA [österreich] BURG MAUTERNDORF
History How to get there
Located 1,138 metres above the sea The castle is found in a small market town level, Mautendorf Castle is built on the site of an old of Mauterndorf (population: less than 2,000 Roman fort that dates to 326 AD. The castle is a people), which lies at the foot of the unique gem in the beautiful mountain region of Grosseck-Speiereck. It's a popular skiing Salzburg, simply begging you for a visit. destination, but it can be a tricky one to get to. Taking a car is the easiest way of For some time, Mautendorf was a summer residence transportation, but alternatively, you can of the fancy Salzburg archbishops, and you can still also take a Postbus bus from the Salzburg take an exciting trip back to those times as the visitor train station. of the castle: there are a museum and an exhibition. Entrance fee From the 44 metre high fortified tower, there is a Adults € 9,50 magnificent view of Mauterndorf, the Radstädter Children (6 to 15 y. o.) € 5,50 Tauern to the north, the Hohe Tauern to the west and Reduced € 8,00 the Nockberge mountain range to the south. Family ticket € 22,50 C A S T L E
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Image: pension-mauterndorf.at AUSTRIA [österreich] HOHENSALZBURG
History How to get there
The castle of Hohensalzburg definitely outshines If you're already in Salzburg, you won't have other castles in Austria. Considered to be Europe's any difficulty finding the castle, as it looks biggest fortress, it is conveniently located on a hill right at you from atop of the mountain. overlooking the city of Salzburg, making it a gorgeous addition to an already gorgeous place. It is for sure the From Vienna, you can either take a plane or most visited and most notable landmark in town. a train, since it's only takes 1,5 hours or so to get there. There are over 20 trains With an exterior that looks pretty much like when it leaving to Salzburg from the Austrian was built in the 11th century, Hohensalzburg Castle capital, so you'll always catch one. doubles as a concert hall and event venue today. Entrance fee Consider getting SalzburgCard if you plan to visit the Adults € 12.00 castle: one-time free admission and quick access. (Tip! Children (6-14 years) € 6.80 Entrance before 11 am includes access to State Groups (of 10 adults or more) € 11.00 Rooms free of charge.) Families € 26.60 C A S T L E
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Image: traveluto.com BELGIUM [België] GRAVENSTEEN
History How to get there
Built in 1180, the name of the castle literally means Gravensteen is located in Ghent, Belgium's "castle of the counts" in Dutch. The Gravensteen is secret little gem that is becoming less and situated at an altitude of 9 meters, and while that may less secret over the years. not sound that high, you still get pretty nice views from the castle. Ghent is easy to reach from any Belgian city: trains, cars, buses, planes, all depart to The castle used to serve as the seat of the Counts of Ghent very regularly. Flanders until they abandoned it in the 14th century. Then, it was used as a courthouse and a prison and it eventually decayed. There were, however, many Entrance fee torture instruments left behind that now make up a Adults € 10 pretty terrifying Torture Museum in the Castle, Reduced € 6 attracting thousands of visitors per year. FREE: Up to 19 y. o. , press, and Ghent CityCard Gent holders C A S T L E
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Image: gravensteen.stad.gent CZECH REPUBLIC [Česká republika] KARLŠTEJN CASTLE
History How to get there
Karlstejn Castle was founded in the 14th century Karlstejn Castle, the second largest castle in under the reign of Charles IV — the king of Bohemia the Czech Republic, is only 40 minutes away and the Holy Roman Emperor whom the world is from Prague, and it's super easy to get there owning the existence of the famous Charles Bridge in by train. Prague. You can buy the ticket (which is also very Initially, Karlstejn castle was built to keep the crown cheap) directly at the Prague Central Station. jewels, holy relics and other royal treasures that the king was supposedly collecting with the passion of a maniac. According to his demands, the castle was Entrance fee built within an impressively short period of time — just (Only with a tour guide available) under 10 years — to serve as the king’s summer Adults 270 Kč (app. € 10) residence. But ironically, Charles IV has been there Reduced 180 Kč (app. € 7) only 10 times or so, and each of his visits lasted only Children 20 Kč (app. € 1) for a few days. Family ticket 860 Kč (app. € 32 ) C A S T L E
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Image: czechtourism.com DENMARK [Danmark] EGESKOV CASTLE
History How to get there
For 460 years, Egeskov Castle has stood in its beautiful The Egeskov Castle is located in Odense: location in the landscape of Southern Funen. the unofficial capital and largest city on the island of Funen in Denmark. It was built by Frands Brockenhuus and completed in 1554. Due to the troubles caused by the civil war, most To get there, you can easily take a train with Danish noblemen built their homes as fortifications, and DSB from any major city. Odense is around this one was no exception. The castle is constructed on 2 hours away from Copenhagen and 4 hours oaken piles and located in a small lake with a maximum or so away from Hamburg. depth of 5 metres (16 ft). Entrance fee Originally, the only access was by means of a drawbridge. (For park, exhibition, and castle) According to legend, it took an entire forest of oak trees Adults 190 DKK (app. € 25) to build the foundation, hence the name Egeskov (oak Children 110 DKK (app. € 15) forest). FREE: Children under 6 y.o., visitors on a wheelchair/disabled C A S T L E
