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WORLD’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 » 11 im \ ■ ■ \»i i L Pr | i i 1 f 1 NEUSCIIWANSTEIN WINDSOR HIMEJI CAPE COAST r r — \ E1 E mn 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 This bookazine is printed on recycled paper. It's important that wc care oboi/f our planet and make a difference where we com, for us and every generation that follows. WORLDS CREATEST CASTLES Future plc Hic^nrioriti House, 3$ Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 6EZ Bookazine Editorial Editor Katharine Marsh De&igner Perry warden-wicks Editorial Director Jon White Senior Art Editor Andy Downes All About History Editorial Editor Jonathan Gordon Art Editor Kym Winters Editor in Chief Tim Williamson Senior Art Fditor Duncan Crook Contributors Hareth Al Bustani, Saffron Alexander, Joanne Al Sam arae, Alice Barnes-Grown, D^vid Crookes Catherine Cm rzon, Rebecca Ford, Philippa Crafton. nnr,-~ Hamilton, Jessica Legg ett, James Price, Scott Reeves Cover images Aiarny.Cetty Advertising Media packs are available on request Commercial D rector Clare Dove cla re.dovejSrf utu renet.com International Hoad of Print Licensing Rachel Shaw I icensi ngijOrfulurenetjcom Circulation Head ol Newstrade Tim Mathers Production Head of Production Mark Constance Production Project Manager Clare Scott Advertising Production Manager Joanne Crosby Digital Editions Controller Jason Hudson Production Managers keely Miller, Noia Cokely, Vivienne Calvert, Fran Ttoentyman Management Chief Content Officer Aaron Asadl Commercial Finance Director Dan Jotcham Head of An &. 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JVjJjJ 1 . i i i> * ^ fJiÂ 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 D \ tttt noHuys {.in a n sr 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 t MMBKH WOllDti BY + Pill 1.1 P I3 A C It U I ON NEUSCH 11 1 NSTEIN CASTL L JBI __ * f/M .nifc-Ti: 1 T f"" 'fr.-.'' L £ ■■ 1 ? ] h *■ - nil Hnj 1* ■—1 . fi p r 1 / 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