Poppy BlaelochToday, we’re taking a look at the most majestic and awe-inspiring castles in Europe. From the grandiose of the Loire Valley to the ancient ruins of the Mediterranean, these castles embody the history and culture of the continent.
1 – Château de Chillon in Switzerland
This castle is situated on a small island in Lake Geneva and is one of the most visited castles in Europe. The castle dates back to the 12th century and is a stunning example of medieval architecture.
One of the reasons that so many people are drawn to the Château de Chillon is the figures it has managed to attract throughout it’s history. Among them are romantic writers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Gustave Flaubert, and Lord Byron.
This Swiss Chateau is a picturesque fort that uses Lake Geneva and a moat created between a small island and the mainland as defense. Throughout the centuries it has been home to the Counts of Savoy though it had its beginnings as a Roman outpost. The outpost strategically guarded the road through the Alpine passes. Knowledge of the site having been a military site during the Roman and Bronze ages is known because of excavations that were done in the 19th century. It is believed that the Castle itself was first constructed in the 10th century.
During the Wars of Religion in the 16th century the Castle was used as a prison by the Dukes of Savoy. The prisoners were released when the Castle was captured by Genevois and Bernese forces in 1536. It became the residence for the Bernese bailiff until 1733 when it became a prison once again, this time for the state.
Towards the end of the 19th century a restoration project was set up for Chillon. Scientific and historical accuracy were of the utmost importance to those who undertook the project. It is acclaimed for its rigor and attention to detail, with a combination of knowledge and extensive research heavily influencing its development.
2 – Bran Castle in Romania
The eerie atmosphere of Bran Castle is perhaps why it is known as Dracula’s Castle. This Castle closely resembles Castle Dracula which Bram Stocker described in his 1897 novel Dracula. However, Stocker is not known to have ever visited Transylvania and the historical figure for who Dracula is based, Vlad the Impaler, was never a ruler of Bran castle.
A fortress was erected around 1211 by Knights’ of the Teutonic Order. Authorization to convert the fort into a Castle came in 1377 by order of King Louis I of Hungary in an attempt to stay the northward expansion of the Ottoman empire. It took eleven years to complete. An Ottoman army was defeated in 1441 by János Hunyadi on the castle’s grounds.
In 1498 the Transylvanian Saxons of Brașov bought the castle from King Vladislas II of Bohemia and Hungary, and they continued to hold it even after the conquest of the Hungarian capital by the Ottoman sultan Süleyman the Magnificent in 1541.
Extensive modifications were made in the 1620s by the Transylvanian prince Gábor Bethlen. The house of Habsburg gained control of the region in 1687, but the castle remained in Transylvanian hands, as confirmed by the Diploma Leopoldinum, a decree issued in 1690. Under local control, the castle was restored several times for service as a fortress, most recently in the 1880s, but it fell into disrepair thereafter.
It was restored in 1920 when the city of Brasov turned the Castle over to Queen Marie of Greater Romania. She turned it into a royal summer residence and lived there before and after the death of her husband, King Ferdinand I. Queen Marie is responsible for the modernization of Bran. Queen Marie died in 1938 and her daughter Ileana was forced out of the country by the communist regime a decade later, and so the Castle now belonged to the regime. The communists opened the castle to the public as a museum in 1956. The post communist Romanian government handed Bran Castle over to Ileana’s son, Archduke Dominic of Habsburg, in 2009. It continues to operate as a museum.
3 – Predjama Castle in Slovenia
This Slovenian castle is located in the middle of a 123m high limestone cliff at the entrance of a cave. Beneath the castle there are a few cave systems, one of which the Lovka stream runs into and another which used to be horse stables. These caves can be explored by small groups, but must be led by a specially trained guide.
The castle itself was likely built in the 12th century but isn’t documented until the second half of the following century. Throughout it’s history it has passed through many hands. One of the first known is in 1350 when it was taken by Austrian dukes. Later, in 1398, Aquilean troops sieged and set fire to it. It was also owned by a group of knights from Lienz who named it Luegg Castle and called themselves the Lords of Lienz and Luegg.
