One per country
The most famous castle in every country
The single most iconic castle, fortress, palace or ruin in each of the 141 countries on the map — ranked by global fame.
Pick any country and one castle stands above the rest: the one the most languages write about and the most readers look up. This page names that castle for all 141 countries in the atlas — from Palace of Versailles in France, the most famous castle on Earth, down to the signature landmark of every smaller country. Together these 141 national champions span the global fame ranking from #1 to #5,236, and 32 of them place inside the world's 100 most famous castles. Among them: 31 castles, 52 fortresses, 42 palaces & châteaux and 16 ruins. Fame is measured the same objective way as the full ranking of all 7,787 castles — how widely each is documented across Wikipedia's languages and how widely it is actually read.
The 10 most famous national castles
Taking one castle per country, these are the ten whose national standout ranks highest in the world.
- Palace of Versailles France · #1 worldwide
- Acropolis of Athens Greece · #2 worldwide
- Forbidden City China · #3 worldwide
- Alhambra Spain · #4 worldwide
- Neuschwanstein Castle Germany · #5 worldwide
- Buckingham Palace England · #6 worldwide
- Kremlin Russia · #12 worldwide
- Schönbrunn Palace Austria · #13 worldwide
- Balmoral Castle Scotland · #14 worldwide
- Topkapı Palace Turkey · #15 worldwide
The most famous castle in all 141 countries
Every country in the atlas, alphabetical, with its most famous castle and where that castle places in the worldwide fame ranking. Follow any castle for its photo, founding date and story, or any country for its full map.
| Country | Most famous castle | World rank |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | Darul Aman PalacePalace & château · 20th century | #729 |
| 🇦🇱 Albania | Rozafa FortressRuin · 15th century | #378 |
| 🇩🇿 Algeria | Casbah of AlgiersFortress · 10th century | #150 |
| 🇦🇴 Angola | Fortress of São MiguelFortress · 16th century | #2,115 |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina | Pucará de TilcaraRuin · 11th century | #1,400 |
| 🇦🇲 Armenia | Erebuni FortressRuin · 8th century BC | #519 |
| 🇦🇼 Aruba | Fort ZoutmanFortress · 19th century | #3,310 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Fort DenisonFortress · 18th century | #2,235 |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | Schönbrunn PalacePalace & château · 17th century | #13 |
| 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | Palace of the ShirvanshahsPalace & château · 15th century | #448 |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | Qal'at al-BahrainRuin · 15th century BC | #694 |
| 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Lalbagh FortFortress · 17th century | #485 |
| 🇧🇾 Belarus | Brest FortressFortress · 19th century | #285 |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | Royal Palace of BrusselsPalace & château · 19th century | #220 |
| 🇧🇯 Benin | Royal Palaces of AbomeyPalace & château · 17th century | #914 |
| 🇧🇹 Bhutan | Tashichho DzongFortress · 13th century | #1,183 |
| 🇧🇴 Bolivia | Palacio QuemadoPalace & château · 19th century | #1,769 |
| 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina | DaorsonRuin | #1,161 |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | Palácio da AlvoradaPalace & château · 20th century | #406 |
| 🇧🇳 Brunei | Istana Nurul ImanPalace & château · 20th century | #209 |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | TsarevetsFortress · 12th century | #593 |
| 🇰🇭 Cambodia | Royal Palace (Phnom Penh)Palace & château · 19th century | #409 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Casa LomaCastle · 20th century | #319 |
| 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | Fort Real de São FilipeFortress · 16th century | #2,232 |
| 🇨🇱 Chile | Pukará de QuitorRuin · 13th century | #2,619 |
| 🇨🇳 China | Forbidden CityPalace & château · 15th century | #3 |
| 🇨🇴 Colombia | Castillo de San Felipe de BarajasCastle · 16th century | #835 |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | Diocletian's PalacePalace & château · 3rd century | #43 |
| 🇨🇺 Cuba | San Carlos de la Cabaña FortressFortress · 18th century | #839 |
| 🇨🇼 Curaçao | Fort Amsterdam (Curaçao)Fortress · 17th century | #1,455 |
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus | Kolossi CastleCastle · 13th century | #836 |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | Prague CastleCastle · 9th century | #20 |
| 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo | Palace of the NationPalace & château · 20th century | #2,010 |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | Kronborg CastleCastle · 15th century | #81 |
| 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | Fortaleza OzamaFortress · 16th century | #1,064 |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | Cairo CitadelFortress · 12th century | #153 |
| ENG England | Buckingham PalacePalace & château · 18th century | #6 |
