Oldest Castles in the World – The History of Ancient Castles

Castles are a cornerstone of human history and a testament to the length that we will go to in order to protect ourselves and our communities. We have been building castles and forts for a long time, and as technology and science developed, we improved and innovated existing designs in an effort to stave off our enemies and, of course, to ensure the rich and powerful were as comfortable as possible. Some castles are older than others though, so let’s have a look at a few of the oldest castles in the world, where they are, who they were built for, and exactly how old these ancient castles are.

The Oldest Castles in the World

Ancient castles exist all over the world as a memory of times long past. More often than not, these castles have been restored, repurposed, and modernized (at least on the exterior). Their history remains the same though, so let’s have a look at what drove the rich and powerful of the time to build and renovate these enormous structures and what state they’re in today.

The Killyleagh Castle from The Ancient Castles of Ireland (1904) by C. L. Adams; C. L. ADAMSILLUSTRATED BY REV. CANON LUCIUS O’BRIEN, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Citadel of Aleppo (3000 BCE)

What is the oldest castle in the world? The oldest castle on the face of the planet is the Citadel of Aleppo. Located in Aleppo, Syria, this castle really has stood the test of time being around 5000 years old. The castle is a testament to the skills and ingenuity of the engineers who built it as it has survived numerous assaults during the Syrian civil war. The Citadel is part of the Ancient City of Aleppo, and thanks to its long life and history it was eventually dubbed a UNESCO world heritage site back in 1986.

This castle is older than many recorded accounts of history and has been in existence longer than many other man-made structures around the world.

The Citadel of Aleppo (3000 BCE); © Vyacheslav Argenberg / http://www.vascoplanet.com/, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

While the citadel did exist around 3000 BCE it did not have the scale or intricacy that it has today. It is believed that the current aesthetic and protective upgrades to the citadel were made around the 12th century, leaving us with the structure we know today. Further restorations were done in the mid to early 2000s but the structure would be badly damaged in later years during the Syrian civil war.

The Prague Castle (880 CE)

If you’ve come to this list for a medieval castle, look no further than the visually stunning Prague castle. As a medieval castle built in the classic gothic architectural style, the castle might not be the oldest of its kind in the world but it is the largest by far. At 70,000 square meters, Prague castle holds the Guinness World record for being the largest ancient castle in the world. This medieval castle initially was purely for defensive measures, but in later years would develop various rooms and facilities in addition to its keep and walls. Today the castle serves as the office of the President of the Czech Republic and is believed to be the place where the famous bohemian crown jewels are hidden.

The Prague Castle (880 CE); Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Château de Doué-la-Fontaine (950 CE)

While there are many, many things that you can see in France, castles typically aren’t at the top of that list. If you’d like to see a French castle though, we highly recommend you visit the Doué-la-Fontaine located in the ancient French province of Anjou. Doué-la-Fontaine was initially a commune, in which the castle served as a defensive location. While the castle is historically important as being one of the oldest castles in Europe, it isn’t exactly in mint condition. If you were to visit the castle today, you’d be able to view what is left of the keep which had been built atop a Carolingian structure.

There are those that suspect that this could be the very first castle in Europe built from stone.

The Château de Doué-la-Fontaine (950 CE); Llann Wé², CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Reichsburg Cochem (1000 CE)

While it might not be the oldest castle in the world, it is in the running for the oldest castle in Europe. The Reichsburg Cochem is believed to be the first of its kind built in the region, is staggeringly big, and is believed to have been created in the year 1000 CE. The castle was believed to have been commissioned by the Platinate Count Ezzo. As you might have noticed by now, castles rarely tend to change hands, especially if a family’s lineage has been attached to the structure. This is especially true when the castle is the family’s primary residence, which is the case with the Reichsburg Cohem as well. The castle would eventually become the property of Count Ezzo’s daughter, and once Queen of Poland, Richeza.

