I'm talking about the imperial and royal palaces of various emperors and monarchs of the East (Asia) and the West (Europe).

The question is, quick ones are of more grandeur than the other?

Also please post pics so others could see.

escorial (spain, europe)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/santaclaus12/er/mm/dfdfdf.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/santaclaus12/er/mm/yy.jpg
western palaces are the best eastern look like barns

doesn't spain have a lot of eastern looking moor-influenced palaces?

they are both amazing but I choose Western palaces, do you have pics of Eastern palaces?

doesn't spain have a lot of eastern looking moor-influenced palaces?
Spain have one of the moust beautifuls (the moust beautiful I supose) Eastern palaces in the world the "Allambra" in Granada but in general the palaces are Western.

Buckingham Palace is wwwwwwwicked!

http://img202.echo.cx/img202/4395/london207tl.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

The back yard is da bomb aswell!

WOWWWWW it looks nice with the colors of the flag (with out the color too but...) :eek:

Versailles

http://www.einmannorchester.ch/gin/europe/2003-1/2003-04-05-paris-versailles-1-1000x750.jpg

http://arts-sciences.cua.edu/ml/faculty/shoemaker/Versailles/pictures/versailles/orangerie.JPG

http://coe.uca.edu/psych/pictures/versailles.gif

http://donnatoo.home.comcast.net/europe/art/versailles.jpg

http://www.camt.usyd.edu.au/people/zqsu/EuroSummer/temp/Paris%20Versailles%20Fountain%2004.jpg

http://photov.free.fr/images/versailles/chapelle.JPG

http://photov.free.fr/images/versailles/chapelle%20nef.JPG

http://www.cotatel.fr/jepars/versailles/Versailles_plafond_chapelle.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/fr/thumb/1/16/800px-Chambrereine.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/fr/thumb/9/92/450px-Galerie1.jpg

http://www.parisdigest.com/photos/Galerie-des-glaces.jpg

http://www2.ac-toulouse.fr/lyc-couserans-saint-girons/versaille/commun/3verschateau/galerie.jpg

http://www.kulmbach.net/~MGF-Gymnasium/bilderdaten/absolutismus%201/Bilder/Galerie%20des%20Glaces%20versailles_jpg.jpg

http://image03.webshots.com/3/9/19/15/6691915PMkAwNEQFL_fs.jpg

http://www.jack-travel.com/IledeFrance/html/DaytripsVersaillesOpera.jpg

The famous Versailles Palace. The place where historically contentious treaties were signed. i.e. Versailles Treaty.

Mafra Royal Palace (Portugal) 4500 windows and doors :eek2:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf1.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf2.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf3.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf4.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf5.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf6.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf7.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf8.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf9.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf10.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf11.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf12.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf13.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf14.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf15.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf16.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/maf17.jpg

The Taj Mahal, Ankor Wat would be Eastern palaces.

Isn't the Taj Mahal a tomb more than a palace?

Alhambra of Granada
http://www.alhambra.info/imagenes/004-granada-alhambra.jpg

Palacio Real of Madrid
http://www.asptutor.com/galerias/Madrid_Mayo_2004/slides/Palacio%20Real.jpg

El Escorial (Madrid)
http://www.gospain.org/Spain_Images/escorial.gif

From what I've seen I'd generally say I find the Western palace interiors more attractive. The exteriors is somewhat more difficult to say since I see no pictures of the Eastern palaces but recall finding them very attractive.

Some Eastern Castles:

Nagoya Castle, Japan
http://www.ncvb.or.jp/photo/image/big/siro_01.jpg

http://www.ncvb.or.jp/photo/image/big/siro_03.jpg

http://www.ncvb.or.jp/photo/image/big/siro_04.jpg

Himeji Castle, Japan
http://amnkamns.cocolog-nifty.com/amnkcocolog/images/himejijyou_04.jpg

http://www2.sanmedia.or.jp/xplus/photo/himeji/himeji02.JPG

Osaka Castle, Japan
http://yanagi.gifu-u.ac.jp/~i99901/kobe/DSCF0067.JPG

http://itaka84.fc2web.com/syasinkan/o2.jpg

http://orangestudio.homeip.net/gallery/public/user/user/image.php?userid=10787&daytime=2003/12/11%2018:24:34&imagetype=2&text=&text_textcolor=&text_font=5&text_x=0&text_y=0

http://orangestudio.homeip.net/gallery/public/user/user/image.php?userid=10787&daytime=2004/01/29%2017:04:58&imagetype=2&text=&text_textcolor=&text_font=5&text_x=0&text_y=0

Matsumoto Castle, Nagano, Japan
http://img148.echo.cx/img148/4048/matsumotocastle7gb.jpg

http://br1125.new21.org/image/s-matu%20castle.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/tabletopch/nihonoe/mats3.jpg

Unknown Castle

http://img148.echo.cx/img148/8924/unknowncastle6zv.jpg

Inuyama Castle, Aichi, Japan

http://www.oct.zaq.ne.jp/afaev407/Main/Joukaku2/Data/tyubu/Inuyama2.jpg

http://www.mie-c.ed.jp/jminam/sst0/98/118/inuyama21.jpg

Edo Castle, Tokyo, Japan (gone)
http://www.cablenet.ne.jp/~isoda-6g/edo.jpg

Edo Castle is now the Imperial Palace

http://weekend-walking.com/photo/t-s-meisho/t-s-meisho05-1.JPG

Odawara Castle, Kanagawa, Japan

http://hirotrip.fc2web.com/photo/sakura/01/photo/sa0119.jpg

http://enterprise.hp.infoseek.co.jp/gallary/ume/picture/DSCF1042.JPG

Okayama Castle, Okayama, Japan
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ja/9/97/岡山城天守.jpg

http://pigmon.typepad.com/photos/photolog/p1020152.jpg

http://www.guidejapan.net/JRegion/Okayama/okayamakourakuen.jpg

Hikone Castle, Shiga, Japan
http://www.oct.zaq.ne.jp/afaev407/Main/Joukaku2/Data/kinki/Hikone2.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ja/2/24/彦根城天守.jpg

Matsue Castle, Shimane, Japan
http://www.oct.zaq.ne.jp/afaev407/Main/Joukaku2/Data/tyugokusikoku/Matue1.jpg

http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~haruo_49/tabi005.jpg

Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto, Japan
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ja/e/e4/Kumamoto_Jo.jpg

http://www.oct.zaq.ne.jp/afaev407/Main/Joukaku2/Data/kyushu/Kumamoto1.jpg

A European Style Castle in Japan! Goryokaku Castle, Hokkaido, Japan (remains)

http://www.ks-pc.com/kankou/images/goryoukaku.jpg

http://www.mb.megafit.net/~kodaruma/goryo.jpg

http://www.geocities.co.jp/CollegeLife-Club/8016/memory6-10/goryou.jpg

Shuri Castle, Okinawa, Japan　(closer to Chinese Castles)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ja/e/ef/首里城01.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ja/6/68/ShureiNoMon.jpg

http://www.ram.ne.jp/~ais/okinawa/syurijyo/images/syujyo2.jpg

http://www.joyphoto.com/japanese/travel/011013/photo/syuriw.jpg

The Forbidden City, Beijing, China
http://www.huadutrv.com.cn/images/tupian/zijincheng/zijincheng_a2.jpg

http://www.huadutrv.com.cn/images/tupian/zijincheng/zijincheng_a4.jpg

I'll leave it to the Chinese forumers to post pics of other Chinese castles, as I'm too lazy. :D Same goes for the other Asian countries.

Last castle:
Lhasa Potala (?), Tibet, China
http://tibet.world-pictures.nl/images/5ti007_Lhasa_Potala03.jpg

http://tibet.world-pictures.nl/images/5ti005_Lhasa_Potala01.jpg

http://tibet.world-pictures.nl/images/5ti090_Lhasa_Potala%26water02.jpg

http://tibet.world-pictures.nl/images/5ti137_Lhasa_Potala_vanaf_dak_hotel.jpg

http://lansol.com/Tibet10-01/Lhasa-Potala%20Palace.jpg

http://www.bergoiata.org/fe/Nature02/Lhasa%20and%20the%20Potala%20(residence%20of%20the%20Dalai-Lama.jpg

Oh Shit! :eek2:

I think, comparing Japanese castles to European castles, the european castles focus more on the grandeur and the actual building itself, while Japanese castles focus on the surrounding nature and the gardens, while the actual castle is pretty simple. This, I think is either simple or sophisticated, depending on your point of view though... Anyway, I love both styles and are examples of unique architecture in any country. But since this is about grandeur, I say European Castles for this one. (this is strictly compared to Japanese castles. I went to some of the palaces in Thailand and Indonesia, and I thought they were very grand.)

Versailles by itself could beat all the others combined!

my favourite palace, GRAND PALACE, Bangkok Thailand. They use GOLD!
http://p.vtourist.com/160933-At_The_Grand_Palace-Thailand.jpg
http://userpages.wittenberg.edu/dkazez/wrldmu/pho/Thailand/bangkok.grand-palace.jpg
http://rhys.arkins.net/photos/2003_Thailand/Grand_Palace/IMG_1442.JPG
http://www.piscesposters.com/russ/thailand/IMG_5656_sm.jpg

I vote for European ones...
But there used to be a very grand one in ancient China(Palace of Qin Kingdom 2000years ago, burnt down, but appears in the movie a couple of times, I don't know how they did it?_?)

you mean how they burned down?

they just burned down.

Many of the CHinese ones were made of wood. So they are all gone forever.

This is the reconstructed Qin dynasty place, circa 230 B.C
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/QP.jpg

Beijing's Forbidden City:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/FC.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/FC2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/FC3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/FC4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/FC5.jpg

Royal throne:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/FC6.jpg

You are confusing Palaces and Castles. Castles are built for defensive purposes, and thus are more isolated and secure. Compare European CASTLES to Japanese ones if you want, but comparing Himeiji to Versailles is problematic.

It would be better to compare places like Katsura to Versailles, and Himeiji could be compared to somwhere like Windsor or even Neuschwanstein. Forbidden City is almost like a combination of the two, very unique in being heavily fortified, but also very horizontal.

Hue's (Vietnam) Forbidden Purple City complex:


Ngo Mon (Noon Gate)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/thanhnoi12.jpg

Hall of Supreme Harmony
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/thanhnoi9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/DienThaiHoa.jpg

Royal throne in Hall of Supreme Harmony
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/aaa.jpg

Royal residence
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/thanhnoi18.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/tn1.jpg

Various palace gates:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/thanhnoi17.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/thanhnoi15.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/thanhnoi116.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/thanhnoi4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/thanhnoi3.jpg

Royal pavilion:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/thanhnoi13.jpg

Dragon steps
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/14.jpg

Hien Lam Pavilion
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/thanhnoi7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/thanhnoi8.jpg

Dynastic Urns
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/thanhnoi5.jpg

Royal incense burners
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/IncenseUrn.jpg

Empress Dowager's Residence
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/thanhnoi2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/langvuatuduc2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/bongsen.jpg

Various intricate details and decorations:
roof tiles
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/GachTCT.jpg

Windows
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/TCT.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/TCT2.jpg

...
Bronze Ky Lan
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/BronzeDragon.jpg

Dragon Pole
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/DragonPole.jpg

Phoenix Pole
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/tn2.jpg

You are confusing Palaces and Castles. Castles are built for defensive purposes, and thus are more isolated and secure. Compare European CASTLES to Japanese ones if you want, but comparing Himeiji to Versailles is problematic.

It would be better to compare places like Katsura to Versailles, and Himeiji could be compared to somwhere like Windsor or even Neuschwanstein. Forbidden City is almost like a combination of the two, very unique in being heavily fortified, but also very horizontal.

True. I did confuse them, I think. Maybe I should start another thread comparing castles?

this thread should be entitled "which ones do you like the most" and not better, both are good in their own settings, I prefer western palces though.

What an interesting subject. I love the photos!

Does anyone have pictures of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles? That's where the (in)famous Treaty of Versailles was signed, correct?

The World's largest Residential Place

Istana Nurul Iman

http://www.bruneitourism.com/gifs/brunei/istana.jpg
http://www.fullpassport.com/Trip2004/images4/bruneipalace.jpg
http://www.bssyscom.com/images/istana.gif

A Singaporean Palace

The Istana

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/ylstan03/Istana/DSCN24421.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/ylstan03/Istana/DSCN24381.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/ylstan03/Istana/DSCN24471.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/ylstan03/Istana/DSCN24491.jpg
pics by babystan

Don't forget this one!
http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/iedu_En/zd/graphics/Zdz22091.jpg
http://www.alexanderpalace.org/petersburg1900/images/jordan.jpg
http://www.california.com/~lsteele/139.jpg

Anyone has photos of Saddam's palaces? How many did he have? 33?

Anyone has photos of Saddam's palaces? How many did he have? 33?

no pics from Saddam's palaces man :ohno: is very dangerous to go there and take pics from the palaces now :runaway:

You can find pics of Saddam's palaces online. Most of the big ones were not completed, but you can get a taste of Saddam's ostentatious tastes by looking at the completed parts.

The palaces are mostly military bases now. Many soldiers live in the large, incomplete palaces. You can find a listing of these US bases at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/iraq.htm

I wouldn't say Saddam's palaces represent the best of the Western palace. But, since you seem to be curious, I'll post a few pics. More are available at the site.

Tikrit (the largest palace site)

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/images/tikrit_another-palace.jpg
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/images/tikrit-largest-palace.jpg

cool, they are fantastic :eek:

what do you think about mixture of eastern and western; Turkish style
Dolmabahce Palace
http://dunyaturk.com/tr31/istanbulwithme_Dolmabahce_Sarayi_04Nov26.jpg
http://dunyaturk.com/tr14/kemal_bereket_dolmabahce_sarayi02.jpg
http://dunyaturk.com/tr06/Bulent_dolmabahce_dis8.jpg
http://dunyaturk.com/tr19/memocan_dolmabahce_sarayi09.jpg
http://dunyaturk.com/tr30/Faruk_dolma1.jpg

Walt Disney copied this Spanish Castle (Alcázar of Segovia) for his film: "Snow White". Can you remember it?
http://img283.echo.cx/img283/6969/alcazar3vo.jpg

http://img283.echo.cx/img283/1787/alcazarsegovia8bt.jpg

It's the castle of Bavaria that was copied. Also we talk about palaces.

what do you think about mixture of eastern and western; Turkish style
Dolmabahce Palace


Dolmabahce is a great palace, but I wouldn't call it a mixture of East and West. The Ottomans built it as a Western-style palace, to compete with the great palaces of Europe. It doesn't have many Turkish characteristics, with the exception of some detailing.

