Largest Palaces In The World
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, one of the seven hills in Rome. Many historic palaces are now put to other uses such as parliaments, museums, hotels or office buildings. All of these palaces are considered to be the largest palaces in the world. Here is a collection of the world’s largest palaces.
World’s Largest Palaces
- Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India
Palace which used to be known as Jag Niwas, now is a luxury hotel with 83 rooms and apartments with white marble walls. The hotel – palace is located on a private island in the middle of Lake Pichola.
- Buckingham Palace, London, England
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarchy. Located in Westminster, the palace is used for state occasions and welcoming the royal guests. The palace is a rallying point for the British people in time of national crisis and joys.
- Chateau de Versailles, Versailles, France
Palace of Versailles was the official residence of the Kings of France. It was built in 1624 by Louis XIII, and in the early 1669 the palace was expanded by Louis XIV and was built the beautiful park around it. The palace is a work of Jules Mansart Hardoin, chief architect of the king.
- Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, located on the European side of the Bosphorus in the past was the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. The palace is composed of three parts: Mabeyn-i Humayun (men’s quarters), Muayede Salonu (ceremonial halls) and the Harem-i Humayun (the sultan’s family rooms). The palace has an area of 45,000 m2 and contains 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths and 68 toilets.
- Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, England
Blenheim Palace is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and birthplace of Winston Churchill. The palace is surrounded by a beautiful landscape, a large lake and green gardens.
- Imperial Palace, Tokyo, Japan
The Tokyo Imperial Palace is the main residence of the king of Japan. The castle is a huge park that contains various buildings such as the main palace and the private residences of the royal family. The total area including the gardens is 7.41 square kilometers.
- Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet
Potala Palace or the Winter Palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional administration. The complex, which consists of the White Palace and Red together with their ancillary buildings, is built on Red Mountain in the center of Lhasa Valley, at an altitude of 3,700 m.
- Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
Schönbrunn Palace is a former imperial summer residence in Vienna, Austria. Schönbrunn Palace with the surrounding buildings and the huge park is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria. The castle was built to rival French Versailles in the Baroque beauty and importance.
- Summer Palace, Beijing, China
Summer Palace is the largest and best preserved imperial palace in China. Her Chinese name, YiHeYuan, translates as “Garden of nurtured harmony” or “garden for maintaining health and harmony.” Summer Palace was used as a summer residence for the royal rulers of China, where they were retreating from the main imperial palace now known as the Palace Museum (or “Forbidden City”).
- Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia
The winter Palace in Saint Petersburg (Russia) was the official residence of Russian emperors. The palace was designed by many architects, especially highlights Bartolomeo Rastelli. The green and white palace has the shape of an elongated rectangle. The palace contains 1786 doors, 1945 windows, 1,500 rooms and is 250 meters long.
