Originally
built by King Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century, Potala Palace is
located on the Red Hill of Lhasa, Tibet. Destroyed by lightning and war,
Potala Palace had been rebuilt by the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1645. Since
then, Potala Palace has become the seat of Dalai Lamas and also the
political center of Tibet. The thirteenth Dalai Lama extended it to the
present size, 117 meters (384 ft) in height and 360 meters (1,180 ft) in
width, covering an area of more than 130, 000 sq meters (about 32
acres). Mainly comprised by the White Palace (administerial building)
and the Red Palace (religious building), Potala Palace is famous for its
grand buildings, complicated constructions, devotional atmosphere and
splendid artworks.
Perched upon Marpo Ri hill, 130
meters above the Lhasa valley, the Potala Palace rises a further 170
meters and is the greatest monumental structure in all of Tibet. Early
legends concerning the rocky hill tell of a sacred cave, considered to
be the dwelling place of the Bodhisattva Chenresi (Avilokiteshvara),
that was used as a meditation retreat by Emperor Songtsen Gampo in the
seventh century AD. In 637 Songtsen Gampo built a palace on the hill.
This structure stood until the seventeenth century, when it was
incorporated into the foundations of the greater buildings still
standing today. Construction of the present palace began in 1645 during
the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama and by 1648 the Potrang Karpo, or
White Palace, was completed. The Potrang Marpo, or Red Palace, was added
between 1690 and 1694; its construction required the labors of more
than 7000 workers and 1500 artists and craftsman. In 1922 the 13th Dalai
Lama renovated many chapels and assembly halls in the White Palace and
added two stories to the Red Palace. The Potala Palace was only slightly
damaged during the Tibetan uprising against the invading Chinese in
1959. Unlike most other Tibetan religious structures, it was not sacked
by the Red Guards during the 1960s and 1970s, apparently through the
personal intervention of Chou En Lai. As a result, all the chapels and
their artifacts are very well preserved.
2. Mont Saint-Michel: a Medieval Castle on a Small Island
Le
Mont-Saint-Michel (English: Saint Michael's Mount) is a rocky tidal
island and a commune in Normandy, France. It is located approximately
one kilometre off the country's north coast, at the mouth of the
Couesnon River near Avranches. The population of the island is 41.
Formation
In
prehistoric times the bay was land. As sea levels rose erosion shaped
the coastal landscape over millions of years. Several blocks of granite
or granulite emerged in the bay, having resisted the wear and tear of
the ocean better than the surrounding rocks. These included Lillemer,
the Mont-Dol, Tombelaine and Mont Tombe, later called Mont-Saint-Michel.
Tidal island
Mont-Saint-Michel seen from Spot Satellite
Mont-Saint-Michel was previously
connected to the mainland via a thin natural land bridge, which before
modernization was covered at high tide and revealed at low tide. This
has been compromised by several developments. Over the centuries, the
coastal flats have been polderised to create pasture. Thus the distance
between the shore and the south coast of Mont-Saint-Michel has
decreased. The Couesnon River has been canalised, reducing the flow of
water and thereby encouraging a silting-up of the bay. In 1879, the land
bridge was fortified into a true causeway. This prevented the tide from
scouring the silt round the mount.
At low tide surrounded by mud flats - seen from the air
On 16 June 2006, the French
prime minister and regional authorities announced a €164 million project
(Projet Mont-Saint-Michel) to build a hydraulic dam using the waters of
the river Couesnon and of tides that will help remove the accumulated
silt deposited by the uprising tides, and to make Mont-Saint-Michel an
island again. It is expected to be completed by 2012.
The construction of the dam is
now complete (it was inaugurated in 2009), but the project also includes
the destruction of the causeway that was built on top of the small land
bridge and enlarged, to join the island to the continent, but also used
as a parking for visitors. It will be replaced by an elevated light
bridge, under which the waters will flow more freely, and that will
improve the efficiency of the now operational dam, and the construction
of another parking on the continent. Visitors will have to use small
shuttles to cross the future bridge which will be still open to walking
people and unmotorized cycles.
3 Predjamski Castle: Integrated in a Cave
llama
Castle' (Slovene: Predjamski grad or Grad Predjama, German: Höhlenburg
Lueg, Italian: Castel Lueghi) is a Renaissance castle built within a
cave mouth in southwestern Slovenia. It is located approximately 11
kilometres from Postojna.
