Dtravel’s City Guide Series: Castles in the Sky

History, beauty and culture — get ready for all three in this travel guide that takes you on a tour of majestic castles. With exceptional wealth in terms of architecture, landscape and history, castles have irresistible lure for tourists all around the world.

In this edition of ‘City Guides,’ we share with you the architectural wonders full of anecdotes, myths and fairy tales. Ten fascinating places of architectural significance that make our imaginations fly, transporting us to another time; where history is fused with legend recalling the epic battles, conquests, resistance or domination, passionate romances and endless eccentricities of the lords and visionary millionaires of other times!

Join us on this journey in time through these destinations in the heights of ancient cities and great lakes prepared by Dtravel as inspiration in the planning of your next trip! Book with Dtravel and bookmark these experiences on your wish list:

• South Lake Tahoe
• Omis
• Albufeira
• Denia
• Calpe
• Prague
• Kastela
• Mijas
• Dublin
• Funchal

South Lake Tahoe, USA

Lake Tahoe has many tempting destinations to visit. From mansions and castles to skiing or hiking, these are some of the fabulous options to enjoy alone or with the family.

This beautiful alpine lake located in Nevada is home to two iconic architectural structures and a must-see for anyone who wants to experience the history of its first settlers.

One of the structures is Vikingsholm Castle in Emerald Bay. Built based on a Scandinavian theme by millionaire Lora Josephine Knight in 1928, this stone castle at the foot of the mountains just across from Lake Tahoe is one of the quintessential images of this iconic place.

In 1928, Mrs. Knight was very clear about building her “Castle in the Sky” on Emerald Bay Island, a property that historians of the time say was built by a mysterious widow, one of the richest women in the United States. She made an offer for $250,000 (value of $3.7 million today) to the Armstrong family, owners of these lands at the time for 32 years.

Today Emerald Bay is a popular place chosen for hiking and trekking by thousands of people who visit year after year for its beautiful white sand beach, wild flowers, pure icy water and incomparable cliffs.

The castle of Mrs. Knight (known as Vikingsholm) was built by the Swedish architect Lennart Palme, her nephew by marriage, a Scandinavian structure that feels part of Emerald Bay like Eagle Falls, Fanette Island or the ancient trees.

One of Lake Tahoe’s great attractions is its handful of historic mansions along its shoreline dating back to the late 1800s and first quarter of the 20th century. It was precisely at this boom time in North America that the area established itself as a summer retreat for wealthy tourists seeking an escape from cities like California.

Thunderbird Lodge — Glenbrook

Another captivating castle built on the East Coast in 1936 by an eccentric millionaire of the time, popularly known as Captain Whittel. Born into wealth in 1881, his grandparents made their fortunes during the California gold rush, investing in real estate and banking.

Whittel was the sole heir to the family fortune in the 1920s (value of $49B today), a young rebel refusing to follow the patterns of the time with exquisite tastes for automobiles and speedboats, as well as exotic animals.

With a lion as a pet, this millionaire built the fabulous Thunderbird Lodge, filled with anecdotes about his wild parties and casino showgirls around Lake Tahoe.

Thunderbird Lodge is a 100+ acre summer estate built by local Nevada architect Frederick De Longchamps, well known at the time and responsible for the construction of Nevada state buildings. The Lodge is an architectural style described as rustic renaissance, with two stories built on a concrete base with walls in smooth salmon-colored granite from granite blocks quarried in Carson City.

The interior of the main Whittel residence is crafted with knotty pine throughout and double staircases leading to the upper level. The home only has a couple of bedrooms, due to the millionaire’s preference that guests stay in the cabins (five in total) arranged throughout the property.

At the height of the Great Depression, millionaire Whittel’s “Castle to the Sky” was built by his legion of local workers. A structure with steep ceilings that make it today an architectural marvel which is a must for visitors to Lake Tahoe.

The structure stands out due to its isolation in a section of the lake that is rugged and pristine, in contrast to much of the rest of the lake’s shoreline that is lined with construction and commercial properties.

The reason for this is Whittel expanded his lands during the Great Depression when the rest of the owners of these neighboring lands required cash, acquiring the lands for as little as $0.60 an acre.

Wandering through the 600 ft. twisted solid granite underground through a mysterious tunnel built by Cornish miners where Bill (Whittel’s pet lion) once stood, is a unique experience that sparks memories of the wild parties of this eccentric millionaire and his iconic guests at this exclusive abode, where they would wake up the next morning in front of Bill’s cage, with the lion licking their face.

According to party legends, people like baseball legend Ty Cobb visited the “Poker room” in a cabin outside the tunnel where Cal-Neva Lodge showgirls danced on tables.

To enjoy the scenery that seduced these castle builders, the Taylor Creek Visitor Center 3 miles north of South Lake Tahoe offers self-guided trails and tours of streams and the Tahoe River, as well as its wildlife.