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Image: wikimedia.org DENMARK [Danmark] KRONBORG CASTLE
History How to get there
Kronborg Castle is undoubtedly one of northern To get to the castle, you first need to get to Europe's finest Renaissance castles. It is located at the the town of Elsinore, located in the north entrance to Øresund and was built in 1574-1585. eastern corner of the island Zealand in Denmark. Take a train ((Danish: Kystbanen) It is also Denmark's most famous castle, as it's from Copenhagen, which takes about 45 precisely where William Shakespeare has set Hamlet in minutes. for the famous play. In the play, Shakespeare called Kronborg Castle Elsinore, which has become the English Alternatively, you can also take a boat ride name for Helsingør, the town where the castle is located. from Helsingborg (20 minutes).
There are guided tours around the castle happening Entrance fee every day, so you can explore the grandiose interiors, creepy crypts, and dark catacombs. During summer, you Adults 90 DKK (app. € 12) can also enjoy live performances of Shakespeare Reduced 80 DKK (app. € 7) greatest plays. FREE: Children C A S T L E
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Image: kongeligeslotte.dk ESTONIA [Eesti] HERMANN CASTLE
History How to get there
Built by the Danes at the end of the 13th century and Narva is Estonia's third biggest city, located strengthened over successive centuries, the imposing at the eastern extreme point of Estonia at Hermann Castle, along with Russia’s matching Ivangorod the very border with Russia. Fortress just across the river, creates one of Europe's most unique architectural ensembles. The easiest way to get there is to take a train from Tallinn (runs twice a day) or by You get a highly picturesque view over the two castles bus (also departs from Tartu). from a riverside beach, which is a popular destination amongst tourists.
Being the main attraction in the city of Narva, where Entrance fee Germann Castle is located, it is also considered to be the most diverse and best-preserved defense structure in Adults € 3 Estonia. Children € 1,5 C A S T L E
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Image: wikipedia.org FINLAND [Suomi] TURKU CASTLE
History How to get there
The history of Turku Castle begins in the 1280's when it Having arrived to the city of Turku, take a was built on the banks of the Aura river. It's granite stone bus from the Market Square (the bus stop walls have thus been holding the history of Finland, is located in front of the Hansa shopping Sweden, and other Nordic countries for over 700 years centre). now. You should follow Line 1 towards the Over the centuries, the fortification gradually changed harbour, where the bus stops right in into a grand greystone palace as it's seen today. front of the castle.
The largest surviving medieval building in Finland, it is Entrance fee also the most visited museum in the country. Adults € 10 Children € 2- 5 Reduced € 5 Family ticket € 22 C A S T L E
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Image: photos.smugmug.com FINLAND [Suomi] SUOMENLINNA
History How to get there
Suomenlinna is a very special place. It is an inhabited sea Suomenlinna is only accessible by water, so fortress built on six islands (Kustaanmiekka, Susisaari, the only way to get there is by ferry from the Iso-Mustasaari, Pikku-Mustasaari, Länsi-Mustasaari and Market Square in Helsinki (departs Långören) and which now forms part of the city of throughout the year). The trip takes around Helsinki, Finland's capital. 15–20 minutes and offers magnificent views of Helsinki and the surroundings from the Suomenlinna is also a UNESCO World Heritage site that sea. During the cold winter months, the trip dates back to 1748 and that is popular not only among through the ice-covered waters becomes a tourists but also among locals, who enjoy it as a truly unique experience. picturesque picnic site. It also combines six museums. Entrance fee Originally called Sveaborg (Fortress of Svea), it was renamed to Suomenlinna (Castle of Finland) in 1918 out No entrance fee to the fortress. However, each of patriotic reasons. museum there has its own separate entrance fee. C A S T L E
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Image: suomenlinnatours.com FRANCE [République française] MONT SAINT-MICHEL
History How to get there
A magical island topped by a gravity-defying medieval France is incredibly well-connected, so the monastery, the Mont-Saint-Michel counts among best way to get to Mont Saint-Michel is by France’s most stunning sights. Set in the mesmerizing train. Get a train ticket from Paris to bay where Normandy and Brittany merge, the island Pontorson, from where you can take a bus to draws the eye from great distances. The staggering the castle (around 9 kilometres). location has long inspired awe and the imagination.
