Castle timeline

When the 30 castles, fortresses and walled cities of the atlas were built — from the 10th century onward. Dates marked “c.” are approximate. Tap any name for its full story and map.

10th century (2)

c. 900Château de Chinon · France — Earliest: 10th century; major works 12th century
c. 900Rocca Calascio · Italy — Started: 10th century; major additions: 13th century

11th century (3)

c. 1020Loarre Castle · Spain — Early 11th century (c. 1020s)
1077Hohensalzburg Fortress · Austria — Founded: 1077; expanded 11th–17th centuries
c. 1090Walls of Ávila · Spain — c. 1090–12th century

12th century (14)

c. 1100Castel Beseno · Italy — Medieval origins (12th–13th centuries); major expansions 16th century
c. 1100Castle of Diósgyőr · Hungary — Earlier castle: 12th century; Gothic rebuild: 14th century (reign 1342–1382)
c. 1100Château de Castelnaud · France — Founded: 12th century; major rebuilds 13th–14th centuries
c. 1100Château de Chillon · Switzerland — 12th–13th centuries
c. 1100Cité de Carcassonne · France — Major medieval fortifications: 12th–13th centuries
c. 1100Dubrovnik City Walls · Croatia — Major phases: 12th–17th centuries
c. 1100Edinburgh Castle · United Kingdom — Main stone castle: 12th century (1100s); expanded over later centuries
c. 1100Marksburg Castle · Germany — Early 12th century origins (1100s), later expansions
c. 1100Óbidos Castle & Walls · Portugal — 12th–14th centuries
c. 1100Ramparts of Provins · France — 11th–13th centuries
c. 1100Rock of Cashel · Ireland — 12th–13th centuries
c. 1100Spiš Castle · Slovakia — 12th century origins; major expansions 13th–15th centuries
c. 1150Kalmar Castle · Sweden — 12th-century origins; Renaissance rebuild 16th century
1180Gravensteen · Belgium — Built 1180 (12th century)

13th century (5)

c. 1200Rothenburg ob der Tauber Walls · Germany — Major walls: 13th century (with later additions)
c. 1200Visegrád Citadel · Hungary — Key tower: 13th century; curtain walls: 14th century
c. 1200York City Walls · United Kingdom — Main medieval walls: 13th–14th centuries (earlier Roman origins)
c. 1274Malbork Castle · Poland — c. 1274–1406
1283Conwy Castle · United Kingdom — 1283–1287

14th century (3)

c. 1300Muiderslot · Netherlands — c. 1300 (around 14th century)
1326Pfalzgrafenstein Castle · Germany — 1326–1327
1348Karlštejn · Czechia — Founded 1348 (14th century)

15th century (1)

c. 1400Corvin Castle · Romania — 15th century

16th century (1)

c. 1500Walls of Lucca · Italy — Major construction: 16th–17th centuries (began mid-1500s)

17th century (1)

c. 1600Elvas Fortifications · Portugal — 17th–19th centuries