Castle of Zafra, Campillo de Duenas This partly restored castle in Spain was built in the late 12th century or early 13th century. It holds the distinction of never being conquered. It also holds the distinction of appearing in ?Game of Thrones? in three episodes.

Several formidable fortresses claim the title of being "unconquerable," often due to a combination of ingenious engineering and psychological warfare. Eltz Castle in Germany is one of the most famous; it has been owned by the same family for over 800 years and has never been destroyed or taken by force, largely due to its secluded location and diplomatic prowess. In Japan, Himeji Castle (the "White Heron") survived centuries of civil war, including the Meiji Restoration and WWII bombings, without ever being breached in a siege. Hochosterwitz Castle in Austria features 14 fortified gates, a design so intimidating that most enemies gave up before reaching the first one. Other notable examples include Malbork Castle in Poland, which was the largest brick castle in the world and proved nearly impossible to take by storm, and Dover Castle in England, which stood firm against the French in the 13th century and served as a vital command center through WWII without ever falling into enemy hands.

Several castles around the world have earned reputations for being unconquered due to their formidable defenses, strategic locations, or sheer luck in avoiding major sieges. Here are some notable examples:

1. Castles That Were Never Conquered in Battle

• Edinburgh Castle (Scotland) – Though besieged many times, it was never fully conquered by force. The English captured it through negotiation (e.g., in 1296 and 1314), but no army successfully stormed its walls.
• Hohensalzburg Fortress (Austria) – One of Europe’s largest medieval castles, it was never taken by force despite multiple sieges.
• Prague Castle (Czech Republic) – The largest ancient castle complex in the world, it has never been conquered in battle, though it was occupied peacefully at times.
• Malbork Castle (Poland) – The largest brick castle in the world, it withstood multiple sieges until it was handed over rather than stormed (e.g., during the Thirteen Years’ War).
• Château de Coucy (France) – One of the most formidable medieval castles, it was never taken by assault before being dismantled in the 17th century.

2. Castles That Were Never Seriously Attacked

• Neuschwanstein Castle (Germany) – Built in the 19th century as a romantic palace, it was never involved in warfare.
• Matsumoto Castle (Japan) – One of Japan’s best-preserved castles, it never faced a major siege.
• Castel del Monte (Italy) – A unique 13th-century fortress, it was never militarily contested.

3. Mythological or Legendary “Unconquered” Castles

• Dunluce Castle (Northern Ireland) – Said to be unconquered, though it was abandoned rather than stormed.
• Sigiriya (Sri Lanka) – A rock fortress that was only taken through betrayal, not direct assault.

Would you like details on a specific castle’s defensive features or history?