South Lake Tahoe has dozens of recreational activities to enjoy while touring the fabulous “Castles in the Sky” of these iconic millionaires from America’s golden age in the 1920s.

Omis, Croacia

Do you love medieval fortresses? Then Omis is a good place to visit for a “Castles in the Sky” tour worthy of admiration in beautiful Croatia. There are two fortresses worth visiting: Fortress Starigrad (Fortica) and Fortress Mirabella (Peovica).

You can reach Starigrad by car, then head up a 45-minute steep path to see this 15th-century architectural gem built during the Croatian-Ottoman wars. The castle stands 262m above the city of Omis and was built as a refuge for the citizens of the time to retreat to in case the attackers got too close.

Being located on top of a ridge, the view is spectacular over the coast of Omis. Once inside the castle, you’ll be able to contemplate from the top of its square two-story tower all the splendor of this wonderful coastline.

The walls of this castle were built 1-metre thick with limestone rudimentary extracted from the locality. You can access the interior levels through a stone staircase that was protected by an entrance door and a stone wall at one time.

Mirabella Fortress (Peovica)

The Romanesque fortress was built in the 13th century behind the historic center, in one of the highest points in the city of Mirabella, which served as a reliable hideout for the Omis pirates who used to retreat to the safety of the Cetina Gorge.

Once there, try shouting in the tower — due to its privileged position, the sound will multiply with force, which, helped by the current of the river, will make it impossible to locate the source of the sound.

The location helped the defenders of Omis to protect their stronghold during the Turkish attack on Mirabella in 1537. The attackers were confused by the multiplying sound, giving the impression that there were thousands of people around the fortress, and overestimating their opponents, finally decided to flee.

If you love the mix of legends, hiking and fortresses inspired by medieval times, you’ll enjoy visiting these fortresses in the beautiful town of Omis in Croatia.

Albufeira, Portugal

If you are looking to admire the Muslim military architecture of the Iberian Peninsula, the Paderne Castle in Albufeira is a historical legacy that you shouldn’t leave off your travel list. This Medieval Castle in historic Portugal is located in the town of Paderne and is high above the Ribeira da Quarteira, south of the town.

The castle was built in the second half of the 12th century as a rural fortification intended to be a military defense of the time. However, in the 1755 earthquake its foundations were affected, and a restoration has been carried out by the Ministry of Culture of Portugal since 1997 to revalue its reddish ruins.

The castle can be reached from the national road EN 170. For factoid nerds, the interesting fact of this castle is it’s one of the seven castles represented in the Portuguese flag, once a symbol of the power of the crown of this European country.

From the top of the Castle, it’s possible to contemplate the town of Albufeira, the center of a region very famous for its beaches and picturesque mountain villages. You won’t have to go far to escape the crowds, as the spectacular Arrifes beach and the ocher-hued cliffs of Praia da Coelha are only a stone’s throw away.

Denia, Spain

Built between the 10th and 11th centuries, Denia Castle is a Muslim-Andalusian fortification, one of the most emblematic of the province of Alicante, located on a gentle hill in the heart of Valencian city.

The fortress reflects the passage of different cultures throughout history in the heart of the current Marina Alta region: Iberians, Romans, Muslims and Christians. All have left an indelible mark on the different monuments, archaeological sites and streets of Denia, which can be seen from the top of this castle.

The Castle was built at first as a residence of the governor of the time, serving as an authentic Arab palace. Then it served as a fortress during the era of piracy of the Mediterranean to be subsequently modified on several occasions.

One of its most outstanding annexes is the Red Tower, built with reddish stone in the 15th century; and the archaeological museum that currently operates on the esplanade where the palace that served as the residence of the Duke of Lerma was located. There you can contemplate the passage of history through the four chronologically located rooms to reflect on the Iberian, Roman, Muslim and Christian periods that have passed through Denia.

Calpe, Spain

The Spanish peninsula is characterized by a variety of castles looming in the distance. One worth visiting is the Castillo del Mascarat or Torre del Castellet, located on the Castellet hill in the municipality of Calpe in the province of Alicante.

El Castell del Mascarat is one of the best places to visit and learn about the history around this municipality. Since 1996 it has been among the places considered of cultural interest.

Visitors can explore the watch tower and some remains of the castle that began its construction in the 12th century. The tower was finally built at the end of the 16th century as a watch tower, located 256 meters above sea level, allowing a captivating full view of the bay of Calpe.

The function of the watchtower was essential to protect the village from the attacks perpetrated by the Barbary pirates of the time. It’s built with materials taken from the old Castle so you can see the remains of what was once a great building.

If you’re a lover of architecture and history, then this is one of the best places to visit. While walking through the building, you’ll discover the base of the tower and one of the four 4.5-metre walls from the original structure.

Prague, Czech Republic

If you admire bohemian culture, then Prague Castle will pique your interest. Built in the 9th century, this majestic architectural gem was the residence of the kings of Bohemia and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, and is currently the presidential residence of the Czech Republic.

