Castles have existed for hundreds of years in Europe, and their architecture and sheer size have continued to capture the imaginations of people worldwide even today. Let's take a look at some of the coolest castles in Europe!
Many European castles are in ruins, but not all!Courtesy of Nigel J. C. Turnbull
Windsor Castle
- Windsor Castle is located in Windsor, England, in the county of Berkshire. It is particularly notable because it is one of the longest-occupied castles in the world, and still provides a home for British royalty.
- The castle was built starting in the 11th century, and has housed royal residents since the time of Henry the 1st.
- These days, more than 500 people live and work in Windsor Castle, making it the biggest inhabited castle in the whole world!
- Besides being a residence, the castle is also a popular tourist attraction, and houses a large portion of the Royal Collection of Art.
Windsor Castle is one of the official homes of the British royal family. Courtesy of uclu.org
Hunyadi Castle
- Hunyadi Castle (also known as Corvin Castle) is located in Hunedoara, Romania. Building began in 1446, and additions and renovations continued to be made well in to the 17th century. It is one of the largest castles in Europe.
- Vlad the Impaler, also knows as Vlad Dracula and the inspiration for Bram Stoker's famous vampire, is said to have been imprisoned in the castle in 1462. It has been speculated that, as a result of this connection, Stoker actually based his fictional Castle Dracula on Hunyadi Castle (though this has never been proven).
- Hunyadi Castle is thought to be haunted by many spirits, and paranormal investigations, including some filmed for television, have taken place there!
The inspiration for Bram Stoker's character of Dracula was imprisoned at this castle!Courtesy of footloosetours.com
Prague Castle
- Prague Castle, located in Prague, Czech Republic, has been named the largest ancient castle in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records. It has an area of over 70,000 square feet!
- Construction of the castle began in 870, and improvements continued for the next several hundred years, with rebuilding pretty much ending in the 18th century.
- The castle has survived, more or less, over centuries of upheaval. In the 20th century alone, Prague Castle stayed intact through the first world war, Nazi occupation, communist rule, and eventually democracy.
- The castle is kind of a complex, and houses many churches and museums, including the much loved Toy Museum.
Prague Castle is located right in the city of Prague. Courtesy of hrad.cz
These fascinating castles are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many ancient castles and palaces located all around the world. It's so amazing to think about all the history these castles have seen!
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