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List of palaces

The following is a list of palaces by country.

Afghanistan

Albania

Algeria

Armenia

Urartu and Satrapy of Armenia

Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)

Bagratid Armenia

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia

Armenian Melikdoms

Iranian Armenia

Armenia

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Bangladesh

Belarus

Belgium

Brussels

Elsewhere

Benin

Bhutan

Bolivia

Brazil

Brunei

Bulgaria

Varna and Black Sea coast

  • Euxinograd – former royal summer residence located on the Black Sea coast, in the outskirts of Varna. The palace is currently a governmental and presidential retreat hosting cabinet meetings in the summer and offering access for tourists to several villas and hotels as well as the gardens.

Ruse

Sofia

Other Historic Palaces

The following are historic strongholds throughout the years in the different capitals of Bulgaria. They often housed the royal and patriarchal palaces and are enclosed in defensive walls around their perimeter.

Other Royal Palaces

These are mostly hunting lodges and retreats for the Bulgarian Royal Family, located in the Rila Mountain range.

Burundi

Cambodia

Canada

Residences of provincial Lieutenant-Governors:

Chile

China

The English word "palace" is used to translated the Chinese word 宮 (pronounced "gōng" in Mandarin). This character represents two rooms connected (呂), under a roof (宀). Originally the character applied to any residence or mansion, but starting with the Qin dynasty (3rd century BC) it was used only for the residence of the emperor and members of the imperial family. Chinese palaces are different from post-Renaissance European palaces in the sense that they are not made up of one building only (however big and convoluted the building may be), but are in fact huge spaces surrounded by a wall and containing large separated halls (殿 diàn) for ceremonies and official business, as well as smaller buildings, galleries, courtyards, gardens, and outbuildings, more like the Roman or Carolingian palatium.

The world's largest palace to have ever existed, the Weiyang Palace, was built in the Han dynasty. The world's largest palace currently still in existence, the Forbidden City, was constructed in the Ming dynasty.

List of Chinese imperial palaces, in chronological order

This is an incomplete list of Chinese palaces.

  • Xianyang Palace (咸陽宮), in (Qin) Xianyang (咸陽), now 15 km/9 miles east of modern Xianyang, Shaanxi province: this was the royal palace of the state of Qin before the Chinese unification, and then the palace of the First Emperor when China was unified.
  • Epang Palace (阿房宮 – probable meaning: "The Palace on the Hill"), 20 km/12 miles south of (Qin) Xianyang (咸陽), now 15 km/9 miles west of Xi'an (西安), Shaanxi province: the fabulous imperial palace built by the First Emperor in replacement of Xianyang Palace.
  • Weiyang Palace (未央宮 – "The Endless Palace"), in (Han) Chang'an (長安), now 7&nbsp;km/4 miles northeast of downtown Xi'an (西安), Shaanxi province: imperial palace of the prestigious Western Han dynasty for two centuries. This is the largest palace ever built on Earth, covering 4.8&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (1,200 acres), which is 6.7 times the size of the Forbidden City, or 11 times the size of the Vatican City.
  • Southern Palace (南宮) and Northern Palace (北宮), in Luoyang (洛陽), Henan province: imperial palaces of the Eastern Han Dynasty for two centuries, the Southern Palace being used for court hearings and audiences, Northern Palace being the private residence of the emperor and his concubines.
  • Taiji Palace (太極宮 – "Palace of the Supreme Ultimate"), also known as the Western Apartments (西内), in (Tang) Chang'an (長安), now downtown Xi'an (西安), Shaanxi province: imperial palace during the Sui dynasty (who called it Daxing Palace – 大興宮, "Palace of Great Prosperity") and in the beginning of the Tang dynasty (until A.D. 663). Area: 4.2&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (1,040 acres), imperial section proper: 1.92&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (474 acres).
  • Daming Palace (大明宮 – "Palace of Great Brightness"), also known as the Eastern Apartments (東内), in (Tang) Chang'an (長安), now downtown Xi'an (西安), Shaanxi province: imperial palace of the Tang dynasty after A.D. 663 (it was briefly named Penglai Palace (蓬萊宮) between 663 and 705), but the prestigious Taiji Palace remained used for major state ceremonies such as coronations. Area: 3.11&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (768 acres), almost 4.5 times the size of the Forbidden City.
  • Kaifeng Imperial Palace (東京大内皇宮), in Dongjing (東京), now called Kaifeng (開封), Henan province: imperial palace of the Northern Song dynasty.
  • Hangzhou Imperial Palace (臨安大内禁宮), in Lin'an (臨安), now called Hangzhou (杭州), Zhejiang province: imperial palace of the Southern Song dynasty.
  • Karakorum (哈拉和林), site of the imperial palace of the Mongol Empire.
  • Shangdu (元上都) and Khanbaliq (元大都), locations of the imperial palaces of the Yuan dynasty.
  • Ming Imperial Palace (明故宮), in Nanjing (南京), Jiangsu province: imperial palace of the Ming dynasty until 1421.
  • Forbidden City (紫禁城), now known in China as Beijing's Old Palace (北京故宫), in Jingshi (京師), now called Beijing (北京): imperial palace of the Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty from 1421 until 1924. Area: 720,000 m<sup>2</sup> (178 acres). The Forbidden City is the world's largest palace currently in existence.

