Medieval Castles in Europe

What makes a castle medieval?

The first castles were simple earth mounds with timber towers. From the 11th century they were rebuilt in stone, with a strong central keep such as the White Tower at the Tower of London, begun under William the Conqueror. Later castles moved the defence outwards, with two rings of walls, round towers and heavily guarded gatehouses. The castles Edward I built in north Wales in the 1280s, including Caernarfon Castle and Conwy Castle, are textbook examples.

Most medieval castles share the same elements: a keep or main tower, curtain walls with towers, a gatehouse with a portcullis, a moat or steep rock as natural defence, and inside a great hall and a chapel. How much of that survives varies a lot. Some castles are roofless ruins, others were restored or rebuilt in the 19th century, and a few have stood almost unchanged for centuries.

The scale can be enormous. Malbork Castle in Poland, built by the Teutonic Order, is often described as the largest castle in the world by area, and Spiš Castle in Slovakia is one of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe. In Carcassonne, Château Comtal sits inside a complete ring of medieval town walls.

Where to find the best medieval castles

Britain and Ireland have the densest group. In Wales, Caerphilly Castle, Caernarfon Castle and Conwy Castle are all within reach of each other. Scotland adds dramatic settings such as Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness, Dunnottar Castle on its sea cliff and Stirling Castle, while Ireland has Trim Castle, Kilkenny Castle and Blarney Castle.

In Germany, the Rhine and Moselle valleys are lined with castles. Eltz Castle has been owned by the same family since the 12th century, Cochem Castle overlooks the Moselle and Wartburg Castle is where Martin Luther translated the New Testament. Further east, Prague Castle, Spiš Castle, Bran Castle and Corvin Castle show how far castle building spread. In the south, look at the Alcázar of Segovia, Castillo de Coca, Guimarães Castle and the octagonal Castel del Monte.

Tips for visiting medieval castles

Many medieval castles involve a climb, uneven stone steps or a walk from the car park, so wear good shoes. Check on each castle page whether there are interiors to see or only walls and towers, and whether a guided tour is needed. Some castles, Eltz Castle among them, close for the winter season, while most others stay open with shorter hours.

Several castles combine well in one day: Eltz Castle and Cochem Castle on the Moselle, Conwy Castle and Caernarfon Castle in north Wales, or the castles around Dublin such as Malahide Castle, Howth Castle and Clontarf Castle.

Medieval castles by country

Frequently asked questions

Other castle styles

Last updated: 11 October 2026