Castlemap

One per country

The oldest castle in every country

The oldest documented castle, fortress, palace or ruin in each of the 145 dated countries — from antiquity to the present.

Every country has a first: the earliest site whose founding the sources record. This page names it for 145 countries — from Aniba in Egypt, founded c. 3000 BC, down to the youngest national foundings. 32 national champions date from before the common era, and 90 are medieval or earlier. The years draw on the same documented founding dates as the worldwide age ranking — approximate dates are marked “c.” — and its counterpart by renown is the most famous castle in every country.

Explore them on the interactive map →All ranked by age →

The 10 oldest national champions

Taking one site per country, these are the ten oldest.

  1. Aniba Egypt · c. 3000 BC
  2. Knossos Greece · c. 1900 BC
  3. Royal Palace of Mari Syria · 1800 BC
  4. Amman Citadel Jordan · 1800 BC
  5. Nuraghe Santu Antine Italy · c. 1750 BC
  6. Numantia Spain · c. 1702 BC
  7. Qal'at al-Bahrain Bahrain · c. 1450 BC
  8. Van Fortress Turkey · c. 850 BC
  9. Kirkuk Citadel Iraq · c. 800 BC
  10. Ghumdan Palace Yemen · c. 800 BC

The oldest castle in all 145 countries

Every dated country in the atlas, alphabetical, with its oldest site and documented founding year. Follow any castle for its photo and story, or any country for its full map.