Apart from the main imperial palace, Chinese dynasties also had several other imperial palaces in the capital city where the empress, crown prince, or other members of the imperial family dwelled. There also existed palaces outside of the capital city called "away palaces" (離宮) where the emperors resided when traveling. The habit also developed of building garden estates in the countryside surrounding the capital city, where the emperors retired at times to get away from the rigid etiquette of the imperial palace, or simply to escape from the summer heat inside their capital. This practice reached a zenith with the Qing dynasty, whose emperors built the fabulous Imperial Gardens (御園), now known in China as the Gardens of Perfect Brightness (圓明園), and better known in English as the Old Summer Palace. The emperors of the Qing Dynasty resided and worked in the Imperial Gardens, 8&nbsp;km/5 miles outside of the walls of Beijing, the Forbidden City inside Beijing being used only for formal ceremonies.

These gardens were made up of three gardens: the Garden of Perfect Brightness proper, the Garden of Eternal Spring (長春園), and the Elegant Spring Garden (綺春園); they covered a huge area of 3.5&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (865 acres), almost 5 times the size of the Forbidden City, and 8 times the size of the Vatican City. comprising hundreds of halls, pavilions, temples, galleries, gardens, lakes, etc. Several famous landscapes of southern China had been reproduced in the Imperial Gardens, hundreds of invaluable Chinese art masterpieces and antiquities were stored in the halls, making the Imperial Gardens one of the largest museum in the world. Some unique copies of literary work and compilations were also stored inside the Imperial Gardens. In 1860, during the Second Opium War, the British and French expeditionary forces looted the Old Summer Palace. Then on October 18, 1860, in order to "punish" the imperial court, which had refused to allow Western embassies inside Beijing, the British general Lord Elgin – with protestations from the French – purposely ordered to set fire to the huge complex which burned to the ground. It took 3500 British troops to set the entire place ablaze and took three whole days to burn. The burning of the Gardens of Perfect Brightness is still a very sensitive issue in China today.

Following this cultural catastrophe, the imperial court was forced to relocate to the old and austere Forbidden City where it stayed until 1924, when the Last Emperor was expelled by a republican army. Empress dowager Cixi (慈禧太后) built the Summer Palace (頤和園 – "The Garden of Nurtured Harmony") near the Old Summer Palace, but on a much smaller scale than the Old Summer Palace. There are currently some projects in China to rebuild the Imperial Gardens, but this appears as a colossal undertaking, and no rebuilding has started yet.

Other palaces

Some other palaces include:

Colombia

Croatia

Czech Republic

Prague

Elsewhere

Denmark

Egypt

Pharaonic

Ptolemaic

  • Circa 2nd century BC The Ptolemaic palace in what is now Silsila district in Alexandria
  • 50s BC Caesareum palace which was built by Cleopatra in honor of Julius Caesar or Mark Antony in Alexandria
  • 50s BC Antirrhodus island palace, was erected off of Alexandria's mainland in the Eastern Harbour (later submerged by the sea)

Roman

  • 100 AD Roman palace at El Haiz area in the Bahariya Oasis, western desert.