The story of how the mount turned into a great place of Entrance fee Christian pilgrimage is colorful. Aubert, bishop of the nearby hilltop town of Avranches early in the 8th Adults € 10 century, claimed that the Archangel Michael himself Reduced € 8 pressured him into having a church built atop the island Groups € 8 just out to sea. FREE: Children C A S T L E
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Image: discoverfrance.com FRANCE [République française] PIERREFONDS
History How to get there
Huge, monumental, and yet elegant, the Pierrefonds To get to the location from Paris, you have to château is one of the most memorable landmarks in take the train (45 mins) to Compiegne, France. followed by a bus to Pierrefonds (20 mins). Do, however, check the schedule before you Built in the late 14th century by Duke Louis of Orléans, buy your train tickets and leave home, as the the famous château was taken down in the 17th century bus runs only once per day on certain days. and was in ruins when Napoleon III decided to commission architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc to rebuild it. Entrance fee He applied his architectural designs to create the ideal château, such as would have existed in the Middle Ages. Adults € 8 Reduced € 6.5 Pierrefond is an absolutely delightful place, which is well Groups (20 people) € 6.5 worth a visit! It is also a perfect day trip from Paris. FREE: Children C A S T L E
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Image: imgur.com/8QxWDYl GERMANY [Deutschland] NEUSCHWANSTEIN
History How to get there
If you’re even slightly interested in travel, you’ve There are tours organized from the Bavarian probably heard of this castle before – located in the capital, but, if you like to travel solo, you have midst of the Alps, built by Mad King Ludwig, who spent to get a Bayern Ticket Munich Central Station all the money he had for his dream to live in a fairy tale. to Füssen, then take a bus No. 78 from Füssen Thus, the Neuschwanstein Castle is ultimately the to Hohenschwangau (around 10 minutes), famous "fairy-tale" castle in Germany, attracting millions and walk up the mountain for about half an of visitors per year. hour.
It has been prominently featured in several movies such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Great Escape and Entrance fee serves as the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle Adults € 13 in Disneyland. Reduced € 12 FREE: Children C A S T L E
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Image: getyourguide.com GERMANY [Deutschland] WERNIGERODE CASTLE
History How to get there
A gorgeous castle located in a magical little town of From Berlin (and other major cities), there are Wernigerode in Saxony Anhalt, Germany, has a similar regular buses going to Wernigerode with style to the Neuschwanstein Castle, though its Flixbus (flixbus.de, € 10 one way). foundations are much older. Also, if you're going on a weekend, do If you’re a history buff, you’ll probably be interested in consider buying Schönes-Wochenende- learning about the medieval dark past Wernigerode, Ticket: you can take up to 5 travellers for € 40 which was known to be a meeting place for witches. tickets around the whole Germany. Every year, on April 30 (during the so-called Walpurgis Night), they would fly on their broomsticks to the Entrance fee mountain Broken for a huge celebration that made Adults € 7 Halloween look like a party for kids. Reduced € 6 Teenagers € 4 Children free C A S T L E
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Image: panoramio.com GERMANY [Deutschland] HEIDELBERG CASTLE
History How to get there
Each year, Heidelberg Palace attracts around a million Heidelberg is a major tourist destination in visitors from all over the world. Since the early 19th Germany, as well as home to the country's century, these impressive ruins have been synonymous oldest university. Germany's most precious with Romanticism. jewel, Heidelberg is easily accessed by plane from from Frankfurt and Stuttgart, by train It would be hard to imagine a more striking location: set from Hamburg, Cologne, and even Vienna, as against the deep green forests on the north flank of well as by bus (check out DeinBus.de). Königstuhl hill, the red sandstone ruins tower majestically over the Neckar valley. From its lofty Entrance fee position, the palace’s silhouette dominates the old town center of Heidelberg. Adults € 7 Reduced € 4 C A S T L E
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Image: touropia.com GERMANY [Deutschland] LICHTENSTEIN CASTLE
History How to get there
This monumental gorgeousness, also known as the fairy The nearest train station to the castle is tale castle of Württemberg, was built in 1840 on a large Reutlingen Hbf. Reutlingen is very well rock overlooking the Echaz valley near Honau, Germany. connected with Stuttgart, one of the major cities in Germany. At the bus station The castle is often used as a film location: back in 2009, it Reutlingen (5 minutes to walk from the was used to shoot the German version of the Sleeping railway station) take the bus No. 7606 and Beauty, for example. exit at 'Honau'. From there, you've got to walk around 20 minutes to reach the castle.. Randomly enough, it also served as inspiration for Super Street Fighter II. Entrance fee
Adults € 2 Reduced € 1 C A S T L E
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Image: www.poetsandprinces.com GREECE [Ελλάδα] CASTLE OF METHONI
History How to get there