The Reichsburg Cochem (1000 CE); Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons / “Cochem, Reichsburg — 2018 — 0121” / CC BY-SA 4.0

Richeza is then noted as gifting the castle estate to her son and then Count Palatine, Henry I. This change of ownership was documented in 1051 CE. While the castle might have been designed as a stronghold, it was eventually breached and occupied by King Konrad III. The castle would then be devastated by King Louis XVII in 166, but a businessman by the name of Louis Fréderic Jacques Ravené would eventually restore the castle in a gothic architectural style in 1868.

The Warwick Castle (1068 CE)

Yet another castle built by William the Conqueror is Warwick Castle. This was another castle that began its life as a Mott And Bailey castle but was gradually upgraded over time with stone and brick until it resembled the form we know today. The castle began its construction in 1068 CE through the commission of William the Conqueror, and its upgrades began around 1260 CE. While the castle might have been built by William the Conqueror, it would be occupied by generations of Earls of Warwick who all added their own renovations of stonework to the structure.

One of the most notable additions to the castle was the tower and dungeon which were added in 1350 CE, and would come to be known as Caesar’s Tower and Guy’s Dungeon respectively.

The Warwick Castle (1068 CE); DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Over the course of the 16th century, the castle would begin to fall apart due to weathering and general neglect. Thankfully, 100 years later, it would be restored to its former glory, with a few improvements. In the late ’70s, the castle would be sold after nearly 400 years of ownership by the Greville family to an entertainment company known as the Tussaunds Group, who would eventually do a top-to-bottom restoration of the building.

The Windsor Castle (1070 CE)

Windsor castle is nearly 1000 years old, making it one of the oldest castles in the world. It has been a residence to people of prominence since the Saxon times, but it has not always been the home of the British Royal family. The castle’s construction began in the 9th century and would be completed after the invasion of William the Conqueror. Over time, the castle would become the primary residence of the Royal Family and subsequently the reigning monarch of England. This has been the norm since the reign of King Henry the first, making Windsor Castle the longest-occupied castle in the whole of Europe. This title still stands even after the UK voted to leave the European Union. The original structure was a simple Motte and Bailey design but it would eventually be upgraded to a fort-like structure using stone and mortar. Once the upgrades were complete, a palace was built inside the grounds which is noted as being quite luxurious, not that we would expect anything less from the King himself.

The Windsor Castle (1070 CE); Steve Evans from Citizen of the World, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Hohensalzburg Castle (1077 CE)

While it might not be the oldest castle in the world, the Hohensalzburg Castle is still pretty old, and a really interesting historical location. This castle was designed to function as a fort in the area when it was commissioned by Archbishop Gebhard. Unfortunately, even though Gebhard commissioned the construction of the castle he would not finish it due to his being exiled near its completion.

The fortress served as a kind of stronghold in the region for the Roman Empire during their reign.

The Hohensalzburg Castle (1077 CE); Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Its function was a fallback/rally point in case of invasion or uprising, and as a result, it would be expanded upon and reinforced over the years. Even though Archbishop Gebhard did not complete the castle, it would eventually be completed by Archbishop Leonard von Keutschach in 1500 CE. While the castle served as a stronghold during the reign of the Roman Empire, it would eventually come under attack in 1525 CE during the German Peasant War and sustain notable damage. Thankfully, the fortress would undergo restoration and eventually be opened to the public as a tourist attraction during the 1800s.

The Rochester Castle (1087 CE)

While there are many castles around the world to choose from, one that resembles the classic image of a sturdy defensible fort is the Rochester Castle in Rochester, England. The castle was built when the late William II asked for a castle to be constructed so he could take control of what was (at the time) an important river crossing in the area. William II asked the Bishop of Rochester at the time (Gundulf) to commission this castle’s construction sometime around 1080 CE. This is one of the oldest castles in the United Kingdom and is famous for its tall keep that was constructed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The keep is famous for being one of the best preserved and last surviving of its time in both England and France. The castle was restored in both the 20th century and the 19th century, and unlike some of the other ancient castles on this list, it is open to the public under the purview of English Heritage. It serves as a sort of museum and educational tool regarding the history and lineage of England.