Topkapi is, of course, a more traditional Turkish palace. It reminded me of the Forbidden City because it's grandeur came not from the size of the buildings (as in European palaces), but by the massive size of the whole complex, which emphasized the horizontal. Also, Topkapi is arranged around great courtyards, like the Forbidden City.

Of all the palaces I've been to, Topkapi is probably the 2nd most impressive, after the Forbidden City. The setting of Topkapi along Bosporus and Golden Horn is more impressive however.

http://www.bursamimar.org.tr/htm/odul/foto_sergi/sabit%20kalfagil%20TOPKAPI%20HAREM_2.jpg

http://www.bitrot.de/cis_topkapi1.jpg

http://www.trailmonkey.com/Europe/Turkey/maps/tmap_topkapipalace1.JPG

http://www.antoranz.net/CURIOSA/ZBIOR5/C0501/02-QZD04070_ART30-004p289_Topkapi.jpg

yes you are right, but i think Dolmabahce is not totally western it has easten influence too

btw Topkapi Palace is totally Turkish and its neither western nor eastern, its mixture of them, i think:)

here is more Topkapi pics
Topkapi Palace
http://dunyaturk.com/tr01/topkapi0019.jpg
http://dunyaturk.com/tr01/topkapi_sarayi3889.jpg
http://dunyaturk.com/tr18/memocan_topkapisarayi05.jpg
http://dunyaturk.com/tr18/memocan_topkapisarayi08.jpg
http://dunyaturk.com/tr31/Elif_DSCF0531.jpg
http://dunyaturk.com/tr31/Elif_DSCF0541.jpg

Western no doubt in my mind :)

neuschwanstein, Germany

http://plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il/~tsigut/alps2002/hochschwanstein.jpg

Chateau de Versailles

http://www.meiklejohn.org.uk/paris/versaille.jpg

A few more Portuguese (i.e.Western) palaces:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/joao74/PalcioValeFlor.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v695/aleck1/mateus1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Gioconda/Pena1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/Phobos.europe/4021988.jpg
http://images.travelnow.com/hotelimages/s/013000/013868A.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/Arpels/palacionecessidades1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/Arpels/queluz1.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/foz1.jpg

This is the reconstructed Qin dynasty place, circa 230 B.C
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/QP.jpg
That's the one I'm talking about!
My favourite...

Beijing's Forbidden City:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/airlove/FC.jpg

Now that's ugly...

Palais de Versaille


Chateau de Versailles

Don't worry, those are common mistakes anyway.

Two mistakes:
- Disney's replica isn't Alcazar but...
- ...Neuschwanstein, wrongly named Hochschwanstein - and it's a modern "castle" of some 130 years of age. Maybe be old for Americans, but highly modern for Europeans :)

:cheers:

More French stuff:

Pierrefonds

http://back.boom.ru/WallPapers/06/0064.jpg

http://www.oise.pref.gouv.fr/Site/Oise_images/images/pierrefonds_jpg.jpg

http://www.mike-reed.com/images/Travel%20Journal/France/211%20-%20Chateau%20de%20Pierrefonds%20-%20Pierrefonds,%20France.JPG

Chambord

http://www.puzzlehouse.com/images/webpage/chambord.jpg

http://2style.net/ff_gallery/chambord.jpg

http://www.castles.org/castles/Europe/Western_Europe/France/Chambord-Loire_Valley/CHAMBORD.jpg

Chateau de Versailles

Don't worry, those are common mistakes anyway.

Thank you, you are right and it's "neuschwanstein" not hochschwanstein...

I was in a hurry, sorry Exarchus look at this pic! :master:

Neuschwanstein :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:


http://www.ulrikasheim.org/neualtenburg/guide/Neuschwanstein-06.jpg

http://www.allgaeu-bilder.de/gallery/verkehrsamt_fuessen/Bilder/16neuschwanstein_1.jpg

That's the one I'm talking about!
My favourite...

that one is cool, quit impressive :okay:

Dolmabaci is...no words :eek2:

btw Topkapi Palace is totally Turkish and its neither western nor eastern, its mixture of them, i think:)

Well, I guess that depends on how we define Eastern and Western. I thought we were just using the terms geograpically, so an Eastern palace is just any palace in the east (although Turkey is still problematic in that case).

There is a fairly clear line of European-style palaces and of East Asian palaces. Islamic architecture on the other hand, including Topkapi, is influenced by Europe (especially the Byzantines), but is clearly a style in it's own right.

It is unfair to compare eastern palaces with western ones as eastern cultures believes in impermanance thus palaces are usually constructed of wood and some of the better ones are forever gone thanks to war, rebellion and arson. :(

However, there are a lot of new palaces around Asia which are built during the colonial time which mimics western style. Just like the Grand Palace complex in Bangkok, there are Thai, Myanmese, Cambodian and French infuence in all its building architecture. ;)

There are also various 'international style' and modern design like Istana Nurul Iman (Sultan of Brunei's palace) for new palaces built in the past few decades. :)

Mysore Palace

http://img182.exs.cx/img182/7453/mysore25ph.jpg

http://img142.exs.cx/img142/3240/mysore38oe.jpg


http://img142.exs.cx/img142/1212/mysore41yr.jpg

Mubarak Mahal, Jaipur
http://img154.echo.cx/img154/3702/panjaipurmuseumbig8pr.jpg

Bialystok, Poland, Branickich Palace:

http://www.bstok.pl/up/foto/full/532.jpg

http://www.bstok.pl/up/foto/full/525.jpg

http://www.bstok.pl/up/foto/full/468.jpg

http://www.bstok.pl/up/foto/full/430.jpg

Eastern for sure. There's so much more variety in the palaces of the East and they even have Western palaces too.

a small palace in Sintra Portugal:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/palcintra3.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/palcintra2.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/obelix1/palcintra1.jpg

Regaleira palace in Sintra:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/jani1/reg1.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/jani1/reg2.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/jani1/reg5.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/jani1/reg8.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/jani1/reg9.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/jani1/reg10.jpg


Monserrate palace in Sintra:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/jani1/mons2.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/jani1/mons1.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/jani1/monserrate5.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/jani1/monserrate2.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/jani1/monserrate3.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/jani1/monserrate4.jpg

I dunno if someone mentioned this already ... but heres Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark. It's the home of the Danish Queen Margrethe II. I think it's the most beautiful palace in Northern Europe. :)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/DLL10101/AmailienborgPalads.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/DLL10101/AmalienborgPalads1.jpg

love them both
palaces in general are the epitome of architecture

here are some spanish ones Ive visited

Palacio Royal Madrid

http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/palacioreal1/palacioreal1.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/palacioreal1/palacioreal9.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/madrid1/madrid24.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/palacioreal1/palacioreal15.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/palacioreal1/palacioreal17.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/palacioreal1/palacioreal22.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/palacioreal1/palacioreal24.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/palacioreal2/palacioreal1.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/palacioreal2/palacioreal14.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/palacioreal2/palacioreal15.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/palacioreal2/palacioreal17.jpg

Palacio de Aranjuez
http://www.travel-images.com/spai31.jpg
http://www.castles.org/castles/Europe/Western_Europe/Spain/Aranjuez/aranjuez2.jpg
http://www.hilsberg.com/Spain/Aranjuez/images/prevs/Aranjuez3.jpg
http://www.castles.org/castles/Europe/Western_Europe/Spain/Aranjuez/aranjuez3.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/aranjuez1/aranjuez7.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/aranjuez1/aranjuez21.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/aranjuez1/aranjuez13.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/aranjuez1/aranjuez9.jpg
http://www.mrfs.net/trips/2003/Spain/Aranjuez/fountain.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/aranjuez3/aranjuez1.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/aranjuez2/aranjuez21.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/aranjuez2/aranjuez25.jpg

Palacio de La Granja
http://www.castles.org/castles/Europe/Western_Europe/Spain/La%20Granja/granja3.jpg
http://members.lycos.co.uk/jimmyhart/hpbimg/LaGPalace.JPG
http://www.castles.org/castles/Europe/Western_Europe/Spain/La%20Granja/granja2.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/castillaleon/segovia_provincia/la_granja1/la_granja8.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/castillaleon/segovia_provincia/la_granja1/la_granja14.jpg
http://www.castles.org/castles/Europe/Western_Europe/Spain/La%20Granja/granja5.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/mikepolk/lagranja/insidepalace.jpg
http://users.chartertn.net/prjones/palac_gran_fuente1.JPG
http://users.chartertn.net/prjones/palac_gran_fuente2.JPG
http://users.chartertn.net/prjones/palac_gran_fuente3.JPG
http://www.castles.org/castles/Europe/Western_Europe/Spain/La%20Granja/granja8.jpg
http://www.cimacon.com/projects/granja2.jpg


El Escorial
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/elescorial1/elescorial25.jpg
http://www.bamjam.net/Spain/images/esco1.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/elescorial1/elescorial19.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/elescorial2/elescorial1.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/elescorial2/elescorial3.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/elescorial2/elescorial13.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/elescorial2/elescorial16.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/elescorial2/elescorial21.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/elescorial2/elescorial22.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/madrid/elescorial2/elescorial25.jpg

Palacio Riofrio
http://users.chartertn.net/prjones/palac_rio_todas.JPG
http://www.navasdeestena.org/Participacion/riofrio/DSC00228.jpg

Real Alcazares Seville
http://www.sevilla5.com/monuments/mphotos/alcazar1.jpg
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/image/c1179_17.jpg http://www.andalucia.com/cities/image/c1178_19.jpg
http://www.personal.psu.edu/staff/j/x/jxf17/spain2002/Seville%20Alcazar%20courtyard1.JPG
http://www.personal.psu.edu/staff/j/x/jxf17/spain2002/Seville%20Alcazar%20interior6.JPG
http://www.personal.psu.edu/staff/j/x/jxf17/spain2002/Seville%20Alcazar%20interior7.JPG
http://www.personal.psu.edu/staff/j/x/jxf17/spain2002/Seville%20Alcazar%20gardens2.JPG
http://www.personal.psu.edu/staff/j/x/jxf17/spain2002/Seville%20Alcazar%20gardens1.JPG

Magdalena Palace
http://personales.mundivia.es/taps/taps-magazine/sube/touris_guides/REGION/touris_guides/Image28.jpg
http://www3.uakron.edu/modlang/san-a.jpg
Almudaina in Mallorca
http://www.familie-kreft.de/assets/images/palma_king.jpg

Alhambra
http://www.baulink.hu/balintker/hatterkep/epites%20tortenet/Alhambra.jpg
http://gardenhomearchitects.com/Alhambra-The_Lions_Courtyard.jpg
http://www.photoatlas.com/photo/spain_granada-alhambra.jpg
http://home.wanadoo.nl/leon.vandenbroek/Spain/images/Spain%20Granada%20Alhambra%204.jpg
http://www.saraphina.com/moseyseville/050899/050899-the%20Alhambra's%20oldest%20palace%20-%20Palacio%20del%20Partal.JPG
http://www.travelthewondersofspain.com/La-Alhambra-Gardens-Lg.jpg
http://mld.ursinus.edu/~jarana/Ejercicios/instructors/images/alhambra.gif
http://contrapunctus.net/league/photo/pcd4340/053.3.jpg
http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/andalucia/granada/granada1/alhambra5.jpg
http://photosbymartin.com/images/pcd3321/alhambra-51.3.jpg

wonderful Oduguy :applause:

Western Palaces

The World's largest Residential Place

Istana Nurul Iman

http://www.bruneitourism.com/gifs/brunei/istana.jpg
http://www.fullpassport.com/Trip2004/images4/bruneipalace.jpg
http://www.bssyscom.com/images/istana.gif


I love the Istana Nurul Iman especially when I found out that the Architect behind it is a Filipino.

Malacañan Palace, Manila, Philippines

http://www.cityofmanila.com.ph/image/malacanang.jpg

This is a funny question I know, but does anyone have access to - or know where I could find - a plan (or plans), section and/or elevations of the Topkapi Palace? I know it's a hugely complex palace, but I'm trying to find a plan of the whole palace, plus a few details of the area of the throne room etc. I'm an architecture student and I'm really struggling to find anything, as I don't read or write any Turkish!

Any help would be hugely appreciated!

