The World's Greatest Castles

• Introduction
• Chapter 1 Windsor Castle, England
• Chapter 2 Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
• Chapter 3 Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
• Chapter 4 Château de Chambord, France
• Chapter 5 Alhambra, Spain
• Chapter 6 Prague Castle, Czech Republic
• Chapter 7 Malbork Castle, Poland
• Chapter 8 Hohensalzburg Fortress, Austria
• Chapter 9 Bran Castle, Romania
• Chapter 10 Himeji Castle, Japan
• Chapter 11 Matsumoto Castle, Japan
• Chapter 12 Red Fort, India
• Chapter 13 Mehrangarh Fort, India
• Chapter 14 Citadel of Aleppo, Syria
• Chapter 15 Fasil Ghebbi, Ethiopia
• Chapter 16 Pena Palace, Portugal
• Chapter 17 Mont-Saint-Michel, France
• Chapter 18 Spis Castle, Slovakia
• Chapter 19 Castel del Monte, Italy
• Chapter 20 Krak des Chevaliers, Syria
• Chapter 21 Alcázar of Segovia, Spain
• Chapter 22 Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
• Chapter 23 Chillon Castle, Switzerland
• Chapter 24 Kronborg Castle, Denmark
• Chapter 25 Hunyadi Castle, Romania

Castles, with their monumental walls and spiraling towers, have captivated human imagination for centuries. Evoking tales of valor, grandeur, intrigue, and power, these formidable structures dot landscapes across the globe, standing as enduring witnesses to the rise and fall of empires, the ebb of wars, and the flowering of cultures. They are the stones upon which much of our history has been written, and the backdrops to legends that blur the line between reality and myth. In their silent halls and shadowed keeps, one can still sense the pulse of ages past, alive with the memory of royalty, conquerors, and ordinary lives shaped by extraordinary events.

What, then, makes a castle truly "great"? Is it the scale of its fortifications, the elegance of its design, the pivotal moments in history it has witnessed, or the legends it continues to inspire? The answer is as varied as the castles themselves. Some rise as symbols of indomitable power—gigantic keeps unyielding to siege or time—while others enchant with their romantic silhouettes and artistic flourishes. For many, greatness might stem not only from architectural achievement but also from resilience, cultural influence, or the enduring presence of stories written into every stone.

Europe is home to many of these titans, from the grandeur of Windsor Castle, the world’s oldest inhabited castle, to the storybook romance of Neuschwanstein perched high in Bavaria. Yet, the influence of castles extends well beyond the borders of Europe. Across the continents, in the white flanks of Himeji, the crimson ramparts of Delhi’s Red Fort, or the towering walls of the Citadel of Aleppo, castles take on distinct forms woven from local materials, climate, and traditions. Each stands both as a product of its own time and as a reflection of its unique cultural landscape.

Throughout their existence, castles have served many purposes: strongholds in times of war, palatial homes to monarchs and noble families, centers of administration, and even symbols of religious and artistic innovation. In some, the echoes of fierce battles and political intrigue linger; in others, the beauty of art and architecture crafted over generations is the attraction. With every passageway and parapet, we find stories shaped by their builders and inhabitants—stories of ambition and defense, of daily life and grand celebration.

In the pages that follow, this book invites you to journey across continents and centuries, exploring twenty-five of the world’s greatest castles, each with its own story to share. Through meticulously researched histories, vivid descriptions of architectural marvels, and a close look at the legacies they continue to shape, we seek not only to celebrate these extraordinary places but also to understand the people and societies whose dreams and struggles brought them into being.

Ultimately, the world’s greatest castles are more than mere relics. They are living museums, archives of artistry and innovation, and constant reminders of the perennial human drive to build and defend, to leave a monument to hope and to history. Step within these ancient walls, and discover not just the marks of ages past, but the wonder and inspiration they continue to offer, century after century.

Perched proudly above the River Thames, its silhouette a familiar outline against the English sky, stands Windsor Castle. More than just a grand building, it is a continuous saga written in stone and mortar, a place where history isn't just preserved, it's lived. For over nine centuries, since the ink was barely dry on the parchment of the Norman Conquest, this formidable fortress has served as a principal residence for England's, and later Britain's, monarchs. It holds the distinction of being the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the entire world, a working royal palace that has seamlessly blended its ancient origins with the demands of the modern era.

