The period from 1066 to 1400 AD was the heyday of building castles in Europe. To this day, these buildings scattered across Europe like bright pearls are still in style, standing as the most intriguing landscape. They became one of the most beautiful buildings on the planet, beautiful with meaning rather than appearance. It is the product of the development of medieval civilization, and is also synonymous with fairy tales and dreams. This article will introduce the five most beautiful castles in Europe.
1. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Neuschwanstein Castle, also known as "Füssen Snow White Castle", was built in 1869, the masterpiece of Ludwig II. With white walls and blue roofs, it is located in the Alps in the small town of Fuessen in Bayern, Germany, surrounded by the vast landscape of Lake Falger and Fussen. Spectacular and beautiful, it can be called "the place closest to a fairy tale". It is one of the symbols of Germany and is proud of the Germans. King Ludwig II of Bavaria, influenced by Wagner's operas throughout his life, was a famous art lover. He envisioned the place where the fabled Snow White lived and invited theater painters and stage setters to draw architectural sketches to create a dreamlike atmosphere.
2. Chambord, Loire, France
Chambord Castle is world-famous for its beautiful and pleasant scenery. It used to be the residence of the French king, and it is also the most magnificent and largest of all the castles in the Loire Valley. It has a history of more than 500 years. Chambord is the area with the strongest smell of French aristocratic life. There are many forests, and it is an important place for the kings and nobles of all dynasties to go on vacation and hunting. Its construction is attributed to the Renaissance. The supreme and eminent monarch, François I, invited art masters such as Leonardo da Vinci from Italy, and spared no effort to transplant the brilliant art and architectural style of the Italian Renaissance to France, laying the foundation for the French Renaissance. This castle is the perfect combination of imperial power and art. It was regarded as a national treasure by later generations and was included in the World Cultural Heritage List in 1981.
3. Hohenzollern Castle, Germany
One of the two most famous castles in southern Germany, located on the hills 20 kilometers south of Tübingen. It is the birthplace of the Hohenzollern family. Originally built in the 11th century, it underwent renovations from 1850 to 1867. Compared with the fairy-tale appearance of Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenzollern Castle is full of heroic masculinity, which also represents the glorious history of the Prussian Dynasty. The castle displays the relics of Frederick the Great, the treasures and crowns of the King of Prussia.
4. Salzburg, Austria
Salzburg is located in the northern foothills of the Alps. The beautiful scenery and the rich and varied architectural art are integrated together, making Salzburg known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world and listed by the United Nations as a protected area for human civilization in the world. Pieces of tree-lined gardens and fountains in different poses make Salzburg extraordinarily beautiful. Salzburg is also the hometown of the famous musician Mozart. Visitors can follow in the footsteps of the great composer from his birthplace at No. 9 Grain Hutong to No. 8-9 Macat Square, where he later lived.
5. Castle of Segovia, Spain
Segovia Castle is located at the western end of Segovia and has an excellent view. The castle is surrounded by lush vegetation, and there is a moat more than 10 meters deep at the entrance. The castle was built in the 12th century and underwent large-scale construction in the 14th century. At that time, it was in the development stage of the transition of European architecture from Romanesque style to Gothic style, so the architectural style of Segovia Castle is not single. It reflects the Gothic architectural style with Spanish characteristics in many places, and the interior of the Renaissance castle has been carefully remodeled to become more magnificent.
