Between 350 and 450 motte-and-bailey castles are believed to remain today, although the identification of these earthwork remains can be contentious. A small number of motte-and-bailey castles were built outside of northern Europe.

While the original wooden structures of Motte and Bailey castles have long since rotted away, their distinct earthworks still exist by the thousands across Europe, particularly in the UK, France, and Ireland. A "Motte" is a large man-made mound of earth, and a "Bailey" is the enclosed courtyard at its base. In 2026, sites like Old Sarum in England and the Motte of Urr in Scotland provide clear, visible examples of these 11th-century Norman fortifications. In many cases, the original earthworks were later "upgraded" with stone, meaning many famous stone castles we see today—such as Windsor Castle, Arundel Castle, and Warwick Castle—are actually built on top of original Motte and Bailey foundations. There is even a famous modern reconstruction called Mountfitchet Castle in Essex, where a complete Motte and Bailey has been rebuilt using period-accurate wooden palisades and buildings to show visitors exactly how they looked during the reign of William the Conqueror. They remain protected historical monuments, serving as vital archaeological links to the medieval era.