The Grandest Royal Palaces in Europe
Europe is known for many things, from historic sights to stunning landscapes to buzzing metropolises. Tying the three together are the grand palaces that have housed European royal families for generations, many of which are set on picturesque manicured grounds. Take a look at seven such architectural splendors spread across the European continent. We've also suggested some palatial hotels nearby so you can feel like royalty, too!
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1. Château de Chambord, Chambord, France
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2. Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna
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3. Topkapi Palace, Istanbul
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4. Palazzo Pitti, Florence
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5. Château de Versailles, Versailles, France
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6. Buda Castle, Budapest
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7. Peterhof Palace, St. Petersburg
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8. Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin
Courtesy of Wikimedia/Patrick Giraud
France’s Loire Valley is known for its resplendent palaces, Château de Chambord the largest among them. Francis I built it not as his main residence, but as his hunting lodge. It went unused in the decades after his death, falling into ruin, but Louis XIV had the palace restored.
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Courtesy of Flickr/Craig Wyzik
The summer seat of the Habsburgs, this 1,441-room palace in Vienna was developed between the 16th and the 18th centuries. Its garden is not to be missed.
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Courtesy of Wikimedia/Roweromaniak
A residence for Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries, this grand palace reopened as a museum in 1924, after the end of the Ottoman empire.
Where to Stay
Courtesy of Flickr/Larry Koester
The famed Medici family purchased this home, formerly owned by banker Luca Pitti, in 1549, 101 years after the earliest parts of the palace were built. It once served as a base for Napoleon, but today it is a museum.
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Courtesy of Flickr/Ninara
Certainly the one of the famous palaces in Europe, this grand château has 721,206 square feet of interior floor space, but it sits on a staggering 87,728,720 square feet of land. Originally built in 1623 by Louis XIII as a hunting lodge, the palace was expanded to its grand scale by Louis XIV.
Where to Stay
Courtesy of Flickr/Daniel Edwins
Hungarian kings called this palace home since it was completed in 1265. Over the site’s long history, many of its structures have been destroyed in wars and rebuilt time and time again.
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Courtesy of Flickr/David Orban
Known as the Versailles of Russia, this palace was built by Peter the Great in the 18th century. It was largely destroyed during World War II, but restorations have since returned the palace to its original splendor.
Where to Stay
Courtesy of Flickr/Henri Sivonen
Unlike many of the palaces on this list, Charlottenburg was commissioned by a woman—Sophie Charlotte, the wife of Frederick I, King of Prussia. It is the largest palace in Berlin.
Where to Stay
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