Palaces

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.

The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, the hill which housed the Imperial residences in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the term is also applied to ambitious private mansions of the aristocracy. Many historic palaces are now put to other uses such as parliaments, museums, hotels or office buildings. The word is also sometimes used to describe a lavishly ornate building used for public entertainment or exhibitions.

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    Drinov Castle (Chateau)

    Drinov Castle (Chateau). The main attraction of Drinov is the castle with its distinctive towers with bevelled edges. In 18th century chateau acquired its present form.

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    Drottningholm Palace (Royal Domain of Drottningholm)

    The Drottningholm Palace is the private residence of the Swedish royal family. It is located in Drottningholm. Built on the island Lovon, it is one of Sweden's Royal Palaces. It was originally built in the late 16th century. It served as a regular summer residence of the Swedish royal court for most of the 18th century.

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    Dukla Palace, History Museum

    Dukla Palace with a park (1636). The palace was remodelled in 1764–65 by Jerzy August Mniszech and his wife Maria Amelia Bruhl. Currently, it serves as a History Museum, with World War Two-era weapons on display.

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    Electoral Palace, Koblenz

    The Electoral Palace in Koblenz, Germany, was the residence of the last Archbishop and Elector of Trier, Clemens Wenceslaus of Saxony, who commissioned the building in the late 18th century.

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    Ettersburg Palace and Landscape Park

    Palace and Park Ettersburg are the Thuringian Ettersburg on the Etter Mountain (474 m), an elongated ridge north of Weimar. Since 1998 they belong as part of the ensemble "Classical Weimar" UNESCO World Heritage.

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    Falkenlust Palace, Bruhl

    The Augustusburg and Falkenlust palaces is a historical building complex in Bruhl, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, which have been listed as a UNESCO cultural World Heritage Site since 1984. Falkenlust Palace, Bruhl.

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    Ferdinandsko Palace

    Ferdinandsko mansion, the current assets of the Defense Ministry. Ferdinandsko palace was build in the mid 18th century.

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    Forbidden City, Beijing

    The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty-the years 1420 to 1912. It is located in the centre of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum.

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    Fricovce Mansion

    Fricovce Mansion (Castle, Palace). In Fricovce, you can easily glimpse the Renaissance mansion, which was built between 1623-1630.

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    Generalife

    The Palacio de Generalife was the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid Emirs of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus, now beside the city of Granada in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain.

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    Golestan Palace

    The Golestan Palace, literally the Roseland Palace, is the former royal Qajar complex in Iran's capital city, Tehran.

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    Gyulay Ferenc Castle, Mintia

    The castle was built in the 17th century by the family of the Austrian General Gyulay Ferencz. In 1834 the castle was altered by Ludovic Gyulay, the last heir of the family.

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    Hofburg Palace, Vienna

    Hofburg Palace is the former imperial palace in the centre of Vienna. Part of the palace forms the official residence and workplace of the President of Austria. Built in the 13th century and expanded in the centuries since, the palace has housed some of the most powerful people in European and Austrian history, including monarchs of the Habsburg dynasty, rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

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    Holesov Chateau (Palace)

    Holesov Chateau (Palace). The early Baroque chateau in Holesov attracts visitors for tours of its observatory, where you will be guided by an astronomer in Baroque costume.

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    Holic Castle (Palace)

    Holic Castle (Palace). A perished castle built in 12th century. In the second half of 16th century rebuilt to the Fort. A mansion house was built on its place in 1750.

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    Imperial City, Hue

    The Imperial City is a walled fortress and palace in the city of Huế, the former imperial capital of Vietnam.

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    Ishak Pasha Palace

    Ishak Pasha Palace is a semi-ruined palace and administrative complex located in the Dogubeyazit district of Agri province of eastern Turkey.

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    Jongmyo

    Jongmyo is a Confucian shrine dedicated to the perpetuation of memorial services for the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Joseon Dynasty.

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    Lancut Castle

    Lancut Castle is a complex of buildings located in Lancut, Poland. Historically, the residence of the Lubomirski and Potocki families, the complex includes a number of buildings and is surrounded by a park.

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    Lercaro Palace

    This impressive building on the central street of Calle de San Agustin was commissioned to be built in 1593 by a family of Genoese merchants who settled in Tenerife after the conquest.

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    Lindstedt Palace, Potsdam

    Lindstedt Palace is part of the ensemble of courtyards and gardens of Potsdam. It was built in the second half of the 19th century by Friedrich Wilhelm IV in late classicism style.

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    Magna Curia (Bethlen Castle)

    Magna Curia or The Bethlen Castle is a palace located in Deva, Romania. In 1582, the Hungarian captain Ferenc Geszty, in charge with the Deva Castle's garrison, erected a house at the foot of the citadel hill.

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    Manor House, Svaty Anton

    The manor house was originally built in baroque style as a two-wing building with arcades surrounding an open courtyard with a baroque stone fountain. In the middle of 18th century, Earl Andrej Kohary completed the process of re-building the manor house into a wealthy four-wing noble residence.

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    Manwoltae Palace (Ruins)

    Manwoltae Palace was the official royal palace of the Goryeo Dynasty. Located in the ancient capital city of Kaesong, the palace was completely destroyed during the Red Turbans invasions of Korea during the 14th century.

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    Marchegg Castle

    In the 13th century, a fortified city including a moated castle was erected at the place where then, as now, the Morava riverbed disappears around the bend. Marchegg Castle.