{"id":2927,"date":"2017-04-03T14:47:16","date_gmt":"2017-04-03T14:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/?p=2927"},"modified":"2017-04-03T14:58:59","modified_gmt":"2017-04-03T14:58:59","slug":"8-unbelievable-castles-put-bucket-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/8-unbelievable-castles-put-bucket-list\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Unbelievable Castles to Put on Your Bucket List"},"content":{"rendered":"

The release of the new ‘Beauty and the Beast’ film has us pining after all things palatial. From the Bavarian castle that inspired Disney\u2019s Sleeping Beauty to Scotland\u2019s rough and rugged 11th-century fortresses, heritage-listed palaces and castles hold a special\u00a0place in each country\u2019s culture and history. In celebration of these towering beauties, we\u2019re bringing you the best of the best castle and palace tours, ideal for all the romantics and faithful Disney fans out there. Forget fairy tales, real life is where it\u2019s at with these swoon-worthy sites on the agenda.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sch\u00f6nbrunn Palace, Austria
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Schonbrunn-castle\"<\/p>\n

On the Luce<\/a> blog\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Lavish rococo architecture and sumptuous gardens come together at this anything-but humble abode. Once the summer home for Austrian Royalty, this palatial getaway is luxury epitomised.<\/p>\n

Did you know?<\/strong> Dating back to the 14th century, this imperial Summer Residence had lots of noteworthy visitors over the years. Classical composer Wolfgang Mozart was first invited to Sch\u00f6<\/span>nbrunn in 1762, performing his very first concert to the Empress in the Mirror Room at just six years old.<\/p>\n

Explore Vienna’s jewel here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Alhambra Palace, Spain<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"alhambra-palace\"<\/p>\n

\"alhambra-palace-best-castles\"<\/p>\n

Photos via The Voyageur\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Ornate, grand & serene, Granada\u2019s 13th-century palace boasts a sense of majesty that\u2019s all its own. Part fort and part palace,\u00a0Alhambra is a living tribute to the culture and history of the Moorish people that once ruled\u00a0the region. Alhambra Palace is home to all things exotic and decadent, its halls and chambers sumptuously adorned with intricate geometric patterns, marble columns and archways, and poetic symmetrical scenes. Head to this Spanish beauty for the scenic views, history & the epic Moorish architecture.<\/p>\n

Explore Granada\u2019s greatest asset here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"beauty-and-the-beast-castle\"<\/p>\n

Fairytales aren\u2019t just for picture books. Practice your role as the Queen or King of the castle at Germany\u2019s most idyllic \u2013 and one of our personal favourite \u2013 destinations, Neuschwanstein Castle.<\/p>\n

Did you know? <\/strong>This majestic site was the inspiration behind two of Disney’s most iconic castles, Cinderella’s Castle and the castle in Sleeping Beauty.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Explore this Bavarian beauty here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hirosaki Castle, Japan<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"hirosaki-castle-dreamy-spring\"<\/p>\n

\"hirosaki-japan\"<\/p>\n

Europe doesn’t hold all the fairytale sights, with far-flung castles and temples in Japan, China and beyond finally getting the recognition they deserve over the past few decades. Enter Hirosaki Castle, a hirayama-style Japanese Castle\u00a0constructed in 1611 in the southwest Aomori Prefecture. While the three-story tower, fortified moats, castle gates and some corner turrets (yagura) are impressive, the true standout of this site is its natural surroundings. Head here during cherry blossom season to see the castle in full bloom.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prague Castle, Czech Republic<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"prague-castle-attraction\"<\/p>\n

First constructed in the 9th century, Prague Castle is one of the city\u2019s most famed attractions, it\u2019s Gothic spires and looming towers decorating the urban landscape. A long history means these castle walls hold a host of age-old secrets and are home to countless national treasures. The world\u2019s largest ancient castle captivates for hours on end.<\/p>\n

Did you know? <\/strong><\/p>\n

A trial in the Castle\u2019s council room in 1618 ended rather abruptly after three lawbreakers were tossed out of the Castle\u2019s windows. After being found guilty of violating the right to religious freedom, two Catholic Regents and their secretary were shoved out the windows by an angry public. Luckily, a pile of horse manure broke their fall and they emerged uninjured. The word defenestration \u2013 meaning the act of throwing someone out of a window \u2013 was invented to describe the incident.<\/p>\n

Explore Prague\u2019s mighty monument here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mont St Michel, France<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"mont-st-michel-castle\"<\/p>\n

Perched on a rocky islet surrounded by the bays of Normandy, Mont Saint Michel stands alone as one of the most striking castles to date. Indeed, this castle commands attention, with the\u00a0surrounding city sprawling from the castle\u2019s walls in a charming shambolic fashion. Perhaps what most sets this UNESCO World Heritage site apart is the castle\u2019s unique setting. Surrounded by ocean and subject to harsh coastal weather conditions, this castle is a rare find both architecturally and aesthetically.<\/p>\n

Marvel at the\u00a0magnifique Mont St Michel here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Eltz Castle, Germany<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"eltz-castle-germany\"<\/p>\n

Sitting among the remote hills and woodlands above the Moselle River , Eltz Castle\u2019s well-preserved grounds offer a rare look into Bavarian life from medieval times and beyond. A far-flung location and strong defences meant these castle walls were never breached or interfered with, and today\u2019s travellers reap the benefits.<\/p>\n

Did you know? <\/strong><\/p>\n

33 generations of the Kempenich family have owned and resided in the Eltz Castle since its construction in the 12th<\/sup> century, with family members still calling the third wing of the castle home today.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Eilean<\/p>\n

Nothing says Scotland more than a good old-fashioned crumbling castle. As integral to the Scottish landscape as its pristine lochs and mighty mountains, the country\u2019s castles rank amongst the most iconic in the world. While more than 3,000 castles once stood tall in Scotland, Eileen Doonan has got to be one of our favourites. Beyond it\u2019s picture-perfect good looks, the castle was a key site in the turbulent Jacobite uprising.<\/p>\n

Explore Scotland’s epic castles here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What’s your favourite fairytale destination? Comment below!<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Forget fairy tales, real life is where it\u2019s at with these swoon-worthy sites on the agenda.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3050,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,21,60],"tags":[189,190,191],"yoast_head":"\n8 Unbelievable Castles to Put on Your Bucket List | The Guidebook - isango!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Forget fairy tales, real life is where it\u2019s at with these swoon-worthy sites on the agenda.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/8-unbelievable-castles-put-bucket-list\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"8 Unbelievable Castles to Put on Your Bucket List | The Guidebook - 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When she\u2019s not befriending every dog in sight, Alice is travelling. The whole of Europe is on her list. After years of acting like it\u2019s her job to know all the inside travel info, she can\u2019t quite believe she\u2019s actually getting paid to do this. She humbly hopes her pieces will stop you from boarding the wrong bus, visiting mediocre museums or showing up at Stansted airport when your flight is at Heathrow\u2014all of which she has done before\u2014but she\u2019s not making any promises. Read Her Adventures","url":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/author\/alice-griffin\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2927"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2927"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3090,"href":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2927\/revisions\/3090"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}