worlds most scenic castles

Egeskov Castle, Denmark

Egeskov Castle is a renaissance castle located in southern Funen in Denmark. The Castle has been built as a fortification on a lake and originally one could reach it only by a waterbridge. The name of the Castle means "oak forrest". Egeskov Castle is surrounded by gardens featuring different topics. Whole area with the Castle functions now as a museum and is one the most important tourists attractions of the island. 

Egeskov Castle, Denmark. Pictrure from www.egeskov.dk.

Leeds Castle, England

Leeds Castle was built at the beginning of XII century and shortly after that became a royal residence. Over the centuries Leeds Castle was a residence of English royal family. Last private owner acquired the Castle at the beginning of the XX century and in 1976 was open to the public. The Castle was afterwards place of peace negotiation between Egypt and Israel and Northern Ireland peace talks. 

Leeds Castle, England

Malbork, Poland

Teutonic Castle in Malbork is the worlds largest gothic castle. Malbork was the capital of the Teutonic Country and was occupied by the Teutonic Grand Master. Castle is well preserved and all of its parts are open for tourists. Over two centuries the Castle in Malbork became the most guarded town in the Teutonic Country. Castle was partially demolished at the beginning of XIX century but shortly after reconstructed. The museum is the Castle has also very large amber, art and military collection. 

Malbork, Poland

Kalmar Castle, Sweden

Kalmar Castle was build in XIII century and since then played significant role in Scandinavian history. The union of Denmark, Sweden and Norway was finalized in the Kalmar Castle in XIV century. Kalmar Castle was heavily damaged XVII century and not restored until the XIX century. Nowadays Kalmar is one of the best preserved Swedish castles and is open to the public. 

Kalmar Castle, Sweden

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle is a XIX century palace in southern Bavaria in Germany. The Palace was planed to act as a royal residence but has been open to public immediately after the construction. The magnificent scenery of the Castle was an inspiration for many movies. Today the Castle is a popular tourist destination.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

See also:
Teutonic Knights' castles in Poland

Teutonic Knights' castles in Poland

Teutonic Knights Order

Order of Teutonic Knights has been created after the crusades in Jerusalem. Together with Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller was one of the largest three orders created on the legacy of crusades. Teutonic Knights Order was based on participants of the crusaders of German origin. Initially order was to act as guards of injured and sick knights of German origin. Pope Clement III officially founded the order when the knights moved from Jerusalem to Akka. After the conquest of Akka the Pope gave the city and its neighbourhood into the power of the order. Over many years of diplomatic efforts of the Grand Master Hermann von Salza, Teutonic Knight become a powerful and respected force in Europe. Vatican and the Holy Roman Empire awarded the Teutonic Order with land and many privileges in Palestine and in Europe. The ambitions of the Grand Master were to create an independent Teutonic Country. Teutonic Order obtained great land donations in Transylvania in Hungary in 1211. However, the donations have  been withdrawn after the Teutonic Knights broke the agreement of the donation in 1225. In 1226 the Order has received a lese of land in Poland from Konrad I of Masovia.

Teutonic Knights in Poland

Duke of Masovia, Konrad I of Masovia invited the military religious Teutonic Knights Order to Poland having problems with Prussian rides over his land. Main role of Teutonic Knights was suppose to be christianisation of pagan Prussia and keeping peace on the border with Masovia. Teutonic Knights conquered Prussian land and created their own country. Ambitions of the Order become even larger and in the next century great Polish - Teutonic war has started. The war has definitely ended in 1525 when Teutonic Knights lost their land in Poland and keept only their possessions in the Holy Roman Empire.   

View Teutonic Knights' castles in Poland in a larger map

On the map above we marked all Teutonic castles in Poland. Well preserved castles have been marked in red and ruins in blue. The largest Teutonic castle has been build in Malbork that became a capital of the Teutonic Country. The castle in Malbork is until today the world largest castle. 

Present Teutonic Knights

The Teutonic Order functions until today. Its headquarter is located in Viena and the Order possesses many locations in Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Belgium, Italy, Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Order is nowadays focusing on running hospitals, helping older people and running nursing homes. Bruno Platter is the Great Master of the Teutonic Order since 2000. At the 600th anniversary of the the great Polish-Teutonic battle in Grunwald, Bruno Platter visited Poland and was a guest of Polish president. 

The legacy of Teutonic Knights in Poland is a great tourist attraction. Many of the castles have been destroyed during wars, but large fraction of them with the castle in Malbork for example have been very well preserved and turned into museums. 

See also :
10 reasons to visit Poland
EURO 2012