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Europe’s Abandoned Palaces Are Rich With Stories
Posted: April 19, 2024 | Last updated: April 19, 2024
Grand estates that stand deserted
From moldering mansions to crumbling castles, these abandoned European palaces are shrouded in mystery. While they may once have been the most opulent residences in the region, after years of neglect, each of these once-stately homes is now a mere shadow of its former glory.
But, what caused them to be left abandoned in the first place, and will they ever be restored? Click or scroll to find out more…
Château de Dönhoffstädt, Drogosze, Poland
A sprawling Baroque-style palace nestled amid parkland in the village of Drogosze in the north of Poland, Château de Dönhoffstädt has been referred to as the East Prussian Versailles for its spectacular façade and expansive grounds.
The palace itself was commissioned in the late 17th century by Count Bogusław Friedrich von Dönhoff, a Prussian noble, who had inherited the estate after a previous incarnation of the palace burned down.
Château de Dönhoffstädt, Drogosze, Poland
The new palace, which was constructed between 1710 and 1714, was fashioned as the seat of the Dönhoff dynasty, and was accordingly rechristened Dönhoffstädt.
The residence was designed to be a showpiece of wealth and power, and features 365 windows – one for each day of the year, 52 rooms – one for each week in the year, 12 chimneys – one for each month, and seven balconies – one for each day of the week.
Château de Dönhoffstädt, Drogosze, Poland
The palace was one of the largest residences in the region, and was rumored to have hosted an impressive array of guests in its halcyon days, including Napolean Bonaparte and Frederick William IV, King of Prussia.
The palace continued to pass through noble hands until the Second World War, at which point its inhabitants fled the property in favor of safer accommodation elsewhere. When the war ended, the château was used as offices for the NKVD, or Soviet Secret Police.
Château de Dönhoffstädt, Drogosze, Poland
It was during this post-war period that the palace began to decline, falling prey to looters who stripped it of its valuable artwork and furnishings. While some of the estate’s grand features have been retained, such as the beautiful family chapel pictured here, the château itself was reduced to a mere shadow of its former glory.
In the 1990s, the palace was purchased by a private buyer, but no substantial renovations have yet been made to the property.
Tatoi Palace, Mount Parnitha, Greece
Known as Tatoi Palace, this spectacular ruin was once a vibrant summer retreat for the late Prince Philip’s parents, the Greek Royal family, but it has sat abandoned since the abolition of the monarchy in 1973.
The 10,000-acre estate was originally purchased by King George in 1872 with private funds from Denmark, with the intention of building a summer retreat for his wife and children.
Tatoi Palace, Mount Parnitha, Greece
Complete with staff quarters, farmland, stables, and beehives, the estate is nestled in a bucolic woodland interspersed with rivers and home to plenty of local wildlife. It is therefore unsurprising that the royals, upon finding their summer retreat far more peaceful and secluded than their primary residence, decided to make Tatoi their permanent home.
When the Greek royal family was forced into exile after the revolution in 1973, the palace was handed over to the state, still full of the family’s furniture and possessions.
Tatoi Palace, Mount Parnitha, Greece
The site was explored by the Ministry of Culture in 2004, who by 2012 had taken inventory of more than 17,000 pieces ranging from precious antiques and artwork to children’s toys. While it was discovered that nine cargo containers full of the royal family’s treasures had been stolen, the vast majority of their possessions remain in place.
In 2002, the European Court of Human Rights granted the former royal family an estimated 1% of the estate’s worth in compensation – a total of €12 million (£10.3m/$13.1m).
Tatoi Palace, Mount Parnitha, Greece
The beautiful palace has remained frozen in time for decades, but it may soon be getting a new lease of life.
King Charles has reportedly made a £12.3 million ($15.5m) investment in the property, and his Prince’s Foundation will work alongside the Greek government with the intention of turning the palace into a museum by 2025 as part of a joint venture between Britain and Greece, as well as a poignant tribute to Charles’ father, Phillip.
Abandoned artist's castle, Belgium
This eccentric-looking pink château nestled in the remote Belgium countryside hides a tragic past. Discovered by urban explorer and photographer Bryan Sansivero, this unusual property was once the home of a famous French artist, whose hand-painted work still covers much of the walls and ceilings.
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Abandoned artist's castle, Belgium
When the artist’s wife passed, however, he began obsessively painting her image, as well as creating body casts to surround himself with her memory. The castle has now been abandoned for some time, and is full of mouldering possessions which hint at the once-happy lives it housed.
Abandoned artist's castle, Belgium
Though in desperate need of restoration, the home still boasts gorgeous architectural features, including marble floors, tapestried walls, crystal chandeliers, leaded stained-glass windows, and exquisitely painted ceilings.