History of the castle
The
castle was first mentioned in the year 1274 with the German name Luegg,
when the Patriarch of Aquileia built the castle in Gothic style. The
castle was built under a natural rocky arch high in the stone wall to
make access to it difficult. It was later acquired and expanded by the
Luegg noble family, also known as the Knights of Adelsberg (the German
name of Postojna).
The legend of Erazem of Predjama
The
castle became known as the seat of Knight Erazem Lueger (or Luegger),
owner of the castle in 15th century, and a renowned robber baron. He was
the son of the Imperial Governor of Trieste, Nikolaj Lueger. According
to legend, Erazem came into conflict with the Habsburg establishment,
when he killed the commander of the Imperial army Marshall Pappencheim,
who had offended the honour of Erazem's deceased friend, Andrej
Baumkircher of Vipava. Fleeing from the revenge of the Holy Roman
Emperor Frederick III, Erazem settled in the family fortress of
Predjama. He allied himself with the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus,
and started to attack Habsburg estates and towns in Carniola, turning
into some kind of local Robin Hood.
The Imperial forces sent the
Governor of Trieste, Andrej Ravbar, to siege the castle. After a long
siege, Erazem was betrayed by one of his men and killed.
4. Neuschwanstein Castle: the Classic Fairytale's Castle
Neuschwanstein
Castle (German: Schloss Neuschwanstein, lit. New Swan Stone palace,
pronounced [n??'?va?n?ta??n]) is a 19th-century Bavarian palace on a
rugged hill near Hohenschwangau and Füssen in southwest Bavaria,
Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a
retreat and as an homage to Richard Wagner, the King's inspiring muse.
Although public photography of the interior is not permitted, it is the
most photographed building in Germany and is one of the country's most
popular tourist destinations. Ludwig himself named it Neue
Hohenschwangau; the name Neuschwanstein was coined after his death.
The reclusive Ludwig did not
allow visitors to his castles, which he intended as personal refuges,
but after his death in 1886 the castle was opened to the public (in part
due to the need to pay off the debts Ludwig incurred financing its
construction).[citation needed] Since that time over 50 million people
have visited the Neuschwanstein Castle. About 1.3 million people visit
annually, with up to 6,000 per day in the summer. The palace has
appeared in several movies, and was the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty
Castle (1955) at both Disneyland Park and Hong Kong Disneyland.
In 1923 Crown Prince Rupprecht
gave the palace to the state of Bavaria, unlike nearby Hohenschwangau
Castle which was transferred to the private Wittelsbach Trust
(Wittelsbacher Ausgleichfonds), which is administered on behalf of the
head of the house of Wittelsbach, currently Franz, Duke of Bavaria. The
Free State of Bavaria has spent more than €14.5 million on
Neuschwanstein's maintenance, renovation and visitor services since
1990.
5 Matsumoto Castle: Japan's most fascinating castle
Matsumoto
Castle is one of Japan's finest historic castles. It is located in the
city of Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture and is within easy reach of
Tokyo by road or rail. The keep (tenshukaku), which was completed in the
late 16th century, maintains its original wooden interiors and external
stonework. It is listed as a National Treasure of Japan.
Matsumoto Castle is a flatland
castle (hirajiro) because it is not built on a hilltop or amid rivers,
but on a plain. Its complete defences would have included an extensive
system of inter-connecting walls, moats and gatehouses. In 1872,
following the Meiji Restoration, the site, like many former daimyos'
castles, was sold at auction for redevelopment. However, when news broke
that the keep was going to be demolished, an influential figure from
Matsumoto, Ichikawa Ryozo, along with residents from Matsumoto started a
campaign to save the building. Their efforts were rewarded when the
tower was acquired by the city government. In the late Meiji period the
keep started to lean to one side due to neglect coupled with a
structural defect. ( But rumour said that it was because of the curse
Tada Kasuke had put on more than two hundred years before with his last
breath on the execution pole.) A local high school principal, Kobayashi
Unari, decided to renovate the castle and appealed for funds. The castle
underwent "the great Meiji renovation"(1903-1913) thanks to Kobayashi
and others. Half a century later, it underwent another renovation "the
great Showa renovation"(1950-1955). In 1990, the Kuromon-Ninomon (second
gate of the Black Gate) and sodebei (side wall) were reconstructed. The
square drum gate was reconstructed in 1999. There is a plan for
restoring the soto-bori(outer moat) which was reclaimed for a
residential zone.
