Palaces & Castles
Aesthetic and architectural marvels, the world’s great palaces, whether built as royal residences or private homes, were intended to display their owners’ wealth and power. The world’s great castles, important achievements in engineering and military architecture, were designed both as homes for the rulers of a territory and as strongholds against enemy attack. Great palaces and castles alike uniquely embody the civilizations that produced them.
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18th Century Royal Palace at Caserta
Location: Caserta, Italy, Europe
The 18th century Royal Palace at Caserta, in Naples, Italy, and its park, together with the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli and the nearby complex at Leucio served as a royal enclave and as an industrial town.
See also: Parks & Gardens
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Ancient Kyoto: Nijō Castle
Location: Kyoto, Japan, Asia
Kyoto, Japan’s imperial capital from 794 A.D. until 1869 is known for its Nijojo Castle, once home to the Tokugawa shoguns, and for its many temples and gardens.
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Castel del Monte
Location: Andria, Italy, Europe
Built by Frederick II in the 13th-century in southeast Italy, the Castel del Monte is a visually arresting octagonal castle, showcasing varied architectural styles.
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Chateau de Chantilly
Location: Chantilly, France, Europe
The Château de Chantilly’s collection of historical paintings (before 1850) is, after the Louvre Museum in Paris, the largest in France.
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Chenonceau Castle
Location: Loire Valley, France, Europe
Built on the River Cher in the Loire Valley, the Château de Chenonceau is a masterpiece of 16th-century Renaissance architecture.
See also: Regions & Landscapes
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Himeji-jo
Location: Himeji, Japan, Asia
Himeji Castle is an outstanding example of classic Japanese castle architecture.
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Historic Center of Avignon
Location: Avignon, France, Europe
The Palais des Papes (Papal Palace), the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-des-Doms and the Avignon Bridge in the French city of Avignon preserve the city’s heritage as the nearly 70-year home of the Papacy in the 14th century.
See also: Cities & Towns
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Palace and Park of Versailles
Location: Versailles, France, Europe
The Versailles Palace is a sprawling château set amidst landscaped grounds and formal gardens, representing an extraordinary achievement of 18th-century French architecture and landscape design.
See also: Parks & Gardens
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The Loire Valley: Castle of Amboise
Location: Loire Valley, France, Europe
Rising above the town of Amboise and the River Loire in France, the Château d’Amboise is a Gothic-Renaissance castle that was favored by French kings.
See also: Regions & Landscapes
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The Loire Valley: Castle of Ussé
Location: Loire Valley, France, Europe
The Château d’Ussé is said to have been the inspiration for the castle featured in the 17th-century French fairy tale La Belle au bois dormant (Sleeping Beauty).
See also: Regions & Landscapes
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The Loire Valley: Villandry Castle
Location: Loire Valley, France, Europe
Château Villandry, the last of the great chateâus built in the Loire Valley during the Renaissance, is best known for its exquisite gardens.
See also: Regions & Landscapes
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Three Castles, Bellinzona
Location: Bellinzona, Switzerland, Europe
The forbidding castles, walls and ramparts of the town of Bellinzona were built and rebuilt in the Middle Ages as regional powers continually fought for control of the town.
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Villa Adriana, Tivoli
Location: Tivoli, Italy, Europe
The ruins of Villa Adriana (Hadrian’s Villa) near Tivoli, Italy, once an opulent estate, date from the 2nd century A.D.
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Villa d’Este, Tivoli
Location: Tivoli, Italy, Europe
The Villa d’Este in Tivoli, Italy, is an outstanding exemplar of 16th-century Renaissance garden design and architecture, which would be imitated for centuries to come.
