in

OMGOMG AngryAngry LoveLove LOLLOL

Artificial Fairytale Castles On Slavic Grounds

enelene (CC0), Pixabay

Medieval and renaissance castles are scattered all over Slavic territory. Many of them have been reconstructed to such an extent that they perfectly capture the initial grandeur of the old strongholds and former royal residencies. And while the real thing is always better than the artificial one, decorative chateaus shouldn’t be neglected just because they’re “fake”.

Here are a few examples of magnificent artificial castles on Slavic grounds, which look just as if they’ve been taken straight out of a fairytale.

Garibaldi Castle (Russia)

Built during the latter half of the 20th century the Garibaldi castle is located in the Khryashcevka Samara region of Russia. Its owner, Oleg Kuzichkin, commissioned it in such a way that it would resemble the authentic glory of the old European Romanticism movements, and named it after his own father.

The castle grounds play a true ode to history with their architectural design, picturesque gardens, lavish interior and fairytale-like panoramic splendor. Not only can visitors immerse themselves into Arthurian legends just by walking through the halls and the park, but they can also take carriage and horse rides, book a vacation at the hotel wing, hold their wedding reception, enjoy traditional Russian meals at the award-winning restaurant and even rent the castle yacht.

Ravadinovo Castle (Bulgaria)

The castle’s real name is “In Love With The Wind”, but it’s better known as Ravadinovo, which is the marine village near which the chateau is situated. Its commissioner Georgi Tumpalov is also its architect, who not only designed it, but actually participated in the construction process, working hand in hand with the rest of the construction workers from his team.

Once a child’s dream, the castle of Ravadinovo was supposed to become a boutique hotel. The owner eventually decided to make it more available to the public masses and nowadays it’s known all over the country as a popular touristy destination for couples and families who want to spend a few hours feasting their eyes on the architectural design, lush greenery, aquapark, art gallery, wine cellar, zoo and lots of other attractions, including a recently added replica of the famous Di Trevi fountain.

Swallow’s Nest (Ukraine/Russia)

As the name suggests, Swallow’s Nest is a small and elegant castle perched atop of the Aurora Cliff, overlooking the Crimean Peninsula. Constructed in the early 1900s, it’s been the official symbol of Crimea for quite a while and it’s a popular attraction for Ukrainians and foreigners alike.

In 2011 the local government spent around $150,000 on renovations and upgrades. Today this miniature castle hosts a diversity of art and history exhibitions, craft workshops and wedding ceremonies. The gorgeous waterscapes that open up at every angle are just a bonus to the lovely exterior and the lively events held in the area. If you ever happen to find yourself near Swallow’s Nest, don’t forget to look for the Tree of Wishes. For decades tourists from all over have been tying ribbons on its branches while making wishes upon them.

John’s Castle (Czech Republic)

Last, but not least on this list of artificial fairytale castles on Slavic grounds is Janův hrad, or in other words – John’s castle. Situated in the Lednice area of the Czech Republic, this decorative castle is quite unique compared to other similar constructions as it wasn’t meant to replicate the imposing sublimity of posh medieval chateaus.

On the contrary! Its owner actually wanted a façade that would depict ancient ruins and so he commissioned the architects to make a small, partially ruined fake castle. After it was completed in the 19th century the building served as an extravagant hunting lodge and the hunters occasionally threw hearty feasts with game meat. Today the castle is a somewhat touristy spot equipped with a small restaurant that offers local cuisine and wine tasting services.

What do you think?

3.4k Points

Written by Yanna N.

Leave a Reply

Babushka's trap card!

The reason why Balkan people have to be the way they are