World's Greatest Palaces

Hampton Court Palace has history coursing through the brickwork. Famous for being the home of King Henry VIII, the magnificent rooms have played host to some of the most celebrated royals in England. Decisions that were made here, changed the course of British history. Hampton Court was the brainchild of the Archbishop of York, Thomas Wolsey.

For 350 years, Schonbrunn Palace was the main Summer residence of Austria's imperial family, the Habsburgs. Designed in a rococo style, the 1,441 rooms have played host to some of Europe's most influential figures including Marie Antoinette, Mozart and Napoleon Bonaparte.

The Royal Palace of Caserta is a neo-classical masterpiece. This gigantic structure has 1200 rooms, on five floors, and, by volume, with more than two million cubic metres is the largest palace in the world.

London's Kensington Palace is an intimate residence that houses today's modern royals. Hidden away in London's Hyde Park, it began life as an early 17th century Jacobean mansion before becoming a palace fit for the monarchy.

Neuschwanstein Castle is a breath-taking fairytale palace in the snow-capped mountains of Bavaria in Southern Germany. Created for the eccentric King, Ludwig the second, the fantastical castle is both a visual and engineering marvel that was even an influence on Walt Disney.

Edinburgh Castle is a symbol of Scottish might that's been bitterly fought over for more than a thousand years. Some of the most famous names in British history - from Mary Queen of Scots to Oliver Cromwell - have walked its battlements.

Château de Fontainebleau began life as a medieval castle in the 12th century before being turned into a renaissance palace in the 1500s. Kings and Emperors of France resided at this grand, country retreat for 750 years.

Pele's Castle in Romania is a magical palace, full of contradictions. Built in a medieval style in 1914, it may look like a fairy tale home, but Pele's is filled with modern technological innovations.

Constructed on the site of a former castle called Tre Konor, the Royal Palace of Stockholm has 1400 rooms, spread over three floors and covers almost 300 years of design.

Lukshmi Villas Palace is reputed to be the largest private dwelling in India. The Indo-Saracenic designed residence was built for The Maharaja of Baroda in 1890 and remains the home of the royal family to this day.