Speaking of Umed Bhawant here are the pictures:
cc:billyvian
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2796/4118680347_da91459c50_b.jpg


cc: twiga_swala

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2013/2280000271_a7bfa89035_b.jpg

cc:jettpac
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/41/76506940_71b10ebdee_b.jpg
cc:colros
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2117/2438726261_5475d14d61_b.jpg

cc:travelure
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4275336379_3b33a68f58_z.jpg?zz=1http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4276082840_3610c1c2ff_z.jpg?zz=1

cc:ventri
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3352694336_8c53526964_b.jpg

cc:bahadur singh
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2558388282_275e04d2b5_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/2557589155_1a4cf1ac44_b.jpg
cc:newtuxedo
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/3021154220_4c10ac1d39_b.jpg
cc:pouriya2007
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2500/3735198298_b3f4fa6e35_z.jpg?zz=1
cc:chichyulin_evelyn
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1384/625719663_44cf7d0749_b.jpg

cc:sean glass
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2476/4005065786_f27430ae03_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2462/4004309893_363ae4aaa3_b.jpg

cc:adutta
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/4089729921_eb474ba550_b.jpg

cc:ialla
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/3012579480_5b6034cfb7_b.jpg

cc:bpzd90
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2800/4456853849_1da18a0bd5_b.jpg

Jaipur City Palace

cc:mfitch
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2144/2198487935_a22194a983_b.jpg
cc:ze_eduardo
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/382966279_bf83bda19f_b.jpg
cc:pranav
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/62/187252952_50d0ede9c9_z.jpg?zz=1
cc:vonty
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2777/4109171069_bf5ecab644_z.jpg?zz=1
cc:peter davis
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/136/327728455_4f409883d8_b.jpg
cc:visiting-india
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3619/3368485342_797d45f24f_b.jpg
cc:phi_marion
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2541/3755142129_6acaf10a20_z.jpg?zz=1
cc:dwrawlinson
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/180143002_c7d9ea0bd1.jpg
cc:Ursala in Bkk
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3240/2693114082_72e40fdf9d_z.jpg?zz=1
cc:jaimukerji
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/507040020_6681971d81_z.jpg?zz=1

cc:jokertrekker
http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/8612/458689319690403d3c79b.jpg

cc:prof.mortel
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7063/41871018914c9b5ccf50b.jpg


http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/8533/418793411604d5c91f7ab.jpg


http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/6590/418704194304149bf0f8b.jpg


cc:william whittingham
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/2544/2242242258e620d92293b.jpg


cc:prof.mortel
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/8981/4187948054fe1d9cb542b.jpg


cc:lionel bodilis
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/8298/288344547285f73193feb.jpg


http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5859/28144485277a327f64f9z.jpg


cc:restoration comedy
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/2374/2296007461967df1752cz.jpg


http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/5034/22968026587a34cd53aez.jpg


cc:abhinavt
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6015/334018112007289c42fz.jpg


cc:larpoon
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/292/41417788214566cc86e4z.jpg

cc:zepplink
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3946/4220143582b00d87d52z.jpg

cc:adventurediva
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/1962/31520803042fa0a9d446b.jpg

cc:lauradunnmark
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/6982/3078847983efc07b3bc2b.jpg

cc:origamidoc
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/5889/22887719598b9245ebf7b.jpg

cc:bahadur singh rajasthan
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/8551/25506622961acb8b569ez.jpg

http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/6371/25498371013f24bd7663z.jpg
cc:dee admas
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/9306/36948317430ed06414fz.jpg

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/952/36948342617b281244cz.jpg

cc:bahadur singh
http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/5656/2550567478d4109a5fe5z.jpg

cc:alexleo13
http://a.imageshack.us/img225/7127/1370888949350638b701b.jpg

cc:thomasmperry
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/2432/3238819138d4e01c4500b.jpg

cc:johnnie utah
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/2492/45345989757e5ab14108b.jpg

cc:tektrader49
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/5676/3843258255e784f0c5fdb.jpg

cc:roving
http://a.imageshack.us/img69/3581/357504204593c1b3f46ab.jpg

cc:jason staines
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/8549/32901985547127afbe4cz.jpg

cc:roving
http://a.imageshack.us/img707/6356/359057856465c3496352b.jpg

cc:khowaga1
http://a.imageshack.us/img37/1091/286248243157755cd7f0b.jpg

cc:cadam623
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/3412/514426565e87d832938b.jpg

cc:roving
http://a.imageshack.us/img202/7365/36029681383188de617eb.jpg

cc: Arun Tater
http://a.imageshack.us/img28/3681/4224040629b46fa955a8b.jpg

cc:akhileshbhardwaj
http://a.imageshack.us/img441/5074/4665854562156082dce5b.jpg

cc:pierre freteur
http://a.imageshack.us/img716/2685/1877880139e394d769b5b.jpg

You can see that it's after restoration because of the controversial coloured glasses.

cc:harmohit singh
http://a.imageshack.us/img641/2940/4830085114acc3ca20d1b.jpg


:banana:

Note: since india is a republic a lot of them have been converted into hotels by the former maharajas.

Seriously now, what is the point of the thread, Western vs Eastern palaces is not very fair comparison. France alone, hell, Île-de-France alone can beat all of Asia and Africa combined by a huge margin, and that is not about arts, architecture or anything, its about Imperial Europe ruling the world for half a millennium. I mean just Versailles are basically a city of palaces. If you consider the works of art inside that European palaces too, then the comparison becomes ridiculous....

These are just a few from the suburban area surrounding Paris alone!
Versailles which cannot be captured in a single picture since they are basically a city
http://www.justsaytops.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/versailles11.jpg

Louvre:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Louvre_Museum_Wikimedia_Commons.jpg/800px-Louvre_Museum_Wikimedia_Commons.jpg

Palais-Royal
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Conseil_d%27Etat_Paris_WA.jpg/800px-Conseil_d%27Etat_Paris_WA.jpg

Château d'Écouen
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Ecouen_Chateau_01.jpg/800px-Ecouen_Chateau_01.jpg

Fontainebleau
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Fontainebleau_-_pano_fa%C3%A7ade.jpg/800px-Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Fontainebleau_-_pano_fa%C3%A7ade.jpg

Château de Maisons
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/83/Chateau-de-maison-lafitte.jpg

Saint-Germain-en-Laye
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Saint-Germain-en-Laye01.jpg/800px-Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Saint-Germain-en-Laye01.jpg

Château de Vincennes
http://www.twip.org/photo/2008/photo-22-12-08-17-09-06.jpg

Château de Compiègne
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Façade_côté_jardin_du_château_de_Compiègne.jpg/800px-Façade_côté_jardin_du_château_de_Compiègne.jpg

Palais du Luxembourg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Palais_Luxembourg_Sunset_Edit.JPG/800px-Palais_Luxembourg_Sunset_Edit.JPG

Palais de la Légion d'Honneur
http://www.insecula.com/PhotosNew/00/00/10/17/ME0000101783_3.JPG

Conciergerie
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Conciergerie22.jpg/800px-Conciergerie22.jpg

Palais Bourbon
http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/palais-bourbon-assemblee-nationale-paris-f1868.jpg

Élysée Palace
http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/world/gallery/2007/may/16/france/GD3367635@Employees-place-a-red-7538.jpg

Seriously it is insane, the list for Paris alone goes on and on.....

How is it even possible to compare eastern to western? So different yet both so great in their own way.

Just look at the following examples of how different their arcitecture stle can be. Impossible to shoose. :cheers:


Drottningholm palace in Stockholm, Sweden

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4237753043_6277fc3258_z.jpg


Osaka castle, Japan

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1049/3170066126_f427dd3ba8_z.jpg


Jal mahal palace in Jaipur, India.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/113/287902069_c8c8d984a0_z.jpg

I think the number of palaces in Asia is more than the population of Europe!! Palaces were being built in Asia thousands years before that Europeans started to build small houses for themselves, even modern European palaces can be said to be just some small buildings in comparison to some ancient Asian palaces, like Persepolis which has a floor area of 125,000 sq. meters and was built by some millions workers from almost all known ancient countries in 180 years.

BTW my favorite palace is Castle Howard in North Yorkshire. 1699-1712

A work of art

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/England1_144.jpg/800px-England1_144.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Castle_Howard_01.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/2817244469_e6747ff060.jpg

Western Palaces > Eastern Palaces.

Not sure if these ones have been already posted, so forgive me if they have.

Chateau Chambord, France

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4868403885_9071254953_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthematician/4868403885/


Blenheim Palace, UK

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/313137596_600c1e98bd_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93425126@N00/313137596/

Casa Loma, Canada

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2942864217_52ddf78d89_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/luismontanez/2942864217/

Palace of Caserta, which along with the Versailles and the Schönbrunn are considered the 3 Super-Palaces of Europe

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Der_bourbonische_K%C3%B6nigspalast_in_Caserta.jpg
http://www.paradoxplace.com/Perspectives/Sicily%20&%20S%20Italy/Images/Caserta/Facade-Nov03-D4247sAR.jpg
http://www.paradoxplace.com/Perspectives/Sicily%20&%20S%20Italy/Images/Caserta/Stairs-Nov03-D4288sAR.jpghttp://www.paradoxplace.com/Perspectives/Sicily%20&%20S%20Italy/Images/Caserta/Meeting-Place-Nov03-D4267sAR.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/ReggiadiCasertaFountain08.jpg

Forbidden City or Winter Palace - the worlds largest palace - 980 buildings, 8707 rooms and chambers:

http://home.pacbell.net/eevans2/China/P1010329%20Forbidden%20City.JPG

http://www.picschina.com/images/chinese_forbidden_city_pictures_free/0102001_chinese_Forbidden_City_free_pictures_of_Beijing.jpg

Potala Palace - worlds tallest traditional building (and WTB for centuries) - 384-656 ft tall:

http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/Tibet/Lhasa/slides/Tibet%20Lhasa%2003%2002%20Potala%20Palace.JPG
www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com

moved to next page...

360-656 ft tall:

http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/Tibet/Lhasa/slides/Tibet%20Lhasa%2003%2002%20Potala%20Palace.JPG

when was this built?

^1645.

It has 13 stories, contains 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues. And a gold roof. Its 384-656 ft tall, and with the mount it's on it rises 1000ft above the valley floor.

...

...

...and ones destroyed - most of Asia's great palaces have been destroyed

Edo-Jo, Tokyo, worlds largest castle ever built, destroyed WWII

http://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/kikaku/index56/images/edo.jpg http://www.toppan.co.jp/english/news/images/news538_1.jpg
www.rekihaku.ac.jp, www.toppan.co.jp
http://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/koohoo/journal/no123/edojo1b.jpg
www.rekihaku.ac.jp


It once occupied the entire Imperial Palace Park, and some

http://affordablehousinginstitute.org/blogs/us/wp-content/uploads/tokyo_imperial_palace_small.jpg http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:IZFfIr1zD0TNhM:http://image.blog.livedoor.jp/bluestylecom/imgs/d/3/d3df585a.JPG&t=1
http://affordablehousinginstitute.org


Old Summer Palace, and the worlds largest gardens ever created - made up of hundreds of pavilions on myriad island lakes.
It was looted and burned to the ground by Western troops in 1860.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Yuanmingyuan2.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org
http://www.beijing-international-hotels.com/uploads/2009/0519/beijing-international-hotels-ymy1.jpg
www.beijing-international-hotels.com
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Yuanmingyuan_fanghu.jpg


Daming palace, Xian, 7.5x the size of the Forbidden City, and largest palace ever built:

http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/images/arbigimages/d43f97491ae3ad5272fb7f0e627e9be9.jpg
www.cultural-china.com
http://www.bpovia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/untitled-1t.jpg
www.bpovia.com
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20090910/0013729e4ad90c12e6bf38.jpg
www.chinadaily.com.cn


Other Chinese palaces were also as large - in turn 3, 4.5 and 5.5x the size of the Forbidden City
Epang Palace

http://history.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/upload/upfiles/2009-09/25/culturalchinafebe13bb923a8c9d005e.jpg

Mukden Palace, Shenyang, 300 rooms, the only Qing Dynasty royal palace outside Beijing.

This was in fact the much smaller palace of the Manchurians, who invaded and took over China,
and set up the Forbidden Palace as a much larger version of their own.

http://www.bjlxtx.com/manager/PicFile/2008010415420522434.jpg http://www.zjol.com.cn/pic/0/03/11/46/3114626_712495.jpg

http://upload.17u.net/uploadpicbase/2009/11/13/aa/2009111316221971613.jpg

http://www.bj616.cn/bbs/UploadFile/2006-2/200622622435524273.jpg http://www.94811.com/images/txtimage/20100820140253937.jpg

http://www.diyifanwen.com/images/liaoning/0872313595375568.jpg

New Summer Palace, Beijing, over 100 buildings on a manmade lake (and hill).
This is the third Summer Palace, the first two being destroyed in 1860 and 1900 by Western troops.

http://www.mapchinamap.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/summer-palace_2.jpg
www.mapchinamap.com
http://mychinesetranslator.co.uk/images/Summer%20Palace.jpg
http://mychinesetranslator.co.uk
http://imagecache6.allposters.com/LRG/26/2694/I7TUD00Z.jpg http://conference.itcs.tsinghua.edu.cn/CTW2010//content/images/yiheyuan.jpg http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/LPIPOD02/BN2316_23.jpg
http://conference.itcs.tsinghua.edu.cn, www.lonelyplanetimages.com
http://thewondrous.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Summer-Palace-Beijing-China-27.jpg
http://thewondrous.com
http://www.dougdoebler.com/x/china/19.jpg
www.dougdoebler.com
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Marble_Boat_in_Summer_Palace.jpg/800px-Marble_Boat_in_Summer_Palace.jpg
www.wikimedai.org
http://www.chinatravelpedia.com/images/attractions/beijing/Beijing_Summer_Palace_Overivew.png
www.chinatravelpedia.com

Thimpu's Royal Palace, Bhutan, and one of the few working royal palaces remaining in Asia

http://www.biketyrecity.com.au/images/royal_palace_thimphu_small.jpg
www.biketyrecity.com.au

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nEtzBH4h6hY/ScOTsEwNC8I/AAAAAAAAAKI/Q_uc_QDjQ3I/s400/thimphu_tashi_choe_dzong.jpg http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01108/king_of_bhutan6_1108918c.jpg

http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/hidef-pics-bhutan-crowns-a:

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1104/b19169725230.jpg

http://cache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/bhutan_11_07/b13_16974143.jpg
http://cache.boston.com

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/4030/b14169732834.jpg

http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/9043/b11169713653.jpg

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/4930/b05169704012.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/5420/b01169750431.jpg

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/296/b17169706977.jpg

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/7035/b16166822295.jpg

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/83/b20166821836.jpg

traditional costume:

http://www.windhorsetours.com/wind/images/gallery/bhutan/people/large/thimphu_tsechu.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Jo7lJoQhtjw/SYiw-mFrBBI/AAAAAAAAD6E/eU4vCdA94EU/s400/Bhutan+King+Reuters.jpg
www.windhorsetours.com

http://photos.travellerspoint.com/218048/large_MonksLooking2.jpg
http://photos.travellerspoint.com
http://www.honoluluacademy.org/dragonsgift/images/cham_mandala_form.jpg
www.honoluluacademy.org

coronation:

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45179000/jpg/_45179032_bhutan466afp4.jpg http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45179000/jpg/_45179159_palace466afp.jpg

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45179000/jpg/_45179160_guards466afp.jpg http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45179000/jpg/_45179033_bhutan466afp3.jpg
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45179000/jpg/_45179162_bhutan220afp5.jpg http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45179000/jpg/_45179031_bhutan466afp6.jpg
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk

Thanks, spliff fairy, those palaces are very beautiful and colorful.

I'm going share you guy of Southeast Asia's palaces.

