Travel Tips: My Ten Favourite Castles and Palaces!

I'm in the middle of an unexpectedly quiet week at work, so I've decided to use some of my extra time to write a new Travel Tips article. It seems like an especially good idea given that it will be a little while before my next blog post, because I'm actually going to be away for most of next week, travelling for the first time since March! 

Okay, so I have done plenty of travelling around my local area over the last few months, but nothing longer than day trips. I'm quite excited to get to finally start packing a bag again, which is something I'd never thought I'd say during my years at university and the Year Abroad!

Today I've chosen to write about my favourite castles and palaces, a subject I am slightly obsessed with. My interest in them is perhaps a bit odd, given that I'm actually very strongly anti-monarchy and anti-aristocracy. However, I love everything to do with Disney and fairytales, and I find that visiting castles and palaces is one of the best forms of escapism, making you feel like you've stepped into a book or movie.

I've been lucky enough to visit many castles over the years, and some have really stuck in my mind. Others not so much! (I think many British kids have been through the disappointment of being taken to a "castle" by their parents, only to find a small pile of stones on a hill!) But I've managed to make a list of just ten of the ones that are most memorable for me. In no particular order, here they are...

Castillo Wullf, Viña del Mar, Chile

In general, Europe is the continent best known for castles, whereas South America doesn't have very many at all. However, the city of Viña del Mar in the Valparaíso region of central Chile is an exception to this rule. Several of the buildings there have been inspired by European architecture. Castillo Brunet, which was built in a French style using stone imported from France, is a very impressive castle to look at. However, Castillo Wullf, a German-style castle overlooking the Pacific Ocean, has to be my favourite.

Read more here and here!

Casa Rosada, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Casa Rosada, the Argentinian presidential palace, is an iconic building and symbol of the nation of Argentina. Located in the famous Plaza de Mayo, it is close to several other important buildings, such as Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral. The palace is just one of many incredible sights to see in BA, and I would LOVE to be back there now!

Read more here and here!

Bled Castle, Slovenia

Here is a castle I visited before my blogging days started and before I had a phone with a decent camera! But even from my photo it's still possible to see just how beautiful Lake Bled in Slovenia is. In the middle of the lake, there's a little island with a church, and on a precipice overlooking the water, you can see Bled Castle, a medieval building with a museum inside. The whole area is so picturesque - it's like a fairytale brought to life. Slovenia is not one of the best known countries in Europe, but I would highly recommend it as a travel destination for its amazing landscapes such as this one.

Bratislava Castle, Slovakia

Another underrated country in Eastern Europe is Slovakia (often confused with Slovenia!). I went on a day trip to Bratislava, the capital city, during my Year Abroad and really enjoyed exploring there. My favourite part had to be the castle, which overlooks the rest of the city and the Danube river from the top of a hill. But there are plenty of other castles to visit throughout the country, because in fact, Slovakia holds the title of the country with the most castles per capita in the world!

Read more here!

Belvedere Palace, Vienna, Austria

Just a short distance away from Bratislava, you can find the Austrian capital, Vienna. Vienna is famous for its beautiful architecture and features three famous palaces: Schönbrunn, Hofburg and Belvedere. My personal favourite was the Belvedere Palace. The exterior is magnificent, and inside there's an art gallery where you can view many famous paintings, including The Kiss by Gustav Klimt. Interestingly, I actually visited the Belvedere on the same day that I visited Bratislava Castle! Days like that were one of the things I really loved about doing a Year Abroad.

Read more here!

Vaduz Castle, Liechtenstein

Another amazing castle I saw on my Year Abroad was Vaduz Castle in the capital city of Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein is such a tiny country, but it's a great place to visit. Even though the castle itself isn't open to the public, there are plenty of interesting sights to see and museums to look around in Vaduz. 

On the bus ride in to Vaduz from Sargans in Switzerland, I saw another beautiful castle: Gutenberg Castle in the town of Balzers. That one is actually open to the public, so I would love to go back and visit it in the future.

Read more here!

Château de Dieppe, France

France is a country famous for its castles and palaces, and le Château de Dieppe in Normandy has to be my favourite out of the ones I've visited. Not only does it look like something out of a fairytale, it also has amazing views over the sea and the town of Dieppe, and there's a very interesting art gallery and museum inside. I think it's great how so many of the castles and palaces in France are open to the public rather than belonging to "royal" families or "lords". The country receives more tourists than anywhere else in the world, so clearly it's a strategy that works. Definitely something Britain could learn from!

Read more here!

Wawel Castle, Kraków, Poland

When I volunteered with the Angloville programme in Poland, I had the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of Kraków. One of the most famous parts of the city is Wawel Hill, an architectural complex that includes a cathedral and an impressive castle. The castle was the royal residence of Poland, before the country moved with the times and became a republic. I would definitely recommend visiting the hill as well as the entire city. It's one of the most picturesque places I've ever been to.

Read more here!

Castelo de São Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is an incredible city to visit with many sights to see. But I would have to say that Castelo de São Jorge was the highlight of my trip there. The building dates back to the first century BC and is a fantastic place to explore. While I was there, I met two lovely cats and some peacocks! The castle is also the best place in Lisbon for amazing panoramic views across the entirety of the colourful city.

Read more here!

Cardiff Castle, Wales, UK

I'm finishing off the list with a castle that's a little closer to home. Cardiff Castle in the capital of Wales is a great place to visit, featuring brilliant panoramic views from the top of the keep, an interesting museum, and of course a Welsh dragon! While England is better known for its stately homes, Wales is famous for its many ancient castles. In fact, it's the country with the most castles per square mile!

Read more here and here!

These are just ten of the best castles and palaces I've been to, whittled down from a shortlist twice the size! Honourable mentions include Blenheim Palace, Cirencester Castle and the Dower House in the UK; Mirabell Palace, Hohensalzburg Castle, Schloss Velden, Burg Hochosterwitz and Burg Landskron in Austria; and Palais des Papes and Luxembourg Palace in France.

In the future, I would especially love to visit le Château de Chenonceau in France, the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City, Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, the Winter Palace in Russia and the Taj Mahal in India!

Next week, I'll actually be visiting a castle when I'm up in the Lake District, which should be exciting. I look forward to blogging about it when I get back!

Check out the rest of my Travel Tips here!