Abandoned artist's castle, Belgium
While the castle is brimming with antiquated furniture and artwork, the home appears to be frozen in time somewhere around the mid-20th century, with vintage appliances and fixtures which suggest it was lived in as recently as the 1970s.
With so much potential, we hope someone will bring this magnificent property back to life in the 21st century.
19th-century château, Burgundy, France
Nestled within 580 stunning acres of land in the heart of Burgundy, France, this estate dates back to the 11th century but fell to ruins in 1781. However, the château – now declared a historical monument – was rebuilt in the 19th century, and was even put on the market in 2020.
19th-century château, Burgundy, France
However, any buyer would certainly have their hands full with this restoration. Perfectly positioned in the region of Macon, the breathtaking chateau has been vacant for some time and is in need of rescuing.
The property offers plenty of potential though, and features original neo-Gothic staircases with curved stone ramps, as well as 13 bedrooms.
19th-century château, Burgundy, France
Luckily, the chateau has been well-preserved, a result of the high-quality building materials used in its construction. Every room is spacious and light-filled thanks to oversized windows and generous ceilings.
There's a magnificent vaulted gallery, a grand dining room, and a timber-clad library, all of which retain striking period features, including bespoke stained-glass windows, ornate cornicing, marble floors, decorative fireplaces, and timber paneling.
19th-century château, Burgundy, France
The estate also offers an 18th-century mansion, a caretaker's cottage, a large barn, a clock tower building, an orangery, numerous abandoned outbuildings, a keep, and a private chapel.
The garden is home to endless parks and meadows, as well as a golf course that's just waiting to be put to use. As far as historic palaces go, this exquisite château is pretty magnificent.
Vitzenburg Castle, Saale-Unstrut, Germany
This mysterious castle in the town of Querfurt, Germany, is located high up on an old vineyard, surrounded by beautiful landscapes in the middle of the beautiful region of Saale-Unstrut.
A dream vineyard estate, the neo-Renaissance-style building was mysteriously left deserted by its owners.
Vitzenburg Castle, Saale-Unstrut, Germany
Reportedly founded more than 1,000 years ago, the castle has had many uses over the decades, including a nunnery and a sanctuary for refugees during the Second World War.
A landmark of the region, Vitzenburg Castle now sits abandoned and empty despite reportedly acquiring a new owner in 2004.
Vitzenburg Castle, Saale-Unstrut, Germany
The castle has many grand rooms, as well as a spacious inner courtyard, park, vineyards, horse stables, and a garden pavilion. With long hallways and empty rooms, traces of decay can be found throughout the whole building.
Vitzenburg Castle, Saale-Unstrut, Germany
Once a masterpiece of neo-Gothic architecture, today, Vitzenburg is in a poor state of repair, with damp creeping in and wires left hanging from the ceiling.
Sadly, the castle remains closed to the public, with no plans for restoration currently on the horizon.
Mesen Castle, Lede, Belgium
Sitting partially ruined and completely abandoned is Mesen Castle in Lede, Belgium. With its Doric colonnade complete with a balustrade, pediment and large family crest, this stately home is considered one of the most important buildings designed by Italian architect Giovanni Niccolò Servandoni.
The palace was originally owned by the aristocratic Bette family until the 18th century, but was later used as a distillery, factory and sugar refinery before it was turned into a boarding school in 1897.
Mesen Castle, Lede, Belgium
Known locally as Kasteel van Mesen, this grand house was once the seat of the Marquess of Lede and considered one of the most important Belgian noble houses of the time. A neo-Gothic chapel was added to the grounds during its time as a boarding school before it eventually closed down, leaving the castle to decay.
The castle was then passed to the Belgian Ministry of Defence, it has been estimated that the restoration would be too expensive to carry out, and the building has been the target of looting and vandalism.
Mesen Castle, Lede, Belgium
There are several outbuildings surrounding the huge abandoned castle, including the chapel, orangery, and stables. Inside, the house has become a shell of its former self, with signs of any opulence now covered in dust and years of neglect.
Here, we can see only traces of the original grandeur of this hallway.
Mesen Castle, Lede, Belgium
These ruins are all that's left of the once-imposing house. After a battle between the government and conservationists wishing to protect the castle, the building was partly demolished in 2010, with further demolition in 2015.
A small part of the main façade still stands today in a local park, alongside the foundations of another wing.
Cambusnethan House, North Lanarkshire, UK
Built in 1819 for the Lockhart of Castlehill family, Cambusnethan House in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, is one of the last remaining examples of a neo-Gothic mansion in the country.
The remains sit nestled in a grove of picturesque trees which was once the site of a Norman tower.
Cambusnethan House, North Lanarkshire, UK
During the 1970s, the castle was used as a hotel that hosted mock medieval banquets, but in 1985 it was seriously damaged by a fire and is now registered as at risk by the Scottish Civic Trust.