CountryOldest castleFounded
🇦🇫 Afghanistan Herat CitadelFortress · 4th century BC 330 BC
🇦🇱 Albania Pogradec FortressRuin · 5th century BC c. 450 BC
🇩🇿 Algeria LambaesisRuin · 2nd century 123
🇦🇴 Angola Fortress of São MiguelFortress · 16th century 1576
🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda Fort BerkeleyFortress · 18th century 1704
🇦🇷 Argentina Pucará de TilcaraRuin · 11th century 1100
🇦🇲 Armenia Erebuni FortressRuin · 8th century BC 782 BC
🇦🇼 Aruba Fort ZoutmanFortress · 19th century 1866
🇦🇺 Australia Fort DenisonFortress · 18th century 1788
🇦🇹 Austria Linz PalacePalace & château · 8th century 799
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan Chirag GalaRuin · 5th century c. 450
🇧🇭 Bahrain Qal'at al-BahrainRuin · 15th century BC c. 1450 BC
🇧🇩 Bangladesh Hajiganj FortFortress · 17th century 1610
🇧🇾 Belarus Brest CastleRuin · 10th century c. 901
🇧🇪 Belgium Castle of VêvesCastle · 7th century c. 650
🇧🇯 Benin Royal Palace MuseumPalace & château · 17th century c. 1601
🇧🇹 Bhutan Tashichho DzongFortress · 13th century c. 1250
🇧🇴 Bolivia Palacio QuemadoPalace & château · 19th century 1853
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Samobor FortressFortress · 1st century 14
🇧🇷 Brazil Rio Branco PalacePalace & château · 16th century 1549
🇧🇳 Brunei Istana Nurul ImanPalace & château · 20th century 1984
🇧🇬 Bulgaria Hisarlaka FortressFortress · 4th century c. 400
🇰🇭 Cambodia Royal Palace (Phnom Penh)Palace & château · 19th century 1866
🇨🇦 Canada Fort AnneFortress · 17th century 1629
🇨🇻 Cape Verde Fort Real de São FilipeFortress · 16th century 1593
🇨🇱 Chile Pukará de QuitorRuin · 13th century 1300
🇨🇳 China Great Wall of ChinaFortress · 7th century BC c. 700 BC
🇨🇴 Colombia San Sebastián de UrabáCastle · 16th century 1510
🇭🇷 Croatia TiluriumRuin · 1st century c. 50
🇨🇺 Cuba Castillo de la Real FuerzaFortress · 16th century 1558
🇨🇼 Curaçao Fort Amsterdam (Curaçao)Fortress · 17th century 1634
🇨🇾 Cyprus Saranta KolonesRuin · 7th century c. 675
🇨🇿 Czech Republic Prague CastleCastle · 9th century c. 900
🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo Fort de ShinkakasaFortress · 19th century 1891
🇩🇰 Denmark GamleborgFortress · 8th century c. 750
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic Fortaleza OzamaFortress · 16th century 1502
🇪🇬 Egypt AnibaRuin · 30th century BC c. 3000 BC
ENG England Maiden CastleCastle · 6th century BC 600 BC
🇪🇪 Estonia Valjala StrongholdRuin · 12th century c. 1150
🇪🇹 Ethiopia Fasil GhebbiFortress · 17th century c. 1650
🇫🇴 Faroe Islands SkansinFortress · 16th century 1580
🇫🇮 Finland Turku CastleCastle · 13th century c. 1300
🇫🇷 France BibracteCastle · 2nd century BC c. 200 BC
🇬🇪 Georgia Avranlo FortressRuin · 5th century BC c. 500 BC
🇩🇪 Germany Celtic circular wall of OtzenhausenFortress · 4th century BC c. 350 BC
🇬🇭 Ghana Elmina CastleCastle · 15th century 1482
🇬🇮 Gibraltar Moorish CastleCastle · 14th century c. 1350
🇬🇷 Greece KnossosRuin · 19th century BC c. 1900 BC
🇬🇹 Guatemala Castillo de San Felipe de LaraFortress · 17th century 1644
🇬🇬 Guernsey Castle CornetCastle · 13th century 1206
🇬🇾 Guyana Fort Kyk-Over-AlRuin · 17th century 1616
🇭🇹 Haiti La NavidadRuin · 15th century 1492
🇭🇺 Hungary Castle of EgerRuin · 13th century c. 1250
🇮🇳 India Sikandar BaghPalace & château · 2nd century c. 150
🇮🇩 Indonesia Indrapatra FortFortress · 7th century c. 650
🇮🇷 Iran Bam CitadelRuin · 5th century BC c. 500 BC
🇮🇶 Iraq Kirkuk CitadelRuin · 8th century BC c. 800 BC
🇮🇪 Ireland Dun AengusRuin · 2nd century BC c. 150 BC
🇮🇲 Isle of Man Peel CastleRuin · 11th century 1050
🇮🇱 Israel Tower of DavidFortress · 2nd century BC 150 BC
🇮🇹 Italy Nuraghe Santu AntineRuin · 18th century BC c. 1750 BC
🇯🇵 Japan Yoshinogari siteRuin · 4th century BC c. 400 BC
🇯🇪 Jersey Mont OrgueilCastle · 13th century 1204
🇯🇴 Jordan Amman CitadelRuin · 18th century BC 1800 BC
🇰🇪 Kenya Thimlich OhingaRuin · 15th century c. 1450
🇽🇰 Kosovo Fortress of PrizrenRuin · 5th century c. 500
🇱🇦 Laos Royal Palace, Luang PrabangPalace & château · 20th century 1909
🇱🇻 Latvia Rūjiena FortressRuin · 12th century 1125
🇱🇧 Lebanon Fortress of NihaFortress · 10th century 975
🇱🇾 Libya Gasr BanatRuin · 3rd century c. 250
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein Gutenberg CastleCastle · 12th century c. 1101
🇱🇹 Lithuania Raudonė CastlePalace & château · 2nd century 110
🇱🇺 Luxembourg BockRuin · 10th century 963
🇲🇬 Madagascar Rova of AntananarivoPalace & château · 17th century c. 1650
🇲🇾 Malaysia A FamosaRuin · 16th century 1511
🇲🇹 Malta Cittadella, GozoFortress · 15th century 1500
🇲🇽 Mexico National Palace (Mexico)Palace & château · 16th century 1522
🇲🇩 Moldova Bender FortressFortress · 15th century c. 1450
🇲🇨 Monaco Prince's Palace of MonacoPalace & château · 12th century 1191
🇲🇳 Mongolia Sangiin KheremRuin · 18th century c. 1750
🇲🇪 Montenegro Žabljak CrnojevićaRuin · 10th century c. 950
🇲🇦 Morocco Kasbah of MehdiaFortress · 10th century c. 950
🇲🇿 Mozambique Fort São CaetanoFortress · 16th century 1505
🇲🇲 Myanmar Mandalay PalacePalace & château · 19th century 1859
🇳🇦 Namibia SchwerinsburgCastle · 19th century 1890
🇳🇵 Nepal Hanuman DhokaPalace & château · 16th century c. 1550
🇳🇱 Netherlands Coevorden CastleCastle · 11th century 1024
🇳🇿 New Zealand Larnach CastleCastle · 19th century 1874
🇳🇮 Nicaragua Fortress of the Immaculate ConceptionFortress · 17th century 1673
🇳🇪 Niger MadamaFortress · 20th century 1931
🇳🇬 Nigeria Royal Palace of the Oba of BeninPalace & château · 13th century 1280
🇰🇵 North Korea Anhak PalaceRuin · 5th century 427
🇲🇰 North Macedonia Samuel's Fortress (Ohrid)Fortress · 4th century BC c. 350 BC
🇨🇾 Northern Cyprus Saint Hilarion CastleRuin · 10th century c. 950
NIR Northern Ireland Clough CastleRuin · 10th century c. 1000
🇳🇴 Norway SverresborgCastle · 12th century 1182
🇴🇲 Oman Al Alam PalacePalace & château · 16th century c. 1550
🇵🇰 Pakistan Ranikot FortFortress · 5th century BC 450 BC
🇵🇸 Palestine Golden GateFortress · 7th century c. 650
🇵🇦 Panama Chagres and Fort San LorenzoRuin · 16th century c. 1590
🇵🇾 Paraguay Palacio de LópezPalace & château · 19th century 1892
🇵🇪 Peru PikillaqtaRuin · 5th century 500
🇵🇭 Philippines Fort San PedroFortress · 16th century 1565
🇵🇱 Poland Wawel CastleCastle · 10th century c. 970
🇵🇹 Portugal Castle of AlvorCastle · 7th century BC c. 650 BC
🇶🇦 Qatar Zubarah FortFortress · 20th century 1938
🇷🇴 Romania Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie MountainsFortress · 1st century BC c. 50 BC
🇷🇺 Russia Naryn-KalaFortress · 6th century c. 501
🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis Brimstone Hill FortressFortress · 17th century 1690
🇸🇲 San Marino Three Towers of San MarinoCastle · 11th century c. 1050
🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe São Sebastião MuseumFortress · 16th century 1575
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia The Qishla of JeddahRuin · 16th century 1525
SCT Scotland Broch of GurnessCastle · 5th century BC 500 BC
🇷🇸 Serbia Belgrade FortressFortress · 1st century c. 100
🇸🇬 Singapore Istana Kampong GlamPalace & château · 19th century 1819
🇸🇽 Sint Maarten Fort Amsterdam (Sint Maarten)Fortress · 17th century 1631
🇸🇰 Slovakia GerulataRuin · 2nd century c. 150
🇸🇮 Slovenia Socerb CastleCastle · 9th century c. 850
🇿🇦 South Africa Castle of Good HopeCastle · 17th century 1666
🇰🇷 South Korea WolseongRuin · 2nd century 101
🇪🇸 Spain NumantiaRuin · 18th century BC c. 1702 BC
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka SigiriyaRuin · 2nd century BC c. 150 BC
🇸🇷 Suriname Fort Zeelandia (Paramaribo)Fortress · 17th century 1650
🇸🇪 Sweden TorsburgenRuin · 1st century c. 50
🇨🇭 Switzerland CastelgrandeCastle · 1st century c. 75
🇸🇾 Syria Royal Palace of MariPalace & château · 18th century BC 1800 BC
🇹🇼 Taiwan Fengguiwei FortFortress · 17th century 1622
🇹🇿 Tanzania Old Fort of ZanzibarFortress · 17th century 1699
🇹🇭 Thailand Chulachomklao FortFortress · 2nd century 153
🇧🇸 The Bahamas Fort MontaguFortress · 18th century 1741
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste Palácio de LahanePalace & château · 19th century 1884
🇹🇴 Tonga Royal Palace of NukuʻalofaPalace & château · 19th century 1867
🇹🇳 Tunisia Kasbah of BéjaFortress · 2nd century BC c. 150 BC
🇹🇷 Turkey Van FortressRuin · 9th century BC c. 850 BC
🇺🇦 Ukraine Qutlaq FortressRuin · 1st century BC c. 1 BC
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates Al FulayyahFortress · 18th century c. 1750
🇺🇸 United States Montezuma CastleRuin · 12th century c. 1125
🇺🇾 Uruguay Fortaleza de Santa TeresaFortress · 18th century 1762
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan Ayaz-KalaRuin · 4th century BC c. 350 BC
🇻🇦 Vatican City Apostolic PalacePalace & château · 16th century 1589
🇻🇪 Venezuela Castillo SolanoFortress · 18th century c. 1766
🇻🇳 Vietnam Co Loa CitadelRuin · 3rd century BC 257 BC
WLS Wales Isca AugustaRuin · 1st century c. 50
🇼🇫 Wallis and Futuna TalietumuRuin · 15th century c. 1450
🇾🇪 Yemen Ghumdan PalaceRuin · 8th century BC c. 800 BC