Grand Palace in Thailand

http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/yy252/Dingesnl/Thailand/SAM_0497.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd248/sari209/Bangkok/DSC01615.jpg

http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss238/pgallerno/100_0561.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc295/jdw_uk_ok/SS850758.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc295/jdw_uk_ok/SS850765.jpg


http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc295/jdw_uk_ok/SS850756.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc295/jdw_uk_ok/SS850760.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc295/jdw_uk_ok/SS850745.jpg

Royal Palace in Cambodia

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h161/Rallyschwabe/Vietnam%202006/C1.jpg
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv4/southeastasia2009/P1000023.jpg
http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv115/evapothof/Cambodja/DSC01686.jpg
http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv115/evapothof/Cambodja/DSC01678.jpg
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z112/pritisinha76/Cambodia/DSC05370.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z270/snoepke31/Cambodia%20-%20Phnom%20Penh/SPA56454.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t43/vobulisers/Cambodia/DSCN5203.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w245/GPaterson/Cambodia/P2061076.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j110/leslym/Cambodia%202008/P1000482.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j110/leslym/Cambodia%202008/P1000495-1.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j110/leslym/Cambodia%202008/P1000493-1.jpg
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/phanit1/palace2.jpg
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/phanit1/palace.jpg
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/phanit1/untitled-3-1.jpg

Forbidden City or Winter Palace - the worlds largest palace - 980 buildings, 8707 rooms and chambers

Forbidden City covers 74 hectares (178 acres) but Saadabad Palace Complex in Tehran has an area of 410 hectares (1,013 acres).

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/alitezar/HA/DSCN2925.jpg

Thailand Palaces

Grand Palace

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4518694576_46fe67802f_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/3186169237_0cc5a9d0b5_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3517/4027577800_0e0364a7a5_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3428/3719984805_9a54a68a8c_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2719786794_8f5504b2cc_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4291235232_b9c782b2af_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/4979802322_5933a7313b_b.jpg

Vimanmek Palace

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/3175740263_fcfb173e6d_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2570/3803022465_f17be9d283_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4355738878_bf78a821b8_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/3198408199_dc899b5547_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3472/3198409439_7a6cb6a08f_b.jpg

Thailand actually has many palaces but most of them had now turned to musuem, university, resort, and cultural reserved structure. Many of the old palaces (500+ yr. old) in Thailand had been destroyed during the war with Burma several hundreds years ago.

List of Thai palaces (still exist)

Thai royal family private residences

Grand Palace
Dusit Palace
Chitralada Palace (New Palace)
Sukhothai Palace
Srapratum Palace
Nonthaburi Palace
Chakri Bongkot Palace


Former private residences of the Thai royal family

Vimanmek Palace (Vimanmek Mansion) - Now a museum
Suan Pakard Palace - Now a museum
Front Palace - Now Bangkok National Museum
Chankasem Palace - Now a part of the Ministry of Education
Rear Palace - Now a part of Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok
Phya Thai Palace - Now a part of Phramongkutklao Hospital
Phetchabun Palace - Now CentralWorld
Saranrom Palace - Now Saranrom Park
Varadis Palace - Now a museum
Old Palace - Now the headquarters of the Royal Thai Navy
Thapra Palace - Now a part of Silpakorn University
Bang Khun Phrom Palace - Now the Bank of Thailand
Tewawes Palace - Now the Bank of Thailand
Sunantalai Palace - Now Suan Dusit Rajabhat University
Ldawan Palace - Now the Crown Property Bureau
Burapha Phirom Palace - Now a market
Chakrabongse Palace - Now a private resort

Talking about largest palace, i think the Mandalay Palace in Burma(Myanmar) covers over 413 hectares, but most parts of the Palace was burned down during many wars already.

http://www.tayzathuria.org.uk/bd/2007/3/11/pics/mandalay/Mandl%20Pal%20Moat%202.jpg

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1800_1899/dailylife_drawings/ilnviews/mandalay1885.jpg

Here some of pictures before the palace was burned down:

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:NVqMQTmg0_5SRM:http://www.allmyanmar.com/mandalay%20photo/Myanmar%20Mandalay%20Palace%20Illustration%20from%20the%2019%20Century.jpg&t=1http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:d4V3ZPzn_9QC0M:http://www.allmyanmar.com/mandalay%20photo/Myanmar%20Mandalay%20Palace%20Illustration%20from%20the%2019%20Century%20Panorama.jpg&t=1http://www.uhpress.hawaii.edu/books/seasiatext/fig-14.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/The_Glass_Palace,_Mandalay.jpg/220px-The_Glass_Palace,_Mandalay.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Chief_Queen%27s_Apartments,_Mandalay_Palace.jpg

http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk/images/RTW_vol_3_142.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Lion_throne,_Mandalay_Palace.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Hman_Kyaung_Mandalay.jpg

British soldiers
http://i.neoseeker.com/mgv/354401-THM/401/62/61857_chief_commissioner62s_house8_mandalay_with_sir_charles_crossthwaite_and_suite_in_the_garden_122_1113lo_display.jpg
http://www.allthingsburmese.com/images/Mandalay%20Palace.gif

The palace wall and moat
http://www.fromoldbooks.org/Peck-TravelsInTheFarEast/098-Fort-Dufferin-and-the-moat,-Mandalay-q75-500x333.jpg

The palace was rebuilt in 1990s!

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/82/ec/63/mandalay-view-palace.jpg
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_MODziWTuhpI/RqSUbVo7dWI/AAAAAAAAAHo/9_a1My-8um4/s720/IMG_5171.jpg
http://static.zooomr.com/images/ddc59e4e2c68cbadb58bdad9dacf0fc70686139d.jpg
http://images.travelpod.com/users/mies/world_tour_2007.1201555800.mandalay_palace.jpg

guys Forbidden City is not just open land and greenery, with a few buildings dotted around
(by those counts the Summer Palace would be bigger, not to mention the Temple of Heaven
'complex' which is merely a single set of main buildings). The Forbidden City is mostly built
up and covered, with 980 interconnected buildings, and 8700 rooms.
Its counted by building size, not Palace grounds.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Gugun_panorama-2005-1.jpg

http://www.aasd.k12.wi.us/staff/lawrencebarbar/lawrancebarbara/ch26/26-05.jpg

Thimphu palace was rebuilt quite recently - somewhere in the 1900s. It was quite modest before then.

Ananta Throne Hall, Bangkok, a Western style palace commisioned by the former king (off limits to the public):

http://www.mirantidaniar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/39.-cool-place-but-no-photo-allowed-inside-1024x768.jpg

The interior is as lavish and gold encusted as the Thai pavilions:

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm21/rama9_photos/People%20and%20Events/wthai13big.jpg?1285963514

http://www.corbisimages.com/images/67/2FBC0D98-38DA-4B66-B1C5-76429D21F466/MF004894.jpg http://www.corbisimages.com/images/67/0659C8E3-9400-450A-9B9A-4F9906468F29/MF004897.jpg
Michael Freeman, www.corbisimages.com

http://image.diaoconline.vn/upload/Images/793_DOOL_080815_P1_2.jpg http://etd.adm.unipi.it/theses/available/etd-07122007-105812/unrestricted/Immagini_Ananta_Samakhom_Interno_1.bmp

http://diaoc.tuoitre.vn/ImageView.aspx?ThumbnailID=274177 http://diaoc.tuoitre.vn/ImageView.aspx?ThumbnailID=274178

main Royal Palace complex

http://www.travelvivi.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Thailand.jpg

http://iventurous.com/wp-photos/20061006-151243-7.jpg

http://www.specialjourney.com/photo_online/Bangkok_Royal_Palace_01.JPG

http://cdn4.mattters.com/photos/photos/4255451/146975628-0cf88dbbc968d1ac4d81ccf0580bb009.4c6a1750-scaled.jpg http://www.katsuyoshi.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/bangkok-1.jpg

http://www.mir.com.my/leofoo/Thai-amulets/Buddhist_Landmarks/Bangkok/Emerald_Buddha_Bangkok.jpg

http://www.thegreattrip.com/photoblog/uploaded_images/PICT0072-789304.JPG

http://26.media.tumblr.com/wUXSwtVgmq488nnyjLY16GKWo1_500.jpg

One of the gates of the real largest palace in the world:

http://www.allempires.com/Uploads/GateP2.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/Uploads/GateP1.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/Uploads/GateP3.jpg

Persepolis is the mother of all palaces. It's just incredible.

the forbidden city is just incredible... the courtyards are so large with the grand buildings surrounding it, amazing!

i wish some of those other asian palaces were never burnt down...

Chengde Summer Palace / Imperial Resort


http://www.pandaholidaytours.com/images/cde_xbdlg.jpg
www.pandaholidaytours.com
http://www.cnstay.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/chengde.jpg
www.cnstay.com


golden roofs

http://images2.travbuddy.com/1482391_12323967041427.jpg
http://images2.travbuddy.com
http://china.metcn8.com/album/buddha-hands-eyes.jpg http://history.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/upload/upfiles/2009-02/24/pule_temple1c8a433240dbafcac068.jpg
http://china.metcn8.com, http://history.cultural-china.com


http://yeschinatour.com/static/photologue/photos/cache/chengde-mountain-resort-chengde-01_leading.jpg http://yeschinatour.com/static/photologue/photos/cache/chengde-mountain-resort-chengde-04_leading.jpg
http://yeschinatour.com


The Tibetan style palace was built in honour of the visiting Dalai Lama:

http://news.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/upload/chengde2.jpg http://users.skynet.be/kristel.vossen/ChengdePuningTempel.jpg
http://news.cultural-china.com, http://users.skynet.be
http://www.drben.net/files/China/City/Chengde/Chengde-Deco/Chengde_ValleyQT.jpg
www.drben.net
http://www.routard.com/images_contenu/communaute/photos/publi/024/pt23219.jpg http://www.china-tour.cn/images/Chengde/Xumifushou-Temple-1.jpg
www.routard.com, www.china-tour.cn


the palace's temple complex

http://images.travelpod.com/users/jstellar/2.1244606400.puning-temple.jpg
http://images.travelpod.com/users/jstellar
http://a10.idata.over-blog.com/600x404/1/41/98/46/Chine/Chengde-Temple.JPG
http://a10.idata.over-blog.com
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Chengde%2C_China_-_008.jpg/800px-Chengde%2C_China_-_008.jpg
www.wikimedia.org
http://stores.homestead.com/DrBen/catalog/PuleTempleChengde-FrBQ.jpg http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/mediafile/200912/22/P200912221059571515473272.bmp
http://stores.homestead.com, http://chinatibet.people.com.cn
http://www.diffchina.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/The-Puning-Temple33344444444443.jpg
www.diffchina.com/blog

its amazing in china, theres so many 'unknown' temples, palaces, monuments, etc... that most average people have never heard of, yet they are so impressive

why are eastern palaces all bunched up in the same group???

^coz its been Western palaces the last 4 pages...

no, i just think its silly to have palaces from India, Iran, China ETC all grouped up in the same category.

ah yep, I agree - completely divergent styles and histories

I think the number of palaces in Asia is more than the population of Europe!! Palaces were being built in Asia thousands years before that Europeans started to build small houses for themselves, even modern European palaces can be said to be just some small buildings in comparison to some ancient Asian palaces, like Persepolis which has a floor area of 125,000 sq. meters and was built by some millions workers from almost all known ancient countries in 180 years.

I was watching nice pictures of the thread, and did read your comment that disappointed me very much compared to what you usually show us. I think you was simply in a bad mood, it happens.

But really, i would recommand you to read what was the Knossos Palace for Minoan Civilization. It is the single palace of its time to have independent bathrooms with hot and cold water systems, flushing toilets and bathtubs, and all this in a building of 1300 rooms. There was also an ingenious heating system.

western

Wouldnt it be most common for people to vote for the style they are most used to, therefore i vote western as they are often individual buildings rather than sprawling interconnected towns, i wonder how large the urban area was around these so called palaces (not big in my guess).

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/214/palacesqnight.jpg

i vote western as they are often individual buildings rather than sprawling interconnected towns, i wonder how large the urban area was around these so called palaces (not big in my guess).

??? Those Eastern palaces are NOT sprawling interconnected towns. Many of them - the ones that have survived at least - are villas and summer retreats. You have to remember the whole imperial court would move between the seasons between the winter and summer palaces - and in those days this included harems of thousands of women, thousands of eunuch servants, and of course the hundreds of royal children. Hence why they are so big and rambling.

The Royal court of France would move around between its palaces, taking most of the furniture with them as well, with small skeleton crews maintaing vacant palaces. Asian palaces seem to lack a unified front, displaying the wealth of the soverign and are more castles with inner courtyards and gardens, an example in Europe would Topkapi palace in istanbul, which was abandond for a more European style palace. There always seems to be an element of defence in Asian palaces, that was abandond in Europe and led to a flourish of detail and luxury.

I think youre starting to argue now the differences in design eg why are Eastern palaces not like Western palaces?? It's like saying why are European palaces one monochrome-block, rather than a complex leading to grand central buildings? There's no right and wrong (and neitgher is it limited to either Eastern or Western).

...and detail and luxury - you do realise Eastern palaces had ALOT of that right?

differences in palace design

monolith-block

eg Potala Palace - stacked high

384-656 ft tall, rises 1000ft above the valley floor with the mount it's on.
Inside (although heavily looted): golden roofs, 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues.

http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/Tibet/Lhasa/slides/Tibet%20Lhasa%2003%2002%20Potala%20Palace.JPG
www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com


complex:

Forbidden City

8700 rooms, 980 (interconnected) buildings, also heavily looted.

http://www.aasd.k12.wi.us/staff/lawrencebarbar/lawrancebarbara/ch26/26-05.jpg
www.picschina.com


Entirely ransacked many times in its history. In the last looting in 1925, at the fall of the republic 678,000 of the finest art pieces were
transported to Taiwan which now forms the premier National Palace Museum outside Taipei - and this was only 1/4 that was taken and survived
the civil war - and even all of that was the remainder from 2 earlier lootings in 1860 and 1900. 'Only' 1 million pieces still remain at Beijing, but
mostly stored away, including over 50,000 paintings (in short a paintings collection alone that is 25% larger than the Louvre, and 25x larger than
the National Gallery). Walk through the 8 main halls in the complex now and they'll be empty.