Although not preserved at all, the castle of Methoni is To get to the castle, you first need to get to really a unique piece of architecture and history. Built by Methoni, famous for its ravishing beaches and the Venetians in the 13th century on a rocky beautiful bays. Methoni is located on the promontory, it is one of the largest ones in the South Western part of Gulf of Messinia, 30km Mediterranean. west to Koroni, 11km south to Pylos, 60km south west to Kalamata. Renting a car is The celebrated symbol of Venice, the lion of St Marc, ultimately the most convenient way to get to dominates the gate of the castle where immured reliefs, Methoni, although there's also a bus emblems, blazons, inscriptions, the huge gates connectino from Kalamata via Pylos. –especially the main gate, above the moat – and the relics of two Ottoman bathhouses have survived. Entrance fee No entrance fee. C A S T L E
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Image: abelia-villas.gr HUNGARY [Magyarország] VAJDAHUNYAD
History How to get there
The castle of Vajdahunyad is a popular spot among locals The easiest way to get to the Vajdahunyad in Budapest for its pretty views and beautiful Castle is by the M1 (yellow) metro line: get off atmosphere. However, apart from being pretty, the at Szechenyi Baths (Szechenyi Furdo) and castle doesn't have much history, as it was only built in walk towards the Millennial Monument on 1896 as part of the Millennial Exhibition. Heroes’ Square. From there, directions are easy. Originally, it was made from cardboard and wood, but it became so popular that it was rebuilt from stone and brick between 1904 and 1908. Today, it houses the Entrance fee Museum of Hungarian Agriculture, which is the biggest agricultural museum in Europe. No entrance fee. C A S T L E
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Image: anilblon.files.wordpress.com HUNGARY [Magyarország] BUDA CASTLE
History How to get there
Right in the middle of Budapest stands the largest and You can't miss the Buda Castle - it's right on richest castle in Hungary. It's more of a castle complex, the banks of Danube. So if you take a stroll really, than a single construction (resembling the Prague along the river, you'll find it right away. Castle in that sense).
The castle is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, and while it looks more like a palace now, it's erection dates back to the 14th century. Entrance fee The entrance to the castle complex is free The castle complex is world-famous for its Medieval, of charge, however, there's a separate Baroque, and 19th-century houses, churches, and public entry fee to each and every museum. buildings. C A S T L E
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Image: insider.corinthia.com IRELAND [Éire] DUNGUAIRE CASTLE
History How to get there
On the southern shore of Galway Bay sits the lonely To get to the castle, you need to arrive to shape of Dunguaire Castle. It was built in 1520 on the Kinvara, a small sea port village located in the site of the palace of the legendary King Guaire’s palace, south of County Galway. There are local for which it was named. The castle (barely large enough buses that go to Kinvara from Galway, to be worthy of the name) was built by the Hynes clan, departing regularly. who were fighting fiercely against the encroachment of the Normans and English. Entrance fee
Little is known of the time that the Hynes clan owned the FREE entrance to the grounds castle, but it is they who gave it its name, a name that Adult € 6 hearkened back to an earlier time before the Reduced € 3.50 “Sassenach” had come to these shores. Children € 3 Family ticket € 17.50 C A S T L E
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Image: staticflickr.com IRELAND [Éire] DUBLIN CASTLE
History How to get there
For more than 700 years, from 1200 until the formation The castle is situated in the very heart of of the Irish Republic in 1921, Dublin Castle was the Dublin, on the south side of the River Liffey, center of the English colonial administration in Ireland. off Dame Street, en route from Trinity College to Christchurch Cathedral. A sprawling complex of historic buildings from between 930 and 1830, it offers a unique crash course in Irish history. Entrance fee Adults € 10 Reduced € 8 Children € 4 C A S T L E
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Image: tourireland.com ITALY [Italia] CASTEL DEL MONTE
History How to get there
A magnificent citadel and castle situated on a hill in Castel del Monte is situated on a small hill Andria in the Apulia region of southeast Italy, it was built close to the monastery of Santa Maria del during the 1240s by the Emperor Frederick II, who had Monte, at an altitude of 540 m. inherited the lands from his mother Constance of Sicily. To get there, you've got to take a train to Described by the Enciclopedia Italiana as "the most Andria, which can be reached by train fascinating castle built by Frederick II", the site is from Bari or Trani. protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entrance fee Another interesting fact: Castel del Monte also appears Adults € 7 on the Italian version of the one cent Euro coin. Reduced € 3.5 Under 18: FREE C A S T L E
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Image: visual-italy.it LATVIA [Latvija] CĒSIS CASTLE
History How to get there
While it's all completely ruined, the Cēsis Castle is Found in a small town of Cēsis in the northern nevertheless one of the most impressive in the Baltic part of Latvia, the castle is easy to reach from States. Once the most important castle of the Livonian Riga by car, bus, or train. Order, it was the official residence for the masters of the order.