Once surrounded by perfectly kept gardens, it's now been taken over by nature, with foliage growing through the roofless skeleton of the building.
Cambusnethan House, North Lanarkshire, UK
Built from yellow ashlar sandstone, the grand house has certainly seen better days. Inside, it once featured decorative hearths, carved motifs, and the family crest – a casket, heart, and a lock – etched on every balustrade of the main staircase.
It's rumored that the Lockharts are so named because their early ancestors carried Robert the Bruce's heart back from the Holy Land following the Crusades.
Cambusnethan House, North Lanarkshire, UK
Now lacking a roof, the building is in a state of ruin. Few windows frames have survived over the years and the building is dotted with graffiti. Part of the structure has totally collapsed, while many of the walls are unstable.
Château Miranda, Namur, Belgium
Despite its regal, Gothic looks, this stately home has a tragic past. Located in the village of Celles in Belgium, Château Miranda was designed in 1866 by English architect Edward Milner for the Liedekerke-Beaufort family.
Château Miranda, Namur, Belgium
In the Second World War it was taken over by Nazi forces, then used as an orphanage, followed by a holiday camp. The château was last used as a school before it was abandoned in 1991.
Château Miranda, Namur, Belgium
The structure then suffered a fire in 1995, and in 2006 a freak storm destroyed much of what was left of the roof.
A decade later, a new chapter was seemingly on the horizon. Developer Luc Lavroff had ambitious plans to dismantle the structure and rebuild it in Spain. Work began in earnest but unfortunately, this is not a story with a fairytale ending...
Château Miranda, Namur, Belgium
Tragically, Lavroff was diagnosed with cancer in February 2017 and pulled out of the deal, leaving the half-dismantled building in the hands of demolition firm Castignetti.
Unable to find a buyer, the company made the decision to demolish the château and it was completely razed by October of the same year.
Kirby Hall, Northamptonshire, UK
Once considered among England's greatest 16th-century buildings, Kirby Hall was most notably owned by Sir Christopher Hatton, Lord Chancellor to Queen Elizabeth I, in the 1580s.
The grand façade is built from white Barnack stone and its design was taken from a book of French architectural patterns – a bit like the Elizabethan version of a flat-pack home! However, this stunning stately home is struggling to survive.
Kirby Hall, Northamptonshire, UK
It remained as the Hatton family seat until 1764, when it was passed onto the Finch-Hattons, before being finally abandoned in the 1800s when the family moved into a more modern build.
All those years sitting empty took a huge toll on the once-palatial house: the lead was stripped from the roof, the oak wainscotting was taken to decorate other houses and even the stones were used to repair farmhouses and build roads.
Kirby Hall, Northamptonshire, UK
Though its origins date back to the 16th century, the house was expanded and improved right up until it was abandoned.
As well as the great hall on the southern side of the building, the main house features a courtyard with a series of small apartments along the east and west sides. Inside, staterooms have been left intact and still contain their authentic 17th and 18th-century interiors.
Kirby Hall, Northamptonshire, UK
Today, the house and gardens are still in the Finch-Hatton family, owned by the current Earl of Winchilsea.
Although the house has never resumed its former life as a grand stately home, it has at least found fame as a filming location for Mansfield Park and A Christmas Carol.
Sammezzano Castle, Tuscany, Italy
With its kaleidoscopic colors, horseshoe arches, and mosaics, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this castle was a Moorish palace, but Sammezzano is not quite what it seems.
In fact, this incredible palace was given a Moorish Revival makeover in the 19th century by the Tuscan nobleman Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d’Aragona.
Sammezzano Castle, Tuscany, Italy
Inside, the elaborate décor is as pristine as the day it was made. The bright colors and glorious patterns continue to dazzle despite the building having stood empty since it was abandoned in the 1990s.
Although uninhabited, the house hasn't been forsaken. Could you turn your back on such an incredible place?
Sammezzano Castle, Tuscany, Italy
Since the 1990s, the palace has been owned by the same Italo-British company, Sammezzano Castle Srl, who intended to reopen the castle as a five-star luxury hotel.
After several failed attempts at fundraising, a conservation group called Save Sammezzano took on the project – and not a day too soon, as the years of neglect were starting to take their toll on this precious building.
Sammezzano Castle, Tuscany, Italy
Today, the castle still doesn't have an active owner despite being put up for sale and auctioned a number of times.
Last on the market for £14.5 million ($18.3m) in November 2018, the castle is still in need of rescue. We can only hope that a dashing prince or princess will turn up soon to save this fairytale castle...
Villa de Vecchi, Cortenova, Italy
Rumoured to be haunted, this magnificent stately home situated just east of Lake Como was built between 1854-1857 as the summer residence of Count Felix De Vecchi.
However, Villa De Vecchi, or the Red House as the property is alternately known, only survived a few short years before a string of tragedies led to its decline.
