These are 10 of the most beautiful and famous palaces in Europe. Not only does Europe's rich and diverse culture make it unique but so do the many royal palaces owned by the royal families. Palaces in Europe have classic and modern architecture. While every palace has its own spirit, story, and history, it is the architecture that can inspire. These royal palaces act as tourists’ attractions and below is a list of 10 really cool palaces in Europe.
1. Pena National Palace
Pena National Palace is a heritage site located in Europe built in the 19th century. It is thought of as one of the seven wonders in Portugal. The palace served as a summer residence for the royal family of king Dom Fernando the second. It has a unique design under the influence of romanticism but also consists of various architectural styles which include Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Gothic. One of the fascinating facts is that one portion bears a resemblance to a medieval European castle with ornate parapets, then a section molded after an Islamic Barbican dome. The inside is eclectic and accommodations are designed to imitate a certain cultural effect. Furthermore, it is regarded as an outstanding example of romantic architecture.
2. Nymphenburg Palace
The Nymphenburg Palace, universally known as the castle nymph is located in the German state of Bavaria, near Munich, it was constructed in the 17th century and was designed by an Italian architect Agostino Barelli who built it in the Baroque style. Not only are some of the rooms designed originally but also redesigned in Neo-classism.
3. Palacio Real
Palacio is located on Bailen Street, in the city of Madrid. It is one of the most fascinating palaces belonging to the royal family in Spain. A major factor that makes it unique when compared to other palaces in Europe is that it’s not used as a place of residence but rather as a place of ceremonies. Centuries ago, on the land where the palace is located, there existed an old castle which burned down on the day of Christmas in 1734, thereafter, King Philip V decided to build Palacio Real. Not only is it one of the most attractive palaces in Europe but it is the largest when it comes to flooring space as it consists 3,418 rooms.
4. Royal Palace Of Brussels
Royal Palace of Brussels is located in Belgium, near Brussels Park. The Majestic Palace was constructed by the creativity of King Leopold II. The Palace was built after 1900 and it was raised on the remnants of Coudenberg Castle, a very ancient and old-fashioned building. It is separated from Brussels Park by an immense square, known as Place des Palais. The palace interior is comprised of treasurable possessions belonging to the royal family; including furniture of Napoleon. Moreover, the palace is special because of its aesthetics and remarkable value.
5. Sanssouci Palace
Sanssouci is situated near Berlin, in the metropolitan of Potsdam. The Palace used to be a summer home of Frederic the Great. It is designed in the Rococo style, which mirrored a freeform model that matched the desires of Frederic the Great, who desired his dwelling to please invitees. His hope came factual since the palace was and is so gorgeous up to today and is well-thought-out to be the German conflicting of the French Versailles. The palace also consists of terraced vineyards, green flowery garden and a huge water feature at the midpoint which makes it more mesmerizing.
6. Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace is located in Austria’s and is one of its most significant aesthetic belongings. Since the 1960s the palace has remained one of Vienna’s key tourist attractions, drawing masses of tourists yearly. It served as a majestic summer dwelling during the sovereignty of Maria Theresa. It is acknowledged as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The palace has hosted concerts by famous musicians of all time including Mozart. Moreover, it is one of the most popular and cherished monuments in Austria and is a model of baroque architecture; with flowers and fountains.
7. Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is located in England. It was initially constructed as Duke Buckingham house in 1701. It is one of the major tourist attractions in England and has been the official residence of the British Monarchy since 1837. Not only does it serve as a residence for royals but also as an administrative center. Nevertheless, it comprises of at least 800 rooms and its botanical gardens are the largest in London. This palace was bombed seven times during the world war but still managed to maintain its historic beauty. In the Middle Ages, the site of the future palace formed part of the Manor of Ebury (also named Eia). The swampy ground was drenched by the tributary Tyburn, which still flows underneath the courtyard and the south arm of the palace. Where the river was fordable (at Cow Ford), the village of Eye Cross grew. Possession of the site changed hands many times and its owners included Edward the confessor and after the Norman conquest, William donated the site to Geoffrey de Mandeville.
8. Château de Chambord
Chambord Palace is located in France and is one of the most recognizable chateaux in the world. it is comprised of French Renaissance architecture fused with French medieval forms and classical Renaissance structures. It is situated in the Loire Valley and used to belong to French King Francis I. Nowadays Chambord is not restricted having thousands of tourists yearly. Though it’s not certain who designed the palace, most sources state that it was Domenico da Cortona.
9. Palace of Versailles
This fascinating palace belongs to the royal family in France, its located ten kilometers away from Paris. It was built in the 17th century for King Louis.it comprises of more than 700 rooms and more than 3000 people were working on the construction. It’s estimated that its construction cost up to two billion dollars. Versailles garden covers more than 30000 acres, 400 sculptures, and 1400 fountains.
10. Royal Palace Oslo
The gorgeous Royal Palace in Oslo was first used by King Oscar I in 1849. Linstow originally planned a building of only two stories with protrusive extensions on both edges of the main facade. It is sited on the Bellevue Hill and is bordered by a dazzling, green orchard, which was also designed to epitomize the Romanticism movement. The palace is built in Neo-Classicism and consist 173 rooms. The Royal Palace, where the King and Queen of Norway reside today, has been open to the public since 2002 but is open only throughout summertime.