EDiNBURGH CASTLE, SCOTLAND
Perched atop Castle Rock, overlooking all of Edinburgh, it’ s not hyperbole to say Edinburgh Castle is the heart of the city. It’ s been an ancient stronghold, a royal residence and a military garrison through the last 3,000 years. It’ s far less flashy than some of the other castles on this list, but despite its appearance, there’ s still plenty to see. History runs deep here. Humans have occupied this hill since the Iron Age; royalty since the reign of Malcom III in the 11th century.
This is the most besieged castle in all of Europe— still standing with over 20 attempts on it. The Great Hall was the wonder of medieval Scotland, and today it houses a cornucopia of military armor and weapons underneath its impressive beams. St. Margaret’ s Chapel is Edinburgh’ s oldest building, named in honor of Queen Margaret who died there in 1093. Trace the footsteps of bygone royalty in the Royal Palace and observe their priceless treasures with the Honours of Scotland, on display in the Crown Room. Mons Meg is arguably the most impressive medieval cannon in existence; you must see it to believe it. All these highlights and points of interest are simply second fiddle to the castle itself, and its view. Staring out its ramparts over greater Edinburgh, it’ s easy to see how the city grew from this one spot. It’ s easy to understand how for one corner of European history, this what it meant to be on top of the world.
CHÂTEAU DE VERSAiLLES, FRANCE
The Palace of Versailles was once a hunting lodge, and through nearly two centuries of renovations and expansions went on to become the seat of the throne and capital of France( for a time). Its place in international memory is firmly affixed to the French Revolution. It was here that Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette— of rumored“ let them eat cake” infamy— were all but overthrown by a crowd of thousands furious over the high price and scarcity of bread. The palace changed hands a few more times( Napolean, Louis XVIII, Louis-Phillippe, etc. etc.) before ultimately becoming a museum, dedicated to the glories of France.
Strolling through its gilded halls, it’ s hard for your jaw not to drop. The collections span from the Middle Ages to the late 19th century— some 60,000 priceless works of art adorn these walls and dot the garden, much of which is a painstaking re-creation of how the palace would’ ve been when Versailles was stormed in 1789. You can trace France’ s military victories through its many frescos; you can trace the ire of the starving masses through the gold trim. The can’ t-miss attraction is the Hall of Mirrors; 17 windows shining on 578 mirrors infuse the room with ethereal light, prompting the crystal chandeliers and marble to seemingly glow. It makes for a priceless souvenir photo.
FAMILY VACATIONS MADE EASY · 75