Go on a visit to the kings.
The palaces of kings and emperors reflect the wealth and greatness of rulers, who spared no expense in creating their residences.
Today most of the most amazing palaces around the world have become popular tourist attractions. A visit to such places helps to explore the history of the Kingdom and the lifestyle of the time. In this tape you will meet 10 of the most amazing palaces in the world.
Pena, Portugal
The Pena national Palace is located on the hills of Sintra in Portugal. In 1493 the Portuguese king John II built the monastery, where for centuries lived kings. The monastery was badly damaged by the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, after which Ferdinand II decided to transform the ruins in a nice building. And there was the Pena national Palace – the pride of Portugal. The construction was carried out from 1842 to 1850 in the then popular style of romanticism. This beautiful Palace is on the list of world heritage of UNESCO. On clear days you can see the towering castle rock for a few tens of kilometers.
Schönbrunn, Vienna
One of the most popular cultural monuments of Vienna is schönbrunn Palace, built between 1696 and 1712 years by Emperor Leopold I. In this delightful Palace 1441 different rooms and halls, and surrounding gardens is one of the masterpieces of European architecture. The façade of schönbrunn Palace is minted on the coin of 10 euros, released in 2003. Today millions of tourists annually visit this landmark of Vienna.
Mysore Palace
The Mysore Palace is located in the South Indian city of Mysore, known as city of palaces. The Mysore Palace was built by various kings for several centuries. The first part of this Palace was built in the 14th century Odiarmi, then was enlarged by the next generations. Modification and construction of new parts of the current Mysore Palace was held in the period 1897-1912 years. The Mysore Palace is a blend of Indo-saranskoy, Hindu, Muslim, Rajput and Gothic architecture. During the September festival dasar garden around the Palace is beautifully illuminated by tens of thousands of bright lights.
Summer Palace
The summer Palace covers an area of 2.9 kilometers in Beijing Chinese. It was built in 1750 as a resting place for the Imperial rulers of China, later becoming their main place of residence. The first Palace was known by another name and renamed the Summer Palace, only after the reconstruction in 1888. The Palace complex includes many ancient structures that are considered as one of the most popular monuments of Beijing. Queen’s Park and the natural beauty of the surroundings make the Summer Palace, one of the main historical attractions in China.
Topkapi Palace
The construction of Topkapi Palace began in 1453 by king Sultan Mehmed II. Palace in Istanbul was used as residence of the sultans, as well as the meeting place of important visitors, judicial and Executive functions. The complex covers a vast area of 173 acres, protected by huge walls. Topkapi Palace throughout its history has undergone several changes, but its minarets and domes were left in their original form. This exquisite Royal Palace is one of the greatest attractions of Istanbul.
The Palace Of Chambord
Chateau de Chambord is a striking example of French Renaissance architecture, and the second most visited attraction in France. This place was built as a hunting Lodge for king Francois in the period from 1519 to 1547, but never was finished. The Palace with its 440 rooms and 84 different fireplaces were surrounded by 52 square miles of wooded Park. Surprisingly, the king spent only 40 days, considering the Chambord too impractical due to the large size and spacious Windows.
The Palace of Versailles
The most popular Palace in France located in the southwest region of Paris. Versailles was built in 1624 by king Louis XIII as a hunting estate. In 1682, king Louis XIV expanded it, turning it into the largest Palace of France, and making his permanent residence. Versailles Palace with 700 rooms, 1,200 fireplaces and 60 staircases surrounded by a huge garden of 2000 acres. The Versailles garden contains 1400 fountains and a channel length of over a kilometer. The kings of France used this as the official residence until 1789, and now a delightful tourist attraction of Paris.
Alhambra
The Alhambra Palace is located in the Spanish city of Andalusia. The first part of this delightful Palace was built in the 9th century, but eventually fell into disrepair and was forgotten for several centuries. The complex was restored by Muhammad al-Ahmar in the 11th century, and in 1333, the Alhambra was the Palace of the Sultan of Granada. Some parts of the Alhambra were retouched, but most of the Palace remains reddish due to centuries of exposure to sunlight. Because of the location on top of the Palace complex can be seen from any part of the city. Now it is one of the most visited castles in Spain.
The Potala Palace
The Potala Palace in Lhasa is one of the most outstanding monuments of Tibet. The complex was named in honor of the mountain Potalaka – mythical housing Buddhists. The construction of the Palace was first started in the 7th century but acquired its current shape only in 1645 under the leadership of the fifth Dalai Lama. Potala Tibetan is famous for its outstanding architectural marvels, as the symbol of Buddhism in Tibet. The Palace was the tallest building in the world from 1653 to 1889, with which the roof you could see the whole of Lhasa.
Forbidden city
Forbidden city – the largest Palace complex in the world, located in Beijing and covers an area of 72 hectares. It is also known as the Palace Museum and the magnificent Palace. The forbidden city includes 980 buildings with 8707 different rooms. It was built between 1406 – 1420 as the residence of the Emperor. From 1420 to 1912 lived here 24 Chinese Emperor, and the complex was decorated with stone animals, arches, dragons and other statues. Until 1912 no one was allowed to enter the complex without the Emperor’s permission. The forbidden city became a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1987, and today it is annually visited by 10 million tourists.
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