The castle itself was built in the 13th century, enlarged and fortified over the upcoming centuries until it got Entrance fee partially destroyed in the Battle of Wenden in 1578. Adults € 3 Reduced € 1.5 Nowadays, the ruins are open for tourists, offering a Family ticket € 6 splendid view over the valley of the Gauja River. C A S T L E
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Image: www.codelt.nl LITHUANIA [Lietuva] TRAKAI
History How to get there
A wonderful castle complex located on an island in Lake Buses from Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, to Galvė in Trakai, Lithuania (hence the origin of the castle's Trakai leave around 50 times per day and name). only take 40 minutes to get you to the destination. Just get a ticket at Vilnius Bus The construction was begun in the 14th century by Station at Sodų St. 22. Kęstutis, Lithuania's then ruler, and around 1409 major works were completed by his son Vytautas the Great, who died in this castle in 1430. Entrance fee Adults € 6 Trakai was one of the main centres of the Grand Duchy Reduced € 3 of Lithuania and the castle held great strategic Family ticket € 3 importance. Now, it's a very romantic destination offering tranquil, serene views for nature- and history lovers. C A S T L E
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Image: www.worldfortravel.com NETHERLANDS [Nederland] MUIDERSLOT CASTLE
History How to get there
Muiderslot castle is an impressive square shaped The castle is actually so close from medieval castle in Muiden in the province of North Amsterdam that you can even bike there. Holland. It’s pretty close to Amsterdam so ideal for a day trip if you’re staying in the capital city. It houses a If you choose to use public transport, take a national museum (Rijksmuseum) and the castle has a bus from Amsterdam Central Station in the moat with a drawbridge. direction of Muiden.
Fun fact: the museum is depicted on the ace of clubs card Entrance fee in the standard deck of cards used in the Netherlands. Adults € 13.50 Children € 9 C A S T L E
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Image: tours-cdn.azureedge.net NORWAY [Norge] AKERSHUS FORTRESS
History How to get there
While Norway doesn't really have castles as such, due to The fortress is right in the heart of Oslo, so the simple fact that the country used to be rather poor in it's easy to reach (once you've reached the the past, there's a famous fortress close to Oslo, which Norwegian capital, of course). was used to protect the capital back in the day (was also used as a prison later on). Entrance fee
Akershus Fortress was built in the 13th century by King Adults: 100 NOK Haakon V. Now, it's mostly used for official events and Children: 40 NOK dinners for dignitaries and foreign heads of state. Reduced: 60 NOK C A S T L E
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Image: thousandwonders.net POLAND [Polska] KRASICZYN CASTLE
History How to get there
Except for its unpronounceable name, Krasiczyn Castle To reach the castle, you must go to Krasiczyn, is one of the best things you can encounter in Poland. which is 5,5 hour car ride from Warsaw and a The building is STUNNINGLY(!) beautiful. It was heavily little less than 3 hours ride from Krakow. damaged both by the war and the Soviets, but after the reconstruction, it shows off its splendor to the visitors Entrance fee just as it did centuries ago. Built between the 16th and the 17th century, is one of the most valuable monuments Adults: 15 PLN of renaissance and mannerist architecture in Poland. Children: 8 PLN Reduced: 8 PLN C A S T L E
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Image: flickr.com POLAND [Polska] MALBORK CASTLE
History How to get there
The Malbork Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site A perfect day trip from Gdansk, the best way since 1997 and this makes perfect sense since this to get to the castle is take a train (less than an exquisite building is actually the largest brick building in hour). Europe. Built by the Teutonic Knights in 1406, this incredible landmark now houses a remarkable weapons Entrance fee collection as well as an amber exhibition. After World War II, when Malbork City and its castle became a part Adults: 39,50 PLN of Poland once more, the castle was the focus of a major Reduced: 29,50 PLN reconstruction process, and it is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. C A S T L E
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Image: truenomads.com PORTUGAL [República Portuguesa] PENA PALACE
History How to get there
