Table Of ContentWORLD’S
GREATEST
CASTLES
EXPLORE S 0 M E 0 F T H E MOST IMPRESSIVE
CASTLES AROUND THE GLOBE
DISCOVER
FORTRESSES
THAT HAVE
CHANCED
HISTORY
»
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NEUSCIIWANSTEIN WINDSOR HIMEJI CAPE COAST
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WORLD9S
GREATEST
CASTLESA
Everyone loves a castle - how could
you nor? Centuries of history arc
packed into one complex, and each
is wonderfully unique. Some were
owned hy counts, others the highest
echelons of royalty. Some served
as prisons with in famous inmates,
while others were stately homes
with beautiful banqueting halls and
bedrooms. All are fascinating.
In All About History 101 Creates!
Castles, it’s time to uncover the
Ik ;st of the best from around the
w o r Id. F nun South Africa and japan
to r ranee aanndd JKu nnariia, go lie Mind
the fortifications to find out the
true stories behind DracuJa’s home
and the namesake of the House of
Windsor. Meet the ghosts of haunte
castles, and walk th some o
history’s nifist iconic: hu ild i hits
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WORLDS
CREATEST
CASTLES
Future plc Hic^nrioriti House, 3$ Richmond Hill,
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Aiarny.Cetty
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6
101 GREATEST CASTLES
OS NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE 70 M0R1TZBUHG CASTLE
Explore the fairytale creation of Ludwig II A Saxon marvel, and four more nearby
16 CASTLES THAT 7S FRENCH CHATEAUX
MADE HIS TO R Y Marvel at the beauty of French architecture
Uncow buildings that have changed the world CHATEAU DECHILLON
22 KASTEEL DE HAAR Abreathtaking cast le on the shore of Lake Geneva
Step inside a piece of Dutch history 86 CASTLES OF RUSSIA
24 FREDERIKSBORG CASTLE Some of the highlights of Imperial Russia
Discover Denmark's royal paradise 88 ALCAZAR OF SEGOVIA
32 AGRA FORT Explore Spa i i :.Js u 11 U [ue histof y
Head to India, centre of the Mughal Empire 96 HUNGARIAN CASTLES
34 JAPAN'S BEST CASTLES Four u unusable chances to step hack i n Li me
we reveal sev^n of Japan's most beautiful forts- 98 BRAN CASTLE
40 EDINBURGH CASTLE Step inside the inspiration for Draaiia's home
How did tbifi castle help a rebel cause? 102 AFRICAN CASTLES
50 MUST-SEE Six strongholds await you in Africa
HIGHLAND CASTLES 104 WAWEL CASTLE
sreamtaldiigcastles Iniiinmlngscenery Uncover Poland's heritage and history
52 DUBLIN CASTLE 112 CRUSADER CASTLES
Discover the sur prising past of Ireland's capital Cl tart 11 if C rusades 111 n: :i i i I iiF-HF U >r ts
54 WINDSOR CASTLE 114 GRIPSHOLM CASTLE
Steu into one ot the Queen's royal residences Cue of Sweden's great castles
60 DOVER CASTLE 118 CASTELLI D’lTALIA
Go underground at Britain's Hist line ot defence FixploTt: Italy through seven of its castles
62 INSIDE THE WORLD'S 122 HOHENWERFEN CASTLE
HAUNTED CASTLES From royalty to Nazis, uncover its tumultuous past
Meet the ghosts and ghouls at seven castles that 124 AMONG THE RUINS
are home to some spooky goings on Take a trip to the remains of castles around the world
7
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CASTLES
NEUSCHWAN STEIN
CASTLE
INTENDED AS A RETREAT FROM THE
PRESSURES OF COURT, THIS BEAUTIFUL
CASTLE SOUNDED THE DEATH KNELL
FOR LUDWIG II OF BAVARIA
9
BAVARIA
GERMANY
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/ 0 i WORED \s GREATEST CASTLES
unrounded by luscious
green forests, idyllic
ENTRY FEE
lakes and the snowy
ADULTS €13; CHILDREN FREE
mountainous peaks
OPENING HOURS
of the Bavarian Alps, you'll find
Ncuschwanstcin Castle. Once the APRIL 15 OCTOBER 9AM-6PM,
fantasy retreat of a king deemed too
16 OCTOBER - MARCH 10AM-4PM
insane to rule, it has since become
WEBSITE
one of the most popular tourist
www.neuschwanstein.de
destinations in Europe.
Built by Ludwig J1 of Bavaria, the
castle was more than just a show
of royal wealth: it was to serve as a
sanctuary Irom courtly life, providing
the king with welcome respite. This
haven from his capital was a labour
of love for Ludwig, who embraced
the legends and lore of the Medieval
period in its design and decoration.
Yet despite the determination and
devotion that Ludwig poured into
Neuschwanstein, the castle brought
nothing but misfortune to its creator.
Ludwig's pet project turned on him.
with its spiralling costs and never-
ending construction leading to
the king's nllimaie deposition and
eventually his death.
Born on 25 August 1845 at
Nymphenburg Palace in Munich,
Ludwig JT was the first son to
Maximi Ilian, the heir to the Bavarian
throne. Merely three years after
the birth of his son, Maximillian
was crowned king after his father's
abdication, with Ludwig taking the
role as crown prince. Throughout
Ludwig's youch, his status as a royal
was at die forefront of his upbringing:
lie was spoilt, yet he was forbidden
the freedom ol other children, It was
this controlled childhood that left him
distant and unattached to his parents
- in later life, he referred to his mother
as his "predecessor's consort",
I le might not have had a strong
bond with his parents, but Ludwig
shared a strong connection with
his grandfather, the eccentric and
philandering Ludwig T As well as
sharing a name, the two Ludwigs
also shared the same birthday and a Austrian border. It was decorated A Ludwig's dreams soon took a
Ludwig
passion for culture. While the former with Germanic sagas, overlooking different direction when he discovered
planned the
king was passionate about arts and the landscape and the Schwansee Che works of Richard Wagner. Aged
design of ihe
poetry, the future king began on - known in English as the Swan tastle with die IS, Ludwig saw Wagner's opera
help of Edward
his own path towards his lifelong Lake, it was from Hohcnschwangau Lohengrin for the first time in Munich.
Riedel, an
enthusiasm for architecture. that Ludwig first laid eyes on the architect, and Ho was hooked. Later that year, he
Most of the crown prince's ruinous fort where he was to build Christian Jank, saw Tarmhauser, It was tire start of
a theatrical set
childhood was spent in his father's Neuschwanstein, his dream of his own an unwavering, life-long passion for
designer
castle, 1 iohenschwangau, a modest fairy tale fortress to be realised nearly the composer and his works. Ludwig
but fantastical building near the 20 years later. vowed drat his first act as king of
ID