Arab-Islamic

Modern Egypt

Estonia

Ethiopia

  • Jubilee Palace (National Palace) – seat of the president, former imperial palace

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Ghana

  • The Manhyia Palace (Asantehene's Palace) – seat of the Asantehene of Ashanti, Kumasi
  • The Flagstaff House (Presidential Palace) – seat of government until the late 1970s, Accra
  • The Christianborg (Osu Castle) – former seat of the government till December 2008, Accra
  • The Golden Jubilee Palace (Presidential Palace) formerly known as the "Flagstaff House" – seat of Government since December 2008, Accra
  • The Abampredease Palace. Palace of Dormaahene

Greece

Haiti

Hungary

India

Indonesia

Presidential palaces

Royal palaces

Iran

Palaces and pavilions

Castles and citadels

Iraq

Israel

Italy

Rome

Florence

Venice

Elsewhere

Japan

Jordan

Raghadan Palace, Amman. Royal Residence of the Hussein Family

Korea

Kuwait

  • Seif Palace – the official residence of the head of state
  • Bayan Palace
  • Al Salam Palace – Currently a Museum
  • Kuwait Red Palace – Currently a Museum
  • Dasman Palace – Established in 1904, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Sabah, the tenth ruler of Kuwait in 1930 made it his official residence, It is currently one of Kuwait's historic palaces.
  • Mishref Palace – Located in Mishref and was Built by Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah in 1900, it was restored in the early 1940s.
  • Naif Palace – built In 1919, during the reign of Sheikh Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. It is currently the Building of Al Asimah Governorate.

Laos

Latvia

Lebanon

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malaysia

Maldives

Mexico

Monaco

Mongolia

  • Brown Palace – imperial residence of the Bogd Khan, Urga
  • Green Palace – imperial winter residence of the Bogd Khan, Ulan Bator
  • White Palace – imperial residence of the Bogd Khan, Urga
  • Yellow Palace – imperial main residence of the Khan, Urga

Morocco

Myanmar

Nepal

The Netherlands

New Zealand

Apart from the large complex at Tūrangawaewae Marae located in the town of Ngāruawāhia, the previous Māori Monarch Te Atairangikaahu had a home at Waahi Marae in Huntly where she lived for most of her 40-year reign with her consort Whatumoana Paki. The Māori King or Queen are required to attend 33 Poukai annually conducted at Marae loyal to the Kingitangi movement. Many of these Marae maintain residences for the Māori King or Queen for them to use during such visits.

Nigeria

Norway

Oman

Pakistan

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

  • Coconut Palace
  • Malacañang Palace – the official residence of the president of the Philippines, Manila
  • Malacañang sa Sugbo – the presidential residence in Cebu City
  • The Mansion, Baguio – the presidential residence in Baguio
  • Palacio del Gobernador – historical official residence of former Governor Generals, now used as a government building
  • Ayuntamiento de Manila – former official residence and office of the Mayor of Manila, now houses the Bureau of Treasury.
  • Archbishop's Palace – historical residence of the Arzobispo de Manila in Intramuros
  • Archbishop's Palace – current residence of the Arzobispo de Manila in Villa San Miguel, Mandaluyong.
  • Archbishop's Palace – temporary residence of the Archbishop of Manila in the past, located in San Fernando, Pampanga
  • The Astana Putih or The Sultan's Palace – original residence of the Sultan of Sulu located in Maimbung, Sulu.
  • Torogan – Classical period residences for maranao Sultan.

Poland

Warsaw

Portugal

Qatar

  • Al Rayyan Palace
  • Al Wukair Palace
  • Markhiya Palace
  • Barzan Palace
  • Amiri Diwan Palace
  • Umm Salal Palace
  • Al Wajbah Palace
  • Al Gharrafa Palace
  • Al Jassasiya Palace
  • Al Mirgab Palace
  • Al Waab Palace

Romania

Bucharest

Russia

Gatchina

Kaliningrad

Moscow

Oranienbaum

Pavlovsk

Pella

Peterhof

Pushkin

Ramon

Saint Petersburg

Strelna

Taganrog

Tver

Rwanda

Saudi Arabia

Serbia

Singapore

Slovakia

South Africa

Spain

Sri Lanka

Sweden

Skåne

The province of Skåne (Scania) in southernmost Sweden is well known for its many castles.

