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Author: Zbigniew Pilip

Czocha castle – fortified castle located in the border town of Sucha, by Lesna Lagoon on Kwisa in the Polish part of Upper Lusatia. The original name was probably Czajkw (1329: castrum Caychow), before 1945 Tzschocha.
It originated as a border fortress on the border between Silesia and Sorbian in the years 1241-1247 by order of the Czech king Wenceslas I. In 1253 the sent Meissener bishop von Weisenow (Lusatia were then part of the Czech Kingdom).
In year 1319 as a dowry and the surrounding lands was included in the principality of Henry I of Jawor. After the death of a relative in 1346 it has been taken over, together with the whole principality of the deceased, by Bolko II the Small, Duke of Jawor-widnica. After the death of Princess Agnes, widow of Bolko, under the system of survival of the emperor and Czech king Charles IV came to the Czech Republic. Between 1389 and 1453 it was property of

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Author: Vincent Cibula

Levick hrad bol postaven v

Built by the Moorish in VIII or IX D.C., This Castle is entrenched in two peaks of the mountain, from where a great view can be enjoyed. Surrounded by walls and towers, it was restored around 1860 by D. Fernando II, who gave the crumbling ruins another dignity.
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Castelo dos Mouros (Sintra)

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Author: Henry Alvarez

Chapel in the Governor’s House

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Author: Susana Lpez

The “aljibe” was rain water reservoir so the soldiers in the castle could drink duren sieges, as the castle is surrounded by the sea.

El Aljibe es un reservorio de agua de lluvia para que los soldados tuvieran agua dulce para beber durante los asedios, ya que el castillo est rodeado por el mar

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Aljibe del Castillo de San Antn, La Corua

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Author: Zbigniew Pilip

Knigstein Fortress (German: Festung Knigstein), the “Saxon Bastille”, is a mountaintop fortress near Dresden, in Saxon Switzerland, Germany, near the town of Knigstein. The fortress, which for centuries was used as a state prison and which is still intact, is one of Saxony’s foremost tourist attractions, with 700,000 visitors per year.
The first reference to a castle at Knigstein is from 1241. At that time the region was split between the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Bishopric of Meissen. To delimit the boundary running between the two states, King Wenceslaus I established the castle which controlled the Elbe valley above Pirna.
View from Knigstein Fortress, looking down onto the Elbe and the town of Knigstein
A castle since the mid-13th century situated on a prominent isolated rock in the “Saxon Switzerland” region, it originally belonged to the Kings of Bohemia, passing in 1408 to the Dukes of Saxony. Between 1516 and 1524, it included a monastery (belonging to the Celestines), but it always remained a stronghold and a fortress with its own garrison; the fortifications were always updated and enlarged to meet the latest requirements of arms technology.
Because Knigstein Fortress was regarded as unconquerable, the Saxon monarchs retreated to it from Wittenberg and later Dresden during times of crisis and also deposited the state treasure and many works of art from the famous Zwinger here; it was also used as a country retreat due to its lovely surroundings. The Knigstein also became the state prison until 1922 for the most important prisoners…
Knigstein was never taken, not even during World War II. However, on April 17, 1942, French General Henri Giraud successfully escaped German captivity from the castle.

Information cited from http://en.wikipedia.org/

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Knigstein Fortress (Saxony, Germany)

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Author: Vincent Cibula

Bansk tiavnica, Star zmok / Old Castle
Star zmok je nrodnou kultrnou pamiatkou zo zaiatku 13. storoia, nesie stopy takmer vetkch slohov a od roku 1900 sli k mzelnym elom.

The Old Castle – a national cultural monument – whose origins reach back to the early 13th century, bears traces of practically all the building styles and houses a museum since 1900.

The Lonely Castle is a post from: Richard Wong Photography. View our recent Los Angeles pictures and Inland Empire pictures.

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The Lonely Castle

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Author: Heiner Straesser

Every summer the people of Burghausen celebrate a medieval festival. With a length of more than 1000 meters the castle offers a lot of space for the big party. Here you can find all you needed in medieval times. With their historic clothes the inhabitants of Burghausen create a very special atmosphere.

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Medieval festival 2, Burghausen, Germany

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Author: Heiner Straesser

Every summer the people of Burghausen celebrate a medieval festival. With a length of more than 1000 meters the castle offers a lot of space for the big party. Here you can find all you needed in medieval times. With their historic clothes the inhabitants of Burghausen create a very special atmosphere.