Its story begins, as so many English castle stories do, with William the Conqueror. Fresh from his victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William set about consolidating his power by encircling London with a ring of defensive castles. Windsor, strategically positioned on a chalky bluff overlooking the vital waterway of the Thames and controlling a Norman hunting forest, was chosen as one of ten such sites. The original structure was a classic motte-and-bailey design – a wooden tower atop an artificial mound (the motte) surrounded by a fortified courtyard (the bailey). Its primary purpose was military, a base from which Norman power could be projected and dissent suppressed.

Over the next fifty years, the castle remained primarily a military outpost. It was King Henry I, William the Conqueror's son, who began to use Windsor not merely as a fortress but as a royal residence. It was here, in 1121, that Henry I married his second wife, Adeliza of Louvain, marking a significant moment in the castle's transition from a purely defensive structure to a place of royal courtly life. This shift would define Windsor's character for the centuries to come, balancing the needs of defense with the desire for comfortable and impressive accommodation.

The wooden fortifications of the early castle were inherently vulnerable, and it was King Henry II, in the latter half of the 12th century, who began the crucial process of rebuilding Windsor in stone. He replaced the wooden palisade encircling the Upper Ward with a stone wall and constructed the first stone keep on the motte. This circular stone tower, the ancestor of the iconic Round Tower we see today, significantly enhanced the castle's defensive capabilities and permanence, solidifying its status as a major royal stronghold.

Henry III, a king known for his piety and love of building, further transformed Windsor in the 13th century. He ordered the construction of luxurious new royal apartments within the Upper Ward and began building the first stone curtain wall around the Lower Ward, complete with towers and a gateway. These additions not only improved defense but also made the castle a more suitable and splendid setting for the increasingly complex rituals of the royal court, reflecting a growing interest in comfort and grandeur alongside military function.

It was arguably King Edward III, in the mid-14th century, who oversaw the most ambitious and transformative building program in Windsor's history since its founding. Viewing Windsor as the spiritual home of his planned Order of the Garter – England's oldest order of chivalry – Edward demolished most of Henry III's palace in the Upper Ward and erected a magnificent new Gothic palace complex. This project was vast and expensive, employing hundreds of craftsmen and laborers from across England and Europe, showcasing the king's wealth and ambition.

Central to Edward III's vision was the establishment of the College of St. George within the Lower Ward, dedicated to the Order of the Garter. While the chapel built at this time was later replaced, this period marked the beginning of St. George's enduring association with the Order and its vital role in the religious and ceremonial life of the castle. The construction of the Dean's Cloister and residences for the college's clergy and Knights of the Garter began to give the Lower Ward its distinctive collegiate feel.

The palace complex Edward III built in the Upper Ward was one of the grandest of its age, designed not just for defense but for hosting lavish court events and housing the burgeoning royal household. The Round Tower was also heightened, though not to its current imposing height, emphasizing its central position and symbolic importance within the castle layout. This period saw Windsor solidify its status as a primary seat of the English monarchy, a hub of chivalry, administration, and power.

Subsequent monarchs continued to adapt and refine the castle. The Wars of the Roses in the 15th century saw the completion of the stunning St. George's Chapel in the Lower Ward. Begun by Edward IV and finished by Henry VII and Henry VIII, the chapel is a masterpiece of Perpendicular Gothic architecture, characterized by its soaring fan vaulting, intricate stone carving, and impressive stained glass windows. It became the spiritual heart of the Order of the Garter and the burial place for numerous monarchs, including Henry VIII and Charles I.

During the Tudor period, Windsor remained a favored royal residence. Henry VIII, despite his tumultuous reign, spent considerable time at the castle, and it is famously depicted in the ‘Anthony Roll’, an inventory of the Tudor navy. Queen Elizabeth I also made notable additions, including a long gallery within the Upper Ward and a magnificent terrace on the north side, offering stunning views over the parkland – a space for exercise and display, reflecting the castle's evolving role towards a more palatial function.