The National Palace of Pena is probably the most Sintra is a delightful Portuguese town that famous castle in Portugal, due to its colorful lies 25km to the west of Lisbon and makes appearance and its imposing location at the peak of for a popular day trip from the capital. It is the highest hill above the town of Sintra. thus easy to reach from Lisbon by train (return price: € 4.30) which leaves every Protected by UNESCO, the Palace of Pena is also a half an hour from Lisbon's city centre monument of national and international importance: Rossio station. its story dates back to the Middle Ages when a chapel dedicated to the Lady of Pena was established. Eventually, this grew into a monastery and then a castle. The façade of the building is absolutely Entrance fee outstanding, and its design and location ensured that Adults € 8,50 it could be seen from anywhere in the surrounding Reduced € 7 gardens and forests. C A S T L E
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Image: parquesdesintra.pt PORTUGAL [República Portuguesa] TORRE DE BELÉM
History How to get there
Torre de Belém is definitely a site to see and a place to Since the castle is located in Lisbon, you bee. This beautiful fortress is a true architectural don't need to leave the capital to come visit. masterpiece, featuring gorgeous, detailed Just catch a city bus: 727, 28, 729, 714, 751; ornamentation that has never been seen in a building or a tram: 15; or a ferry: Belém Ferry with military purposes. Station; or a suburban train: Belém station.
The castle played a significant role in the Portuguese maritime discoveries of the era of the Age of Discoveries, and it is strongly associated with such Entrance fee names as Vasco da Gama, for example. Adults € 6 Torre de Belém was commissioned by King John II to Reduced € 3 be part of a defense system at the mouth of the Tagus FREE: children river and a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon. C A S T L E
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Image: all-free-photos.com ROMANIA [România] PELEȘ CASTLE
History How to get there
This Neo-Renaissance castle hidden in the heart of the The castle is found in the city of Sinaia, which Carpathian Mountains was built between 1873 and can be easily reached by train from Bucharest 1914 for King Carol I (who, ironically, died the same and Brasov. year the castle was completed). There are around 20 trains departing each When King Carol I first visited the site of the future day: most of them IRs and will take about 1.5 castle in 1866, he fell in love with the magnificent hours to reach Sinaia . mountain scenery. So a few years later, the Crown purchased 1,300 square kilometers of land near the Piatra Arsă River, and so the construction began! The Entrance fee cost of the work was estimated to be 16,000,000 (Only with a tour guide available; prices depend on a Romanian lei in gold (approx. US$ 120 million today). tour) Adults 20 - 50 RON Today, Peleș Castle is a public museum. Reduced 10 - 25 RON Children 5 - 12.5 RON C A S T L E
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Image: pixabay.com ROMANIA [România] BRAN CASTLE
History How to get there
Bran Castle looms over Transylvania with its ghostly Bran Castle is located in Brasov. To get there, silhouette and blood-red towers and turrets. Built on take a train from Bucharest to Brasov and a solid rock foundation, the 13th-century castle is then catch a bus from Brasov to Bran. supposed to have been the residence of Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula. However, according to the local legends, Count Vlad Tepes, also known as "Vlad the Impaler", was only imprisoned here for two weeks. Entrance fee Bran castle has 57 rooms and a spooky secret Adults 35 RON passageway leading up to the watch towers - not Reduced 25 RON recommended for people suffering from Students 20 RON claustrophobia! School groups (over 20 people) 5 RON C A S T L E
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Image: thewondrous.com SLOVAKIA [Slovenská republika] BOJNICE CASTLE
History How to get there
The gem of Bojnice is the ”fairy-tale” Bojnický zámok The castle is in Bojnice, which is some 70km Castle, one of the most visited and most beautiful northeast of Trenčín, so the best way to get castles not only in Slovakia, but also in central Europe. there is by train from Bucharest. This castle was for many years owned by kings and aristocrats. Alternatively, you can also find a bus to Previdza, which is adjacent to Bojnice, and Now, it is one of the most visited castles in Slovakia. then another bus to the castle. This increasing popularity attracted many international filmmakers and a number of romantic, fairytale and fantasy films such as Fantagiro were shot Entrance fee right here. Under the ground is a large cave complex Free of charge. available for visitors during guided tours. C A S T L E
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Image: blog.timeforslovakia.com SPAIN [España] COCA CASTLE
History How to get there
Coca Castle is unique among Spanish castles: it has The Coca Castle is doable as a day trip from only three sides since it is built into a hillside that Segovia, which you can reach from Madrid provides a defense from invaders who attack from the by the Sepulvedana bus (the return fare is rear. Coca Castle is also unique because its about € 15). architecture was influenced by the Moors though it was built by Christians in the mid-15th century.