Jedes Jahr findet im Sommer das Burghausener Burgfest statt. Mit ber 1000 Metern Lnge bietet die lngste Burganlage Europas viel Platz fr Buden, Handwerker und Schausteller. Hier findet man alles, was man so im Mittelalter brauchte. Den eigentlichen Reiz des Festes machen aber die Bewohner Burghausens aus, denn es scheint als ob jeder der etwas auf sich hlt, in historischer Gewandung eingekleidet ist.

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Medieval festival, Burghausen, Germany

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Author: Henry Alvarez

Con la primera luna llena del verano, los Templarios regresan a su castillo de Ponferrada para ocultar para siempre el Arca de la Alianza del Templo de Jerusaln y el Santo Grial. Una semana en la que la ciudad regresa a sus orgenes templarios con mercados medievales en el casco antiguo, cena medieval en el castillo, ordenacin de nuevos caballeros templarios y diversas exhibiciones de esgrima, etc

The Temple Knigts come back to their castle in Ponferrada with the first full moon of the summer to hide the ark of Covenant and the Holly Grail, among medieval celebrations, markets, etc

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Los templarios ocultan el Arca de la Alianza en el Castillo de Ponferrada

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Author: Zbigniew Pilip

The final shape of a polish kings residence in Niepolomice acquired the castle in Renaissance, in times of Sigismund Augustus, who continued to work iniciated by his father immediately after removal of the damage caused by the conflagration in 1550. Projects prepared and supervised the construction work himself master Thomas Grzymala, and collaborated with him, Polish and Italian craftsmen, including Santi Gucci. Building brought an end to the barbaric splendor of Swedish invasions, which resulted in (1655) occupants robbed Niepoomice, destroyed the church, partially destroyed the castle and arranged for food storage, taking away all his previous equipment. After the partition of Polish in 1772 came to the Austrians, who, after adapting the object to its barracks demolished the second floor. Since then, the Swedish ball nibbled and merciless passing of time systematically mansion fell into decline. In the interwar period and after the war, it served the function of a public utility facility. In 1991 the monument became the property of the Municipality Niepoomice, then proceeded to a comprehensive renovation and refurbishment works which are intended to restore the former splendor of the precious building.
Information source: http://http://www.zamkipolskie.com/niepo/niepo.html.

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Royal Castle in Niepoomice

Originally published on: 360Cities

Tweet Panoramic photo by Andrew Bodrov . Click the image to open the interactive version.
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Austria: Ambras Castle

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Olavinlinna Castle

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Author: Vil Muhametshin

The castle was constructed in the Brick Gothic style in 1214 under Albert, archbishop of Riga, on the site of the destroyed wooden castle of the Livonian leader Caupo of Turaida. Construction and development of the fortifications continued to the 17th century, when the castle started to lose its strategic importance. It was badly damaged by fire in 1776 and not reconstructed, and in the course of time fell into ruin.

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Turaida Castle

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Author: Vil Muhametshin

The castle was constructed in the Brick Gothic style in 1214 under Albert, archbishop of Riga, on the site of the destroyed wooden castle of the Livonian leader Caupo of Turaida. Construction and development of the fortifications continued to the 17th century, when the castle started to lose its strategic importance. It was badly damaged by fire in 1776 and not reconstructed, and in the course of time fell into ruin.

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Turaida Castle

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Author: Wilfried Glocar

Sitting at the river side close to Charles Bridge and the castle district. The statue shows Czech Composer Bedrich Smetana.

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Bedrich Smetana Museum & Cafe

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Author: Zbigniew Pilip

The first mention of the castle in Czyzow come from the fifteenth century.
The castle was destroyed during the Swedish invasion.
The present palace was built between 1740-1750 on the site of the castle. It was then rebuilt in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. At the end of World War II, the palace was used by the Germans as a hospital. After the war, looted by Soviet troops and local people, the palace was acquired by PCR, and then school. Monument was restored in the years 1978-1991, and in 1996 became private property.
Source of information: zamki.net.pl

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Palace in Czyzow – southern facade, Poland

Lying in the suburbs of Paris, the Palace of Versailles was the symbol of the absolute monarchy espoused by Louis XIV and royal palace from 1682 to 1789, when the monarch was forced to return to Paris. The first design of the castle was made by Philibert Le Roy and during the next two centuries there were four building enlargements and renewals, when Louis XIV reorganized the government of France and moved there, when the court was fully established on May 6th 1682.

