This is a beautiful example of far-eastern architecture. This stylish castle was built for the Ryukyu Kingdom, serving as a palace for four hundred years until the year 1879. Though the castle was nearly destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa during World War II, a long restoration project brought it back to life, and the castle is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It also spent some time as part of a university campus after the war. It’s the site of numerous important religious and cultural ceremonies, though since the restoration has limited access to the site for the purpose of some events.
Alcázar of Segovia – Segovia, Spain
With a perfect perch on a rocky hill, overlooking the confluence of two rivers, Alcazar of Segovia appears to be the bow of a ship, slicing through waters with a beautiful medieval look. Construction took centuries, and the initial foundations were laid in the twelve hundreds.
The name is simple – Alcazar means fortress, stemming from the Arabic “al'qasr.” This is also where Alcatraz got its name since California was settled by the Spanish. The huge halls of this formidable fortress are immense structures, and the castle itself is huge – the castle and the grounds together combine for a hundred and thirty-four hectares.
Don't Get Too Lost
It's been said that Alcazar of Segovia was the inspiration for the Wicked Queen's home in Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", and is also thought to be one of the inspirations for Cinderella's Castle at the Walt Disney Magic Kingdom Park.
There are hundreds of interior rooms to explore, which include the Hall of las Piñas, named for the decorative motifs of the coffered ceiling, and the Room of the Belt, named because of the long golden lace walls. There's also a chapel where the king or queen took mass, and the Armory Room, which features a collection of weapons.
A Lightning Rod for Destruction
This palace has burned down four times over the course of its history. In fact, a fire has ravaged the grounds even as recently as 1992 and Halloween night, 2019. The main courtyard structures of the castle were once again damaged.
The castle and grounds feature large Japanese gates, numerous shrines, and plenty of other features such as private gardens, man-made ponds, natural springs, royal tombs, and even a royal villa that is a rare, historically valuable example of Ryukyuan landscape gardening. The castle has appeared in a number of video games, including "Deadly Dozen: Pacific Theater", and "Call of Duty: World at War".
Arundel Castle – Arundel, England
Now completely restored, Arundel was the home of Roger de Montgomery, who was made an earl by William the Conqueror all the way back in 1067. Through the centuries it was home to numerous members of the nobility and is the current home of Edward Fitzalan-Howard, the eighteenth Duke of Norfolk.
This castle has been the location for events, such as royal weddings, and public collections. Its cricket field has, since 1895, seen matches that run from local youth teams to international sparring matches.