Syria

Taiwan

Thailand

  • Ancient Grand Palace (พระราชวังโบราณ) – Former Main Palace of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Ayutthaya
  • Baan Puen Palace (พระรามราชนิเวศน์) – Phetchaburi
  • Bang Pa-In Royal Palace (พระราชวังบางปะอิน) – Summer Palace, Ayutthaya
  • Bang Khun Phrom Palace (วังบางขุนพรหม) – currently, as the Bank of Thailand, Bangkok
  • Bhuban Palace (พระตำหนักภูพานราชนิเวศน์) – royal residence, Sakon Nakhon Province
  • Bhubing Palace (พระตำหนักภูพิงราชนิเวศน์) – royal residence, Chiang Mai
  • Burapha Phirom Palace (วังบูรพาภิรมย์) – currently, as a market, Bangkok
  • Chakrabongse Palace (วังจักรพงษ์) – currently, as a private resort, Bangkok
  • Chakri Bongkot Palace (พระตำหนักจักรีบงกช) – Private residence of the Thai royal family, Bangkok
  • Chankasem Palace (วังจันทรเกษม)
  • Derm Palace (พระราชวังเดิม) or Thon Buri Palace – It was the palace of King Taksin, now used as HQ of Royal Thai Navy
  • Doi Tung Palace (พระตำหนักดอยตุง) – royal residence, Chiang Rai
  • Dusit Palace (พระราชวังดุสิต) – Private residence of the Thai royal family, Bangkok
  • Chitralada Palace (พระตำหนักจิตรลดารโหฐาน) (New Palace) – Private residence of the Thai royal family, Bangkok
  • Vimanmek Palace (พระที่นั่งวิมานเมฆ) (Vimanmek Mansion) – former royal residence, Bangkok
  • Front Palace (พระราชวังบวรสถานมงคล) – currently, as Bangkok National Museum, Bangkok
  • Grand Palace, Bangkok (พระบรมมหาราชวัง) – official residence of the King of Thailand, Bangkok
  • Kham Yat Palace – (พระตำหนักคำหยาด) residence of King Boromakot of Ayutthaya ( 1733–1758)
  • King Narai's Palace (พระนารายณ์ราชนิเวศน์) – Lopburi
  • Klai Kangwon Palace (วังไกลกังวล) – royal residence, King Rama IX likes there, Hua Hin
  • Le Dix Palace (พระตำหนักเลอดิศ) – Private residence of the Thai royal family, Bangkok
  • Marukatayawan Summer Palace (พระราชนิเวศน์มฤคทายวัน) – Phetchaburi
  • Nakorn Luang Palace (ปราสาทนครหลวง) – Nakorn Luang, Ayutthaya
  • Nonthaburi Palace (พระตำหนักนนทบุรี) – former private residence of the Thai royal family, Bangkok
  • Phanakornkiri Palace (พระราชวังพระนครคีรี) – Phetchaburi
  • Phetchabun Palace (วังเพ็ชรบูรณ์) – currently, as CentralWorld, Bangkok
  • Phya Thai Palace (พระราชวังพญาไท) – Bangkok
  • Rear Palace (พระราชวังบวรสถานพิมุข) – It is now a part of Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok
  • Sanamchan Palace (พระราชวังสนามจันทร์) – King Rama VI's Palace, Nakhon Pathom
  • Saranrom Palace (พระราชวังสราญรมย์) – currently, as a Saranrom Park, Bangkok
  • Siriyalai Palace (พระตำหนักสิริยาลัย) – private residence of the Thai royal family, Ayutthaya
  • Sa Pathum Palace (วังสระปทุม) – private residence of the Thai royal family, Bangkok
  • Suan Pakard Palace (วังสวนผักกาด) – currently, as a museum, Bangkok
  • Sukhothai Palace (วังศุโขทัย) – Private residence of the Thai royal family, Bangkok
  • Taksin Palace (พระตำหนักทักษิณราชนิเวศน์) – royal residence, Narathiwat Province
  • Thapra Palace (วังท่าพระ) – currently, as a university, Bangkok
  • Tuk Palace – Ayutthaya Palace, Ayutthaya
  • Waradit Palace (วังวรดิศ) – currently, as a museum, Bangkok

Tonga

  • Royal Palace, Tonga-Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Tonga is located in the northwest of the capital, NukuÊ»alofa, close to the Pacific Ocean.

Tunisia

Türkiye

In Turkish, a palace is a Saray.

Turkmenistan

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

United States

Colorado

District of Columbia

Florida

Guam

  • Plaza de España – the site of the palace of the Spanish Governors of Guam. The palace itself was largely destroyed during the liberation of Guam however many outlying structures still stand and there are plans to possibly reconstruct the palace in the future.

Hawaii

New Jersey

  • Proprietary House – Home of both the Proprietary Governors of New Jersey from 1766 to 1773 and the Royal Governor of New Jersey, William Franklin from 1774 to 1776.

New Mexico

North Carolina

Pennsylvania

  • Pennsbury Manor – Home of William Penn as Proprietor of Pennsylvania from 1683 to 1701.

Puerto Rico

Texas

Virginia

Uzbekistan

Vatican City

Venezuela

Vietnam

Yemen

List of non-residential palaces

Some large impressive buildings which were not meant to be residences, but are nonetheless called palaces, include:

Note, too, the French use of the word palais in such constructions as palais des congrès (convention centre) and palais de justice (courthouse).

See also

References