Versailles – Chapelle Royale

The centre of the power was within the palace walls, where the government offices and the thousands of courtiers lived. By obliging the nobility to spend some time every year in Versailles, the king prevented the development of regional powers, and established the etiquette which was rendered famous and copied all around the European court. One of the significant designs within the construction has to do with the configuration and dimension of the King and Queen’s apartments: never before the Queen’s ones had been of the same size and similar, but some interesting theories try to explain why Louis XIV chose to have them built alike, with seven enfilade rooms.

Versailles – Galerie des Batailles

Kings’ lives were as predictable as a clock, but in order to keep the nobility calm, the Kings used to organize several evenings, during which they all met in order to chat, play and dance: numbed by the several divertissements, they should have been unable to seize the power. Actually, Versailles atmosphere was not sufficient to stop another force, which struck in 1789, when the French revolution began. What you see today, when entering the doors of Versailles, is what Marie Antoniette saw in her last days as Queen of France, during the last period she spent there.

Versailles – Galerie des Glaces

With the past and ongoing restoration and conservation projects at Versailles, the Fifth Republic has enthusiastically promoted the museum as one of Frances foremost tourist attractions (Opperman, 2004). The palace, however, still serves political functions. Heads of state are regaled in the Hall of Mirrors; the Snat and the Assemble nationale meet in congress in Versailles to revise or otherwise amend the French Constitution, a tradition that came into effect with the promulgation of the 1875 Constitution.

More panoramas of the Palace of Versailles can be seen in Arounder Paris.

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Palace of Versailles in Paris France

Lying in the suburbs of Paris, the Palace of Versailles was the symbol of the absolute monarchy espoused by Louis XIV and royal palace from 1682 to 1789, when the monarch was forced to return to Paris. The first design of the castle was made by Philibert Le Roy and during the next two centuries there were four building enlargements and renewals, when Louis XIV reorganized the government of France and moved there, when the court was fully established on May 6th 1682.

Versailles – Chapelle Royale

The centre of the power was within the palace walls, where the government offices and the thousands of courtiers lived. By obliging the nobility to spend some time every year in Versailles, the king prevented the development of regional powers, and established the etiquette which was rendered famous and copied all around the European court. One of the significant designs within the construction has to do with the configuration and dimension of the King and Queen’s apartments: never before the Queen’s ones had been of the same size and similar, but some interesting theories try to explain why Louis XIV chose to have them built alike, with seven enfilade rooms.

Versailles – Galerie des Batailles

Kings’ lives were as predictable as a clock, but in order to keep the nobility calm, the Kings used to organize several evenings, during which they all met in order to chat, play and dance: numbed by the several divertissements, they should have been unable to seize the power. Actually, Versailles atmosphere was not sufficient to stop another force, which struck in 1789, when the French revolution began. What you see today, when entering the doors of Versailles, is what Marie Antoniette saw in her last days as Queen of France, during the last period she spent there.

Versailles – Galerie des Glaces

With the past and ongoing restoration and conservation projects at Versailles, the Fifth Republic has enthusiastically promoted the museum as one of Frances foremost tourist attractions (Opperman, 2004). The palace, however, still serves political functions. Heads of state are regaled in the Hall of Mirrors; the Snat and the Assemble nationale meet in congress in Versailles to revise or otherwise amend the French Constitution, a tradition that came into effect with the promulgation of the 1875 Constitution.

More panoramas of the Palace of Versailles can be seen in Arounder Paris.

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Palace of Versailles in Paris France

Leonardo Dicaprio took a 3 months option to buy the Camino Castle, in Monferrato, Italy. We did some time ago a complete virtual tour of the castle.

Dicaprio's new residence: Camino Castle

Camino Castle is situated in the Monferrato hills, in the north-west of Italy, approximately an hour away from Milano, Genova and Torino.
Camino Castle, surrounded by ancient woods full of interesting birdlife, overlooks the Monferrato foothills which are covered in trees and vineyards.. Even today, Camino Castle is one of the most admired buildings in Monferrato for its splendid architecture and excellent state of preservation.

More panoramas of the Turin area can be seen in Arounder Turin.

