-
(#3) Château d'Ussé, France
First constructed as a fortified stronghold in the 11th century, the Château d'Ussé is located in France above the Indre Valley, and may have inspired the tale of Sleeping Beauty.
According to the castle's website, the chateau is still used as a private residence for the Duke of Blacas and his family.
-
(#2) Arundel Castle
- House
Construction on Arundel Castle began in 1068, at the order of William the Conqueror. Today, it is more than 950 years old, and "one of the largest inhabited and complete castles in England." The castle, open to the public, is the principal seat of the Dukes of Norfolk.
-
(#9) Belvoir Castle
The Rutland family has lived on the grounds of Leicestershire's Belvoir Castle for nearly 1,000 years. The land was first gifted to the family's ancestor, Robert de Todeni, by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.
Following the Wars of the Roses, the first version of the castle was reduced to ruins by 1464. The second was destroyed in 1649, during the English Civil War. The third castle was completed in 1668, and the fourth and current castle was completed in 1832.
-
(#4) Alnwick Castle
Located in the English county of Northumberland, Alnwick Castle is the second-largest inhabited castle in England. It is owned by the 12th Duke of Northumberland, the current head of the House of Percy. His family has lived in the castle for more than 700 years.
The first parts of Alnwick castle were built in the late 9th century. In modern times, it's been used as filming locations for both the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey.
-
(#14) Dover Castle
The site where Dover Castle now stands has been of strategic importance to multiple cultures for more than 2,000 years. Early inhabitants established hillforts on Castle Hill around 500 BC, and the Romans built a fort and lighthouse there somewhere around 130 AD. That lighthouse (pictured) still stands on the property, and now abuts a Saxon church, St Mary de Castro, which itself dates to 1000 AD.
English royals stopped using Dover Castle as a residence in 1625, but it remained of strategic importance to the military during the Napoleonic Wars, and then through World War I and II. The army continued to inhabit the castle till 1958, after which it became a residence for senior officers until 2015.
Today, the head of Dover Castle is officially the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, who also holds the position of Constable of Dover Castle. His residence is in Constable's Gate.
-
(#11) Chateau Le Plessis-Bourré, France
Built between 1468 and 1473, the Château du Plessis-Bourré is located in Écuillé, France, and was originally constructed as a fortress.
This historic monument remains largely unchanged since its initial construction, and is still privately owned today. Since 1956, it has been owned and occupied by the descendants of one of Napoleon Bonaparte's generals.
New Random Displays Display All By Ranking
About This Tool
The castle is known as the symbol of nobility in the Middle Ages and has many ancient stories. We can visit various ancient castles of different eras all over the world today. The accumulation of food, wealth, and resources led to the increased demands for defensive structures from the nobility and royal family. A large number of strong and magnificent stone castles were built in the Middle Ages to resist aggression.
By the end of the 16th century, Europe had 70,000 to 100,000 castles, some of which were still in normal use, and some had been damaged. At the beginning of the 20th century, castles became popular again, with people admiring medieval knights, Gothic architecture, and the Renaissance. The random tool lists 14 old Medieval castles that are still in use.
Our data comes from Ranker, If you want to participate in the ranking of items displayed on this page, please click here.