Villa de Vecchi, Cortenova, Italy
In its heyday, the home was fitted with all the modern conveniences of the era, including indoor heating and a large-scale pressurised fountain. The walls and ceilings were decorated with detailed frescoes, while a large fireplace took centre stage in the main parlour.
However, today it tells a more solemn story with crumbling walls and rubbish-strewn floors.
Villa de Vecchi, Cortenova, Italy
An incredibly tragic tale hides within the villa's walls. In 1862, following a string of family tragedies and the Count's death the house then passed to the Count's brother, Biagio who left the estate for good in the Second World War. It's been permanently uninhabited since the 1960s.
Villa de Vecchi, Cortenova, Italy
While Mother Nature has taken over the home, most of the damage to the villa over the years has been done by uninvited visitors. Graffiti covers the walls and the furniture has been stolen or vandalized.
Reinhardsbrunn Castle, Thuringia, Germany
Built in 1827 on the grounds of a monastery, the current incarnation of Reinhardsbrunn Castle was constructed by Duke Ernest I of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince Albert's father, and ultimately the father-in-law to Queen Victoria.
Influenced by the so-called 'English style', the castle was intended as a summer residence surrounded by picturesque parkland.
Reinhardsbrunn Castle, Thuringia, Germany
The house stayed in Prince Albert's family up until the end of the Second World War, after which time it fell under the control of the East German state and was used as a military hospital and as a government venue and showpiece hotel.
After the reunification of Germany, the castle was recognized as a historic monument in 1992 by the State of Thuringia. It was bought and sold by various travel companies in the intervening years and has since been left to wrack and ruin.
Reinhardsbrunn Castle, Thuringia, Germany
While the estate purchased by Russian investors in 2008, they left the castle to rot even further over the years, and eventually the state was forced to take action to save Reinhardsbrunn.
This room would once have hosted high-society soirées, but with peeling wallpaper and debris littering the floor, it's no longer in its prime, though the decorative carvings are still breathtaking.
Reinhardsbrunn Castle, Thuringia, Germany
According to reports, the state acquired the castle for a nominal fee of just one euro, and without taking on the huge mortgage that should have come with it.
Currently undergoing renovation, we can only hope that this grand building will be restored to its former glory.
Gothic Revival palace, Dreżewo, Poland
Just outside the village of Dreżewo in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland, this crumbling neo-Gothic mansion is a mysterious relic of a bygone age. The building was constructed in 1863, but this incarnation only survived until 1890 when a devastating fire broke out, substantially damaging the interior.
Gothic Revival palace, Dreżewo, Poland
The palace hides a chequered past, having changed hands many times, with each successive owner seemingly seeking to pass on the ownership as quickly as possible. The extensive grounds even served as a stud farm for a period and there were also failed plans to build a wind farm.
Gothic Revival palace, Dreżewo, Poland
Following the fire, the estate was rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style popular in the 19th century, with a dramatic turret off the right wing. Inside, high ceilings, intricate molding, and dramatically arched windows are suggestive of the home’s former grandeur.
While the plaster has been damaged by water and rot, that which remains suggests that many of the rooms were once grand with detailed cornices and woodwork.
Gothic Revival palace, Dreżewo, Poland
Most of the rooms on the ground floor feature sets of double doors which suggest that the home was designed for entertaining, allowing guests to flow naturally from room to room.
In 2006, the property was reportedly purchased by Hiszpan Ricardo Crespo Fuster, a Spanish businessman who planned to build a hotel and a golf course and leisure center here. It did not come to fruition, and the palace came into further disrepair.
"Maison du cheval", Belgium
Another abandoned Belgian castle captured by photographer Bryan Sansivero, this property may look unassuming from its overgrown exterior, but inside tells quite a different story. The home is set back in a tangle of brush and briars and is clearly in need of some serious repairs.
However, based on photos discovered inside, it may once have belonged to the family of Belgium’s prime minister.
"Maison du cheval", Belgium
With parquet flooring, damask-clad walls, and heavily gilded mirrors, this home was clearly once designed for a very wealthy family.
With so many expensive treasures still within, including intricately carved wooden furniture and valuable antiques, it’s miraculous that the property has been spared by looters over the years.
"Maison du cheval", Belgium
This spacious room would likely once have been the heart of the home, with high ceilings and plenty of elegant seating.
While the plaster is peeling from the walls, there is still a sort of stripped-back elegance to this space, which throws the grandeur of the furniture and highly decorative door frames into even sharper relief.
"Maison du cheval", Belgium
In addition to the many mysterious photographs scattered throughout the home which might hint at its past ownership, there are also many beautiful works of art propped against walls or tucked behind pieces of furniture, hinting that the previous owners may have been collectors in their day.
How such a magnificent home could ever be left to rot remains a mystery!
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