Browse castles in every country → · See all dated castles ranked by age →

Frequently asked questions

Which country has the oldest castle?

By documented founding year it is Egypt: Aniba, founded c. 3000 BC. 32 countries have a national oldest from before the common era, and in 90 of the 145 countries listed the oldest entry is medieval or earlier.

What is the oldest castle in Germany?

The atlas's oldest dated site in Germany is Celtic circular wall of Otzenhausen, a fortress founded c. 350 BC. Earlier structures may have existed — this is the oldest with a documented founding year.

What is the oldest castle in France?

The atlas's oldest dated site in France is Bibracte, a castle founded c. 200 BC. Earlier structures may have existed — this is the oldest with a documented founding year.

What is the oldest castle in England?

The atlas's oldest dated site in England is Maiden Castle, a castle founded 600 BC. Earlier structures may have existed — this is the oldest with a documented founding year.

What is the oldest castle in Japan?

The atlas's oldest dated site in Japan is Yoshinogari site, a ruin founded c. 400 BC. Earlier structures may have existed — this is the oldest with a documented founding year.

How is a country's oldest castle decided?

By the documented founding year in each landmark's Wikidata record (inception, P571), or the Wikipedia lead where Wikidata has none — usually the first fortification on the site. A country's earliest dated entry is its national oldest; undated landmarks are never guessed. 3 countries have no dated entry yet and are left out here.