Castlemap

One per country

The oldest castle in every country

The oldest documented castle, fortress or palace in each of the 106 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 106 countries — from Avranlo Fortress in Georgia, founded 1000 BC, down to the youngest national foundings. 7 national champions date from before the common era, and 63 are medieval or earlier. The years draw on the same documented founding dates as the worldwide age ranking; 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. Avranlo Fortress Georgia · 1000 BC
  2. Carteia Spain · 939 BC
  3. Kirkuk Citadel Iraq · 800 BC
  4. Erebuni Fortress Armenia · 781 BC
  5. Acrocorinth Greece · 700 BC
  6. Ranikot Fort Pakistan · 449 BC
  7. Antonia Fortress Israel · 34 BC
  8. Domus Aurea Italy · 64
  9. Belgrade Fortress Serbia · 100
  10. Diocletian's Palace Croatia · 293

The oldest castle in all 106 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 Tajbeg PalacePalace & château · 20th century 1920
🇩🇿 Algeria Qal'at Bani HammadRuin · 11th century 1007
🇦🇷 Argentina Pucará de TilcaraFortress · 11th century 1100
🇦🇲 Armenia Erebuni FortressFortress · 8th century BC 781 BC
🇦🇼 Aruba Fort ZoutmanFortress · 19th century 1866
🇦🇹 Austria Hochosterwitz CastleCastle · 9th century 860
🇺🇦 Austria–Hungary Potocki PalacePalace & château · 19th century 1880
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan KachaghakaberdFortress · 9th century 801
🇧🇭 Bahrain Arad FortFortress · 15th century 1500
🇧🇩 Bangladesh Ahsan ManzilPalace & château · 19th century 1872
🇧🇾 Belarus Brest CastleCastle · 10th century 901
🇧🇪 Belgium Walzin CastleCastle · 10th century 1000
🇧🇯 Benin São João Baptista d’AjudáFortress · 17th century 1680
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina BobovacFortress · 14th century 1349
🇧🇷 Brazil Paço ImperialPalace & château · 18th century 1743
🇧🇳 Brunei Istana Nurul ImanPalace & château · 20th century 1984
🇧🇬 Bulgaria Mezek FortressFortress · 11th century 1100
🇨🇦 Canada Fort FrontenacFortress · 17th century 1673
🇨🇻 Cape Verde Fort Real de São FilipeFortress · 16th century 1593
🇨🇱 Chile Pukará de QuitorFortress · 13th century 1300
🇨🇴 Colombia Castillo de San Felipe de BarajasCastle · 16th century 1536
🇭🇷 Croatia Diocletian's PalacePalace & château · 3rd century 293
🇨🇺 Cuba Castillo de la Real FuerzaFortress · 16th century 1558
🇨🇾 Cyprus Kolossi CastleCastle · 13th century 1210
🇨🇿 Czech Republic Prague CastleCastle · 9th century 900
🇩🇰 Denmark AggersborgFortress · 10th century 980
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic Fortaleza OzamaFortress · 16th century 1502
🇪🇬 Egypt Fort JulienFortress · 15th century 1470
ENG England Tynemouth Castle and PrioryCastle · 7th century 601
🇪🇪 Estonia Toompea CastleCastle · 13th century 1201
🇫🇴 Faroe Islands SkansinFortress · 16th century 1580
🇫🇮 Finland Turku CastleCastle · 13th century 1300
🇫🇷 France FraxinetumCastle · 8th century 800
🇬🇪 Georgia Avranlo FortressFortress · 10th century BC 1000 BC
🇩🇪 Germany Princely Abbey of CorveyPalace & château · 9th century 801
🇬🇭 Ghana Elmina CastleCastle · 15th century 1482
🇬🇷 Greece AcrocorinthCastle · 7th century BC 700 BC
🇬🇹 Guatemala Castillo de San Felipe de LaraFortress · 17th century 1644
Guernsey Castle CornetCastle · 13th century 1206
🇭🇹 Haiti La NavidadFortress · 15th century 1492
🇭🇺 Hungary Castle of DiósgyőrCastle · 13th century 1271
🇮🇳 India Jaisalmer FortFortress · 12th century 1156
🇮🇩 Indonesia Fort RotterdamFortress · 16th century 1545
🇮🇷 Iran Portuguese CastleCastle · 16th century 1507
🇮🇶 Iraq Kirkuk CitadelFortress · 8th century BC 800 BC
🇮🇪 Ireland Cahir CastleCastle · 12th century 1142
🇮🇲 Isle of Man Castle RushenCastle · 13th century 1250
🇮🇱 Israel Antonia FortressFortress · 1st century BC 34 BC
🇮🇹 Italy Domus AureaPalace & château · 1st century 64
🇯🇵 Japan Taga CastleRuin · 8th century 724
🇯🇪 Jersey Elizabeth CastleCastle · 16th century 1594
🇯🇴 Jordan Montréal CastleCastle · 12th century 1115
🇰🇪 Kenya Fort Jesus MuseumFortress · 16th century 1593
🇽🇰 Kosovo Fortress of PrizrenFortress · 5th century 500
