These Virtual Tours of Europe's Famous Castles Will Make You Feel Like a Royal, Even in Your Pajamas (Video)
Experience life as a royal, even if you can’t go outside.
Virtual entertainment is really having a huge boom right now. As more and more people are going into self-quarantine to help contain the coronavirus, they’re also looking for good ways to entertain themselves besides just watching Netflix.
Google Arts & Culture has a huge array of amazing virtual tours that are perfect for people who are itching to travel, students in need of educational material, or anyone who has binge watched their favorite show from 10 years ago at least six times in the last two weeks.
And if you’re in any of these groups, you’ll be happy to know that there are virtual tours for museums, national parks, famous landmarks, and yes, even some of Europe’s most iconic castles and palaces.
In fact, if you’ve been dying to visit Versailles, or tour through the royal family’s extensive wardrobe at Buckingham Palace, or check out the grounds at Catherine Palace in St. Petersburg, you’re in luck.
Below are just some of the incredible palace and castle tours in Europe you can access online.
Palace of Versailles
Getty Images/DeAgostini
Perhaps the most impressive virtual tour of the bunch, Google Arts & Culture has curated a truly comprehensive collection from the Palace of Versailles — the famous home of Louis XIV, the Sun King. Not only can you enjoy a video tour of the palace itself (or stream it on VR), Google Arts & Culture has also rounded up some of the best artworks and artifacts in the palace, you can go inside the famous Hall of Mirrors, walk the extensive gardens, and even find some never-before-seen content.
Buckingham Palace
Getty Images
Much like visiting the actual Buckingham Palace, only certain parts are accessible to the public online. Google Arts & Culture has created a thorough virtual tour of the Buckingham Palace State Rooms, complete with dozens of beautiful gowns from famous designers. The reception was originally held during London Fashion Week in 2018, and now it’s online for you to enjoy.
Edinburgh Castle
If you’ve been hoping to visit some of the historic castles of Scotland, Edinburgh is a great place to start. This ancient fortress is perched atop of Castle Rock, looking over the capital of Edinburgh in real life, and now you can experience a walk through its famous grounds from the comfort of your couch.
Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace is one of Austria’s most visited sites, and now it’s going to be even more popular with virtual tourists around the world. This World Heritage Site, located in Hietzing, Vienna, was the summer palace for many of the Hapsburg rulers. Not only can you get a good look at some of the most famous artworks in the palace, you can also take a walking tour via Street View.
Catherine Palace
This particular tour doesn’t have art collections or indoor tours, but you can still virtually view one of the best attributes of this historic Russian palace in St. Petersburg: the palace’s gorgeous blue, white, and gold facade. This Rococo palace was once the summer home of Catherine the Great, one of the most famous Russian rulers. Take a look via Street View.
Royal Palace of Caserta
This historic Italian palace was once the home of the King of Naples and is one of the largest palaces erected in Europe during the 18th century. It’s also one of the largest royal residences in the world. This collection includes some photos of the castle plus several Street View tours of both the exterior and interior of the palace.
There are even more collections and tours of castles all over the world. For more tours, information, and incredible archives of art, history, and everything in between, visit the Google Arts & Culture website.