Plus this was only the Winter Palace, much more art was destroyed and looted in the 3 successive Summer Palaces. The first in 1860 took 3500
British troops 3 full days to burn:

"We went out, and, after pillaging it, burned the whole place, destroying in a vandal-like manner most valuable property which [could] not be
replaced for four millions. We got upward of £48 apiece prize money...I have done well. The [local] people are very civil, but I think the grandees
hate us, as they must after what we did the Palace. You can scarcely imagine the beauty and magnificence of the places we burnt. It made
one’s heart sore to burn them; in fact, these places were so large, and we were so pressed for time, that we could not plunder them carefully.
Quantities of gold ornaments were burnt, considered as brass. It was wretchedly demoralising work for an army."


—Charles George Gordon

In 1900 this act was repeated in the new Summer Palace, and the imperial court permanently relocated to the 'austere' Forbidden City till 1924.

I'm not arguing why are they different at all, im pointing out that eastern palaces, as in your examples above, are defensive in their construction, while those in Europe lack that defensive value and therefore do not need to keep all the court confined into one enclosed space, and therefore why most palaces in Europe are surrounded by large historic cities.

Most European palaces reached their present grandeur during the Age of Discovery and Colonization when Asia in general was on the decline, wealth being transferred from Asia to Europe rather than vice versa. Most of the magnificent palaces in India for example were left in ruins or had shrunk significantly even before colonial rule gained a firm foothold.

Basically all this loss is only a drop in an ocean, especially compared to what's been plundered from say India over the centuries, or the Khanate kingdoms. The national collections of Korea lost as recently under the Japanese and Korean war (including 5 imperial palace complexes in Seoul alone), Japan's national collection lost in the 1923 earthquake and WWII (including Tokyo's castle - the largest ever built- made up of 5 concentric rings of defences larger than the Forbidden City) :(. And don't even get me started on the Cultural Revolution or the end of the dynasty in 1925 - 3000 palaces and temples in Beijing reduced to 300 within that decade. :bash::bash::bash:

sorry, back to subject, a true survivor:

Yonghe or Lama Temple, Beijing - an administrative centre for court eunuchs, converted into a princeling's palace, and now a monastery/temple.
It was notably saved from the Cultural Revolution by the intervention of the prime minister then, Chou-Enlai:

http://www.myblumberg.com/Asia/Lama%20Temple%20Large.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Yonghetemple1600x1200.jpg/800px-Yonghetemple1600x1200.jpg

http://www.bestbeijingtours.net/Lama%20Temple/Lama%20Temple%20front.jpg

http://www.beijingcentre.com/Beijing-Travel-Information/Beijing-Serviced-Apartments-Lama-Temple/Beijing-Serviced-Apartments-Lama-Temple-Buddha.jpg http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090225/001ec94a1d8b0b0ef43a0e.jpg


http://ddemarest.com/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/Lama_Temple.JPG http://blog.ratestogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/the-lama-temple-in-beijing-china.jpg

The complex is about 1/2 km long

http://www.willgoto.com/images/Size3/China_Beijing_Lama_Temple_2063a53b01794e9d83e54fd0dc5c9fbf.jpg http://www.greatwalltour.net/photo/lama-temple-2.jpg

http://www.illabirinto.com/travel/china/beijing/74%20-%20Lama%20Temple%20-%20Tsong%20Khapa.JPG

Europe -> Hungary -> Fertőd -> Esterházy castle

http://patonai.hu/kepnagy/PC030117.JPG

http://www.haydn-2009.hu/f/image/Fertod600.jpg

http://www.kapuvar.hu/_site/img/catalog37612/fertod2.jpg

http://www.zeneszalon.hu/wp/wp-content/Eszterhaza3.jpg

http://www.vendegvaro.hu/dl/media/group_12/group_O65217/item_49344.jpg

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/9819580.jpg

http://www.umvp.eu/files/fertod03.jpg

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/19705077.jpg

http://www.utikalauz.hu/magyarorszag/Maracz_Istvan/fertod1.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/92/fertod.jpg

http://mek.oszk.hu/01900/01902/html/cd6/kepek/muveszetek/mt173eem236.jpg

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3325/dsc3588g.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3601/3644627232_0094359aa6.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Keszthely -> Festetics castle

http://coachhirebudapest.co.uk/upload/article_files/12/keszthely-festetics-castle.jpg

http://www.karatpanzio.hu/slide/prog/festetics.jpg

http://csmudulo.hu/galeria/Balatonfoldvar/Latnivalok/Keszthely/08Festetics_kastely_fhomlokzat2.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Keszthely_-_Festetics_Castle.jpg

http://www.meszi.hu/helikonkastely/file/kastely/682547-548.jpg

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/6648/8509555.jpg

http://www.btf.hu/helyszinek/festetics.jpg

http://west-balaton.hu/images/keszthely/muzeum/festetics-kastely/festetics-kastely-07.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3452/festeticskastelykapu.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2855664463_2db1e2720f.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Budapest -> Száraz-Rudnyánszky castle

http://magyarkepek.uw.hu/Pest%2012.jpg

http://artportal.hu/files/imagecache/ill_big/files/kepillusztracio/kastely_1008.JPG

http://www.origo.hu/i/0807/20080724godolloka2.jpg

http://artportal.hu/files/imagecache/ill_big/files/kepillusztracio/kastely_tel_01.jpg

http://www.nagytetenyi.hu/szolgaltatasok/icons/berbeadas02_maxi.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Szabadkígyós (near Békéscsaba) -> Wenckheim castle

http://www.wenckheim.hu/images/kastely_legifelvetel_01.jpg

http://kep01.fotoalbum2.hu/pictures/picturezoom/2008/05-15/koma/DSCN7413_002609.JPG

http://www.utazzitthon.hu/images/latnivalo/2880-o.jpg

http://forum.sanomabp.hu/forumkep/12/117918/405/12129907/1.jpg

http://kep01.fotoalbum2.hu/pictures/picturezoom/2008/05-15/koma/DSCN7417_002627.JPG

Europe -> Hungary -> Edelény (near Miskolc) -> L`Huillier-Coburg-castle

http://gportal.hu/portal/varakutjan/image/gallery/1177852341.jpg

http://www.nefmi.gov.hu/site/upload/2007/10/edeleny_071003_500x500.png

http://www.nemzetimuemlek.hu/images/galleries/Edel%C3%A9ny/Edeleny_honl2.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/EdelenyL-Hullier2.JPG

http://eger-apartman-eged.hu/images/edeleny_kastely2.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Nagymágocs (near Szeged) -> Károlyi castle

http://www.szentesinfo.hu/mozaik/2006/szemle/dv-pict/2006-06-27_nagymagocsi-kastely-600px.jpg

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/10695000.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Nagym%C3%A1gocs_-_Palace.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_cs3YdMdCkhE/SR5uWnwHNBI/AAAAAAAADxI/NOzelAQo6mQ/Alf%C3%B6ld,+Nagym%C3%A1gocsi+kast%C3%A9ly+03512.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Nagym%C3%A1gocs_K%C3%A1rolyi-kast%C3%A9ly5.JPG/800px-Nagym%C3%A1gocs_K%C3%A1rolyi-kast%C3%A9ly5.JPG

Europe -> Hungary -> Dég (near Székesfehérvár) -> Festetics castle

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/5049/kastly1.jpg

http://www.museum.hu/photo/deg/kastely/images/1185_intro01_maxi.jpg

http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/19279573.jpg

http://static.fotoalbum.hu/picturezoom/2008/08-15/ragasz/P1010043_Deg_kastely_212923.JPG

http://szentkoronaradio.com/files/D%C3%A9g_-_Palace.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Nádasladány (near Székesfehérvár) -> Nádasdy castle

http://www.nemzetimuemlek.hu/images/galleries/N%C3%A1dasdlad%C3%A1ny/Nadasd_kulso.jpg

http://www.museum.hu/photo/nadasdladany/kastely/images/1193_intro01_maxi.jpg

http://www.civertan.hu/legifoto/galery_image.php?id=4718

http://fmh.hu/image.aspx?id=2a064215-1a05-4f26-b749-4a8d0bd1e342&view=d687bb3a-509a-49ca-b43e-cbc038e76e5b

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/3879636.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Parádsasvár (near Eger) -> Károlyi castle

http://static.fotoalbum.hu/picturezoom/2009/04-28/lizi/100_1143_085812.JPG

http://www.kastely.specia.hu/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/a-paradsasvari-karolyi-kastely-egyik-lakotornya.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_GXW2WtVQLpQ/SuSUM4Ua8PI/AAAAAAAABCg/B2e7Exm6zpk/DSC02448_resize.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DM-zPcybz0I/Svk-NoFG3-I/AAAAAAAADnY/X9hYsoFBeE8/paradsasvar2.JPG

http://www.utisugo.hu/_Images/000163135_kastely_legifoto.jpg.jpg_big.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Bercel (near Budapest) -> Kállay castle

http://s1.images.www.tvn.hu/2008/12/07/18/48/www.tvn.hu_b823e8cdcc18f152d1bf1ff4067d279e.jpg

http://www.marathontrio.hu/images/25a.jpg

http://www.magyarszallashely.hu/szallasok/20091028143801_1.jpg

http://www.geocaching.hu/cacheimages/2010-03/22651_20100303_191349.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Tura (near Budapest) -> Schossberger castle

http://halado.cewe-fotokonyv.hu/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/tura11.jpg

http://sz-pont-marika-foltos-dolgos.freeblog.hu/files/tura.jpg

http://files.blogter.hu/user_files/4301/kast4.jpg

http://www.gkrte.hu/upload/Raday%20diszterem.gif

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3028/2987935559_2bf390f25a_z.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Tóalmás (near Budapest) -> Andrássy castle

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mTz0U95Di4U/R92jg0MNRLI/AAAAAAAAAaw/BFeo0fhMjvE/T%C3%B3alm%C3%A1s_kast%C3%A9ly1.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_mTz0U95Di4U/R91u_UMNQ2I/AAAAAAAAAWM/XhZyIQPXPxs/T%C3%B3alm%C3%A1s+DF+b.jpg

http://www.weddings.hu/blog/buzzser/upload/L%C3%A9pcs%C5%91.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mTz0U95Di4U/R92jW0MNRHI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/QMxH3K5E5U0/T%C3%B3alm%C3%A1s_kast%C3%A9lyterem.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/T%C3%B3alm%C3%A1s_-_Palace.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Tiszadob (near Miskolc) -> Andrássy castle

http://www.kulturpont.hu/media/13131-2502-2.jpg

http://www.geographic.hu/images/napkepek/2005-09-28-3

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Tiszadob_-_Palace.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Hőgyész (near Szekszárd) -> Apponyi castle

http://www.reservation.hu/reservation_pictures/grof_apponyi_residence_hotel/526_grof_apponyi_residence_hotel_500.jpg

http://www.akcios-szallas.hu/themes/pictures/kepek/grofapponyi001.jpg

http://www.kti.szie.hu/termeszetvedelem/images/Civertan_Bt/kastelyok/hogyesz.jpg

http://www.kastelyutazas.hu/kastely/szallas_grof.apponyi.kastelyszallo5-hogyesz-szallas_1214913410.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Szeleste (near Szombathely) -> Festetics castle

http://www.szelesteikastely.hu/fotok/kastely/kastely_13.jpg

http://www.szelesteikastely.hu/fotok/kastely/kastely_20.jpg

http://www.civertan.hu/legifoto/galery_image.php?id=8418

http://static.fotoalbum.hu/picturezoom/2009/09-02/keiko88/IMG_9344_141914.JPG

Europe -> Hungary -> Balatonszepezdfürdő (near Veszprém) -> Sir David castle

http://www.szallaskereses.hu/e107_images/custom/sirbalaton01.jpg

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/16219817.jpg

http://www.programturizmus.hu/images/upload/big/programgazda/szallas-programgazda/hotel-szalloda-szallasok/kastelyszallo-kastelyhotel/3069-sir-david-balaton-kastely-.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Zalacsány (near Keszthely) -> Batthyány castle

http://www.kastelyutazas.hu/kastely/kepek_zalacsany_1267002774.jpg

http://www.civertan.hu/legifoto/galery_image.php?id=10437

http://www.wellnesskastely.hu/images/content/hu/a-kastely-tortenete/wellness-hotel-zalacsany-kastely-pihenes-udules.jpg

http://static.fotoalbum.hu/picturezoom/2008/05-03/poki/a2008_05_03_253_221119.jpg

http://www.belfoldiszallasok.hu/fotok/716-nagykep01.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Fehérvárcsurgó (near Székesfehérvár) -> Károlyi castle

http://www.bagyinszki.eu/galleries/fehervarcsurgo/feh%C3%A9rv%C3%A1rcsurg%C3%B3_15.jpg

http://itthon.hu/site/upload/2008/11/Karolyi-kastely-ejjel.jpg

http://tortenelemportal.hu/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/fehervarcsurgoikarolyikastelyjelenleg.jpg

http://www.bagyinszki.eu/galleries/fehervarcsurgo/feh%C3%A9rv%C3%A1rcsurg%C3%B3_02.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NUBHBtCMVoU/Sndd1Fo8eBI/AAAAAAAAChU/W5C4gwyI1Qg/088-Fehervarcsurgo-Karolyi-kastely.jpg

Europe -> Hungary -> Lillafüred (near Miskolc) -> Lillafüredi palace

http://pctrs.network.hu/clubpicture/7/7/_/lillafuredi_kastelyszallo_77048_468339.jpg

http://www.vendegvaro.hu/dl/media/group_06/group_R5888/item_28377.jpg

http://foto.lapunk.hu/tarhely/foto/kepek/p5280073_lillafured__palota_szallo_es_a_hamori_to_a.jpg

http://www.kihagy6atlan.hu/admin/pictures/Lillaf_2_w800_h500.jpg

http://www.zoldstudio.viragcenter.hu/utazas/lillafured.jpg

Versailles by itself could beat all the others combined!