6. Hunyad Castle: were Dracula was held prisoner
The
Hunyad Castle (Romanian: Castelul Huniazilor or Castelul Corvinestilor,
Hungarian: Vajdahunyad vára) is a castle in Transylvanian Hunedoara,
present-day Romania. Until 1541 it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary,
and after the Principality of Transylvania.
It is believed to be the place
where Vlad III of Wallachia (commonly known as Vlad the Impaler) was
held prisoner for 7 years after he was deposed in 1462.
The castle is a relic of the
Hunyadi dynasty. In the 14th century, the castle was given to John
Hunyadi Serb, or Sorb by Sigismund king of Hungary as severance. The
castle was restored between 1446 and 1453 by his grandson John Hunyadi.
It was built mainly in Gothic style, but has Renaissance architectural
elements. It features tall and strong defense towers, an interior yard
and a drawbridge. Built over the site of an older fortification and on a
rock above the small river Zlasti, the castle is a large and imposing
building with tall and diversely colored roofs, towers and myriad
windows and balconies adorned with stone carvings.
As one of the most important
properties of John Hunyadi, the castle was transformed during his reign.
It became a sumptuous home, not only a strategically enforced point.
With the passing of the years, the masters of the castle had modified
its look, adding towers, halls and guest rooms. The gallery and the keep
- the last defense tower (called "Ne boisa" = Do not be afraid), which
remained unchanged from Iancu de Hunedoara's time, and the Capistrano
Tower (named after the Franciscan monk from the castle court) are some
of the most significant parts of the construction. Other significant
parts of the building are the Knights' Hall (a great reception hall),
the Club Tower, the White bastion, which served as a food storage room,
and the Diet Hall, on whose walls medallions are painted (among them
there are the portraits of Matei Basarab, ruler from Wallachia, and
Vasile Lupu, ruler of Moldavia). In the wing of the castle called the
Mantle, a painting can be seen which portrays the legend of the raven
from which the name of the descendants of John Hunyadi, Corvinus came.
In the castle yard, near the
chapel built also during Vlad The Third's ruling, is a well 30 meters
deep. The legend says that this fountain was dug by twelve Turkish
prisoners to whom liberty was promised if they reached water. After 15
years they completed the well, but their captors did not keep their
promise. It is said that the inscription on a wall of the well means
"you have water, but not soul". Specialists, however, have translated
the inscription as "he who wrote this inscription is Hasan, who lives as
slave of the giaours, in the fortress near the church".
In February 2007, Hunyad Castle
played host to the British paranormal television program Most Haunted
Live! for a three-night live investigation into the spirits reported to
be haunting the castle.
7. Malbork Castle: World's Largest Brick Gothic Castle
The
Castle in Malbork (German: Die Marienburg, Polish: Zamek w Malborku)
was built in Prussia by the Teutonic Order as an Ordensburg. The Order
named it Marienburg, literally "Mary's Castle". The town which grew
around it was also named Marienburg, but since 1945 it is again, after
173 years, part of Poland and known as Malbork.
The castle is a classic example
of a medieval fortress, and is the world’s largest brick gothic castle.
UNESCO listed the castle and its museum as World Heritage Sites in
December 1997 as Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork. It is one of
two World Heritage Sites in the region with origins in the Teutonic
Order. The other is the Medieval Town of Torun, founded in 1231 as the
site of the castle Thorn (Torun).
The
castle was founded in 1274 by the Teutonic Order during their
government of Prussia and is located on the Southeastern bank of the
river Nogat. It was named Marienburg after the Virgin Mary, patron saint
of the Order.
The Order had been based in
Acre, but when this last stronghold of the Crusades fell, the Order had
to move its headquarters to Venice. In 1309, in the wake of both the
papal persecution of the Knights Templar as well as the Teutonic
takeover of Danzig, the Order under Siegfried von Feuchtwangen moved its
headquarters into the Prussian part of their monastic state. They chose
the Marienburg, conveniently located on the Nogat, in the Vistula
Delta, which allows access by ship.
The castle was expanded several
time to host the growing number of Knights, and became the largest
fortified Gothic building in Europe, featuring several sections and
walls. It consists of three separate sections - the High, Middle and
Lower Castles, separated by multiple dry moats and towers. The castle
once housed approximately 3,000 "brothers in arms", and the outermost
castle walls enclose 52 acres (210,000 m²), four times larger than the
enclosed space of Windsor Castle.
