Why do Germany have so many castles?

During the Middle Ages, Germany would have built castles to defend their lords and people from Viking attack or Roman invasion. However, this was true for the whole of Europe, yet Germany built far more castles than most of its neighbouring countries.



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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.

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Germany was once home to some 25,000 castles. Yes, you read that correctly, 25,000. However, according to the History of Yesterday, who dug through the European Institute of Castles data, just 60% of those castles remain either in all their glory or in ruin, meaning just about 15,000 can be found in the nation today.

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Sat on a hilltop surrounded by dense forest near the village of Wierschem, Eltz Castle has a history dating back over 850 years. The first written mention of the building dates from 1157, although the structure itself is likely older.

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One of the most unique aspects of Germany's education system is that university education is available free of charge to all individuals, including international students. The country is home to over 2,100 castles, a testament to its rich history and cultural heritage.

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Converted into a donjon around 950, Château de Doué-la-Fontaine in France is the oldest standing castle in Europe.

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There are two words for ?castle? in German that sometimes seem to be used relatively interchangeably: ?Schloss? and ?Burg?. Strictly speaking, ?Burg? refers to a ?true castle? - that is, a defensive fortress, typically built during the Middle Ages.

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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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Neuschwanstein Castle, in Bavaria, has the distinction of being one of the most-visited castles in the entire world, luring in more than 1.5 million tourists a year with its two-story throne room and ornately-furnished chambers.

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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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Beaumaris on the island of Anglesey is famous as the greatest castle never built. It was the last of the royal strongholds created by Edward I in Wales – and perhaps his masterpiece.

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Château Louis XIV in Louveciennes is officially the most expensive estate in the world.

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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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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.

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