What is the oldest castle still standing in Europe?

Windsor Castle (1070) in Windsor, England Not only is Windsor the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world, but it is also the longest-occupied palace in Europe. Most of the world's oldest castles serve primarily as tourist locations, but Windsor Castle is still a royal residence.



While many ancient structures exist, Prague Castle in the Czech Republic and Windsor Castle in England are the most prominent contenders for the title of the oldest still standing and in use. Prague Castle, founded around 880 AD, holds the Guinness World Record as the largest ancient castle in the world and has served as the seat of Czech monarchs and presidents for over a millennium. However, Windsor Castle, built by William the Conqueror in 1070 AD, is recognized as the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, having been a royal residence for nearly 1,000 years. Other ancient fortifications include the Alhambra in Spain, which saw its first stone fortress built in 889 AD, and the Citadel of Aleppo in Syria (though outside Europe), which has foundations dating back to 3000 BC. In Europe, these structures represent a transition from wooden motte-and-bailey designs to the enduring stone fortresses that define the medieval landscape today.

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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.

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And indeed, the White Heron Castle, as it is sometimes called for its wing-like roofs and white walls, still stands today with its medieval foundations still wholly intact. It has survived the strife of the Muromachi period, the bombing of Himeji during World War II, and even catastrophic earthquakes.

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Citadel of Aleppo, Syria Considered the oldest and largest fortress in existence, Aleppo's citadel sits on a mound that has been inhabited since – incredibly – the middle of the third millennium BC.

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The Czech Republic has the highest castle-density in the world. Get your fix of medieval charm with more than 2,000 around the country to Czech out.

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Germany. The country with the most castles is Germany! It's thought that Germany has around 25,000 castles within its borders. Why does Germany have so many castles?

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Allegedly Germany's oldest and continuously (inhabited) castle, the original fortress in Meersburg traces its origins back to the 7th century Merovingian Dynasty under King Dagobert I. Perfectly preserved, this thick-walled behemoth was never stormed or destroyed by invaders . along the castle wall.

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Following nine years of major conservation work, the National Trust's ambitious project to save Castle Drogo, one of the country's most iconic buildings, is complete. Castle Drogo is the last castle to have been built in Britain, between 1911 and 1931, by the renowned architect Edwin Lutyens.

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Neuschwanstein Castle is a 19th-century historicist palace on a rugged hill of the foothills of the Alps in the very south of Germany, just north of Austria.

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The first castles The Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 marked the beginning of the age of the castle in England. Even before the battle, William the Conqueror built a castle at Hastings, near his landing place.

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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.

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With almost 25,000 castles, palaces and fortresses, Germany has the greatest amount of castles for its population.

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There are approximately 3,000 castles scattered all over Belgium, from the northern Flanders region all the way to the southern region of Wallonia.

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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.

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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.

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Wales is often called 'the land of castles' – there are 427 of them! If you visit Wales you're almost certain to see one. If you live here you're probably familiar with quite a few.

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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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Over the centuries around 23 different siege attempts were made on Edinburgh Castle – making it the most besieged place in Europe. The castle witnessed a number of efforts, including a siege which saw a group of men scale the castle rock and one that lasted only 30 minutes.

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