By far the most famous owner of the property was a knight named Erazem. In 1483 he killed Marshall Pappenheim during an argument at the Viennese court. The marshall was a relative of the Austrian Emperor and so Erazem was forced to flee Austria and hide out in Predjama Castle. In retaliation the emperor ordered the castle to be seiged by Gaspar Ravbar, Lord of Trieste. The Lord tried to starve Erazem to death but was unsuccessful due to secret passages in the caves. Eventually, Ravbar was able to carry out his duty when Erazem was killed by a cannonball.
The castle was rebuilt and enlarged by it’s next owner, Hans Kobenzl, who bought the property in 1567. His descendants remained owners of the castle until 1810. After the Kobenzl family there were two additional owners before Predjama was officially confiscated by the state following the second world war.
4 – Eltz Castle in Germany
This castle is located in the Eltz Forest It is a stunning example of medieval architecture and has been featured in many films and TV shows. Eltz Castle was originally created on a road that was frequented by Romans during the 12th century. Three local lords collaborated to gain a substantial amount of money for it’s construction. After 33 generations these three families (Kempenich, Rubenach, and Rodendorf) still own and maintain it.
Today, two sections of the castle are opened for tourism, and the third one is still home to Kempenich family. The castle is well known for having eight floors, eight towers and 100 rooms that all can be heated which is rare for medieval construction. The average height of its towers is between 30 and 40 meters.
5 – Hohenwerfen Castle in Austria
Due to several periods of political unrest and investiture conflict it became necessary for the archbishop to be placed under armed protection. In 1077 the construction of three fortresses was ordered, one of which would eventually become Hohenwerfen Castle. These original fortifications were likely made primarily made from wood. The castle has had a lot of development throughout the centuries, only reaching it’s current scale in the 15th century.
In the 16th century Hohenwerfen was taken by surprise by the peasant revolts that were devastating the country. The castle was besieged, plundered, burned and large sections otherwise destroyed. When the revolts were suppressed Archbishop Matthäus Lang commissioned repairs and had a small bastion, the Wallerturm watchtower and a hidden staircase built.
Another building phase was initiated under Archbishop Johann Jakob Khuen-Belasy that modeled the castle after an Italian fortress. This prompted the use of the castle as a prison in the 17th and 18th centuries.
When Salzburg was secularized and the castle was changed over to Bavarian rule in 1803 the castle fell into disrepair. This was until Archduke Johann had the castle restored which took from 1824 to 1833 and used it primarily as a hunting base.
In 1898 Archduke Eugen purchased the castle and expanded the complex into a stately home and added a large collection of art and weaponry.
In 1931 the main building in the castle complex was completely destroyed by fire.
During Nazi rule the castle was used as a military training center and from 1945 to 1987 it was used by Salzburg’s police school. Since 1987 the fortifications have been developed as a tourist attraction.
6 – Kilkenny Castle in Ireland
The first castle on the land where Kilkenny currently stands was constructed during the Anglo-Norman period by Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare. It was replaced by a stone structure in 1192 by William Marshal and eventually bought by the Butler family that would own it for the next 500 years in 1391.
Kilkenny Castle was captured by Catholic rebels during the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640’s due to the Protestant Butlers taking the side of King Charles I. It was later also besieged by Cromwell during his conquest of Ireland. When Butler returned from exile in 1661 he had the medieval castle updated to fit the standards of the time.
Over time, the Butler family found it more and more difficult to financially maintain the castle and were only able to do odd pieces of work when the money appeared. In 1904, James Butler, 21st Earl of Ormonde, welcomed King Edward VIII and Queen Alexandra to Kilkenny Castle when they visited Ireland. When he died, huge amounts of death duties meant that the castle’s future was in jeopardy.