The Rochester Castle (1087 CE); Shaun Dunmall from Maidstone, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Alcázar of Segovia (Eleventh century CE)

While some castles remained the same throughout their existence, some lands were conquered, and their forts remade in the image of their new rulers. A good example of this is the Alcazar of Segovia, which was built on top of the remains of a Roman fort after the area was conquered by King Alfonso VI. One of the oldest mentions of the castle dates back to 1120 CE. The castle is stunning, resembling what you might find in fairy tale books or Disney movies. Its high towers and picturesque surroundings are incredibly alluring, harkening back to times of brave knights and princesses. King Alfonso VIII and his then-wife Eleanor of England had the castle renovated to serve as their primary residence; a state still exists in today. The castle would remain their home until they moved to Madrid. The castle would be restored twice after this, the first would be in 1882 when it was restored to its original state after a period of it lying in disrepair.

The second time would be in 1896 when the castle was gifted to the “Ministry of War” by King Alfonso XIII to serve as a rather elaborate military college.

The Alcázar of Segovia (Eleventh century CE); Alcázar of Segovia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Killyleagh Castle (1180 CE)

While it might not be the oldest castle in the world, the Killyleagh castle in Northern Ireland is definitely on the list. However, it is the oldest castle in the country and definitely one of the oldest in the entire region. That being said, the land the castle is built on was given to James Hamilton by non-other than King James I. The most ancient parts of the castle date back all the way to the 1800s, which is how it has been confirmed to be one of the oldest castles in the country.

The Killyleagh Castle (1180 CE); Killyleagh Castle (2013) by Albert Bridge, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hamilton built the single-tower castle in addition to the courtyard in which it’s situated. The castle has been the home of the Hamilton family since 1625, and in 1666 his son (Henry) rebuilt the castle to incorporate a long wall around the perimeter. As far as aesthetics go, the castle has a sort of classic appeal to it, with two large towers on each end, giving it a domineering presence over the comparatively small village it presides over. The name Killyleagh means “church of the descendants of Loach” in Old Irish. The town below is also a civil parish that can be found between Belfast and Downpatrick.

Now that you know where some of the oldest castles in the world can be located, how they were built, what their intended applications were, and how they were developed over time, it’s time for you to get out there and put your newfound knowledge to the test. Remember that there are many more castles all over the world to explore, each with its own interesting designs and history!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Is the Oldest Castle in the World?

There are many old castles around the globe, but where is the oldest castle in the world located? The oldest castle in the world is known as the Citadel of Aleppo, and is currently located in Aleppo, Syria, where it still stands today!

How Old Is the Oldest Castle in the World?

There are many old castles around the globe, but how old is the oldest one? The oldest castle in the world is roughly 5000 years old, and can still be visited and explored today.

What Is the Oldest Castle in Europe?

The oldest caste in Europe is the Château de Doué-la-Fontaine, located in France. While it isn’t in the best shape at the moment, this takes nothing from the sheer scale and beauty of this incredible feat of ancient engineering that people are still talking about today!

Jolina Brown

I am deeply passionate about history and am constantly fascinated by the rich and complex stories of the past. As the editor-in-chief of learning-history.com, I have the opportunity to share this passion with a wide audience through the creation and distribution of engaging and informative content about historical events, persons, and cultures. Whether it’s through writing articles and blog posts or creating videos or podcasts, I strive to bring the past to life in a way that is both accurate and enjoyable. My expertise in history, combined with my strong writing and communication skills, allows me to effectively communicate complex historical concepts and make them accessible and interesting to a wide range of readers. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to share my love of history with others through my work on learning-history.com.