Walled cities of Europe

7 European walled cities — each mapped, dated and ready to explore.

• Walls of Ávila

  Spain · 11th century

  Spain's perfectly preserved medieval city walls, with 88 towers and nine gates

• Cité de Carcassonne

  France · 12th century

  France's double-walled medieval city, ringed by more than fifty towers

• Dubrovnik City Walls

  Croatia · 12th century

  Croatia's mighty sea walls guarding the old port of Dubrovnik on the Adriatic

• Ramparts of Provins

  France · 12th century

  France's medieval fair town, ringed by tall ramparts and towers

• Rothenburg ob der Tauber Walls

  Germany · 13th century

  Germany's best-preserved medieval town walls, with a covered wall-walk and towers

• York City Walls

  United Kingdom · 13th century

  England's most complete medieval city walls, walkable above the streets of York

• Walls of Lucca

  Italy · 16th century

  Italy's intact Renaissance ramparts, now a famous tree-lined walkway around Lucca