The Top Medieval Fortresses

Castles, citadels, and walled cities that defined European and Middle Eastern defense for a thousand years. Dramatic settings, layered history, and spectacular photography.

  1. IdentificatieTitel(s): Alhambra Court in het Crystal Palace in Londen. Crystal Palace. The Alhambra and Court of Lions (titel op object)Objecttype: stereofoto Objectnummer: RP-F-F05039Opschriften / Me

    Alhambra

    Spain

    Moorish palace-fortress where Islamic art reached its European pinnacle
  2. Krak des Chevaliers, Syria

    Krak des Chevaliers

    Syria

    The world's most perfectly preserved Crusader castle, brooding over the Syrian highlands
  3. HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge before sunrise

    Tower of London

    United Kingdom

    Royal fortress, prison, and treasury on the Thames for a thousand years
  4. Picture taken in Malbork after Wikimania 2010 conference. Panorama of Malbork Castle, Żuławy region, Poland.

    Malbork Castle

    Poland

    The largest castle on Earth — a Gothic brick colossus built by the Teutonic Knights
  5. This is a spherical panoramic showing the view of Edinburgh and surroundings from Salisbury Crags in Holyrood Park. It shows most of the old town of Edinburgh (including the castle) in the centre, an

    Edinburgh Castle

    Scotland, UK

    Scotland's crown jewel rising from an ancient volcanic crag above the Royal Mile
  6. To the left of innermost fort gate, Loha Pol, or "Iron Gate", are 15 small handprints left by the wives of the maharaja before they immolated themselves on his funeral pyre. Known as sati marks, the g

    Mehrangarh Fort

    India

    A Rajput citadel rising 400 feet above Jodhpur's Blue City
  7. TitleCarcassonne. PanoramaPublisherParis: E. Mazo.SeriesEuroPhot. Art history. Various periods. Architecture. CityEuroPhot. Art history. Various periods. Architecture. ComplexEuroPhot. Kunstgeschieden

    Carcassonne

    France

    Europe's greatest walled city, rising from the Languedoc plain like a fairy-tale fortress
  8. Medieval Bridge of Chillon Castle photographed by Robbie Conceptuel in 2021

    Château de Chillon

    Switzerland

    Switzerland's most visited historic monument, rising from the waters of Lake Geneva
  9. View from Mönchsberg to Hohensalzburg Fortress and the historic center of Salzburg, federal state of Salzburg, Austria

    Hohensalzburg Fortress

    Austria

    One of Europe's largest fully intact medieval castles, looming above Mozart's city
  10. a selection of angel statues of the Sant'Angelo Bridhe, Rome. From left to right: Angel with Crown of Thorns (Gian Lorenzo and Paolo Bernini);Angel with the Superscription (Gian Lorenzo Bernini); Ange

    Castel Sant'Angelo

    Italy

    Rome's circular fortress on the Tiber, from imperial mausoleum to papal stronghold
  11. Lokrum Island in the Adriatic Sea off Dubrovnik (2)

    Dubrovnik

    Croatia

    The walled city-republic that defied empires on the Adriatic shore
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