The favourable position of the
castle on the river Nogat and its relatively flat surrounding allowed
for easy access by barges and trading ships, from the Vistula and the
Baltic Sea. During their governance, the Teutonic Knights collected
river tolls on passing ships, as did other castles along the rivers,
imposing a monopoly on the trade of amber. When the city became a member
of the Hanseatic League, many Hanseatic meetings were held at
Marienburg castle.
8. Palacio da Pena: Oldest Palace inspired by European Romanticism
The
Pena National Palace (Portuguese: Palácio Nacional da Pena) is the
oldest palace inspired by European Romanticism. It is located in the
civil parish of São Pedro de Penaferrim, municipality of Sintra,
Portugal. The palace stands on the top of a hill above the town of
Sintra, and on a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon and much of
its metropolitan area. It is a national monument and constitutes one of
the major expressions of 19th century Romanticism in the world. The
palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of
Portugal. It is also used for state occasions by the President of the
Portuguese Republic and other government officials.
9. Lowenburg Castle: The Disneyland of the 18th century
Within
the Wilhelmshöhe Hill Park which sits on one end of the city of Kassel,
there stands what appears to be a medieval castle. However, the
Löwenburg or “Lion’s Castle” was ordered to be built by the Landgrave
Wilhelm IX from Hessen Kassel (1743 -1821) (later he gained the higher
title of Elector Wilhelm I - Kurfürst Wilhelm I), the Walt Disney of his
era, over a period of eight years between 1793 and 1801 as a romantic
ruin. It was carfelully designed by his royal court building inspector
Heinrich Christoph Jussow (1754 – 1825) who had been trained as an
architect and construction project manager in France, Italy, and
England, and who had gone to England specifically to study romantic
English ruins and draw up a plan for the Landgrave’s garden folly. Today
scholars regard Löwenburg Castle ruins as one of the most significant
buildings of its genre, in addition to being one of the first major
neo-Gothic buildings in Germany.
What the Landgrave did here was
the eighteenth century equivalent of Disney World Tokyo. It is a central
element of the Wilhlemshöhe castle park which, starting in 1785, the
Landgrave transformed into a landscaped garden modeled on the English
pattern, and filled with themed areas – fake Roman aquaducts, fake
English Castle Ruins, fake Grecian temples, and even a fake Chinese
Village. In terms of sheer monumental size, however, the fake monumental
castle ruin of the Löwenburg stands apart from the numerous antiquated
and pseudo-medieval constructions that served as decorative motifs for
landscaped parks in other parts of Europe.
10. Prague Castle: World's Largest Ancient Castle
Prague
Castle (Czech: Pražský hrad) is a castle in Prague where the Czech
kings, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the
Czech Republic have had their offices. The Czech Crown Jewels are kept
here. Prague Castle is one of the biggest castles in the world
(according to Guinness Book of Records the biggest ancient castle [1])
at about 570 meters in length and an average of about 130 meters wide.
History
The
history of the castle stretches back to the 9th century (870). The
first walled building was the church of Our Lady[2]. The Basilica of
Saint George and the Basilica of St. Vitus were founded in the first
half of the 10th century. The first convent in Bohemia was founded in
the castle, next to the church of St. George. A Romanesque palace was
erected here during the 12th century. In the 14th century, under the
reign of Charles IV the royal palace was rebuilt in Gothic style and the
castle fortifications were strengthened. In place of rotunda and
basilica of St. Vitus began building of a vast Gothic church, that have
been completed almost six centuries later. During the Hussite Wars and
the following decades the Castle was not inhabited. In 1485, King
Ladislaus II Jagello began to rebuild the castle. The massive Vladislav
Hall (built by Benedikt Rejt) was added to the Royal Palace. There were
also built new defence towers on the northern side of the castle. A
large fire in 1541 destroyed large parts of the castle. Under the
Habsburgs some new buildings in renaissance style appeared here.
Ferdinand I built Belvedere, summer palace for his wife Anne. Rudolph II
used Prague Castle as his main residence. He founded the northern wing
of the palace, with the Spanish Hall, where his precious artistic
collections were exhibited. The Second Prague defenestration in 1618
began the Bohemian Revolt. During the subsequent wars the Castle was
damaged and dilapidated. Many works from the collection of Rudolph II
were looted by Swedes in 1648, in the course of the Thirty Years' War.
The last major rebuilding of the castle was carried out by Queen Maria
Theresa in the second half of the 18th century. Ferdinand V, after
abdication in 1848, chose Prague Castle as his home.
In London Phelps is only competing in seven events, but don't be surprised if he still manages to pull in eight medals while taking a hit from a bong. 