Couldn't have said it better myself.
French architecture, Often imitated, never equaled

About eastern palaces. I think they all have their own charm.

grand palace in bangkok looks amazing

Wilanow Palace - Warsaw, Poland
http://static.zooomr.com/images/7657343_34507b7cf6_b.jpg

President's palace - Warsaw, Poland
http://i.pinger.pl/pgr312/de448c10001538504bc6d252/palac_prezydencki_5.jpg

Saxon palace - Warsaw, Poland (no longer exists; will be rebuilt in future)
http://www.warszawa1939.pl/zdjecia/pilsudskiego/old/palac_saski_10.jpg

Łazienki Palace - Warsaw, Poland
http://static.zooomr.com/images/5944739_fbb61022c7_b.jpg

Versailles by itself could beat all the others combined!

Versailles is truly built on a grand scale, but its size sometimes proved its undoing.

As grand as the state rooms are, huge swaths of the palace remained very primitive. Historically, courtiers dreaded the compulsory attendance because of the bad accomodations for everyone except for the King and his family. And the lack of lavatories and privies was so bad that the courtiers were forced to piss and shit on the grand stairway landings. Something like this would have been unheard of in the great Eastern palaces, where cleanliness and fastidiousness was more enforced than in European palaces.

Even today, you can make direct comparisons between Versailles and the Louvre. Although Versailles is much much grander, the finishes in the Louvre are consistently of higher quality overall. In many places in Versailles, you only have scagolia, or faux marble, whereas some of the great galleries in the Louvre are finished with the finest and most precious marbles.

In many ways, Versailles was a grand stage -- in some places, pure smoke and mirrors. Still, it remained the palace to imitate in all of Europe.

i recently got more interested in some eastern palaces when I was browsing some Seoul threads and found that Seoul has many grand palaces that had lots of it destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Korea.

Many of them look similar to the Forbidden City in Beijing and I find this fairly interesting.

Also the one in Hue, Vietnam also looks similar to the Forbidden City buildings except in slightly different, more Vietnamese style

Again, i find these similarities very interesting. I was wondering if anyone has visited these palaces such as Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul?

http://www.lifeinboots.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/palacegate.JPG

http://images.travelpod.com/users/londone7/1.1285184452.gyeongbokgung-palace-gate.jpg

some photos from google of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul

Also the one in Hue, Vietnam also looks similar to the Forbidden City buildings except in slightly different, more Vietnamese style


There was a wonderful article about this palace (with lots of nice pictures) published in Arts of Asia a year or two ago. The similarities with the Forbidden City were discussed in some detail.

Shokin-tei, Katsura Imperial Villa, Kyoto.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Shokin-tei.jpg/800px-Shokin-tei.jpg
Photo by Raphael Azevedo Franca, from wikipedia

Yep, welcome to the birthplace of modernism - 500 year old moon viewing palace a queen chose to create in a zen ascetic style, dismissing the lavish decorations of court for the life of a nun. Le Courbousier studied this place intently, and combined the functionality of its style with the flat-topped medieval medina buildings of Morocco to create the international style. The grounds are also a masterpiece of Japanese garden design.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Katsura_Imperial_Villa.jpg/750px-Katsura_Imperial_Villa.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_24LneCVKTeY/STPQ16fqDeI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/uWQQQTnyi0o/s1600/800px-Geppa-ro.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_24LneCVKTeY/STPQ1PzNheI/AAAAAAAAAMI/2gmr061Ji8I/s1600/800px-Katsura.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/ealac/V3613/katsura/dmb50i15.jpg http://avetter.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/kv_interior.gif?w=490
www.columbia.edu, http://avetter.files.wordpress.com
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_24LneCVKTeY/STPQ0thQx0I/AAAAAAAAAMA/BW9iQtMwCpc/s1600/398px-Geppa-ro_poteau.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_24LneCVKTeY/STPRaIa604I/AAAAAAAAAMw/5mvp0KUd19g/s1600/398px-Main_gate_katsura.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com
http://famouswonders.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Katsura-Grounds.jpg
http://famouswonders.com

http://www.gardenvisit.com/assets/madge/katsura_palace_bridge/600x/katsura_palace_bridge_600x.jpg http://www.portlandart.net/archives/Nakane_Katsura.jpg
www.gardenvisit.com, www.portlandart.net

compare that with the traditional style at the time:

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/banting/imagesN4/Nikko%20shrine%20and%20temple.jpg
http://webzoom.freewebs.com

There was a wonderful article about this palace (with lots of nice pictures) published in Arts of Asia a year or two ago. The similarities with the Forbidden City were discussed in some detail.

really? whats Arts of Asia?

heres some more photos of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul

http://janenology.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/korea-gyeongbokgung-01.jpg

http://www.healthbase.com/resources/images/destinations/SouthKorea/hb_south_korea_gyeongbokgung_palace.jpg

http://cache.virtualtourist.com/4938760-Gyeongbokgung_Palace-Seoul.jpg

(from google)

and heres one of the Hue Forbidden City Palace, Hue, Vietnam

http://www.hanoipeacetour.vn/upload/image001-hue.jpg

most of Seoul's royal palaces were destroyed during Japanese colonialism and occupation, and the rest in the Korean War, though a few are now being slowly rebuilt. Most of Hue was wiped off the map, including the Imperial City in the Vietnam War. Once again piecemeal reconstruction is slowly taking place.

Hue

http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/3088625.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=45B0EB3381F7834DA385F05DBEA96A539A4C0B84337EFF29CA52222F25EC092C http://www.cc.gatech.edu/~tpilsch/AirOps/Images/Hue/HueCit-FLIP_plate.jpg

http://warandgame.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/huessdd.jpg

the vietnamese and korean losses of their respective buildings seem to parallel each other...

koreans had north and south divided, had wars, damaged main palaces and eventually split.
vietnamese had north and south divided, had wars, damaged main palaces but luckily they are still one united country today.

why is it that during their own wars they want to destroy/damage their own culture and buildings?? it's such a shame

I know, but in those two cases foreign firepower actually destroyed much of the imperial citadels (US, Japan).

MALAYSIA EASTERN PALACE
Istana Melawati is the second national palace of Malaysia's Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) in Putrajaya after the Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur. It serves as a royal retreat for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9013/876135207fb2d47aeffb.jpg
http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/7388/735510551f0e0be2e9b.jpg

Two Mexican/Mesoamerican palaces.

Palace of Columns, Mitlahttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4654650309_be5c81419c_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mxterrorist/4654650309/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5187713121_d6f5fef107_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21555127@N00/5187713121/







Governors Palace, Uxmal
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3541/3337174573_31b6a740d8_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fyf/3337174573/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/5079828213_8ca952007a_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruchez/5079828213/in/set-72157625160327252/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/5080417448_ee7693e4ed_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruchez/5080417448/in/set-72157625160327252/

Royal Palace - Brussels

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3323/3336198132_2e367eefe5_b.jpg

A thread about palaces and not much talk of India? Weird.

Taj Lake Palace

http://cdn.media.kiwicollection.com/media/property/PR002929/xl/002929-01-hotel-on-water-exterior.jpg

Umaid Bhavan has already been mentioned.

There's Rambagh Palace as well.

The best thing about these particular (Indian) palaces is that most of them have been converted into hotels. You can now go stay in them, if you fancy spending a bit of money.

India have many many wonderful buildings with different architecture but it is not known. People in the west think India only have slum.

Even other country like China, Thailand, Burma not known to many peoples...China have many wonderful amazing buildings.But lot of China building destroyed by Communists.

deleted

India have many many wonderful buildings with different architecture but it is not known. People in the west think India only have slum.

Even other country like China, Thailand, Burma not known to many peoples...China have many wonderful amazing buildings.But lot of China building destroyed by Communists.

india is amazing with so many vastly different types of architecture and amount of buildings that many have never heard of.

taj mahal is the best though!!

Neither, the South-American one is my favourite ;)

why are eastern palaces all bunched up in the same group???

SAY WORD

west in general have simillar designs but east is too large to sum it all in one, like eg chinese architecture is nothing like persian etc. there are way to many styles to be summed in one word

another thing is that there were some pics of indian palaces that had complete european architecture, with only some designs that were indian, u cant really count this indian architecture can you?? whats are ur opinions?

Babak Castle, Iran: made over 1000 years ago in such magnificent location


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/5/9336530_7558bed173.jpg

http://www.irantravelingcenter.com/images/Babak_Castle.jpg

http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Babak_Khorramdin/babak-castle.jpg

http://www.arasfz.com/en/images/stories/Siahat/babakcastle2.png

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/1980820302_d456538a99.jpg

http://www.iasbs.ac.ir/students/mhassani/castle-babak-1.jpg

http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/17986399.jpg

Ignore these modern palaces, let's go back to about 2000 years ago, the age of empires, and look at a palace of the king of kings:

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Ardeshir/Ardeshir0.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Ardeshir/Ardeshir1.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Ardeshir/Ardeshir2.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Ardeshir/Ardeshir3.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Ardeshir/Ardeshir4.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Ardeshir/Ardeshir5.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Ardeshir/Ardeshir6.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Ardeshir/Ardeshir7.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Ardeshir/Ardeshir8.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Ardeshir/Ardeshir10.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Ardeshir/Ardeshir11.jpg

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5262941821_deb4727368_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43505785@N04/5262941821/sizes/l/in/photostream/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3468/3388933730_bb3203b4b5_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=neuschwanstein&ss=2&s=int

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2413/2336888435_4bb5c70f45_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joiseyshowaa/2336888435/sizes/o/in/photostream/

The eastern palaces of course... NOT.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Nymphenburg_vorne_1.jpg/1600px-Nymphenburg_vorne_1.jpg

That is just massive. Huge sprawling repetitive buildings aren't necessarily very interesting. Just indicates the obscene amount of resources at their disposal.

That austere Japanese villa is much more endearing to look at.

That is just massive. Huge sprawling repetitive buildings aren't necessarily very interesting. Just indicates the obscene amount of resources at their disposal.

That austere Japanese villa is much more endearing to look at.

The only thing interesting about the imperial villa is, actually how modern it is still looking. And while beauty is in the of the beholder, I think it is only the garden that makes is it any worth a trip maybe, but as for me, I have no idea why it should be even considered as an example of eastern architecture.

Another villa, more interesting than beautiful:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Villa_huegel.jpg

And my favourite, a Renaissance-castle in central-Europa:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Guestrow-schloss2008.jpg

The eastern palaces of course... NOT.


Leander you do realise many of the world's largest and most celebrated palaces do exist in Asia - it is actually a valid question. Check out pages 4 and 5.

Leander you do realise many of the world's largest and most celebrated palaces do exist in Asia - it is actually a valid question. Check out pages 4 and 5.

As it suits for the oldest one of the still existing ancient cultures, but the question is though, which is better, as it means for me, now which one I'd choose for a residence. We Europeans admire something called elegance, when an estate or motorcar just matches to its environment like humans to nature. Special, but not artificial. The Asian palaces though, each a masterpiece of arts and craft, not try to unveil the secret of beauty, but to triumph over nature and its boundaries, not knowing, where they actual are or end.

^ http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=69176661&postcount=141

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=64550875&postcount=83

:(

Old Summer Palace, and the worlds largest gardens ever created - made up of hundreds of pavilions on myriad island lakes.
It was looted and burned to the ground by Western troops in 1860.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Yuanmingyuan2.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org
http://www.beijing-international-hotels.com/uploads/2009/0519/beijing-international-hotels-ymy1.jpg
www.beijing-international-hotels.com
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Yuanmingyuan_fanghu.jpg

The Old Summer Palace is bad example, because, as you know for sure, it included European-style (Rococo) palaces. At least one can say, that every culture has its masterpieces, and we better hope that we will get old enough to visit the best of them, in all parts of the world.

http://www.beijing-international-hotels.com/uploads/2009/0519/beijing-international-hotels-ymy1.jpg


this massive forbidden city looking building complex was in the old summer palace??!!?!?!?!

Not the West, nor the East but the Middle!

As I said before Saadabad Palace Complex has an area of 410 hectares (1,013 acres) which can be said to be the largest palace in the world.

Sabz Palace in Saadabad, "Sabz" means Green, Referring to the rare greenish hued stone used to build this splendid palace.

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz0.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz1.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz2.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz3.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz4.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz5.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz6.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz7.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz8.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz9.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz10.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz11.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz12.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz13.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Sabz/Sabz14.jpg

somebody have to show dolmabahce.

http://www.gaxxi.com/dipdalga/istanbul/gorsel/dosya/1155202735dolmabahce4.jpg
http://www.hirat.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Dolmabahce2.jpg
http://belgesel.name/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/dolmabahce.jpg
http://www.turkishnews.com/DiscoverTurkey/anatolia/images/images/dolmabahce.jpg
http://www.itusozluk.com/img.php/54a2392d9f522fdc5b9e9aaa39beb79d2053/dolmabah%E7e+saat+kulesi
http://imgpe.trivago.com/uploadimages/48/20/4820879_l.jpeg
http://www.robgarrettcfa.com/images/articles/istanbul/19,-Baroque-palace-Dolmabahce-Sarayi.jpg
http://tarihvemedeniyet.org/wp-content/gallery/dolmabahce-sarayi-belgeseli/Dolmabahce-bogaz.jpg
http://www.birdeliningunlugu.com/resimlerim/dolmabahce_saray_2.jpg
http://www.istanbulexcursions.com/palaces-images/dolmabahce+palace.jpg
http://www.yenihaber.be/photcat/photos/143/p_14321_o.jpg
http://www.marslogistics.com/logilife/Dergi/Sayi12/img/dolmabahce7.jpg
http://www.bestourism.com/img/items/big/867/Dolmabahce-Palace_Exquisite-design_3364.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Sultan_Hamam_Dolmabahce_March_2008pano.jpg
http://www.kartalyavuzselim.k12.tr/images/dolmabahce.jpg
http://www.haber34.com/resimler/foto-galeri/dolmabahce-sarayi-fotograflari-186.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Dolmabah%C3%A7e_Palace.jpg
http://www.halionline.net/arsiv/images/haber/dergi/17/Dolmabahce-2.jpg
http://photos.igougo.com/images/p151628-Istanbul-Istanbul_Dolmabahce_palace.jpg
http://iltanitimlari.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/800px-Dolmabahce1.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Ambassador_Hall_Dolmabahce_March_2008panoc.jpg
http://www.marslogistics.com/logilife/Dergi/Sayi12/img/dolmabahce4.jpg



and the death bed of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

http://www.yenidenergenekon.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/atanin-yatagi.jpg

Cyrus, do you have any sources or pictures to witness the size of Shavand Palace?

