Take a Virtual tour of the Palaces of Europe

You may have wandered around in the streets of famous cities or through magnificent landscapes using Google maps. But did you know that Google also peeked inside some of the most gorgeous palaces and other building? You can walk around without the hassle of millions of other tourists that usually crowd these places.  Many famous palaces offer virtual tours so you can explore them online.

Most Royal Palaces are huge. It would take days to explore all the rooms, gardens, paintings, artwork and expositions that are on display.  Google Maps & Google Earth offers you the solution.  You can use these virtual tours to plan ahead for a visit to one of these palaces. And to check out what you have missed afterwards...

If you are self-quarantine to help contain the coronavirus, have no money to spend or no vacation days left, you can visit the palaces from your couch.  

Here is a selection of the available virtual tours in te most famous palaces of Europe.  

1 Palace of Versailles, France

 A virtual tour through the Palaces of Europe saves you a lot of time and annoyances (and money!). You are alone in each room and do not have to worry about selfie sticks pocking you in the eye.  And there are more added benefits. You get to visit rooms that are usually closed to the public. 

On top of that Google provides additional details about the artwork that you see and a link to that work on the Google Arts & Culture page if there is one.

Take a look at this room in the left-wing of the Palace. There are several famous painting starring Napoleon in this room.  Both  "The Coronation of the Emperor and Empress, 2 December 1804" by 

Jacques Louis David and "Battle of Aboukir, 25 July 1799" by Antoine-Jean Gros have a VIEW MORE (GOOGLE ARTS & CULTURE) link.

2. Royal Palace of Amsterdam (Paleis op de Dam), the Netherlands

Walk around inside the Royal Palace of Amsterdam (Paleis op de Dam) with Google maps. The Palace on Dam Square in Amsterdam is often due to Royal Events. It is still used by the Royal family during state visits,  New Year’s receptions, gala dinners and award ceremonies.  You can take a virtual tour and see this former City Hall, transformed into a royal palace by Louis Bonaparte, the first King of Holland.

3. Schönbrunn Palace and Imperial Carriage Museum Vienna, Austria

This World Heritage Site, located in Hietzing, Vienna, attracts many visitors each year. Schönbrunn was the summer palace for many of the Habsburg rulers. It's most famous inhabitant is without a doubt, Empress Sisi. On Streetview, you can take a walking tour through some of the authentically furnished rooms of the palace. You can also find more information about the famous artwork in the palace. 

When you roam around in the area of the palace you can suddenly find yourself inside the Imperial Carriage Museum. You can see all the carriages from up close and as a special treat, also gorgeous dresses and uniforms worn by Sisi and Franz-Joseph are displayed. 

4. The Louvre Museum, France

Although the Louvre is famous as a Museum, it used to be the home of the kings of France until Louis XIV moved the court to Versailles in 1682. 

On this interactive floorplan  you can see what a majestic building it is. Besides the many works of art that you can see there, some traces of a former occupant can be found. Napoleon III, the nephew of Napoleon I, had some opulent rooms build here. It is unlikely that he actually lived here because the Louvre was already a Museum by then (building of the rooms commenced between 1852 and 1857). 

5. Royal Palace of Caserta, Italy

The former home of the King of Naples is one of the largest royal residences in the world. If you click on the image above you step directly inside the palace. Click on the dots in the Street view map to see several tours of the interior and exterior of the palace.

On the Google Arts & Culture website, you can find more information on the palaces' history and artwork, including some historical videos (in Italian).

6. Buckingham Palace, United Kingdom

During a reception, held in February 2018 for the London Fashion Week, this virtual tour of Buckingham Palace was made. So not only can you have a look inside the Palace State Rooms, but you can also watch the beautiful dresses from famous designers that are on display. 

You can continue your tour by having a look around in the Grand Staircase, the Throne Room and the the White Drawing Room. 

7. The Catherine Palace, Russia

This summer residence for the Russian Tsars was first built by Peter the Great in 1717. He names the palace after his wife, Catherine I.

Empress Elizabeth had the palace completely torn down and started over. Her predecessor Catherine the Great, in her turn, refurnished the place, as she thought it was very outdated. 

You can walk around the palace on google maps, to admire the beautiful colors of the blue and gold palace. You can also see several rooms inside, including The Great Hall, or Light Gallery, of approximately 1,000 square meters which occupies the entire width of the palace. Click on the image to the right to step inside.