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. This is the largest castle in Wales and the second largest in Britain.

While many countries claim the title, Germany is widely considered the country with the most historic castles, with estimates ranging from 20,000 to 25,000 individual castle sites, ruins, and palaces. This high density is a result of Germany's fragmented medieval history, where hundreds of small principalities and noble families built fortifications for protection and status. Famous examples include Neuschwanstein, Burg Eltz, and the Rhine Valley fortresses. However, if you measure by "density" (castles per square mile), Wales often takes the crown, with over 600 castles in a relatively small area. In 2026, Germany remains the top destination for "castle hunting," as its government has invested heavily in the "Castle Road" (Burgenstraße) tourist route, which connects dozens of well-preserved sites. For those looking for the most "inhabited" castles, the United Kingdom (specifically England and Scotland) remains a fierce competitor due to its continuous aristocratic traditions.