Cyrus, do you have any sources or pictures to witness the size of Shavand Palace?

According to this Persian wiki page (http://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%AE_%D8%B4%D9%87%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF), the base area of this building is 1372 sq.m.

According to this Persian wiki page (http://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%AE_%D8%B4%D9%87%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF), the base area of this building is 1272 sq.m.

Alright... any sources for the Wikipedia-Article maybe?

Alright... any sources for the Wikipedia-Article maybe?

Ok, that wiki article seems to be a copy and paste from this website: http://radio.irib.ir/tehran/didaniview.php?ID=270 (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Website).

The Old Summer Palace is bad example, because, as you know for sure, it included European-style (Rococo) palaces. At least one can say, that every culture has its masterpieces, and we better hope that we will get old enough to visit the best of them, in all parts of the world.

Its one of the biggest losses in history - and yes, it included one Rococo pavilion, out of hundreds of Chinese ones, many built on manmade islands in a labyrinth of lakes. The gardens were the most extensive ever built, and the palace was actually the gilded, more ornate one in contrast to the 'austere' Forbidden City/ Winter Palace ('austere' here meaning millions of artworks and more paintings than the Louvre, so you can imagine what the Summer Palace must have been like). It took 3 days and nights to burn by 3500 British troops:

"We went out, and, after pillaging it, burned the whole place, destroying in a vandal-like manner most valuable property which [could] not be
replaced for four millions. We got upward of £48 apiece prize money...I have done well. The [local] people are very civil, but I think the grandees
hate us, as they must after what we did the Palace. You can scarcely imagine the beauty and magnificence of the places we burnt. It made
one’s heart sore to burn them; in fact, these places were so large, and we were so pressed for time, that we could not plunder them carefully.
Quantities of gold ornaments were burnt, considered as brass. It was wretchedly demoralising work for an army."

—Charles George Gordon 1860

this massive forbidden city looking building complex was in the old summer palace??!!?!?!?!

No, after the Old Summer Palace was destroyed a new one was built - only to be wrecked a second time by Western troops in 1900. The current Summer Palace is thus the third, much smaller version (even though there are over 100 buildings), built at a separate location.

All that remains of the Old Summer Palace are the stonework archways of the rococo pavilion (the Chinese style ones were all wooden):

http://www.rtoddking.com/images/chinasum2004/04092110.jpg

Although rebuilding has been discussed for decades the authorities decided to leave the ruins as a lesson to history. A few years ago Hangzhou, a city hundreds of miles away decided to plan a version as a theme park, much to the chagrin of the historians. A version of the rococo pavilion was also built in Shenzhen, to much controversy:

http://www.chinapage.com/friend/goh/beijing/yuanmingyuan/yuanmingyuan_shenzhen1b.jpg

other pavilions from the original.

http://s4.hubimg.com/u/2234415_f520.jpg http://english.cri.cn/mmsource/images/2006/08/15/ent_yuanmingyuan_0815.jpg

maps before and present:

http://images.travelpod.com/users/natontour/1.1260737990.yuanmingyuan-map_.jpg http://maps.google.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=39.999530549,116.309681647&markers=color:0xD90000%7C39.999530549,116.309681647&zoom=15&size=520x393&sensor=false&key=ABQIAAAAeXWQz5O-4C1rFCZFxiboqhRh8xiZfMhwo2Xx0Xvsqp6IpLEhPRR0eKTIj8Kn1Ejar8PZJfVEqJi85g

overview. The royal families pretty much had palaces for each member, and for each function, and for each hour or whim - from contemplating the moon to formal eating, housing the royal harems to receiving state guests, storing court records to performing religious rites, dictating policy to sleeping. The Qing Court housed about 9000 people - actually down from the previous Ming Dynasty, which at it's height housed 10,000 royal concubines alone and 70,000 eunuch servants, mostly to look after the concubines:


http://cp.expo2010.cn/english/images/yuanmingyuan.jpg

wow, this is very interesting history

esp these pictures

http://s4.hubimg.com/u/2234415_f520.jpg http://english.cri.cn/mmsource/images/2006/08/15/ent_yuanmingyuan_0815.jpg

that is very sad that the old summer palaces are burnt down - beijing would have even more rich, beautiful buildings and would be even more impressive as a world city

Seems like the Brits saw this thread coming and destroyed any evidence of China's imperial pomp ;)

But it remains only a collection of palaces, I don't know if size should really matter in this debate. Otherwise...
http://www.unece.org/env/eia/images/BucharestParliamentPalace.jpg

^matter of size? naaah....

Palace of Parliaments is massive yes, but the Forbidden City is still the worlds largest palace, by far, with 8x as many rooms, far bigger footprint and volume too.

In terms of one monolithic block, the Potala Palace is also larger.
(Palace of Parliaments: 270m x 240m x 86m tall, versus Potala: 400m x 350m x 117-200m tall).

And man, dont get me started on the ones lost to history, Xian lost palaces that were 3. 4.5 and 7x larger than the Forbidden City :( :( :(

The problem with the turn of dynasties in China (read: regime change), everything before it tends to get annihilated in the process, last seen in the Cultural Revolution. It's incalculable the amount of art and history that's gone up in flames purely for being representational of a former era... case in point, when China became a republic in 1912, by 1930 Beijing had 'reduced' the number of its palaces and temples from 3000 to 300.

And that's not even mentioning the wars, such as the Taiping Rebellion of 1850-64, through which almost every major city was destroyed and was the worlds second bloodiest and most destructive war (after WWII). Again Its a complete wonder anything survived the 19th century, let alone the 20th. And now of course, the latest round in cultural destruction being the 21st century mass modernisation. :bash: :bash:

Small but still a marvel:
Castle Sigmaringen , Germany:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/2937593867_f6ec387488_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aundwweber/2937593867/sizes/l/in/photostream/

^matter of size? naaah....

Palace of Parliaments is massive yes, but the Forbidden City is still the worlds largest palace, by far, with 8x as many rooms, far bigger footprint and volume too.

In terms of one monolithic block, the Potala Palace is also larger.
(Palace of Parliaments: 270m x 240m x 86m tall, versus Potala: 400m x 350m x 117-200m tall).

And man, dont get me started on the ones lost to history, Xian lost palaces that were 3. 4.5 and 7x larger than the Forbidden City :( :( :(

The problem with the turn of dynasties in China (read: regime change), everything before it tends to get annihilated in the process, last seen in the Cultural Revolution. It's incalculable the amount of art and history that's gone up in flames purely for being representational of a former era... case in point, when China became a republic in 1912, by 1930 Beijing had 'reduced' the number of its palaces and temples from 3000 to 300.

And that's not even mentioning the wars, such as the Taiping Rebellion of 1850-64, through which almost every major city was destroyed and was the worlds second bloodiest and most destructive war (after WWII). Again Its a complete wonder anything survived the 19th century, let alone the 20th. And now of course, the latest round in cultural destruction being the 21st century mass modernisation. :bash: :bash:

True Word! Same here in Germany (Berlin City Castle and countless residences, destroyed by the communist government)

But I think it is actually not correct to count the Forbidden City as one Palace, for it includes 3000 of them. On the other hand, they also call it the Emperor's Palace...

Another Roman palace, an Emperor's Residence, too, the Diocletian Palace:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/5/51/20101128233814%21SPLIT-Hebrard_overall_color_restitution.jpg

Today, only the ruins give a hint of its grace...

^matter of size? naaah....

Palace of Parliaments is massive yes, but the Forbidden City is still the worlds largest palace, by far, with 8x as many rooms, far bigger footprint and volume too.

In terms of one monolithic block, the Potala Palace is also larger.
(Palace of Parliaments: 270m x 240m x 86m tall, versus Potala: 400m x 350m x 117-200m tall).

And man, dont get me started on the ones lost to history, Xian lost palaces that were 3. 4.5 and 7x larger than the Forbidden City :( :( :(

The problem with the turn of dynasties in China (read: regime change), everything before it tends to get annihilated in the process, last seen in the Cultural Revolution. It's incalculable the amount of art and history that's gone up in flames purely for being representational of a former era... case in point, when China became a republic in 1912, by 1930 Beijing had 'reduced' the number of its palaces and temples from 3000 to 300.

And that's not even mentioning the wars, such as the Taiping Rebellion of 1850-64, through which almost every major city was destroyed and was the worlds second bloodiest and most destructive war (after WWII). Again Its a complete wonder anything survived the 19th century, let alone the 20th. And now of course, the latest round in cultural destruction being the 21st century mass modernisation. :bash: :bash:

do you know anything about the Chengdu Imperial Palace that used to stand where the current Tianfu Sqaure/Mao statue is?

(Tianfu Square, the centre of Chengdu city)
http://www.jtbchina.jp/blog/img_uploads/tianfu-square-chengdu.JPG
image from google

I read that there use to be a imperial palace here much like how the Forbidden City is the centre of Beijing.

I can't seem to find much about it online except for the same few statements that don't mention much. There doesn't seem to be any paintings/photos either on this. I wonder what it looked like - a palace like the Forbidden City but with Sichuanese style... that would be incredible

True Word! Same here in Germany (Berlin City Castle and countless residences, destroyed by the communist government)

But I think it is actually not correct to count the Forbidden City as one Palace, for it includes 3000 of them. On the other hand, they also call it the Emperor's Palace...


The Forbidden City really is one palace, rather than lump all the rooms together into one block the emperors had the luxury of creating pavilions for each function - there are 980 interconnected pavilions, ranging from harems to servants quarters, court document stores to ceremonial halls etc. They really are all unified, porous and interconnected. No outsider was allowed in the Forbidden City (hence it's name), and very few could leave either. Any man caught who wasnt a eunuch/ invited was executed on the spot.
:

http://www.catswhiskers.com.hk/images/Forbidden%20City%203.JPG

http://www.pattystravel.com/photos/forbcity.gif

the large temples and gates that lead to the inner compound (surrounded by green in the pic below) - Zhongshan, Tiananmen, Worker's park etc is not counted as the Forbidden City, as they are not within the enclosing walls and moat, despite that they are still conjoined as buildings (same applies with Jingshan behind). Yellow roofs distinguish the royal colours btw.

http://www.china.org.cn/images/49111.jpg http://www.kinabaloo.com/fc43667.gif


Also there were hundreds of other palaces, in separate locations across the capital, that of course arent counted, that belonged to princelings and courtiers. The '3000' mentioned was the number of smaller palaces and temples the whole city had right up till 1920 (with Forbidden City counted as one).


NB On the left of the Forbidden City is another palace complex, that is completely off limits to any visitors or cameras, and often many maps - the 'new Forbidden City' that is the HQ of the Communist Party, Zhongnanhai, a Qing Dynasty palatial retreat built around a lake and surrounded by compound walls:


http://brian.hoffert.faculty.noctrl.edu/HST265/Map.Zhongnanhai.png

From the outside, other than the walls, all you can see is this gate:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2063/2495017762_397a1e4712.jpg?v=0

There are in fact thus 2 Forbidden City style govt HQs in Beijing, one that has become 'The Palace Museum' and the other that still works, and is off limits to commoners. Just like how the Forbidden City used to function inside the walls there are residences, schools, entertainment, offices and relaxation for the elite. You would never know otherwise.

Nunnery Quadrangle, Uxmal, Yucatan

Scroll>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4767792359_8132947846_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/montekristum/4767792359/in/set-72157624311537875/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4767809175_5329bb15e0_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/montekristum/4767809175/in/set-72157624311537875/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4767862699_203a7a6333_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/montekristum/4767862699/in/set-72157624311537875/

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1188/5162853859_b78fe0ec2f_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rag_de/5162853859/

All the photos are just gorgeous! What glorious architectural examples of elegance, opulence, and majesty!

I'm just drooling ...:drool:

Here in the US there are no palaces. Some mansions and villas, yes, but not a single palace; this is a republic and we never had royalty.

Two wonderful and magnificent Asian palaces I visited that have not been mentioned in this thread is the Bang Pa In Palace in Ayutthaya, Thailand, and also the Maharaja of Mysore Palacein Mysore, India.

do you know anything about the Chengdu Imperial Palace that used to stand where the current Tianfu Sqaure/Mao statue is?

(Tianfu Square, the centre of Chengdu city)
http://www.jtbchina.jp/blog/img_uploads/tianfu-square-chengdu.JPG
image from google

I read that there use to be a imperial palace here much like how the Forbidden City is the centre of Beijing.

I can't seem to find much about it online except for the same few statements that don't mention much. There doesn't seem to be any paintings/photos either on this. I wonder what it looked like - a palace like the Forbidden City but with Sichuanese style... that would be incredible

here is some links about the chengdu imperial palace but it's not much:

http://www.chengduliving.com/guide-to-chengdu/sights/tianfu-square/

heres another one:
http://www.marimari.com/content/china/popular_places/sichuan/chengdu/pg1.html
and a quote from it -
"There is a rampart 20 kilometers in length, which encloses the rectangular Old City with the viceroy’s palace, which was built in the 14th Century, at its center. The Cultural Revolution destroyed what remained of the city walls however, and the palace was replaced with a Soviet styled palace of Socialism."

wow, Ive never heard about that one. Destroyed in the Cultural Revolution :bash: :bash: grrrr..... If it was so recent they need to rebuilt that.

Nanjing also had a vast palace, the Stone palace I think.

Chongqing also had a palace built (it was the wartime capital) - the 'Palace of the People', then a city hall after the war, and now a ginormous hotel:

http://www.paultownend.com/photos/chongqing2006/chong23.jpg


I think it's the biggest Chinese roof in mainland China (there's a bigger one in Taiwan)
http://www.chinaodysseytours.com/city/chongqing/image/chongqing-people-assembly-hall.jpg http://images.placesonline.com/photos/13154_chongqing_great_hall_of_the_people.jpg


http://173.201.244.211/UpLoadFiles/Album/Chongqing/Chongqing%20Night%20View/Chongqing%20Grand%20Hall.jpg

wow, Ive never heard about that one. Destroyed in the Cultural Revolution :bash: :bash: grrrr..... If it was so recent they need to rebuilt that.