Much of the castle’s interior was destroyed in the last century, but the exterior still retains Moorish touches, such as the turrets. Entrance fee Adults: € 2,70 Today, the castle is open to the public (though only by Children: € 2 guided tours). Reduced: € 2 C A S T L E
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Image: touropia.com SPAIN [España] TEMPLAR CASTLE
History How to get there
Once a fortress of the Knights Templar, this charming If you want to see the castle, plan a trip castle has been shaped over many centuries of to Ponferrada, the capital city of El Bierzo in renovation and expansion. the Province of León.
Located on more than 8000 square meters of land, Ponferrada is easily accessible by highway Templar Castle dominates the skyline over the (Autovía A-6) and intercity public crossing of Rivers Boeza and Sil. Unfortunately, in the transportation is readily available, too! 19th and early 20th century, some of the building was lost and walls were demolished to erect a football field. Luckily, in 1923 it was declared a National Entrance fee Monument and it has now been restored and open to Free of charge. the public. C A S T L E
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Image: skyscanner.net SPAIN [España] OLITE CASTLE
History How to get there
A trip to Olite Castle is to experience a different Olite is a very small town in northern Spain royalty culture in Spain, that of the kingdom of (Navarra), and the easiest way to get there is Navarre in the northern part of the country. Also probably from Pamplona (the city that itself is known as the Palacio Real de Olite, the castle was worth a visit!). From Pamplona, there are built on the first-century Roman ruins, though the regular buses going to Olite, even though the castle’s construction did not take place until several most convenient (and faster) way would be to centuries later. rent a car.
Olite was one of the most luxurious mediaeval castles in Europe. As a 12th-century German traveler wrote Entrance fee his notes in his diary, now conserved in the British Adults: € 3,50 Museum in London: "Surely there is no king with a more Guided visit: € 4,90 beautiful castle or palace and with so many gilded Groups: discounted (ask at the counter) rooms". C A S T L E
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Image: touropia.com SWITZERLAND [Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft ] CHATEAU DE CHILLON
History How to get there
Probably one of the most visually recognized castles From Geneva, Château de Chillon is in the world, Château de Chillon has a lengthy history. accessible by train, car, boat, bus, or any The earliest written record of Chillon dates to 1150. combination of the above. By rail, take the Ever since then, it was an important strategic location train from Geneva to Montreux. Then, catch a on Lake Geneva. regional train to Veytaux-Chillon, walk the 4 km along the lakefront, or take bus Ligne N° Many authors and artists, including Jean-Jacques 201 from in front of the Montreux station to Rousseau, Victor Hugo, and Lord Byron, have been Chillon. Et voila, you're there! inspired by the castle. Lord Byron’s 1816 poem The Prisoner of Chillon centers on François Bonivard, a Entrance fee monk imprisoned there in the 1500s, and Byron left Adults: CHF 12.50 behind his name carved into the walls of the castle’s Children: CHF 6.00 dungeons. Family ticket: CHF 29.00 Reduced: CHF 10.50 C A S T L E
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Image: farm8.staticflickr.com TURKEY [Türkiye] UCHISAR
History How to get there
Possibly the ugliest castle in the whole Europe, The main transportation point for the region Uchisar can, however, be called the most unique one is the provincial capital of Nevşehir, with its too, because people carved it out of the rocks instead busy bus station and not-so-busy airport. The of purposely building it from the ground up. closest train station and busy airport are at Kayseri. Known as the tallest point in the Cappadocia region, Uchisar has the fantastic landscape views to boot, but the stark interior also intrigues because corridors lined with rooms eventually lead to the tallest point where people used to live in caves carved into the Entrance fee exterior walls. On a clear day, Mount Erciyes stands Adults: 5 TL (around 1.5 EUR) proud in the distance and cars on the main road running from Uchisar to Goreme seem like miniature models. C A S T L E
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Image: taskonaklar.com UKRAINE [Україна] THE SWALLOW'S NEST
History How to get there
A symbol of Crimean southern coastline, The The castle is just a 20-minute drive from Yalta. Swallow's Nest is a decorative castle located at Take bus No. 27 to Alupka and get off at Gaspra, a small spa town between Yalta and Alupka. Swallow's Nest station.
