The Best Palaces in Europe

Royal residences

Versailles, Schönbrunn in Vienna, the Royal Palace of Caserta and Peterhof west of St Petersburg are royal summer or main residences with long garden axes and fountains. The Royal Palace of Madrid, Windsor Castle and the Royal Alcázar of Seville are still used by a royal family.

Castles rebuilt as homes

Many of the castles on the list were built or rebuilt in the 19th century as a residence. Peleș Castle above Sinaia was the summer residence of King Carol I of Romania. Hluboká in South Bohemia was rebuilt in Tudor style, Lednice in neo-Gothic. Neuschwanstein was commissioned by Ludwig II and left unfinished. De Haar near Utrecht was rebuilt around 1900 on the ruins of an older castle.

Châteaux, villas and country houses

Chambord and Chenonceau are in the Loire Valley. Villa d’Este in Tivoli and Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como are visited as much for their gardens as for the house. In Britain, Cragside, Waddesdon Manor, Blenheim Palace and Chatsworth House are country houses in large grounds.