BEAUTIFUL PLACES OF STRENGTH

Throughout history, when people needed strong structures to protect their cities, towns, and other important areas, they built fortifications. These buildings, designed for the defense of territories in warfare were also used to solidify rule in a region during peacetime. Often built as part of castles, many ancient forts, some in ruins and some intact, are beautiful sites to visit.

We’ve collected some of the most beautiful forts in the world that deserve consideration on your travel bucket list. You’ll find them standing guard in Italy, Croatia, Scotland, Tyrol, Ukraine, Luxembourg, South Korea, Austria, Spain, India, and Oman. Check them out below.

1. EILEAN DONAN CASTLE -- DORNIE, SCOTLAND

Eilean Donan, a mid-13th century fortified castle, is situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by majestic scenery. It is once of the most beautiful and important attractions in the Scottish Highlands.

There are four generations of the MacRae family past, present and future who are still the Constables of Eilean Donan Castle today.

You can explore nearly every part of the castle and enjoy a journey through the history of the area.

2. MEHRANGARTH FORT -- RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Mehrangarh Fort, in  Jodhpur, India, crowns a rocky hill that rises 400 feet above the surrounding plains. One of the largest forts in Rajasthan, it has protected some of the finest palaces in India for over 5 centuries. An onsite museum contains many priceless relics of Indian courtly life. In one section of the fort museum there is a selection of old royal palanquins, including the elaborate domed gilt Mahadol palanquin which was won in a battle from the Governor of Gujarat in 1730. The museum exhibits the heritage of the Rathores in arms, costumes, paintings and decorated period.

The current head of the Rathore clan and custodian of the fort, Maharaja Gaj Singh II, has preserved the buildings and developed the museum as a record of the lives of his predecessors. His ancestors ruled the state of Marwar and over many generations built this architectural treasure, and it falls to him to ensure that their legacy is maintained and understood.

3. FORT LOVRIJENAC -- DUBROVNIK, CROATIA

Fort Lovrijenac or St. Lawrence Fortress stands guard on a rocky outcropping overlooking the sea in Dubrovnik, Croatia. It is often called "Dubrovnik's Gibraltar." It also houses a theater, famous for its plays and importance in resisting Venetian rule.

You might recognize this fort if you are a Game of Thrones fan, as it doubles as the Red Keep in King’s Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. Lots of the scenes are filmed at this Fort including the tournament thrown in honour of King Joffrey’s name day in season two.

4. SAMNYEON SANSEONG FORTRESS -- BOEUN, SOUTH KOREA

Samnyeon Sanseong Fortress is a Silla fortress and wall that was built beginning in 470 AD and reconstructed in 486 AD. The ruins are located in present-day Boeun, South Korea.

The fortress has been registered by the South Korean government on the tentative list of sites awaiting approval as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Although parts of the old wall have survived to this day, it is undergoing a major reconstruction by the Korean government. It is also listed as Korean Historic Site No.235.

The walls of the fortress, built on vertical cliffs, combine to create an impenetrable wall which ranged from thirteen to twenty meters in height. The width of the walls ranged from five to eight meters.

The fortress is valuable because it shows what building techniques were employed by the Silla during the late fifth century. Additionally, Samnyeon Sanseong Fortress exhibits the characteristics typical of a Korean mountain fortress.

5. KAMIANETS - PODILSKYL CASTLE -- UKRAINE

Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle is a former Ruthenian-Lithuanian 14th century castle, used later as a Polish fortress, located in the historic city of Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine, in the historic region of Podolia in the western part of the country.

Initially built to protect the bridge connecting the city with the mainland, the castle sits on top of a peninsula carved out by the winding Smotrych River, forming a natural defense system for Kamianets-Podilskyi's historic Old Town neighborhood.

Along with the Old Town neighborhood, the castle is listed as part of the National Historical-Architectural Sanctuary "Kam'ianets" and the National Environmental Park "Podilski Tovtry". The complex is a candidate UNESCO World Heritage Site, nominated in 1989 by the Ukrainian representatives, and also one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine.

6. NAKHAL FORT -- AL BATINAH, OMAN

Nakhal Fort, a large fortification in the Al Batinah Region of Oman. The fort houses a museum, operated by the Ministry of Tourism, which has exhibits of historic guns, and the fort also hosts a weekly goat market.