It was built between 1911 and 1912, on top of the 40- Alternatively, you can also take a ferry from metre (130 ft) high Aurora Cliff, in a Neo-Gothic Yalta - it departs regularly from the port. design by the Russian architect Leonid Sherwood for the Baltic German oil millionaire Baron von Steingel. Thus, the castle had no defensive or military purpose, as it was built out of aesthetic reasons. Entrance fee Adults: 300 RUB Swallow's Nest overlooks the Cape of Ai-Todor on the Children: 200 RUB Black Sea coast, and offers some seriously beautiful views. C A S T L E
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Image: trover.com UK: ENGLAND [United Kingdom] WINDSOR CASTLE
History How to get there
As soon as you enter the Windsor Castle, it is as if you Before you go, remember this: The Castle traveled back to the Middle Ages. The walls are 4 becomes an official residence of the royal meters thick, with just a long narrow vision slit cut in family for a month over Easter (from March to the shape of a cross. April), which means that many rooms are closed to visitors from the beginning of spring. The streets you'll cross there are about 1000 years old, and you can still read the ancient medieval signs To get to Windsor, take a direct train from at the top of the doorways. Windsor Castle is really London. It's about an hour ride. like a small town on its own, so there’s a lot to explore: there’s a castle itself, a beautiful chapel, cute little Entrance fee shops, small dwelling houses, and, of course, lavish Adults: £ 18.50 gardens. Reduced: £ 16.90 C A S T L E
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Image: therussianabroad.com UK: NORTHERN IRELAND [United Kingdom] DUNLUCE CASTLE
History How to get there
The iconic ruin of Dunluce Castle bears witness to a The fastest way to get to Dunluce Castle is long and tumultuous history. First built on the from Belfast: go to Belfast Great Victoria dramatic coastal cliffs of north County Antrim by the Street Station, get a train to Portrush, and MacQuillan family around 1500, the earliest written from there, catch the North Coast Open record of the castle was in 1513. Topper 117 to Dunluce Castle.
The castle is famous, however, not only for its history, but also for the inspiration that it provided to writers and artists. Dunluce Castle is reputed to be the inspiration behind the royal castle of Cair Paravel in Entrance fee Ulster-born writer CS Lewis’s Narnia stories. Adults: £ 2.00 Children: £ 1.00 It's really worth a visit, especially for its scenic location! C A S T L E
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Image: independent.co.uk UK: SCOTLAND [United Kingdom] EDINBURGH CASTLE
History How to get there
Built high upon a plug of an extinct volcano, standing The castle dominated the whole skyline of between sea and hills, Edinburgh Castle is, firstly, the Edinburgh, so it's impossible to miss it when most visited castle in Europe, hosting more than 1 you visit the city. It stands at the head of the million people each year, and, secondly, one of the Old Town of Edinburgh. most haunted castles in the world.
Some of its famous ghosts are believed to be: an old Entrance fee man in a leather apron, a little headless drummer boy, and a mysterious piper who was lost in the tunnels of Adults: £ 16.50 the castle centuries ago. Reduced: £ 13.20 Children: £ 9.90 C A S T L E
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Image: dailyrecord.co.uk UK: SCOTLAND [United Kingdom] EILEAN DONAN CASTLE
History How to get there
Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most recognized The Isle of Skye is easy to visit either by ferry castles in Scotland and probably appears on more at Glenelg or by bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh (8 shortbread tins and calendars than any other. It is, miles from the Castle). without any doubt, a Scottish icon and certainly one of the most popular visitor attractions in the Highlands.
When you first set eyes on it, it is easy to understand why so many people flock to its stout doors year after Entrance fee year. Strategically located on its own little island, Adults: £ 7.50 overlooking the Isle of Skye, at the point where three Reduced: £ 6.50 great sea-lochs meet, and surrounded by the majestic Family ticket: £ 20.00 splendour of the forested mountains of Kintail, Eilean FREE: Children under 5 y. o. Donan Castle's setting is truly breath-taking. C A S T L E
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Image: seriouspuzzles.com THIS IS IT. 45 castles. 25 countries.
Hope you want to visit some of them now!
For more inspiration, visit www.therussianabroad.com.