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Leonardo DiCaprios new residence in italy The Camino Castle

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Author: Heiner Straesser

It’s hard to believe, that the small village has been an important city in the midage and even had its own bishop. Today the village is endangered to be flooded by the water of a dam projekt. On Top of the castle hill there are lots of caves, ruins and this mosque with a graveyard. More panoramas at http://www.derPanoramafotograf.com

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Hasankeyf 3, East Anatolia, Turkey

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Author: Heiner Straesser

View from the castle (fortezza) of Montalcino down to the small city with lots of medieval buildings.
This is a HDR-image with an exaggerated, not natural effect.

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Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

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Author: Pierre Tetol

Half way between Puy Mary mountain and the town of Bort les Orgues, in Cantal, France, the castle of Apchon village is built on a basaltic promontary, at more than 3300 feet high. It dominates the high green country of th Cantal, with the three rivers Marilhou, Rhue de Cheylade, and Santoire.The trade counter of Apchon could be as old as Julius Cesar. In fact it was already quoted during Clovis reign, as a fortress in the 10th century.
A mi chemin entre le Puy Mary et Bort les Orgues, dans le Cantal, le chteau d’Apchon est implant sur un promontoire basaltique, plus de 1100m d’altitude, il domine le haut pays vert du Nord cantalien baign par le Marilhou, la Rhue de Cheylade et la Santoire. La comptoirie d’Apchon pourrait remonter Jules Csar. En tout cas, la charte de Clovis fait acte d’une forteresse ds l’an 1000.

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The Flat country Le plat pays

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Author: Zaellig

Ce colombier en granit de 9 mtres de diamtre construit au 16sicle, se situe lentre du domaine du chteau de Kerjean (Saint Vougay, Finistre). Jusqu la Rvolution franaise, seules les familles nobles taient autorises en faire construire. Une ouverture znithale permettait le passage des oiseaux trs priss dans l’assiette du seigneur.

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This loft granite 9 meters in diameter built 16sicle, is located at the entrance to the castle Kerjean (Saint Vougay, Brittany). Until the French Revolution, only noble families were allowed to build. An opening overhead allowed the passage of birds for the plate of the lord.

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Le colombier du chteau de Kerjean

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Author: Vincent Cibula

On the northern side of the castle Somoska you find the famous cataract of basalt, as the hot basalt got petrified in the form of arched columns. This kind of rare geological formation only exists on four places of the world. The narrow pentagonal and hexagonal columns were formed as the basalt got cool, and at certain points their height is not less than 9 m. A part of these rock formations were used for the construction of the castle, as well.

Pod hradom Somoska, na jeho severnej strane sa nachadza svetoznamy cadicovy vylev. Vo vyske asi 500 m n.m. su cadicove stlpce, dlhe az 16 m, ohnute do obluku, usporiadane ako organove pistaly. Z toho materilu bol postaven aj hrad. Z

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Author: Vincent Cibula

Over the village lies the castle Somoska. The dynasty Kacsics had the castle built on a 526-m-high volcanic cone in the 13th century. Was strategically important, act as a signal castle. The fortification had several owners, including the landowner Mate Csak, and the king Robert Karoly. After crushing the Rakoczi War of Independence in 1711 the castle was set to fire, but the walls were not destroyed completely. /
Nad obcou le hrad omoka, bol postaveny okolo 1570 po vpade Tatarov rodom Kacsicsovcov a bol pomenovany podla dedinky Somoska (Somosk), ktora lezi pod nim. Fungoval ako signlny hrad a nemal strategick vznam. Jeho majitelmi boli aj Matus Csak a kral Karol Robert.V roku 1711 v dobe Rakocziho povstani bol vypaleny, mury vsak neboli uplne zburane. K ciastocnej rekonstrukcii doslo v 80-tych rokoch minulho storocia

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Village Somosk / obec omosk, Hungary

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Author: Vincent Cibula

SOMOSKO-SOMOSKA CASTLE
The dynasty Kacsics had the castle built on a 526-m-high volcanic cone in the 13th century. The fortification had several owners, including the landowner Mate Csak, and the king Robert Karoly. After crushing the Rakoczi War of Independence in 1711 the castle was set to fire, but the walls were not destroyed completely.
On the northern side of the castle you find the famous cataract of basalt, as the hot basalt got petrified in the form of arched columns. This kind of rare geological formation only exists on four places of the world. The narrow pentagonal and hexagonal columns were formed as the basalt got cool, and at certain points their height is not less than 9 m. A part of these rock formations were used for the construction of the castle, as well.

