14 Breathtaking Castles - A Must See!

In my journeys, very often I like to plan the route considering the castles or palaces I can find along the way. Some of them are hidden in old forests or placed on top of a hill mysteriously covered with fog. Others - built on islands - seem to float on the water, guarding the city nearby. All of those spectacular buildings, most of them still remembering the medieval times, are certainly worth seeing. Each of them has their own story to tell, filled with mystery, ghosts and treasures...

Mont Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel is is a rocky coastline island located in Normandy, France. This majestic castle is one of the first places to obtain UNESCO World Heritage listing. It is also one of the most frequently visited castles in France.


Source

Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is one of a kind in the world. It was built in 19th-century in Bavaria, situated on a rocky hill near Hohenschwangau in southwest Bavaria, Germany. You can see that the design of this castle is breathtaking: arched portals, all the arcade windows and high towers, columns and pinnacles. It looks like a fairytale castle. Rumor has it, that it has been an inspiration for Walt Disney and the famous castle in Disneyland.


Source


Matsumoto Castle
Matsumoto Castle is one of the unique four japanese castles, which are listed as national treasures of Japan. Next to Himeji-jo, Matsumoto-jo, this was the next best existing castle donjon (a tall and sturdy defense and observation tower) in Japan. Built by Ishikawa Kazumasa and his son Yasunaga in  the year 1590.


Source

Castle of Coca
Castle of Coca was built in the 15th century for Archbishop Alonso de Fonseca I. It is considered as one of the best castles in Spain, definitely worth seeing. The castle's characteristic turreted structure of plaster and red brick is surrounded by a deep moat. In spite of this defensive traits, the Castle of Coca has been more of a palace than a castle.


Source

Isola di Loreto
Isola di Loreto is a neogothic castle, which has been rebuilt around 1910, being based on the fortified structure of the castle dating further back than 15th century. This castle was built on island L’isola di Loreto, the smallest island of the lake Iseo. It is located on the north side of Montisola, Italy.


Source

The Potala Palace
The Potala Palace is located on the Red Hill of Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. It was originally built in the 17th century by King Songtsen Gampo. The Potala Palace was a winter palace and the main residence of the Dalai Lamas until the 14th Dalai Lama had to escape to Dharamsala, India (he resides there until now).


Source

Predjamski Grad
Predjamski Castle is a suprisingly placed renaissance castle built within a cave mouth in southwestern Slovenia, with lots of natural tunnels and smaller caves existing underneath, being a safe haven for many centuries for people living nearby. It is located approximately 11 kilometres from the famous Postojna Cave.


Source

Hunyad Castle
Hunyad Castle was originally built as a fortress in 1212. Many believe that this castle is the place where the unfamous and terrifying Count Dracula was held as a prisoner for 7 years after he was overthrown in 1462. The castle is situated in Hunedoara, Romania.

Source

Malbork Castle
The Malbork Castle’s construction began in 1275, along the river Nogat in Poland. This castle was made from red brick and became the world’s largest brick gothic castle. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997. Today, it is well-preserved medieval gothic castle and a museum.


Source

Prague Castle
Prague Castle is the Czech Capital City's premier tourist attraction. It was largest medieval castle complex in Europe and the ancient seat of Czech kings throughout the ages.

Source

Eltz Castle
Eltz Castle is a medieval castle placed in the hills above the Moselle River between Koblenz and Trier, Germany. This castle is still owned by a branch of the same family (for 33 generations!) that lived there in the 12th century.


Source

Palacio da Pena
Palacio da Pena is one of Europe’s most magnificent and uniquely designed palaces. It was built on the top of a hill above the town of Sintra, Portugal.


Source

Löwenburg Castle
Löwenburg Castle was built around 1800 as a country residence for Count Wilhelm IX (Germany). This castle was intentionally designed to look like a medieval castle.


Source

Bodiam Castle
Bodiam Castle is a quadrangular castle, surrounded with a huge moat, located in East Sussex, England. It was built in the late 14th century by a veteran of King Edward III’s wars with France. The purpose of this castle was to be a strategical point of defense from a possible french invasion and also - a peaceful and quiet homestead for its owner.


