These palaces each occupy more than 100,000 square meters. They impress with their splendor, monumentality, and size. They were once or are currently home to royal families or modern governments. Often, the palaces become museums with cozy and well-maintained parks.
1 Hofburg
The Hofburg Palace was the residence of the Habsburg dynasty, the rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The building was constructed in the 13th century and has significantly expanded over the centuries. Today, the Hofburg covers an area of 240,000 square meters and has over 2,500 rooms.
2 Louvre
The former residence of the kings of France. Initially, the Louvre was built as a fortress. In the 14th century, Charles V chose it as his Parisian royal palace. Today, it houses one of the most famous museums in the world. The total area of the palace is 210,000 square meters.
3 Ak Saray
The Presidential Palace of Turkey is located in Ankara and occupies an area of about 200,000 square meters. It has 1,150 rooms, and guest houses are located on the territory. There are also bunkers on the grounds in case of a nuclear, chemical, or biological attack.
4 Rashtrapati Bhavan
The palace was formerly the residence of the Viceroy of India. Today, it is the official home of the President of India. It covers an area of 200,000 square meters.
5 Istana Nurul Iman
A relatively young palace by historical standards, Istana Nurul Iman was built in 1984 and became the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei. It also houses the government of Brunei. The Sultan’s family members also live here. The 200,000 square meters provide ample space for everyone.
6 Apostolic Palace
This is the modern official residence of the Pope. Located in Vatican City, the building occupies 162,000 square meters. On this area are the Pope’s apartments, the Vatican Library, museums, chapels, and other church institutions.
7 Forbidden City
In the center of China’s capital, Beijing, there is a small “city within a city” – a complex of 980 buildings occupying 150,000 square meters. This former imperial palace housed the rulers of the Ming dynasty. The buildings were adapted for household activities, guest accommodations, ceremonies, and government meetings. For nearly 500 years, it was China’s political center until the Qing dynasty took over.
8 Malbork Castle
Originally a fortress of the Teutonic Knights, it later became the residence of Polish kings. Today, the Polish castle is used as a museum where exhibitions are regularly held. This residence covers 143,000 square meters.
9 Royal Palace of Madrid
The Royal Palace in Madrid was built in 1775. For many years it was the residence of the Spanish kings. Today, the building is not residential, but state ceremonies are held there. The total area of the palace is 135,000 square meters.
10 Quirinal Palace
This palace is located on the highest of the seven hills of Rome – the Quirinal Hill. It was named after it. For many years it was the papal palace, then it became the residence of the kings of Italy. Currently, the acting President of Italy resides here. The building occupies 110,500 square meters.