| 🇪🇪 Estonia | Kadriorg PalacePalace & château · 18th century | #329 |
| 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | Fasil GhebbiFortress · 17th century | #301 |
| 🇫🇴 Faroe Islands | SkansinFortress · 16th century | #1,948 |
| 🇫🇮 Finland | SuomenlinnaFortress · 18th century | #69 |
| 🇫🇷 France | Palace of VersaillesPalace & château · 17th century | #1 |
| 🇬🇪 Georgia | AnanuriCastle · 16th century | #436 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Neuschwanstein CastlePalace & château · 19th century | #5 |
| 🇬🇭 Ghana | Elmina CastleCastle · 15th century | #196 |
| 🇬🇮 Gibraltar | Moorish CastleCastle · 14th century | #784 |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | Acropolis of AthensFortress · 5th century BC | #2 |
| 🇬🇹 Guatemala | Castillo de San Felipe de LaraCastle · 17th century | #1,981 |
| 🇬🇬 Guernsey | Castle CornetCastle · 13th century | #2,203 |
| 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | Fortaleza de São José da AmuraFortress | #4,383 |
| 🇬🇾 Guyana | Fort Zeelandia (Guyana)Fortress · 18th century | #3,810 |
| 🇭🇹 Haiti | Citadelle LaferrièreFortress · 19th century | #292 |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | Buda CastleCastle · 13th century | #76 |
| 🇮🇳 India | Red FortFortress · 17th century | #23 |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | Merdeka PalacePalace & château | #639 |
| 🇮🇷 Iran | Alamut CastleRuin · 9th century | #34 |
| 🇮🇶 Iraq | Ishtar GateFortress · 6th century BC | #38 |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | Dublin CastleCastle · 13th century | #207 |
| 🇮🇲 Isle of Man | Castle RushenCastle · 13th century | #1,648 |
| 🇮🇱 Israel | MasadaRuin · 1st century BC | #22 |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Castel Sant'AngeloCastle · 2nd century | #17 |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | Himeji CastleCastle · 14th century | #29 |
| 🇯🇪 Jersey | Elizabeth CastleCastle · 16th century | #1,894 |
| 🇯🇴 Jordan | Kerak CastleCastle · 12th century | #428 |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | Fort Jesus MuseumFortress · 16th century | #477 |
| 🇽🇰 Kosovo | Fortress of PrizrenRuin · 5th century | #1,309 |
| 🇱🇦 Laos | Royal Palace, Luang PrabangPalace & château · 20th century | #1,884 |
| 🇱🇻 Latvia | Rundāle PalacePalace & château · 18th century | #246 |
| 🇱🇧 Lebanon | Beaufort Castle (Lebanon)Castle · 12th century | #162 |
| 🇱🇾 Libya | Bir HakeimFortress | #800 |
| 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | Vaduz CastlePalace & château · 12th century | #176 |
| 🇱🇹 Lithuania | Hill of CrossesFortress · 14th century | #78 |
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | Grand Ducal PalacePalace & château · 16th century | #525 |
| 🇲🇬 Madagascar | Rova of AntananarivoPalace & château · 17th century | #663 |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | A FamosaRuin · 16th century | #680 |
| 🇲🇹 Malta | Fort Saint ElmoFortress · 16th century | #486 |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | Chapultepec CastlePalace & château · 18th century | #195 |
| 🇲🇩 Moldova | Soroca FortFortress · 15th century | #1,017 |
| 🇲🇨 Monaco | Prince's Palace of MonacoPalace & château · 12th century | #168 |
| 🇲🇪 Montenegro | Fortifications of KotorFortress | #796 |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | Aït BenhaddouPalace & château · 11th century | #18 |
| 🇲🇿 Mozambique | Fort São SebastiãoFortress · 16th century | #3,575 |
| 🇲🇲 Myanmar | Mandalay PalacePalace & château · 19th century | #982 |
| 🇳🇦 Namibia | Duwisib CastleCastle · 20th century | #3,410 |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | Singha DurbarPalace & château · 19th century | #1,271 |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Royal Palace of AmsterdamPalace & château · 17th century | #177 |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | Larnach CastleCastle · 19th century | #1,656 |
| 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | Fortress of the Immaculate ConceptionFortress · 17th century | #3,319 |
| 🇳🇪 Niger | MadamaFortress · 20th century | #3,773 |
| 🇰🇵 North Korea | Pyongyang CastleCastle | #2,407 |
| 🇲🇰 North Macedonia | Skopje FortressFortress | #669 |
| 🇨🇾 Northern Cyprus | Kyrenia CastleCastle · 16th century | #960 |
| NIR Northern Ireland | Hillsborough CastleCastle · 18th century | #556 |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | Akershus FortressFortress · 13th century | #149 |
| 🇴🇲 Oman | Al Alam PalacePalace & château · 16th century | #986 |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | Lahore FortFortress · 12th century | #208 |
| 🇵🇸 Palestine | Golden GateFortress · 7th century | #275 |
| 🇵🇦 Panama | Chagres and Fort San LorenzoRuin · 16th century | #1,343 |
| 🇵🇾 Paraguay | Palacio de LópezPalace & château · 19th century | #686 |
