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Sanssouci, located in Potsdam near Berlin in Germany, was the summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, (from 1740 until 1786). It is often counted as a German rival to Versailles. Sanssouci Palace (Credit: © Mbzt WikiCommons)

After the defeat of the Turks in 1683, Emperor Leopold I commissioned the Schönbrunn Palace (completed 1730) to be built in Vienna on land that had been acquired back in 1569 when Emperor Maximilian II acquired a small summer palace in a converted mill on this site.

Few palaces rival France’s "Château de Versailles" for sheer opulence. Located on the outskirts of Paris, this former home of French kings was commissioned by Louis XIV, who moved the nation’s government to Versailles in 1682 and wanted a palace to match the glory of his reign. Credit: wikipedia

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II. It has been the home and administrative headquarters for the royal family for hundreds of years; it was only in 1837 that Queen Victoria became the first official royal to call Buckingham Palace home. Credit: © Adrian Seal - Alamy

Blenheim Palace is monumental country house in Woodstock, Oxfordshire - one of England's largest houses. Queen Anne gave the land to 1st Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, who led troops to a huge victory over the French in the Battle of Blenheim 1704. Image credit: wikipedia

Potala Palace is located on Red Mountain in the centre of Lhasa Valley, Tibet at an altitude of 3,700 metres. The highest palace in the world - an awesome sight and amazing architectural feat of massive proportions - the walls 2.5 metres thick. Image credit: Postcard purchased in Lhasa

Rippon Lea is quite a gem, set within 14 acres of gardens and located 7kms from the Melbourne CBD. The architectural firm Read and Barnes, was appointed by Frederick Sargood to build the home. Photo Credit: Ripponleaestate.com.au

The Grand Palace, located on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, was originally commissioned by King Rama I, in 1782 when Bangkok was designated as the new capital of what was then Siam (now Thailand) image credit: askideas.com

The Palace of Knossos stands as a monumental symbol of Minoan civilization, due to its construction, use of luxury materials, architectural plan, advanced building techniques and impressive size. Image credit: brown.edu

After 6 years working in the Valley of the Kings, located near Luxor (Thebes, in ancient times, the capital of Egypt), Lord Carnarvon told Carter he would only fund one more season - in this year, 1922, the tomb of King Tutankhamun’s was discovered. image credit: Khanacadamy.com

Highclere Castle is the mansion used in the TV series and recent movie Downton Abbey. Built in Jacobethan style during the C19th, it is located in Hampshire, England and is the country seat of the Earl of Carnarvon, currently George Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon. Image credit: pinterest

Chavenage House is an Elizabethan house, steeped in history nestled in the glorious countryside of the Cotswolds. It has only been owned by 2 families, the Stephens and now the Lowsley-Williams, with the current family still in residence. Image credit: telegraph.co.uk

Windsor Castle, the oldest royal residence in the British Isles. Beloved home to many royals including Queen Elizabeth II. Image credit: Windsor Castle - Offical Souvenir Guide