Pick a Palace Trivia Quiz

Answer: Palace of Versailles, France

The Palace of Versailles was built by the French king Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, in the late 17th century. It served as the royal residence for the French rulers for over a hundred years. Today, it is one of France's most visited tourist sites and has also been designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

The Hall of Mirrors is one of the famous rooms within the palace. It was here that the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I was signed.

Answer: Potala Palace, Lhasa

The Potala Palace is named after Mount Potalaka, the home of bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara according to Buddhist myth. Located in Lhasa, Tibet, it served as the winter palace for the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetans, for over three centuries, till Tibet was annexed by China, and the then Dalai Lama fled to India seeking asylum. Since then it has functioned as a museum and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994.

Answer: Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

Now a museum, the Topkapi Palace was commissioned by Mehmed the Conqueror, the Ottoman Sultan who conquered Constantinople (now Istanbul) when he was only 21 and brought the Byzantine Empire to an end. The palace served as the main royal residence for the Ottoman Sultans for four centuries since its construction in 1459. During this period, it survived a major earthquake in 1509 and a fire in 1665.

The palace overlooks the Golden Horn, where the Bosporus Strait meets the Sea of Marmara. The Golden Horn played a major role in the rise of Istanbul as a key trading centre.

Answer: Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria

Neuschwanstein Castle was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in honour of the composer Richard Wagner. It is located on a hill near Füssen in southwest Bavaria. Built in the Romanesque revival architectural style, the castle served as the King's residence till his death. In modern times, it is famous as the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty castle.

Answer: Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

Hawa Mahal (Hindi for "Palace of the Winds") is so named for the many small coloured windows (called jharokas in Indian architecture) that dot the façade. Located in Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan in India, it is painted pink like many other buildings of the city which have led to Jaipur being known as the "Pink City".

In earlier times, women of the royal family followed a purdah system, whereby they didn't show their faces to men apart from close family members. The Hawa Mahal was built to allow the women to watch royal processions and other celebrations from within the palace without showing their faces to members of the public.

Answer: Himeji Castle, Japan

Himeji Castle is located in the city of the same name in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan. It is known as the White Heron Castle as its white exterior and architecture give the appearance of the white bird in flight. First built in the 14th century, it has survived various natural disasters including the Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995.

Answer: Grand Palace, Bangkok

The Grand Palace is a complex of many buildings. Situated on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, the palace has been the official royal residence since the 18th century. Today, parts of it are open to the public making it one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. Wat Phra Kaew, or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is located within the Grand Palace complex.

It is considered one of the most sacred Buddhist temples of the country and houses the Emerald Buddha statue.

Answer: Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna

Schönbrunn means 'beautiful spring' and the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna served as the summer residence of the Habsburgs. The Habsburg dynasty held the throne of Austria since the mid-15th century to the mid-19th century. The palace was built during the 17th century with additions continued to be made over the years. Today it is one of Vienna's most popular tourist attractions, housing a museum, as well as concerts in the open-air gardens.

Answer: Kronborg Castle, Denmark

Kronborg Castle is located in Helsingør, Denmark. Shakespeare used this as the setting for his play "Hamlet". Built in the early 15th century, the castle overlooks the Baltic Sea. Over the course of centuries, it has been expanded and rebuilt many times over. UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage site in 2000.

Answer: Winter Palace, St Petersburg

The Winter Palace located in St. Petersburg, Russia served as the royal residence of the Russian Tsars for almost two centuries. In 1917, it was stormed by the Red Guard when the Russian Revolution took place. The entire palace complex is now a museum. It houses the Hermitage, which is considered the second largest art museum in the world.