| 🇵🇪 Peru | Machu PicchuFortress · 15th century | #19 |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | Malacañang PalacePalace & château · 18th century | #333 |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | Malbork CastleCastle · 13th century | #24 |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | Belém TowerFortress · 16th century | #36 |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | Zubarah FortFortress · 20th century | #4,211 |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | Bran CastleCastle · 13th century | #39 |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | KremlinFortress · 15th century | #12 |
| 🇸🇲 San Marino | Three Towers of San MarinoCastle · 11th century | #768 |
| 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe | São Sebastião MuseumFortress · 16th century | #3,154 |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Ajyad FortressRuin · 18th century | #690 |
| SCT Scotland | Balmoral CastlePalace & château · 14th century | #14 |
| 🇷🇸 Serbia | Belgrade FortressFortress · 1st century | #271 |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | The IstanaPalace & château | #1,130 |
| 🇸🇽 Sint Maarten | Fort Amsterdam (Sint Maarten)Fortress · 17th century | #4,353 |
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia | Spiš CastleRuin · 12th century | #97 |
| 🇸🇮 Slovenia | Predjama CastleCastle · 13th century | #169 |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | Castle of Good HopeCastle · 17th century | #520 |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | GyeongbokgungPalace & château · 14th century | #58 |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | AlhambraPalace & château · 13th century | #4 |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Galle FortFortress · 16th century | #712 |
| 🇸🇩 Sudan | KummaRuin | #3,751 |
| 🇸🇷 Suriname | Fort Zeelandia (Paramaribo)Fortress · 17th century | #1,300 |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | Stockholm PalacePalace & château · 18th century | #109 |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Habsburg CastleCastle · 11th century | #121 |
| 🇸🇾 Syria | Krak des ChevaliersCastle · 11th century | #47 |
| 🇹🇼 Taiwan | Fort Zeelandia (Taiwan)Fortress · 17th century | #367 |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | Palace MuseumPalace & château · 20th century | #2,605 |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | Grand PalacePalace & château · 18th century | #67 |
| 🇧🇸 The Bahamas | Fort MontaguFortress · 18th century | #4,541 |
| 🇹🇴 Tonga | Royal Palace of NukuʻalofaPalace & château · 19th century | #1,329 |
| 🇹🇳 Tunisia | Borj El KebirFortress · 14th century | #2,378 |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | Topkapı PalacePalace & château · 15th century | #15 |
| 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Livadia PalacePalace & château · 20th century | #253 |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Al-Jahili FortFortress · 19th century | #2,250 |
| 🇺🇸 United States | Fort SumterFortress · 19th century | #105 |
| 🇺🇾 Uruguay | Cerro FortressFortress · 19th century | #3,205 |
| 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Ark of BukharaFortress · 16th century | #528 |
| 🇻🇦 Vatican City | Apostolic PalacePalace & château · 16th century | #40 |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Imperial Citadel of Thăng LongFortress · 11th century | #393 |
| WLS Wales | Caernarfon CastleCastle · 13th century | #144 |
| 🇼🇫 Wallis and Futuna | TalietumuRuin · 15th century | #5,236 |
| 🇾🇪 Yemen | Ghumdan PalaceRuin · 8th century BC | #1,918 |
Browse castles in all 141 countries → · See all 7,787 ranked by fame →
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous castle in the world?
By this atlas's fame ranking it is Palace of Versailles in France — documented in more Wikipedia language editions, and read by more people, than any other castle. It is naturally also the most famous castle in France.
What is the most famous castle in Germany?
Neuschwanstein Castle — a 19th century palace & château in Germany, ranked #5 of 7,787 worldwide.
What is the most famous castle in France?
Palace of Versailles — a 17th century palace & château in France, the most famous castle in the world.
What is the most famous castle in Japan?
Himeji Castle — a 14th century castle in Japan, ranked #29 of 7,787 worldwide.
What is the most famous castle in the United States?
Fort Sumter — a 19th century fortress in the United States, ranked #105 of 7,787 worldwide.
How is the most famous castle in a country decided?
Not by opinion. Every castle carries a fame score that blends how widely it is documented — the number of Wikipedia language editions with an article about it — with how widely it is read, from Wikipedia's pageview data. The highest-scoring castle in a country is its "most famous", the same method that ranks all 7,787 castles worldwide on the full fame ranking.
Does every country have a famous castle?
Every one of the 141 countries in the atlas has at least one documented castle, fortress, palace or ruin, and this page names the most famous in each. Countries with only a handful of entries still have a clear standout; a country with no well-documented castle simply isn't in the atlas yet — the data refreshes from Wikidata, so new ones can join.