The 10 Most Enchanting Palaces in the World

Now where to find that crown...

hawa mahal palace palace of the winds, jaipur, rajasthan
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Magic lies within the lavish halls and verdant labyrinths of palaces. A simple glance at a royal dwelling’s dreamy interiors or sky-high towers transports travelers in time to when kings and queens strolled through the bountiful courtyards and members of court met in the ornately decorated chambers.

Much of the fascination with historic castles and palatial residences spurs from the history that occurred between the hallowed walls and the rulers who often had ambitious visions for the design of these striking structures. From a Moroccan fortress shrouded in mystery to a Ratanakosin-style stunner in Bangkok, these 10 enchanting palaces showcase the best of architectural design and retell stories of the past.

grand palace bangkok thailand
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The Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand

A magnificent example of Ratanakosin style, the Grand Palace served as the official residence of the Thai royal family until 1925. Land for the sprawling complex was first designated in 1782 when the official capital of Thailand moved from Ayutthaya to Bangkok.

At first, the grounds consisted only of the royal and throne halls, but as time went on, more government offices and sacred temples were built, including the renowned Temple of Emerald Buddha. While the majority of the 100 buildings in the complex tend to be in the old Bangkok style, European influences can be seen in a few of the halls, like Chakri Mahaprasat, which blends Italian Renaissance and traditional Thai architecture.

historic site of el badi palace in marrakesh morocco
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El Badi Palace in Marrakech, Morocco

Translated to mean “the incomparable,” the ruins of El Badi Palace retell the elaborate story of Marrakech’s captivating past. Construction of the royal residence began in 1578 after the ascension of Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour. Known for his love of opulent items, it’s no surprise Al Mansour commanded for the palace and courtyard with four sunken gardens and reflecting pool to be paved with gold, turquoise, and crystal.

During Al Mansour's reign, El Badi was considered to be one of the most impressive royal residences in the Islamic world. However, the palace was destroyed at the beginning of the 18th century when Sultan Moulay Ismail moved the then-capital to Meknes. Among the ruins still stands a labyrinth of halls and courtyards, giving architecture and history buffs clues into the structure’s luxe past.

hawa mahal palace palace of the winds, jaipur, rajasthan
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Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, India

Known as the Palace of the Wind, Jaipur's colorful landmark was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. The pink-painted, honeycomb-like palace features 953 windows, which allowed the ladies of the royal court to observe the bustling city without being seen.

The palace's delicate latticework and five-storied structure resembles the crown of the Hindu god Krishna, who Singh devoted the palace to. Hawa Mahal’s distinctive blush tone comes from sandstone native to the region. Today, visitors can stroll the narrow halls of the pink palace and explore a small museum with miniature paintings and ceremonial relics of its royal past.

court of myrtles, the serallo
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Alhambra in Granada, Spain

Set in the rolling hills of Granada, this 14th-century fortified palace demonstrates the mastery of Moorish design and architecture. Its origins are clouded in mystery, as it is thought by historians that the current structure may have been built from ancient Roman ruins, though the Alhambra’s design as we know it today dates back to the mid 13th century when Nasrid emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar began building the sprawling complex.

After the 1492 Reconquista (Christian reconquest), Alhambra's original mosque was replaced by a church while wings of the palaces were renovated in the Renaissance style. Filled with bountiful gardens, peaceful courtyards, and intricate carvings in Arabic still on the palace walls, the Alhambra stands as a lesson on Granada's fascinating history.

famous potala palace, lhasa, tibet, china
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Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet

Towering over the quaint city of Lhasa, the Potala Palace once housed the Tibetan government and served as the Dalai Lama's winter residence. The 1,300-year-old mecca was originally commissioned by King Songtsen Gampo as a wedding gift to his wife, Princess Wencheng of the Chinese Tang Dynasty.

Once the Buddhist monks had come to power in Tibet, they expanded the palace to include 1,000 rooms, from chapels to living chambers. While the Dalai Lama has been exiled to India since 1959, the palace in the clouds remains a sacred destination for Buddhists across the world to travel to and pay their respects.

st petersburg, russia   july 2, 2020 a view of the samson fountain c, the grand cascade l and the grand palace in the peterhof state museum reserve the museum complex, which includes palaces and parks by the gulf of finland, is to partially re open after being closed for more than two months in connection with the covid 19 pandemic on 28 may, st petersburg's authorities eased lockdown restrictions allowing people to visit parks and other green spaces as long as park furniture is disinfected on a daily basis from 3 july, visitors to peterhof will be allowed to visit the lower gardens and the alexandria park, and also parks in the oranienbaum palace ensemble, which is part of the peterhof state museum reserve alexander demianchuktass photo by alexander demianchuk\tass via getty images
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Peterhof Palace in Peterhof, Russia

Peter the Great first commissioned the construction of a country estate on the grounds of Peterhof in 1709, but after visiting the Palace of Versailles, the Russian ruler had visions of something much grander. In 1717, Peter sought to expand his original plans to include an elaborate series of palaces and gardens to showcase the excellence of Russian style.

Architect Domenico Trezzini, famous for his influence on Petrine Baroque style, designed the canary-yellow Grand Palace, which served as the center of court life. Today, the Grand Cascade and Samson Fountain marks the entrance of the palace, offering a tranquil resting spot for guests.

topkapi palace istanbul, turkey
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Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey

For centuries, the opulent pavilions and verdant courtyard of the Topkapi Palace were considered the crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire. Sultan Mehmed II ordered the construction of the city-palace after his conquest of Constantinople in 1459.

The First Courtyard acted as a service area consisting of a hospital, bakery, and dormitories for the members of the sultan’s court and harem, whereas the Second Courtyard served as a meeting place for the Divan (Imperial Council). While the palace is no longer used for official state affairs, the colorful mosaic tiles and gold Arabic script carved into the carried on its regal and luxurious legacy.

schloss schoenbrunn, wien, oesterreich   photo by sch√∂ningullstein bild via getty images
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Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria

The origins of this opulent royal residence date back to the end of the 17th century, when Emperor Leopold I commissioned the Baroque architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach to design an imperial hunting lodge. Over the years, additions were made to the property by various member of the Habsburg family, but it wasn’t until the reign of empress Maria Theresa that the palace was transformed into the glittering summer residence it's known as today. The 1,441-room palace and secret topiary maze still houses some of the most-prized artworks and sculptures from the Habsburgs’ collection, including Wedding Supper by Martin van Meytens.

the forbidden city, beijing
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The Forbidden City in Beijing, China

In the heart of Beijing, the iconic imperial residence stretching over 180 acres with nearly 1,000 buildings may just be the most renowned palace in the world. Over a million workers were employed to build the palace and state residence of the Emperor of China during from 1406 to 1420.

The Forbidden City served as the seat of both the Ming and later Qing Dynasties, until Emperor Puyi abdicated the throne in 1912. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, the complex now operates as a museum with over 10,000 priceless works of Chinese art and artifacts decorating the halls and courtyards.

royal palace main doors fez morocco
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Royal Palace in Fez, Morocco

As this is still an active royal residence for the King of Morocco, guests are not permitted within the grounds, but the mysterious palace still manages to leave locals and tourist stunned with its seven imposing front gates. Built in the 1960s, the colorful brass doorways with intricate tilework and carved cedar wood showcase the craftsmanship of Moroccan design.

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