The English Civil War in the mid-17th century posed a significant challenge to Windsor. While it was successfully held for Parliament for most of the conflict, unlike many royal castles which were besieged and damaged or slighted (deliberately ruined to prevent military use), Windsor escaped major destruction. However, its royal contents were plundered, and the castle briefly served as a prison for King Charles I before his execution. This period marked a low point in the castle's grandeur, awaiting restoration.

Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, King Charles II embarked on another ambitious building program, seeking to restore Windsor to its former glory and update it in the prevailing Baroque style. He commissioned the architect Hugh May to redesign the State Apartments in the Upper Ward, incorporating elaborate painted ceilings by Antonio Verrio and wood carvings by Grinling Gibbons. These opulent interiors were designed to impress visitors and reassert the power and wealth of the newly restored monarchy.

The 18th century saw less dramatic structural change, though the castle remained in royal use. It was during the reign of King George IV in the early 19th century that Windsor underwent its most significant transformation since Edward III. The architect Sir Jeffry Wyatville was commissioned to undertake a massive Gothic Revival remodelling. The Round Tower was raised to its present height, giving it its distinctively tall, imposing silhouette, and the State Apartments were largely rebuilt and extended to create the grand sequence of rooms seen today.

Wyatville's work under George IV solidified Windsor's appearance as the archetypal grand, fortified castle, albeit one heavily influenced by romantic 19th-century ideals of the medieval past. This period also saw the development of the surrounding parkland and approaches, enhancing the castle's majestic setting. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were fond of Windsor, using it extensively and adding features like the private chapel and the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore within the park, where they are both buried.

The castle continued to adapt through the 20th century, serving as a refuge for the royal family during World War II and remaining a key location for state occasions and private family life. However, the late 20th century brought a major setback. In November 1992, a devastating fire broke out in the Queen's Private Chapel, rapidly spreading through the Upper Ward. The blaze raged for fifteen hours, destroying nine state rooms and severely damaging over a hundred others, a stark reminder of the castle's vulnerability.

The subsequent restoration project was a monumental undertaking, funded partly by opening Buckingham Palace to the public and partly through public donation. It was completed remarkably quickly and sensitively, employing traditional crafts and techniques to restore the damaged areas while incorporating modern fire prevention measures. The restoration was widely hailed as a success, returning the affected parts of the castle to their former splendour, a testament to skill and determination.

Today, Windsor Castle functions as a working palace, hosting state banquets, investiture ceremonies, and weekly audiences for the monarch. It is also a popular tourist attraction, drawing millions of visitors annually to explore its historic grounds, magnificent State Apartments, and the sacred beauty of St. George's Chapel. The castle precincts bustle with activity, housing not only the royal residence but also the College of St. George, military garrisons, and numerous staff.

Exploring the castle is a journey through centuries of history, laid out in its distinct wards. The Lower Ward encompasses St. George's Chapel, the Deanery, the Horseshoe Cloister (home to the vicars choral), and the residences of the Military Knights of Windsor. The Middle Ward is dominated by the colossal Round Tower, standing on the original motte, its flag flying whenever the monarch is in residence. The Upper Ward contains the magnificent State Apartments, the Private Apartments, and the royal library, forming the public and private heart of the palace.

The State Apartments, lavishly decorated with art from the Royal Collection, offer a glimpse into the ceremonial life of the monarchy, featuring rooms used for state occasions like the Waterloo Chamber, St. George's Hall (rebuilt after the fire), and the Grand Reception Room. These spaces are filled with historical artifacts, portraits of monarchs past, and exquisite furnishings, each piece telling a part of the castle's ongoing story.

Walking through the castle grounds, one can feel the layers of history beneath one's feet – the original Norman earthworks, the medieval stone walls, the Gothic and Baroque additions, the Victorian remodelling, and the careful restoration work. It is a place that has witnessed coronations and funerals, celebrations and conflicts, births and deaths, remaining a constant fixture in the nation's life while the world outside has changed beyond recognition. Windsor is not just a building; it is a living entity, a potent symbol of continuity, resilience, and the enduring thread of monarchy in Britain.