Nanjing also had a vast palace, the Stone palace I think.

yea, i've never heard about it until I went on the Chengdu thread here:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=564489&page=8 where someone mentioned something about it.

theres absolutely no resources i can find on it online... weird

The extensive Belvedere complex consists of two magnificent Baroque palaces the Upper and Lower Belvedere, the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. The buildings are set in a stunning Baroque park landscape in the 3rd district of Vienna, south-east of the city centre. It houses the Belvedere museum. The grounds are set on a gentle gradient and include decorative tiered fountains and cascades, Baroque sculptures, and majestic wrought iron gates. The Baroque palace complex was built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy. The Belvedere was built during a period of much construction in Vienna, which at the time was both the imperial capital and home to the ruling dynasty. Many of the city's most opulent edifices date from this era. The buildings commissioned by Prince Eugene, in particular the Belvedere, number among them.

UPPER BELVEDERE

http://www.belvedere.at/jart/prj3/belvedere/images/img-db/1281810344519.jpg

http://www.belvedere.at/jart/prj3/belvedere/images/img-db/1281810725995-image-gallery_600x450max.jpeg

http://www.belvedere.at/jart/prj3/belvedere/images/img-db/1173717762620-image-gallery_600x450max.jpeg

http://www.belvedere.at/jart/prj3/belvedere/images/img-db/1173178737540.jpg

http://www.belvedere.at/jart/prj3/belvedere/images/img-db/1173178737521.jpg

LOWER BELVEDERE

http://www.travelwriter.at/pic/043/wien-unteres-belvedere-020525g.jpg

http://www.belvedere.at/jart/prj3/belvedere/images/img-db/1173991849766.jpg

http://www.belvedere.at/jart/prj3/belvedere/images/img-db/1173991849893.jpg

http://www.belvedere.at/jart/prj3/belvedere/images/img-db/1173178737576.jpg

GARDENS

http://www.belvedere.at/jart/prj3/belvedere/images/img-db/1173178737451.jpg

http://www.belvedere.at/jart/prj3/belvedere/images/img-db/1173178737483.JPG

Not the largest, but definitively really interesting. Combines architectural beauty and the serenity of nature :cheers:

The first architect was the German Johannes Schultz (1876–1883), later to be followed by Karel Liman, who was more easily swayed to enhance the castle after King Carol's plans. Later additions were made between 1893 and 1914 by the Czech architect Karel Liman, who added designed the towers, including the main central tower, 66 m in height.
By form and function, Peleş is truly a palace but affectionately and consistently called a castle instead, by all. Its architectural style is a Neo-Renaissance of romantic inspiration that can find a correspondent in 19th century ideals with the monumental Gothic Revival of Schloss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, ironically called a castle as well. A Saxon influence can be observed in the interior courtyard facades that have rich and ornate fachwerk similar to northern Europe alpine architecture and allegorical hand painted murals. Interior decoration is mostly a Baroque influence with heavy carved woods and exquisite fabrics.

The collection of arms and armour has over 4000 pieces.
Peleş Castle has 3200 sq. meters of floor plan, over 170 rooms,30 bathrooms, many with dedicated themes from world cultures (in similar fashion with other Romanian palaces, like Cotroceni Palace for example), themes that can vary by function (offices, libraries, armouries, art galleries) or by style (Florentine, Turkish, Moorish, French, Imperial) all extremely lavishly furnished and decorated to the slightest detail. The establishment hosts one of the finest collections of art in East and Central Europe, consisting of statues, paintings, furniture, arms and armour, gold, silver, stained glass, ivory, fine china, tapestries and rugs; the collection of arms and armour has over 4000 pieces, divided between Eastern and Western war, ceremonial or hunting spreading over four centuries in history. Oriental rugs come from the finest sources: Bukhara, Mosul, Isparta, Saruk and Smirna, porcelain from Sèvres and Meissen, leather from Córdoba but perhaps the most acclaimed are the hand painted stained glass vitralios, mostly Swiss .

http://people.csail.mit.edu/mip/photos/2004/sinaia/Peles%20Castle2.jpg

http://people.csail.mit.edu/mip/photos/2004/sinaia/Peles%20Castle%20interior%20yard.jpg

http://people.csail.mit.edu/mip/photos/2004/sinaia/Peles%20Castle%20gardens2.jpg

http://livingspree.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/peles-palace.jpg

as a chinese ,i think western style looks better, chinese best palaces built before ming dynasty,but 99% are gone.

as a chinese ,i think western style looks better, chinese best palaces built before ming dynasty,but 99% are gone.

I personally can't say outright that I prefer one over the other. It is a case-by-case basis. Many Western and Eastern palaces strike me as altogether vulgar, while many others (both Western and Eastern) show great refinement.

Rather than talking about which is better (a pointless proposition, IMO), it would be more sensible to discuss which ones on either side epitomize the very best in palace architecture.

P.S. I love your avatar, BTW. A famille rose brush pot?

as a chinese ,i think western style looks better, chinese best palaces built before ming dynasty,but 99% are gone.

Eastern palaces are just in China and other far eastern countries.

Awesome thread. Feast for the eyes really.

And an entirely valid point-
Rather than talking about which is better (a pointless proposition, IMO), it would be more sensible to discuss which ones on either side epitomize the very best in palace architecture.:)

Aliqapu Palace, Isfahan:

It was probably the world's tallest multi-floored tower 500 years ago, the wonder of this building is in the the sixth floor which is known as Music Room where deep circular niches are found in the walls, having not only aesthetic value, but also acoustic.

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Qapu/Qapu1.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Qapu/Qapu2.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Qapu/Qapu4.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Qapu/Qapu5.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Qapu/Qapu6.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Qapu/Qapu7.jpg

Music Room:

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Qapu/Qapu8.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Qapu/Qapu9.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Qapu/Qapu10.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Qapu/Qapu11.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Qapu/Qapu12.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Qapu/Qapu13.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/Qapu/Qapu14.jpg

OMG that is so ugly, nearly modern.

You're joking rite?

You're joking rite?

He's either joking, or has an under-developed sense of aesthetics.

Every major authority (both eastern and western) has cited the Music Room of the Aliqapu palace in Isfahan as a masterpiece.

Every major authority (both eastern and western) has cited the Music Room of the Aliqapu palace in Isfahan as a masterpiece.

True. I watched a documentary on this palace som time ago and the Music room seen in HD is indeed really interesting - an architectural masterpiece :cheers:

interesting

And my favourite, a Renaissance-castle in central-Europa:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Guestrow-schloss2008.jpg

Ah, great to see you picked Güstrow Castle (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_G%C3%BCstrow). A beautiful renaissance masterpiece in my home region in Northern Germany. :)

Though there might be more impressive ones, Schloss Güstrow is really well proportioned and decently detailed.

I took this shot in 2008, showing the courtyard with its arcades:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Guestrow_Schloss_Castle_Arkadenhof_Turm.JPG/450px-Guestrow_Schloss_Castle_Arkadenhof_Turm.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Guestrow_Schloss1.jpg/800px-Guestrow_Schloss1.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guestrow_Schloss1.jpg

Rare example of a renaissance garden:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/G%C3%BCstrowSchloss%26Park.JPG/798px-G%C3%BCstrowSchloss%26Park.JPG
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:G%C3%BCstrowSchloss%26Park.JPG

Comalcalco, Mexico

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/comalcalco/comalcalco-46.jpg
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/comalcalco-8.htm

http://www.mesoweb.com/encyc/zooms/mex08010506a.gif
http://www.mesoweb.com/encyc/view.asp?record=5380&act=viewexact&view=normal&word=V&wordAND=Comalcalco,+Temple&redir=no

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4291194937_8ba0a2d3dd_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archer10/4291194937/in/set-72157603780026058/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2691/4291191741_0442a9848d_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archer10/4291191741/in/set-72157603780026058/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2683/4291929764_0d961ec2e9_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archer10/4291929764/in/set-72157603780026058/

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/comalcalco/comalcalco-49.jpg
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/comalcalco-8.htm

People look, someone's giving sources, awesome :applause:

How about: People look, someone opened a 'vs' thread, not cool!

Since it's not a city/country vs. thread it at least encourages people to think about what's across their borders and find the best that's to be find. Some interesting stuff in this thread actually.

Labna Palace, Mexico

http://academic.reed.edu/uxmal/img/Mid/Labna/Palace/Labna-P_10-05_PM-057.jpg
http://academic.reed.edu/uxmal/galleries/thumbnails/labna/Labna-Palace-9.htm

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/5079848443_3613367ae3_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruchez/5079848443/in/set-72157625160327252/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2600/3819590942_f2969c461c_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/memo28/3819590942/in/set-72157622033796366/

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/4721072128_f2633fa185_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archer10/4721072128/in/set-72157623908956569/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4650523129_3bc5f26c41_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/montekristum/4650523129/in/set-72157624037737685/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4650522117_ed7ced4800_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/montekristum/4650522117/in/set-72157624037737685/

Cool!

Royal Palaces of Brazil

Paço Imperial (First Imperial Palace), inaugurated in 1743, to serve as official residence of viceroys. It served as Imperial Palace after the transfer of the Portuguese Court to Brazil in 1808.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/PacoImperial1.jpg/800px-PacoImperial1.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/PacoImperial1.jpg/800px-PacoImperial1.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WTWkYAnGiPg/TIWY_oknZnI/AAAAAAAAOEc/hICAsImYL3A/s1600/paco.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WTWkYAnGiPg/TIWY_oknZnI/AAAAAAAAOEc/hICAsImYL3A/s1600/paco.jpg

http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/8245224.jpg
http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/8245224.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Pa%C3%A7o_Imperial_1830.jpg/800px-Pa%C3%A7o_Imperial_1830.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Pa%C3%A7o_Imperial_1830.jpg/800px-Pa%C3%A7o_Imperial_1830.jpg

Paço de São Cristóvão (Second Imperial Palace)[/I], built in the early 19th century to replace the former residence of the Royal Family. It houses today the National Museum of Brazil. The building has a gross area of 13,616.9 m² and 122 rooms.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SxhBAD_I9uY/Shg4Zl7en-I/AAAAAAAACMg/xuHeRLHVTxM/s400/Museu%2520Nacional%2520%2520004.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SxhBAD_I9uY/Shg4Zl7en-I/AAAAAAAACMg/xuHeRLHVTxM/s400/Museu%2520Nacional%2520%2520004.jpg

http://www.museunacional.ufrj.br/MuseuNacional/casadoimperador/Museu.jpg
http://www.museunacional.ufrj.br/MuseuNacional/casadoimperador/Museu.jpg

http://www.museunacional.ufrj.br/MuseuNacional/casadoimperador/redesc2.jpg
http://www.museunacional.ufrj.br/MuseuNacional/casadoimperador/redesc2.jpg

http://lablogatorios.com.br/bessa/files/2008/12/mnrj.jpg
http://lablogatorios.com.br/bessa/files/2008/12/mnrj.jpg

Pedro II Summer Palace, in Petrópolis, built 1845-1862.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Fachada_do_Museu_Imperial_02.jpg/800px-Fachada_do_Museu_Imperial_02.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Fachada_do_Museu_Imperial_02.jpg/800px-Fachada_do_Museu_Imperial_02.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Fachada_do_Museu_Imperial_04.jpg/800px-Fachada_do_Museu_Imperial_04.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Fachada_do_Museu_Imperial_04.jpg/800px-Fachada_do_Museu_Imperial_04.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Museu_Imperial_Petr%C3%B3polis_2.jpg/800px-Museu_Imperial_Petr%C3%B3polis_2.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Museu_Imperial_Petr%C3%B3polis_2.jpg/800px-Museu_Imperial_Petr%C3%B3polis_2.jpg

Can't believe no one mentioned this palace...

Probably the most recognisable palace in the world

http://www.alovelyworld.com/webgb/gimage/gb26.jpg

Codz Poop, Yucatan, Mexico
http://academic.reed.edu/uxmal/img/Mid/Kabah/CodzPoopF/Kabah-KPF_1-07_AMNH-78.jpghttp://academic.reed.edu/uxmal/img/Mid/Kabah/CodzPoopF/Kabah-KPF_2-07_K4-12.jpg
http://academic.reed.edu/uxmal/galleries/thumbnails/kabah/Kabah-CodzPoopF.htm http://academic.reed.edu/uxmal/galleries/thumbnails/kabah/Kabah-CodzPoopF-1.htm

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5057961388_a9e6ec83a0_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/montekristum/5057961388/in/set-72157624984457317/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/5079859945_5414fffe53_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruchez/5079859945/in/set-72157625160327252/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/5057959674_8936e0306b_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/montekristum/5057959674/in/set-72157624984457317/

http://academic.reed.edu/uxmal/img/Mid/Kabah/CodzPoopF/Kabah-KPF_2-03_K3-96.jpg
http://academic.reed.edu/uxmal/galleries/thumbnails/kabah/Kabah-CodzPoopF-1.htm

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Kabah_Codz_Pop_O.jpg/1100px-Kabah_Codz_Pop_O.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kabah_Codz_Pop_O.jpg?uselang=de

Governor's Palace, Yucatan, Mexico
http://academic.reed.edu/uxmal/img/Mid/Uxmal/GovPalace/Uxmal-GovP_01-06_U28-82.jpghttp://academic.reed.edu/uxmal/img/Mid/Uxmal/GovPalace/Uxmal-GovP_15-03_U27-42.jpg

http://academic.reed.edu/uxmal/galleries/thumbnails/uxmal/uxmal-govpalace.htm http://academic.reed.edu/uxmal/galleries/thumbnails/uxmal/Uxmal-GovPalace-14.htm


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Uxmal_Gobernador.jpg/1100px-Uxmal_Gobernador.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Uxmal_Gobernador.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Uxmal_-_Palacio_17.jpg/1050px-Uxmal_-_Palacio_17.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Uxmal_-_Palacio_17.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Uxmal_-_Palacio_16.jpg/1024px-Uxmal_-_Palacio_16.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Uxmal_-_Palacio_16.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/361267117_ea83e6868f_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88353040@N00/361267117/

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Uxmal_Gobernador_Detail.jpg/500px-Uxmal_Gobernador_Detail.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Uxmal_Gobernador_Detail.jpg?uselang=de