Nordic Marvels: Northern Europe’s Castles and World Heritage Sites

Northern Europe is home to countless palaces, fortresses and castles, many of them UNESCO World Heritage sites. From Copenhagen to Karlskrona and beyond, these architectural wonders have compelling histories and distinctive styles.

From the imposing stone fortresses of the Scottish Highlands to the opulent palaces of Denmark and the lavish manors of Ireland, Northern Europe’s castles can feel straight out of a storybook. Many of them are UNESCO World Heritage sites, and all are easily accessible on a voyage with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection — an unforgettable way to explore the region’s storied past and stunning landscapes.

One of the oldest castles in Ireland, Malahide dates to the 12th century and is home to fairytale worthy features, including magical botanical gardens and Ireland’s only butterfly house. Nestled on 250 acres of parkland just outside of Dublin, it was both a fortress and a private home for the Talbot family for nearly 800 years. The interiors are just as dazzling as the grounds, filled with beautiful period furniture and an extensive collection of Irish portrait paintings, mainly from the National Gallery.

Situated on three islets in Hillerød just north of Copenhagen, this stunning Renaissance castle is famed for its exquisite gardens and for housing the Danish Museum of National History. Built in the early 17th century by King Christian IV, it is the largest Renaissance castle in Scandinavia and exemplifies the best of Renaissance craftsmanship. The symmetrical castle garden was designed to follow the main axis of the castle with a long perspective extending into the landscape (take note of the royal monograms designed into the boxwood). To the left of the baroque garden is an English-inspired garden with a charming Bath House, which is occasionally used by the Royal Family for hunt lunches.

Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Edinburgh Castle played a pivotal role in Scottish history. Perched atop the volcanic crags of Castle Rock at the west end of Edinburgh’s Old Town, this formidable fortification was a crucial stronghold in the Kingdom of Scotland. Occupied by humans since the Iron Age, it has also served as a royal residence, treasury, arsenal, prison, national archive and the home of the Honours of Scotland. One could easily spend half a day touring the grounds, including notable features like the Castle Vaults, tiny St. Margaret’s Chapel, and the One O’Clock Gun, an 18-pound, WW II cannon that’s still fired daily at 1pm.

Set against the mountains of Snowdonia, this 21-tower medieval fortress in Northern Wales looks straight out of Game of Thrones. King Edward I constructed it during his conquest of Wales between 1283 and 1287. Exceptionally well-preserved, the UNESCO-listed site features a striking castle and the most intact set of medieval royal apartments in Wales surrounded by fortified walls spanning three-quarters of a mile. Thanks to restored spiral staircases in its great towers visitors can walk a complete circuit around the battlements.

When the palace received its UNESCO World Heritage designation in 1991, the committee called it “the finest example of an 18th-century north Europe residence inspired by the Palace of Versailles.” Magnificent salons from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a unique palace theater, a Chinese Pavilion and a stunning Baroque garden all exude opulence. Located on the island of Lovön about 45 minutes outside of Stockholm, the palace serves as the current private home of the Swedish Royal Family, but it’s mostly open to visitors. Must-see sites include artist Evert Lundquist’s studio, which is now a museum located in the old machine house at the Chinese Pavilion, the bronze sculptures in the Baroque Garden (cast copies of originals by the Dutch sculptor Adriaen de Vries), and Drottningholms Slottsteater, the best-preserved eighteenth-century theater in Europe.

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