If you are an amateur to travel to places with a centuries-old history, from which is archaic, take a look, what ancient castles are still inhabited by people and even ghosts.
Modern skyscrapers and design exhibition centers are gradually replacing traditional architecture from cities. Against the background of their popularity, the desire to live in a secluded castle seems extravagant. Nevertheless, in every corner of Europe you can find old houses, preserved thanks to the efforts of loving owners. And let them not so comfortable, as equipped with the latest technology penthouses - the castles have their charm.
1. Chateau Plessis-Bourret, France
Its appearance is so severe that the castle rather resembles a defensive fortress. Its interior decoration will amaze even the most experienced person accustomed to luxurious decorations. It was not subjected to any modifications: a truly unique shato makes absolute preservation of the primary design. Plessis-Bourret was built in 1472 by Jean Burr, who occupied the post of Minister of Finance under King Louis XI. The brigand Bure was so afraid of the uprising of the inhabitants of his lands that he ordered to protect the palace with the widest moat in France. The lifting bridge, making possible the exit from it, is used for its intended purpose so far.
Modern masters do not hide the historical monument belonging to them either from curious tourists, or from filmmakers. In 2003, Penelope Cruz spent several unforgettable weeks in the castle, appearing in the film "Fanfan-tulip" together with Vincent Peres. Today, anyone can follow suit by renting one of the Plessis-Bourret rooms as a hotel room. For those who prefer a five-star system, there are free and individual guided tours with a duration of several hours.
2. Residence of the Queen of Great Britain in Berkshire, England
Windsor Castle - the largest and most famous of the still considered inhabited brethren. Its splendor and scale frighten and amaze at the same time: on the area of 45 thousand square meters is a complex of buildings with 1000 living quarters. For 900 years, Windsor belongs to the ruling dynasty and all its members have the right to modernize the estate to their taste. Each new monarch expanded and expanded the area of the estates until the adjoining hardwood forest began to be considered a Berkshire park. At the end of the last century, the Queen's residence was urgently renovated due to extensive fire.
The English queen today uses Windsor as a means of defeating the heads of other states and other eminent guests. She invites them to live in the rooms, decorated with original Rembrandt and Rubens, antique candlesticks and gilded molding on the ceiling. Who after this can deny a political request to the royal person?
3. Berkeley Castle, England
The second most populous palace in England after Windsor. At the end of the 12th century, he was bought by Berkley, who was in the title of lords. In 1327, members of an influential family willy-nilly became guardians of the prison in their own house. Opponents of King Edward II overthrew him and placed him in Berkeley, demanding from his owners of the obligation to prevent any attempt to escape. In the same year, from the rest of the castles in the district, the estate began to distinguish a high fence instead of the ditch with water that was habitual to the eye at that time. For half a year the prisoner tried to leave Berkeley twice, after which he was executed by a new ruler.
The heirs of the castle occupy only 20% of its area: the rest is used as a hotel and a museum. But the main article of their income is the cinema. Interiors of Berkeley can be seen in the series "Wolf Hall", "Castle in the Country" and the film "Another of the Kind of Boleyn."
4. The Castle of Edinburgh, Scotland
Built on a dying volcano, the palace towers 120 meters above sea level. Scientists found that the first walls appeared here in the Iron Age: they were built by soldiers who planned a raid on the tribes of the Angles. Edinburgh Castle for many centuries passed from the property of England to the Scottish and vice versa. Ten years ago, the British Ministry of Defense finally abandoned it. On the inhabitants of the largest tourist attraction of Scotland this decision did not affect. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the castle has a dynasty of caretakers, whose only responsibility is an hourly shot from a cannon during a light day.
5. Warwick Castle, England
The vast majority of the residents of the house are television stars and Youtube. The manor built in 1068 by William the Conqueror is a regular participant of the show with psychics, "ghost hunters" and magicians. It even fell into the book "Houses with ghosts of Great Britain and Ireland." Anyone can find on videohosting the shooting of internal surveillance cameras with evidence of their existence.
Extreme temperature fluctuations, light anomalies and mysterious rustles suit the "Gray Lady" and her assistants. The pensioner, who is the heiress of the Earl of Warwick, is also familiar with it. Her figure has been stumbling over the inhabitants of the palace for 100 years in its long corridors and scared away in fright at the sight of the children. She does not know how to go through the walls, so in Warwick they are used to suddenly opening doors. Those who saw her near, say that this is the ghost of an old woman, dressed in a gray dress. "Gray Lady" helps the poet with the title of Count Fulk Greville, smothered in the Water Tower in 1628. His cries, chilling the soul, are heard from the Tower several times a week. In addition to this couple, there are more than 10 unidentified ghosts in Warwick.
6. Rock of Cashel, Ireland
In the castle on the cliff of Cashel, the caretaker of the cemetery, spontaneously arisen near his walls, lives. A group of medieval buildings, built in the 12-15th centuries, adjoins the chapel of Cormac - a small Romanesque church, in which the sarcophagus of the first owner of the fortress is kept, in honor of which it was named. During the unexpected attack of the enemy, local residents tried to hide in the church, but everyone was brutally killed. They were buried there, and soon new graves began to appear around the graves of the unfortunate victims. According to legend, dozens of spirits also live there.
7. The Manor of Kronborg, Denmark
Built in 1420, the castle on the outskirts of Copenhagen is officially included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In order to protect it from being seized by the Swedes, it was designed in the form of a complex system of labyrinths and underground passages. In Kronborg live creative personalities - directors, actors, screenwriters. Every spring they create a new reading of the theatrical production of Hamlet by William Shakespeare and present it to the audience.
8. Bran Palace, Romania
In the picturesque Transylvania is the manor of the bloodiest inhabitant of Romania of all times - Count Dracula. Bran is a famous tourist attraction in the country, as well as a hotel with rooms in the form of wooden log cabins, decorated with tiles. The legendary vampire liked to stay in it during his lifetime, but he did not leave behind any reminders in Bran. The interior of the castle has been preserved since the time of Queen Mary: she lived in it after the Count and decorated it with a large number of books, porcelain and icons. The latter, according to rumors, were necessary to her to prevent night vampire visits.
9. The Pfalzgrafenstein Estate, Germany
Even native Germans are unable to pronounce the name correctly the first time. It is located in the middle of the river Rhine: the island of Pfalzgrafenstein was once completely deserted and uninhabited. The fortress was built on it as a royal customs house, checking the ships passing by. Later it became the residence of the local nobility. In the XX century there was a state need to use the Pfalzgrafenstein as a lighthouse. Now there lives a caretaker and to go to visit him, you have to cross the Rhine in the old way on a boat.
10. Strengthening Castel del Monte, Italy
The author of this structure could not be found. In the XV century it was created as an astronomical calendar, in each room of which you can find out the time by the solar clock or the date by the light calendar. In Castel del Monte 8 floors, on each of them 8 rooms are designed. Modern astronomers have managed to prove that the location of the fortress is really ideal for observing the starry sky. It was equipped as an observatory, in which scientists live all year round.