🇱🇦 Laos Royal Palace, Luang PrabangPalace & château · 20th century 1909
🇱🇻 Latvia Ventspils CastleCastle · 13th century 1201
🇱🇧 Lebanon Citadel of TripoliFortress · 12th century 1103
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein Gutenberg CastleCastle · 12th century 1101
🇱🇹 Lithuania Klaipėda CastleCastle · 13th century 1300
🇱🇺 Luxembourg Brandenbourg CastleRuin · 10th century 1000
🇲🇾 Malaysia A FamosaFortress · 16th century 1511
🇲🇹 Malta Fort Saint ElmoFortress · 16th century 1552
🇲🇽 Mexico National PalacePalace & château · 16th century 1522
🇲🇩 Moldova Presidential Palace in ChișinăuPalace & château · 20th century 1984
🇲🇦 Morocco Kasbah of AgadirFortress · 16th century 1540
🇲🇲 Myanmar Mandalay PalacePalace & château · 19th century 1859
🇳🇦 Namibia Duwisib CastleCastle · 20th century 1909
Netherlands Valkenburg CastleRuin · 12th century 1115
🇳🇮 Nicaragua Fortress of the Immaculate ConceptionFortress · 17th century 1673
NIR Northern Ireland Shane's Castle ruinsRuin · 14th century 1345
🇳🇴 Norway Akershus FortressFortress · 13th century 1300
🇴🇲 Oman Fort Al JalaliFortress · 16th century 1586
🇵🇰 Pakistan Ranikot FortFortress · 5th century BC 449 BC
🇵🇸 Palestine Ateret FortressRuin · 12th century 1178
🇵🇦 Panama Chagres and Fort San LorenzoFortress · 16th century 1590
🇵🇾 Paraguay Palacio de LópezPalace & château · 19th century 1892
🇨🇳 People's Republic of China Daming PalacePalace & château · 7th century 634
🇵🇭 Philippines Fort San PedroFortress · 16th century 1565
🇵🇱 Poland Wawel CastleCastle · 11th century 1001
🇵🇹 Portugal Castle of the MoorsCastle · 7th century 700
🇷🇴 Romania Fortress of DevaFortress · 13th century 1242
🇷🇺 Russia Por-BazhynRuin · 8th century 777
🇸🇲 San Marino Palazzo PubblicoPalace & château · 19th century 1894
🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe São Sebastião MuseumFortress · 16th century 1575
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Masmak FortFortress · 19th century 1865
SCT Scotland DunaddPalace & château · 6th century 600
🇷🇸 Serbia Belgrade FortressFortress · 1st century 100
🇸🇰 Slovakia Nitra CastleCastle · 11th century 1050
🇸🇮 Slovenia Ljubljana CastleCastle · 9th century 900
🇿🇦 South Africa Castle of Good HopeCastle · 17th century 1666
🇰🇷 South Korea GyeongbokgungPalace & château · 14th century 1395
🇪🇸 Spain CarteiaCastle · 10th century BC 939 BC
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Galle FortFortress · 16th century 1584
🇸🇪 Sweden BosjöklosterCastle · 11th century 1080
🇨🇭 Switzerland Valère CastleCastle · 10th century 1000
🇸🇾 Syria Qasr al-Hayr al-SharqiCastle · 8th century 729
🇹🇼 Taiwan Fort ZeelandiaFortress · 17th century 1624
🇹🇭 Thailand Bang Pa-In Royal PalacePalace & château · 17th century 1632
🇨🇳 Tibet Potala PalacePalace & château · 7th century 637
🇹🇴 Tonga Royal Palace of NukuʻalofaPalace & château · 19th century 1867
🇹🇷 Turkey Zerzevan CastleRuin · 4th century 400
🇺🇦 Ukraine Lviv High CastleRuin · 13th century 1270
🇺🇸 United States La FortalezaPalace & château · 16th century 1533
🇻🇦 Vatican City Apostolic PalacePalace & château · 16th century 1589
🇻🇳 Vietnam Imperial City of HuePalace & château · 19th century 1833
WLS Wales Monmouth CastleCastle · 11th century 1060

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 Georgia: Avranlo Fortress, founded 1000 BC. 7 countries have a national oldest from before the common era, and in 63 of the 106 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 Princely Abbey of Corvey, a palace & château founded 801. 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 Fraxinetum, a castle founded 800. 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 Tynemouth Castle and Priory, a castle founded 601. 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 Taga Castle, a ruin founded 724. 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) — usually the first fortification on the site. A country's earliest dated entry is its national oldest; undated landmarks are never guessed. 23 countries have no dated entry yet and are left out here.