Have you ever wished you could travel back in time to see some of the world’s most intriguing ancient palaces in all their original resplendent glory? Well, thanks to Budget Direct, you can – along with NeoMam Studios the travel insurer has digitally reconstructed the ruins of seven stunning royal residences from around the globe for us to enjoy.
Click through the gallery to see these ancient sites restored to their original glory...
Built under the orders of Ardashir I, founder of the Sasanian empire, in AD 209, this mighty fortress sits high on a rocky plateau overlooking the Firooz Abad plain in Iran’s Fars Province. Technically more a castle than a palace due to its fortifications, Qal'eh Dokhtar (also known as Ghale Dokhtar or Dezh Dokhta) served as the monarch's royal residence until he ordered the construction of a superior palace, known as the Palace of Ardashir, nearby.
Despite lying in ruins, it’s still possible to get a sense of Qal’eh Dokhtar’s original majesty from its position and remains of its high walls. The vast barrier fortress has one of the earliest examples of an Iranian chartaq – a square of four arches supporting a dome – which has been reconstructed here and became an important feature of traditional Iranian architecture. The private rooms were located on the top floor, a typical characteristic of palaces and wealthy residences in the region.
Epicenter of the intriguing Minoan civilization, the sprawling remains of Knossos Palace contain numerous mysteries. This elaborate complex in northern Crete was the home of the King Minos, of the labyrinth and minotaur fame, with evidence showing a palace was first built here by the Bronze Age civilization around 1900 BC.
It was constructed on the ruins of a Neolithic settlement dating back to 7000 BC. The palace was destroyed around 1700 BC, most likely by an earthquake, and rebuilt on a grander scale. It was mysteriously and completely abandoned in 1375 BC.
At the civilization's height, Knossos was a thriving center of trade and politics with the labyrinthine royal residence at its heart and a larger Minoan settlement growing up around it, including cemeteries on the nearby hills. It’s thought around 100,000 people lived here around 1700 BC. As reimagined here, the palace was multi-story with a façade characterized by thick walls and columns painted red. Its colorful frescoes – some depicting the Minoan sport of bull jumping – were another defining feature.
The complex structure centered around a large rectangular courtyard with a tangle of corridors and courtyards leading off it. Parts of Knossos were partially (and controversially) reconstructed by the site’s original excavator, Sir Arthur Evans, in the 1920s.
Home to the powerful Sapieha dynasty, an influential noble family in the Lithuanian Grand Duchy, from the late 16th century, Ruzhany Palace now lies in ruins near the town of the same name in Belarus’ west. The construction of a grand palace on the site of an older castle was first ordered in 1598. Its design combined the features of both a defensive fortress and a ceremonial palace. Ruzhany became renowned as a hub of political life, playing host to various European kings, royalty, and ambassadors.
After being plundered and damaged during various skirmishes, Aleksander Sapieha rebuilt the residence in the 1770s, transforming it into a sophisticated palace that was famed for its vast library, theater, and beautiful gardens. As seen here, it was an elegant complex facing onto a central courtyard with archways and decorated columns.
After the 1831 uprising (also known as the Polish–Russian War), the Sapieha family were removed from Ruzhany Palace and it later became a textile factory. It sustained damages during the First and Second World Wars and only the main and eastern buildings, entry gate, and some outbuildings survived. Some parts of the building have been partially reconstructed.
A remnant of the ancient African kingdom of Askum, once the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia, this palatial complex is also known as the Queen of Sheba’s Palace. It’s believed locally that this is where the wealthy queen, mentioned in the Bible, once reigned. While the palace’s claim to be Sheba's royal residence is tenuous, the evocative ruins in the rugged highlands of northern Ethiopia, certainly hold plenty of fascination.
Constructed between the 3rd and 4th century as part of the ancient empire’s capital Askum, the rambling ruins are now part of an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Historians believe Dungur Palace is more likely to have been the home of a nobleman than the Queen of Sheba. As shown here, the large and labyrinthine mansion was built in a distinct Aksumite fashion by using dressed stone, rubble, mud, and timber beams.
Surrounded by sprawling parkland, the humble 12th-century remains of Clarendon Palace can be found near Salisbury in Wiltshire, England. Starting life as a hunting lodge for Norman kings, Clarendon grew to become a splendid summer palace that reached its height in the 13th and 14th centuries.
It's very likely that it was the most spacious royal residence in England and was used as country retreat by numerous monarchs. Today, all that remains above ground is the east wall of the great hall but the foundations and various excavations have revealed its size and importance.
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Archaeologists have identified that the medieval mansion was extended during the reigns of King John and Henry III, which saw the kitchen, great hall, and cellars enlarged, along with grander queen’s lodgings installed. Richard II later added a dancing chamber.
It’s clear that Clarendon was a large and grand complex, positioned to enjoy soaring views of Salisbury, with a chapel and extensive stables to house the royal hunting horses. Remains of its glamorous pink, golden, and gray tiled floors are on display in the British Museum, while a carved head from the king's apartments can be seen at nearby Salisbury Museum.
The crumbling shell of the once magnificent palace-fort of Husuni Kubwa sprawl across the island of Kilwa Kisiwani surveying the Indian Ocean. Just off the coast of southern Tanzania, the island was at the center of one of the great port cities that dotted the Swahili coast made rich by the trade of gold and ivory. The medieval palace was built by Sultan al-Hasan ibn Sulaiman in the 14th century from where he ruled the wealthy, independent Islamic sultanate.
Excavated in 1962 by British archaeological Neville Chittick, the extensive ruins revealed a large and lavish structure that served as a fort, palace, and warehouse for the coastal trading post. It had over 100 rooms, an octagonal swimming pool, large audience court, staging area for loading goods onto ships, and a mosque. Parts were built using the local coral stone and there was a sophisticated indoor plumbing system. The palace is just one of many standing ruins that can be visited on the island.
The tumbledown ruins of this once grandiose palace lie surrounded forest-clad mountains in Haiti’s north, looming above the town of Milot. Completed in 1813, it was the residence and political HQ of King Henri Christophe, one of the revolutionary leaders who won independence from France in 1804 and proclaimed himself king in 1811. Translating as the Worry-Free Palace, Sans Souci was built to signal his wealth and power but many laborers perished in his pursuit of constructing a great residence.
Sadly, the lavish complex was irrevocably damaged in an earthquake in 1842 and never rebuilt. However, with this digital reconstruction it’s clear to see why Sans Souci is often called the Versailles of the Caribbean. With sweeping staircases and large terraces overlooking elaborate gardens (dotted with pools and ornamental fountains), in its heyday the palace played host to extravagant parties. The ruins are now part of an UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Citadelle Laferrière, also built by Henri.
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