The castle was built by order of Prince Borijov, who in addition to the castle ordered the construction of a palace, three churches and a monastery to begin to forge the history of one of the most beautiful cities of the old continent, Prague.

The castle is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest ancient fortress in the world: 570 meters long and its surface exceeds that of seven football fields combined. Located in an area called Hradcany, it’s worth taking a walk around the area and discovering its picturesque streets, and opulent palaces and monasteries. In addition, from the palace it’s possible to contemplate the tourist section of the city of Prague, given its construction on an embankment.

The now presidential palace has survived fires and destruction by invasions in times past. So walking inside is a salute to the history of this thriving building, a symbol of the advance of Christianity during its construction.

The fortress consists of three central courtyards, which include gems ranging from a 17th century well to a gallery with paintings by Rubens, Tintoretto and Titian. Imposing, the Gothic Cathedral of San Vito can be seen in its second courtyard, with a proud 96-meter high tower where you can contemplate the splendor of the now presidential palace.

In the third courtyard stands the old Royal Palace from 1135, in whose Vladislav hall all the modern presidents of the Czech Republic have been sworn in.

This castle will enchant you not only the wonderful architectural work built in the 9th century, but also the walk through the history of one of the oldest cosmopolitan cities in Europe, admiring the jewels of the Bohemian Crown and contemplating the Baroque art that inspired the construction of sculptures and buildings of the time.

Kastela, Croacia

Are you a tv fanatic? If so, then strolling through the Kastilac Fort on the Dalmatian Coast will make you feel like a character in the acclaimed “Game of Thrones’’ series since this Renaissance building was part of one of the locations of this HBO production.

However, this fort isn’t the only one of its kind on this exquisite Croatian tourist route. In the heart of the Kastela municipality formed by seven small coastal towns located between Trogir and Split are ancient fortresses with spectacular views of the coast.

It’s worth noting that these buildings were built to protect against the attack of the Ottoman Empire, the main enemies of Croatia. The Kastel Stafilic, a tower located on a small island that’s currently connected to the mainland, is part of a building formerly built to defend the coasts.

Several works built in the 16th century bounding the coast of this Croatian municipality are worth visiting to see the sites from which the territory was defended. One of them is the 15th century Vitturi Castle built in the Renaissance period in Kastel Luksic. Currently this Renaissance jewel serves as the Museum of the City.

Also noteworthy are the Round Castle and Cambi Castle, as well as the 16th century church of Sv Arnir built by Byzantine monks of the time.

Mijas, Spain

A jewel in the heights of Spain worth highlighting and visiting is the Castle of Mijas.

Among this ancient structure are the remains of what was once a fortress built on a rocky platform surrounded on its west, south and east sides by steep slopes, which served as a natural defense.

The purpose of the fortress of Mijas was to protect the population from its enemies, as happened in September 1485 when the town fell under the attack of the Catholic Monarchs. Although there are no exact data or records of its construction, it’s believed that it was part of the foundation of Mijas in Roman times, which during the Arab domination exercised importance as a fortified town with a wall around it due to its strategic location.

The fortress consisted of four towers forming a polygon, with a courtyard inside that was accessed through an entrance door from the town. Currently, this castle only has some remains such as the tower and some walls rebuilt in modern times. Despite this, in this place of historical and archaeological heritage situated above the town, you can take in a spectacular view over the town of Mias while immersing yourself in medieval history in front of the Mediterranean Sea.

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin Castle is without a doubt one of the most popular castles in Ireland. With construction dating from the 13th century, the building represents the Viking power of the time as well as the English rule over this majestic land. The building was rebuilt several times in the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Currently the only surviving element of the original building is the great medieval tower that stands out from the rest of the castle structure.

The castle currently serves as a government complex and has witnessed the history of the city since its construction in the 12th century. In other times, it served as a military fortress, prison, treasury, and court. Through guided tours, the power of the British crown once governing from its internal chambers can still be felt.

Funchal, Portugal

In the port of Funchal, in the town of Madeira in Portugal, stands this beautiful fortress built at the beginning of the 17th century. Its picturesque and unique mustard-yellow color stands out from the rest in the middle of a bay enjoyed by thousands of bathers every year.

This fort built for military purposes is located above the sea shore of the historic area of the city known as “Zona Velha”. It was built to protect the coast from piracy during the reign of Felipe I of Portugal. Its military history was in evidence during the Second World War when it served as accommodation for British troops.

Entering this castle is a journey back in time through the history of epic battles in defense of the sea fort anchored at the end of the promenade of the Barrio de Santa María. It currently serves as the headquarters of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Funchal.

We hope you enjoyed our third guide to the city and our epic journey through the history of eccentric knights, warriors, kings and millionaires reflected in these fortresses perched high above. Don’t forget to stay tuned for our upcoming travel guides that will help you navigate some of the best places on our planet. Remember not to miss the opportunity to visit these sites and book your next trip with Dtravel.

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