The fort, also known as Husn Al Heem, has a history which dates back to the pre-Islamic period. It was re-built by Omani architects in the 17th century, to protect the oasis and nearby trade routes passing through the regional capital of Nizwa. The gateway and towers seen now were extensions built in 1834 attributed to imam Said bin Sultan. In 1990, it was fully renovated. Imams of Wadi Bani Kharous and the Ya'arubah dynasty resided here in the past.

7. ALCAZAR CASTLE -- SEGOVIA, SPAIN

Alcázar de Segovia is a castle on a rocky cliff in Segovia, a historic town in central Spain's Castile and León region.

The fortified castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rising out on a rocky crag above the confluence of two rivers near the Guadarrama mountains, it is one of the most distinctive castle-palaces in Spain, as it is shaped like the bow of a ship. The Alcázar was originally built as a fortress but has served as a royal palace, a state prison, a Royal Artillery College and a military academy since then. It is currently used as a museum and a military archives building.

It is said that Disney drew inspiration from this majestic site for Cinderella's iconic castle.

8. CASTELLO BORGIA (AKA ROCCA DI NEPI) -- VITERBO, ITALY

The Castello Borgia (aka Borgia Castle or Rocca di Nepi) is a 16th-century castle in Nepi, Italy, originally refurbished for Lucrezia Borgia. The castle features a large square piazza surrounded by walls on all sides and circular towers at each corner.

The castle was originally constructed in the 12th century. During the 15th century it was expanded by cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (later Pope Alexander VI) and gifted to his daughter, Lucrezia. Borgia was Governor of Nepi at the time. The castle was further renovated by the Farneseduring the 16th century.

In 1819, the castle was the subject of a sketch by the travelling J. M. W. Turner. The sketch is now part of the permanent collection held by the Tate Britain.

9. THE CASTLE NAUDERSBERG -- TYROL, AUSTRIA

The Castle Naudersberg stands on a hill above the village Nauders, in Tyrol, Astria.

The sovereign fortress court was built at the beginning of the 14th century and in 1325 first mentioned in documents.

The castle has been under constant renovation since 1960. Much of the interior space is now used as a museum. In addition, two apartments are furnished in the Palas.

10. FORTRESS OF LUXEMBOURG -- LUXEMBOURG

The Fortress of Luxembourg refers to the former 10th century fortifications of Luxembourg City, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, which were mostly dismantled in 1867. The fortress was of great strategic importance for the control of the Left Bank of the Rhine, the Low Countries, and the border area between France and Germany.

The fortifications were built gradually over nine centuries, from soon after the city's foundation in the tenth century until 1867. By the end of the Renaissance, Luxembourg was already one of Europe's strongest fortresses. Due to its strategic location, it became involved in numerous European conflicts and underwent changes in ownership, sieges, and major alterations, as each new occupier—the Burgundians, French, Austrian and Spanish Habsburgs, and Prussians—made their own improvements and additions.

Luxembourg became known as "Gibraltar of the North" as a result of its alleged impregnability.

The remains of the fortifications have become a major tourist attraction for the city. In 1994, the fortress remains and the city's old quarter were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Read more about Beautiful Strength all this week on BeautifulNow.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Herbert Frank. Eilean Donan Castle. Scotland.
2. Image: by Eusebius@Commons. “Eilean Donan castle at dusk.”  Dornie, Scotland.
3. Image: by Dan. “Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur.” Rajasthan, India.
4. Image: by Dennis Jarvis. “Croatia Fortress Lovrijenac.” Dubrovnik, Croatia.
5. Image: by Republic of Korea. “Korea Samnyeongsanseong Fortress.” Boeun, South Korea.
6. Image: by Ferad Zyulkyarov. “Kamianets Podilskyi Fortress.” Ukraine.
7. Image: by LM TP. “Surprised Tower.” Nakhal Fort. Al Batinah, Oman.
8. Image: by Neticola Sny. “Alcazar Castle - Segovia.” Segovia, Spain.
9. Image: by Riccardo Cuppini. “Tower and Fortress.” Castello Borgia (aka Rocca di Nepi Viterbo). Nepi, Italy.
10. Image: by B.B. Wijdieks. “Schloss Naudersberg (Nauders).” Tyrol, Austria.
11. Image: by Miranda Metheny. “Fortress City.” Fortress of Luxembourg.
12. Image: by Elliott Brown. “Château de Cormatin - from the aviary with the boxwood maze.” Luxembourg.
13. Image: by Suzanne Gielis. “Welsh fortress.” Wales. UK.
14. Image: by orientalizing Qsani fortress Ksani, Kaspis Raioni, Georgia.
15. Image: by Onny Carr. “My Evil Fortress.” Myanmar.