The word
PALACE is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one
of the seven hills in Rome. A palace is a grand residence, especially a
royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other
high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop.
In many parts of Europe, the term is also applied to relatively large
urban buildings built as the private mansions of the aristocracy. Here
is a collection of top 10 palaces around the world.
10. Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia
The Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg,
Russia was the official residence of the Russian Tsars. It was designed
by many architects, most notably Bartolomeo Rastrelli, in what came to
be known as the Elizabethan Baroque
style; the green-and-white palace has the shape of an elongated
rectangle. The palace has been calculated to contain 1,786 doors, 1,945
windows, 1,500 rooms and 117 staircases. Its principal façade is 250 m
long and 100 ft high.
9. Summer Palace, Beijing, China
The Summer Palace is the largest and
best-preserved imperial garden in China. Its Chinese name, YiHeYuan,
translates as ‘Garden of Nurtured Harmony’ or ‘Garden for Maintaining
Health and Harmony’. As its name implies, the Summer Palace was used as a
summer residence by China’s imperial rulers – as a retreat from the
main imperial palace now known as the Palace Museum (or ‘Forbidden
City’) – a pleasure ground in the countryside, yet near to the city.
8. Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
Schönbrunn Palace is a former imperial
summer residence in Vienna, Austria. Schönbrunn Palace with its
surrounding buildings and the huge park is one of the most significant
cultural monuments in Austria. The castle was build to rival French
Versailles in Baroque beauty and importance.
7. Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet
The Potala Palace, winter palace of the
Dalai Lama since the 7th century, symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism and its
central role in the traditional administration of Tibet. The complex,
comprising the White and Red Palaces with their ancillary buildings, is
built on Red Mountain in the center of Lhasa Valley, at an altitude of
3,700m.
6. Imperial Palace, Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo Imperial Palace is the main
residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is a large park-like area located
in Chiyoda, Tokyo close to Tokyo Station and contains various buildings
such as the main palace and the private residences of the imperial
family. The total area including the gardens is 7.41 square kilometers.
5. Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India
Udaipur, the jewel of Rajasthan, has a
regal feeling even in the streets and marketplace, a sense of pride
surrounding every shop and square. Lake Palace (formerly known as Jag
Niwas) is a luxury hotel, of 83 rooms and suites featuring white marble
walls, located on a natural foundation of 4 acres rock, which sits on a
private island in the middle of Lake Pichola. The hotel operates a boat
which transports guests to the hotel from a jetty at the City Palace.
4. Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
The Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul,
Turkey, located at the European side of the Bosporus, served as the main
administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. The palace is composed of
three parts; the Mabeyn-i Hümâyûn (the quarters reserved for the men),
Muayede Salonu (the ceremonial halls) and the Harem-i Hümâyûn (the
apartments of the family of the Sultan). The palace has an area of
45,000 m2, and contains 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths and 68 toilets.
3. Chateau de Versailles, Versailles, France
The Palace of Versailles was the
official residence of the Kings of France. It was originally a hunting
lodge, built in 1624, by Louis XIII. It was expanded by Louis XIV
beginning in 1669. He used it as a little lodge as a secret refuge for
his amorous trysts with the lovely Louise de la Valliere and built a
fairy tale park around it. Jules Hardouin Mansart, the king’s principal
architect, drew the plans to enlarge what was turning more and more
into a palace from A Thousand and One Nights.
2. Buckingham Palace, London
Buckingham Palace is
the official London residence of the British monarch. Located in the
City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and
royal hospitality. It has been a rallying point for the British people
at times of national rejoicing and crisis.
1. Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Blenheim Palace is home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
Set in 2100 acres of beautiful parkland landscaped by ‘Capability’
Brown, the magnificent Palace is surrounded by sweeping lawns,
award-winning formal gardens and the great Lake, offering a
unforgettable day out for all.
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