Guest Post by Marie Nieves
The very idea of a castle invokes a sense of wonder. We have all been raised with the stories full of magic, extraordinary feats and larger-than-life characters that lived and died in the shadows of such glorious edifices. But can you rekindle that sense of enchantment once more? Rouse your inner child by visiting 6 castles in Europe where you can get your fairy-tale fix.
1. Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is by far the least surprising choice for a fairy-tale castle tour imaginable. In fact, it is practically obligatory to mention it in almost any sort of list that pertains to European castles. This astonishing piece of masonry and architectural brilliance is not even that old – it was built in the 19th century. As if it couldn’t have been more perfect, Neuschwanstein overlooks the hills of Bavaria, right on the slopes of Alps that separate Germany and Austria. If the surrounding woods do not give you that ancient fairy-tale prickling of the thumbs, hardly anything will.
2. Mont Saint Michel
Mont Saint Michel is the first of several French edifices that simply have to be mentioned on this list. Technically, this is not a castle in a traditional sense, but a fortified township on a large rock with a monastery at the very top – the embodied symbol of feudal society if there ever was one. Still, it’s impossible to deny its enchanting appeal, and if you’ve never seen it, Mont Saint Michel is bound to take your breath away, especially if you visit during high tides.
3. Chateau de Chambord
Chateau de Chambord is one of the most recognizable castles in the world for a very good reason – it has been used time and time again as a source of inspiration for many a fantasy castle you’ve seen in cartoons, including some Disney castles as well. Therefore, if you really want to feel as if you were walking into a fairytale, head to the amazing Loire Valley via one of the finest walking tours in France and marvel at this French Renaissance monument as the chirping of the birds and rustling of the leaves overwhelm your senses.
4. Ashford Castle
With a name that begs the imagination to conjure up incredible stories filled with family betrayals and ancient blood curses, Ashford Castle is an appropriately wondrous structure located in County Mayo, Ireland. Like all the castles worthy of a fairy-tale status, it overlooks a magnificent lake that goes by the name of Lough Corrib and the surrounding meadows are popping with lush green hues that may just hide a few runaway fairies here and there. The upside of this location is that it has been turned into a hotel during the 1930s. Who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to spend a night in a 13th-century castle?
5. Corvin Castle
Another edifice with an exciting name, Corvin Castle in Romania is a brooding Gothic construction which was built in the 14th century by the Anjou family and dubbed one of the “seven wonders of Romania”. This true Transylvanian castle looks like the home of a dark wizard or the hideaway of a royal maiden patiently waiting for a family member to visit. With its impressive gothic outlines and tall and spiky roofs, it is an archetype of a medieval fantasy backdrop.
6. Hluboká Castle
Head to Czechia in order to savor Hluboká Castle’s astonishing façade. It serves as a perfect foil to the aforementioned Corvin Castle with its white walls and lush appearance that lends it an appeal of an idyllic backdrop for celebration. When it comes to style, it can be hard to pinpoint a consistent theme, but the castle was originally built in Gothic style as far back as the 13th century. It has been rebuilt and refurbished in Renaissance style three hundred years later, with Baroque sensibilities in the 18th century and once again in the 19th century. The castle also includes a hotel and an exquisite restaurant with a stellar reputation.
Castles are such unique feats of architectural mastery because they can evoke a mixture of complex feelings within the observer. They can look sinister and romantic, serene and exciting, all of it at the same time. Europe is a place where most popular fairy tales took their final form. The vast and varied continent that consists of numerous countries bears the scars of incredible historical events – sometimes more miraculous than fairy tales themselves – and castles are monuments to those events, and an architectural biography of the land and the times when everyone still believed in magic.
__
About the Author
Marie Nieves – an expat in Australia – is a lifestyle blogger who loves unusual trips, gadgets and creative ideas. On her travels she likes to read poetry and prose and surf the Internet. Her favourite writer is Tracy Chevalier and she always carries one of her books in her bag. She spends most of her free time at home walking her Labrador Retriever named Max. She is an avid lover of photography who loves to talk about her experiences. You can find Marie on Facebook or follow her on Twitter and Pinterest.