It was besieged by the Irish Free State during the Irish Civil War in 1922, and quite severely damaged. The Butlers left for London in 1935, abandoning the castle. It was eventually sold in 1967 to the Castle Restoration Committee for a ceremonial £50. It now technically belongs to the city of Kilkenny, and remains the city’s most popular tourist attraction.
7 – Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany
Had Walt Disney known the true history of Neuschwanstein Castle, would he have still used it as the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s Castle?
King Ludwig II, also known as the “fairy-tale King” built the castle to serve as a representation of a fantasy kingdom he had created which honored his love for opera and medieval legends. Many believe it to be an architectural love letter to German composer Richard Wagner that turned into a refuge for the reclusive King whom was later declared to have lost his sanity.
Young Ludwig was raised in a different castle, Hohenschwangau, which was built in 1832 in the Gothic style which the time period is known for. It was decorated with paintings which were inspired by German legends and poetry. Ludwig’s favorite was Lohengrin, the tale of a legendary knight of the Holy Grail who traveled on a boat that was pulled by swans.
When Ludwig became King one of the first things that he did was invite Richard Wagner to Munich in order to attend an opera festival. Just like the King, Wagner was also obsessed with medieval legends and had even written an opera version of Lohengrin. Wagner was facing financial difficulties and so he accepted the King’s offer. This lead to the King becoming one of his chief patrons.
When Prussia defeated Bavaria and Austria in the Seven Weeks’ War King Ludwig was stripped of power. Historians believe that it was following this humiliating defeat that Ludwig decide to retreat into fantasy. Safe within these fantasies he could play out his operatic daydreams full of Christian knights and magical swans. He picked a picturesque location for the castle he was set to build and enlisted the help of a theatrical set designer and scene painter named Christian Jank in order to bring his vision to life. Some features that he wanted in this fantasyland included 200 well-appointed rooms with all of the latest technological comforts, a cavernous “Singers’ Hall” where performances were to be held, walled off gardens, and a “Knights’ Bath” similar to those used in ritual baths by the Knights of the Holy Grail.
The King had hoped to be able to move in within three years, but construction took much longer than expected and he moved in before the castle was completed. Ludwig grew increasingly reclusive. He slept during the day and wandered the castle at night. He’d hire musicians and actors for private concerts and operas. And during Bavaria’s snowy winters, he’d journey out for nighttime sleigh rides in an elaborate, custom-made sleigh, sometimes in medieval costume.
The unfinished castle had gone so far over budget that foreign banks threatened to seize the property and bankrupt Bavaria if debts could not be paid. It was at this point that the Bavarian ministers accused the King of insanity and had him removed from the throne. Days after he was deemed insane by a state-appointed psychiatrist and locked up in a drab castle the King was found dead. No one knows what truly happened, but Ludwig and his psychiatrist were both found after apparently having drowned in waist-deep water. The castle was renamed Neuschwanstein (German for “New Swan Stone”) after Ludwig’s death as an homage to the tragic and eccentric figure known as the “fairy-tale king.” Ironically, the debt-ridden castle, opened to the public just seven weeks after Ludwig’s death in 1886, has paid for itself many times over, thanks to the 1.4 million tourists who visit each year.
8 – Warwick Castle in England
This castle was built in the 11th century and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in England. The castle is a stunning example of medieval architecture and is a must-see for any history buff. It is one of the most dramatic and complete medieval castles in the country, and has been inhabited continuously since the Middle Ages.
Before Warwick Castle existed as we know it today, the site it now sits on was the location of a Saxon fort built by Æthelflæd – the daughter of King Alfred the Great. This fort was constructed in 914 AD as a defense from invading Danes. In 1068 William the Conqueror ordered the construction of a wooden motte and bailey. It was turned into a stone castle in the 13th century and began to resemble the Warwick Castle of today.
