12th century castles of Europe
44 European castles and fortresses built mainly in the 12th century — each mapped, dated and ready to explore.
Castel Beseno
Trentino's largest fortified complex, sweeping along an Alpine ridge
Castle of Diósgyőr
Hungary's four-towered Gothic queens' castle, rebuilt by Louis the Great
Château de Castelnaud
France's Dordogne hilltop fortress, a rival stronghold in the Hundred Years' War
Château de Chillon
Switzerland's island castle on Lake Geneva, with round towers and lakeside halls
Château de Falaise
Birthplace of William the Conqueror, with a great square Norman keep
Château de Fougères
One of Europe's largest medieval fortresses, ringed by towers and water
Cité de Carcassonne
France's double-walled medieval city, ringed by more than fifty towers
Dubrovnik City Walls
Croatia's mighty sea walls guarding the old port of Dubrovnik on the Adriatic
Edinburgh Castle
Scotland's clifftop royal fortress, grown on a volcanic crag since the 1100s
Lamego Castle
Medieval keep and cistern above the wine country of the Douro
Marburg Castle
Hilltop seat of the landgraves of Hesse, scene of a famous religious debate
Marksburg Castle
The only Rhine hilltop castle never destroyed, rising in stacked terraces
Mértola Castle
River-port castle above a town layered with Islamic history
Ramparts of Provins
France's medieval fair town, ringed by tall ramparts and towers
Rock of Cashel
Ireland's medieval hilltop of kings, with a round tower, chapel and cathedral
Sortelha Castle
Storybook stone village ringed by walls among giant boulders
Spiš Castle
One of Europe's largest castle complexes, sprawling over a Slovak ridge
Tavira Castle
Garden-filled castle walls above an elegant Algarve town
Trifels Castle
Imperial fortress that guarded the crown jewels and held Richard the Lionheart
Óbidos Castle & Walls
Portugal's fairytale walled hill town crowned by a medieval castle
Wernigerode Castle
A romantic turreted castle crowning a town at the edge of the Harz mountains
Château de Beynac
Sheer-cliff Dordogne fortress, the French rival of Castelnaud across the river
Leiria Castle
Hilltop royal castle with an elegant loggia overlooking the town
Cahir Castle
One of Ireland's largest and best-preserved castles, on a rocky island in the river Suir
Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg
Pink-sandstone mountain castle reborn above the Alsace plain
Palmela Castle
Hill castle of the Knights of Santiago, over vineyards and the sea
Kalmar Castle
Sweden's Renaissance castle with round corner towers, guarding the Baltic coast
Rock of Dunamase
Ruined fortress crowning a dramatic rock on the plains of Laois
Pombal Castle
Templar hilltop castle founded by Gualdim Pais
Eltz Castle
A perfectly preserved medieval castle hidden in a forested valley, never destroyed
Castle of Chaves
Frontier keep guarding a Roman river crossing in the far north
Castle of Tomar
Headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal, with its round Charola church
Monsaraz Castle
Walled hill village with sweeping views over the Alqueva lake
Almourol Castle
A Templar castle marooned on a rocky island in the river Tagus
Trim Castle
The largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, a star of the film Braveheart
Carrickfergus Castle
The best-preserved Norman castle in Ireland, guarding Belfast Lough
Ourém Castle
Three-towered medieval castle crowning a walled hill town
Castle of Castelo de Vide
Hilltop keep above a whitewashed town and its old Jewish quarter
Gravensteen
Belgium's moated 'Castle of the Counts' in the heart of Ghent
Lismore Castle
Clifftop castle of the Dukes of Devonshire above the Blackwater
Malahide Castle
Home of the Talbot family for nearly 800 years, near Dublin
Bragança Castle
Walled citadel of the dukes who became Portugal's last royal house
Kilkenny Castle
Great riverside castle of the powerful Butler family for almost 600 years
Château Gaillard
Richard the Lionheart's mighty cliff castle above the Seine