Whilst the exact number is not known, experts have estimated that Germany is home to over 20.000 castles. From castles that look like they come straight out of a fairy tale to medieval fortresses with moats, Germany features some of Europe's most impressive castles and palaces.
Later, as the threat of banditry reduced, they became country homes. There are many chateaus because any large noble estate would have one, and France has a lot of nobility and a lot of farmland. Then when the French Revolution came along, and France dissolved it's nobility.
There are more than 30,000 castles and ruins left in Ireland today, most dating from the 12th to 16th centuries. Visiting a few (or many) of them will allow you to learn about Irish history right from the source.
Hermit's Castle is the smallest castle in Europe. In fact it may be the smallest castle in the world. Measuring less than 10m squared in area, the castle was built in the 1950s.
Wales is sometimes called the castle capital of the world because of the large number of castles in a relatively small area. Wales had about 600 castles, of which over 100 are still standing, either as ruins or as restored buildings.
Some 25,000 castles, palaces and mansion houses bear witness to Germany's history: from splendid, perfectly preserved landmarks to ruined reminders of former glory.
The first castle dated back to the year 1000 and ever since then, castles were a sign of victory over battles. There are over a million castles in the world today, and each of them has a significance of their own. Here are city of castles in the the world that are particularly famous for their grandeur.
Hermit's Castle, often referred to as Europe's smallest castle, stands as a testament to architectural ingenuity. Built in 1950 by English architect David Scott, it defies traditional castle conventions.