Hrad Somoska bol postaveny okolo 1570 po vpade Tatarov rodom Kacsicsovcov a bol pomenovany podla dedinky Somoska (Somosk), ktora lezi pod nim. Jeho majitelmi boli aj Matus Csak a kral Karol Robert.V roku 1711 v dobe Rakocziho povstani bol vypaleny, mury vsak neboli uplne zburane. K ciastocnej rekonstrukcii doslo v 80-tych rokoch minulho storocia
Pod hradom, na jeho severnej strane sa nachadza svetoznamy cadicovy vylev. Vo vyske asi 500 m n.m. su cadicove stlpce, dlhe az 16 m, ohnute do obluku, usporiadane ako organove pistaly. Z

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Author: Vincent Cibula

The ruin of the castle Dobroniva lies in the village Podzamcok (SVK). Which was founded after Tatar invasion in the second half of the 13th century as the guard object. It was the center of the life until the 16th century.
Ruina hradu Dobroniva v obci Podzmok. Hrad vznikol v druhej polovici 13.storoia po tatrskom vpde, slil ako strny objekt a bol centrom ivota a do 16.storoia.

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Dobroniva castle ruins / Ruina hradu Dobroniva

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Author: Vincent Cibula

Zvolen Castle

Zvolen castle was built by Louis I. from Anjou, which built it like a gothic hunting castle. In his form was finished in 1382, when it was a witness of an engagement of his daughter Mary and Sigmund Luxemburger. When we talk about a history of this castle, we cannot forget on John Jiskra from Brands, who became one of the most powerful commander in Hungary and this castle was one of his manors from 1440 to 1462. The castle was also often visited by a king Mathew with his wife Beatrice, who used this castle as a manor from 1490. About 1500 was built up external fortification with four round bastions and entrance gate. In half of 16th century was built up another floor with embrasures and corner oriel towers. About 1590 was built up artillery bastion also. The castle was rebuilt many times, but it retains its Renaissance look The castle was nominated as a National culture monument for his historic, art and architecture values and it was reconstructed in 60th years of 20th century. The Slovak National Gallery has a seat in this castle now, where it presents its expositions.

Za stavbu Zvolenskeho zamku sa zasluzl najma kral Ludovit I. z Anjou, ktory ho staval ako goticky polovnicky zamok. Vo svojej podobe bol dokonceny v roku 1382, ked sa stal dejiskom zasnub jeho dcery Marie so Zigmundom Luxemburskym. Pri historii zamku netreba zabudat ani na Jana Jiskru z Brandysa, ktory sa v 15. storoci stal jednym z najmocnejsich vojvodcov v Uhorsku a zamok bol jednym z jeho sidiel od roku 1440 do roku 1462. Zamok casto navstevoval aj kral Matej Korvin so svojou manzelkou Beatrix, ktora uz neskor ako vdova vyuzivala zamok ako sidlo od roku 1490. Okolo roku 1500 bolo Thurzovcami vystavane vonkajsie opevnenie spolu so styrmi okruhlymi bastami a vstupnou branou a v polovici 16. storocia v dosledku natlaku Turkov bolo pristavene alsie poschodie so strielnami a naroznymi arkierovymi vezickami. Okolo roku 1590 bol potom pristaveny aj delostrelecky bastion. Zamok presiel postupne viacerymi stavebnymi upravami, pricom ta renesanna mu v podstate zostala dodnes. Pre jeho historicke, umelecke a architektonicke hodnoty bol v minulosti vyhlaseny za narodnu kulturnu pamiatku a v 60. rokoch 20. storocia zrekonstruovany. Dnes sa v nom nachadza Slovenska narodna galeria, ktora tu vystavuje svoje expozicie.

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Zvolen Castle/ Zvolensky zamok (SVK)

Originally published on: 360Cities

Copenhagen: The Marble Church via 360 Cities on 9/2/10 Panoramic photo by Leif Nygaard Eilertsen . Click the image to open the interactive version.
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Editors Picks: Week of August 30 Sept 6, 2010

(32 images at 200mm, 5D II, L IS 70-200, NN5)

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Gigapan: Wachtenburg Wachenheim