Although Germany has the largest number of castles and Wales has the most castles per square mile, lots of European countries have some amazing castles. Each one has its own unique, interesting history and secrets to tell.
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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.
Europe is famous for its abundance of castles, many dating back to medieval times. With so many neighbouring nations, as well as the turbulent history of the last 1000 years, European countries needed to defend their territories and protect their people.
The Romans, who ruled and colonized the territory of current-day Portugal for more than four centuries, built forts with high walls and strong towers to defend their populations.
The Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (Polish: Zamek w Malborku; German: Ordensburg Marienburg) is a 13th-century Teutonic castle and fortress located in the town of Malbork, Poland. It is the largest castle in the world measured by land area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From fairytale castles to mighty fortresses, the Dordogne Valley is the proud owner of a stunning cultural heritage and some of the prettiest sites in France.
Wales. While Germany may have the most amount of castles, Wales is the country with the most castles per square mile. Despite its small size, Wales had over 600 castles. Today over 400 castles still stand and are waiting to be explored by visitors.
At the Pousada Castelo Óbidos you can choose to stay in the castle and have an authentic medieval experience or stay in the Casa do Castelo (located right next to the castle), where you will have an experience closer to that of living in town.
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.
Japanese castles sprang up throughout the territory beginning in the Sengoku era between 1477 and 1573. At one point, there is said to have been more than 5,000 hundred castles throughout Japan, and over 100 still stand today. Chief among these is Himeji Castle in Osaka, which was built in 1609.
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. It is an official residence of Her Majesty The Queen and is still very much a working royal palace today, home to around 150 people.
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.