Source


If you find any other castles you've seen or feel they should be mentionned here - write a comment, please! :)


Source: http://pixzii.com/

The potential of West Africa as a Responsible Tourism destination

Once considered as a beach resort paradise with approximately 3500km of coast line dotted with palm trees and covered with white sand, West Africa has seen a steady decline in traditional tourists over the past few years. Now there seems to be a renewal of interest and tourists are beginning to trickle back to the hustle and bustle of the colourful markets, the relaxing sound of the Atlantic waves crashing on a pristine beach or to the exhilarating beat of the Jembe and talking drum.

There are several recent articles that have appeared within the UK press which have demonstrated that tourists are choosing West Africa as a ‘good value for money’ region where there is a wealth of activities, sites, ‘untouched’ beaches and landscapes to explore (ie. The Times and The Telegraph) . However, these tourists are not the traditional type, those who come to the resorts and lie on the beaches in order to escape the cold British winter. They are the more adventurous type, those seeking thrills and the sense of discovery and exploration, but also who like to relax on a beach after a long day. They choose West African countries as a destination because of the ‘off-the-beaten-track’ feeling when walking through the streets of Dakar, or staying at a hostel in Guinea-Bissau. They go to West Africa to learn more about culture and appreciate the regions biodiversity, to experience ‘something new’, to do ‘what other people don’t do.’ Furthermore, they are the tourists which have less of an impact on the environment, who will happily eat a meal made from local ingredients, visit a local craft shop to buy souvenirs, use public transport when possible and stay in a hotel owned by community members. They are the responsible tourist.

The potential is there, the local populations are enthusiastic to show their country to new arrivals, tourism projects are under way and a lot of the ground based Tour Operators practice Responsible Tourism policies because of the cultural attachment to the sense of community, respect for nature and pride for their cultures.

Organisations such as O.N.I.T.S (Senegal), Eco-Bénin (Bénin), ASSET (The Gambia), Tourisme Cameroon (French) and Visit Sierra-Leone are all working towards the implementation of Responsible Tourism policies within the countries Tourism Industry. They have appreciated that only sustainable tourism (which advocates the conservancy of Natural, Cultural, Social and Historical heritages whilst promoting their countries wealth of activities, beaches, learning opportunities and new experiences) is the key to a successful long-term answer to the declining number of tourists.

Marketing

The next step is the marketing of the West African region through the most cost-effective and carbon efficient means possible:

With the ever increasing UK market trend towards ethical consumerism the term Responsible Tourism, as long as the policies are respected and that there is something to do in the destination, is a unique selling point that should not be shunned.

Social networking tools such as Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Youtube (to name but a few) are some of the free ‘marketing tools’ available to start a marketing campaign, and they are gaining popularity day-by-day.

Guide book listings (Rough Guides, Lonely Planet, etc.) are also a great way to get noticed, and travel writers are always looking for the next exciting tourism venture to review.

Getting in contact with UK based Responsible Tourism marketing agencies such as West Africa Discovery can also be a means of getting a wider coverage of the UK market.

My experience of West Africa

Having visited West Africa myself, and lived in Senegal, I can appreciate how beautiful the region is. I can still taste the heavily spiced fish and rice dishes, smell the Atlantic Ocean breeze, feel the sun shining brightly on my skin and hear the drums calling to one another from neighbouring villages. I have images of towering waterfalls, cathedral-like termite mounds, colourfully dressed women, awe-inspiring sunsets and lush tropical forest. I have memories of bike riding from one village to another, meeting the elder of a remote tribe in Iwol, swimming in the Gambia river near Kédougou, sitting on the beach near a bonfire sipping tea in Casamance and eating Mafé-Yapp (A peanut based spicy sauce and meat dish usually served with rice) in the sahel regions of the Lac de Guier (Northern Sénégal).

I would like other people to experience special moments like the ones I had and to go back home with a head full of stories and a camera full of beautiful photos, but in a respectful and sustainable way. You will not regret it, as long as you’re open-minded.

Visit www.westafricadiscovery.com

Contact me at thomas@westafricadiscovery.co.uk