The castle was further shaped into what we recognize today throughout centuries of change. Some of these changes were updates to match the era, military reasons, or due to natural disasters such as a fire in 1871. For example, while its two vast eastern towers date to 14th and 15th century renovations and the Great Hall to the 14th century, much of the interior, such as the State Dining Room, was redone or created in the 18th century.
A major historical allure of Warwick Castle is the people that it has housed. These residents include Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick or “The Kingmaker” during the War of the Roses, Edward IV who was held prisoner there in 1469 and the future King Richard III in the 1480’s. In 1642, Warwick Castle also played its part in the English Civil War, withstanding a Royalist siege.
Until 1978 Warwick Castle was the seat of the Earls of Warwick. It was at this point that it was opened up to the public. Visitors can tour the site and its grounds, learning about its history and enjoying its architecture. There are also lots of children’s activities, shows and attractions, including birds of prey.
9 – Château de Chenonceau in France
Built on the banks of the River Cher, the Château de Chenonceau is located near the small village of Chenonceaux in the Loire Valley. It was first referenced in the eleventh century when all that stood where the castle is now situated was an old mill. The current château was designed by the French architect, Philbert de l’Orme between 1514 and 1522 after it was purchased by it’s first known owner, Thomas Bohier. Bohier was Chancellor to King Charles VIII of France. He was popular among the French aristocracy and even hosted King Francis I at two parties held at Chenonceau.
The Château was seized by the monarchy in 1535 when Bohier’s son fell into debt which he was unable to pay. After the death of Francis I Chenonceau began to gain it’s now famous nickname of “The Ladies’ Chateau”. King Henry II gifted the castle to his mistress Diane de Poitiers. Diane de Poitiers adored her home and made many improvements to it. One of these improvements was building a bridge which connected to the opposite side of the riverbank over the River Cher. She was also responsible for the creation of a set of spectacular gardens in front of the château that were prevented from flooding by stone terraces. Laid out in triangles, Diane had them planted with extensive flowerbeds, vegetable patches and orchards.
When Henry II died in 1559 his wife, Catherine de Medici, became queen regent on behalf of their ten-year-old son, Francis II. With her increase in power she was able to remove her husband’s mistress from Château de Chenonceau and expel her from court. Catherine installed her son, Francis, at Château de Chenonceau and adopted an Italian style of luxury and splendour, in recognition of her heritage. As regent of France, Catherine de Medici ruled in her son’s stead from her study within the château, called the Green Cabinet. It was during this period that the Château de Chenonceau gained its grand gallery over the bridge, which could be used for taking ‘exercise’ without residents needing to leave the safety of the château. Catherine de Medici also made changes to the gardens, modernising them and creating a new series of layouts. When Francis II was finally old enough to ascend the throne Catherine de Medici hosted the very first firework show in France from her residence.
The next known owner was Louise Dupin. She was married to a wealthy squire who bought her the lavish estate in 1733. Louise Dupin became known for holding meetings of intellectuals in her literary salon at Château de Chenonceau. Leaders of Enlightenment thought in France were attracted to the salon, including writers, philosophers and naturalists like Voltaire, Rousseau, Buffon, Condillac and many others. It was Louise that saved Château de Chenonceau from destruction in the French Revolution of 1792, by claiming that its bridge was the only crossing over the River Cher for many miles.
In 1913, Château de Chenonceau was bought by Henri Menier, a chocolatier. It is still owned by the Menier’s who restored it in the 1950’s after the ravages of both World Wars. During WWI, the gallery above the bridge was turned into a 120 bed hospital which helped to treat 2250 injured patients. It played a pivotal role in the safety of French citizens during WWII as it allowed for them to pass across the River Cher and into the ‘free’ zone. Some of the damage which it acquired includes a bombing by German forces which shattered the glass of the chapel and a flood which destroyed the gardens.
Chenonceau has been a designated historic monument since 1840 to protect it for future generations.
Thank you for joining us for this look at the top 10 castles in Europe. Be sure to reach out to us for any of your travelling needs! What castles are you planning on visiting?