This article seeks to give the top 10 most beautiful presidential residences in the world.Presidential palaces are among popular tourist attractions due to their beautiful construction and architecture. Some of them have been palaces of kings, while some others are the places of residence of the countries’ heads of state.
A Presidential palace is one which is considered as the official and grand residence of the President or head of state in a few countries. However, it is not so in many other countries that consider the official workplace of the President or head of the state as a Presidential Palace instead. Some others refer to both the residence and the workplace as a Presidential palace.
10. Presidential Palace, Vilnius, Lithuania
The Presidential Palace is the official residence of the President of Lithuania. It is located in Vilnius Old Town. It was built during the 14th century and since then it underwent several reconstructions by architects Laurynas Gucevičius and Vasily Stasov. It has been the residence for rulers, kings, and noblemen for many years.
9.Union buildings, Pretoria, South Africa
It is the official seat of the South African government and the president of South Africa. It is located in Pretoria. It is the most beautiful government residence in the world and is considered as an architectural masterpiece. The semi-circular sandstone structure was built from 1910 to 1913 by Sir Herbert Baker. It consists of offices and an amphitheater. It is also surrounded by a lush green garden.
8. Presidential Office Building, Taipei, Taiwan
The Presidential Office Building is the official workplace of the President of the Republic of China. It is located in Taipei, Republic of China. It was built from 1912 to 1919 by the architect Uheiji Nagano. Initially, it served as the office of the Governor General of Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period. The building was severely damaged due to bombing during the World War II. It was restored in 1947. Since then, the building has been the official workplace of the Republic of China (ROC) following the retreat of the ROC to Taiwan.
7. Prague Castle, Czech Republic
The Prague Castle is the official residence and office of the President of Czech Republic. It is located in the capital city, Prague. It was founded around 880 AD by Prince Borivoj of the Premyslid Dynasty. The castle also houses a museum, cathedral, and a garden. The cathedral is one of the most beautiful in Europe. The Prague Castle has been the residence of Czech kings, rulers, and presidents for many years. It is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest ancient castle in the world.
6. Grand Kremlin Palace, Moscow, Russia
The Grand Kremlin is the official residence of the president of Russia. It is located in Moscow, the capital of the country. The palace is a masterpiece of Russian architecture. The magnificent and outstanding palace was built in 12 years i.e. from 1837 to 1849 by Konstantin Thon and a group of architects. Earlier, the palace was the residence of the tsar of Moscow.
5. Rashtrapati Bhavan, India
The Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of India. It is located in New Delhi, India. Its construction began in the year 1912 by a British architect when it was decided that a residence would be built for the British Viceroy, and the capital of India would be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. The construction was completed in 1929. The architecture of the vast red and cream sandstone structure is spectacular. It has a combination of Western and Indian designs. It is the largest residence of a Head of State in the world.
4. Ak Orda Presidential Palace, Astana, Kazakhstan
The Ak Orda Presidential Palace is the official workplace of the President of Kazakhstan. It is located in the capital city of Astana. It is one of the most interesting attractions in Astana. The palace looks magnificent with its white body and a blue and golden dome at the top. Its construction began in 2001 and was completed in 2004.
3. White House, Washington D.C., United States
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States. It stood as a symbol of Presidency for many years. It is located in Washington D.C. The site for the office building was chosen by the first president of the US, George Washington in 1791 and its construction began in 1792. During the war of 1812, it was set on fire by the British. The house was rebuilt and renovated several times later. In the 19th century, there were several plans to expand the President’s House or to build a new house. However, these plans were never implemented.
2. Quirinal Palace, Rome
The Quirinal Palace is situated in Quirinal Hill, which is one of the highest of the seven hills in Rome, Italy. It is also known as the Palazzo del Quirinale or Quirinale in Italian. This historic building was the residence of popes and kings in the past and now is the official residence of the President of the Italian Republic. There is a fountain in the square called Monte Cavallo right in front of the palace. There is also a Pauline chapel inside where musical concerts are held. The palace was initially built as a summer palace by Pope Gregory XIII in the late 1500s to stay away from the summer heat and malaria which was a problem in the area, and was later extended and adorned by a succession of renowned architects. The building also houses a number of rare tapestries, furniture, paintings, sculptures, and historic carriages.
1. Hofburg Palace, Austria
The Hofburg Imperial Palace in Vienna, Austria is the official residence and workplace of the president of Austria. It was initially built as a castle in the 13th century and later extended to a splendid residence by the Habsburg emperors. It was the residence of the Habsburgs, rulers of Austria for centuries. Today, the building has a National Library, Imperial Treasury, and a collection of musical instruments, another collection of weapons, a Museum of Ethnography and the famous Spanish Riding School.