What is the strongest castle in the world?

Who wouldn’t like to visit the most impenetrable castle in the world? The place where splendour and safety combine? Behind those strong walls, you can smell the history, security, and visible effects of multiple year-long sieges.

The Strongest Castle in the world is the Edinburgh castle of Scotland. The Edinburgh Castle has a rich history with royalty, but that’s not the most exciting part. It has survived more than 25 major sieges, with some lasting into years!

The Strongest Castle in the world is the Edinburgh castle of Scotlan
Image by Walkerssk from Pixabay

The Edinburg Castle: The strongest castle in the world

There are no exact records of when the Edinburg castle was initially built (ancestors built its current structures after the last siege in 1745). 

The legendary castle is built on castle rock, a site said to have been formed on a volcanic plug over 350 million years ago. 

Historians had traced activities in the area to as far back as 600CE when the Celtic tribe of Votadini built Eidyn’s hill fort on castle rock. 

It first became prominent in the 12th century, around 1058 – 1093, when Malcolm III Canmore inhabited it. 

At that time, it was known as a royal castle and has undergone fundamental alterations since then.

As a result, its unique site is surrounded by sedimentary rock and given an accentuated height that made it easy to see and repel attacks.

 The castle is an impenetrable fortress whose strength has been put to the test severally.

It has never been defeated through force or in combat. In the 12th to 15th centuries, it served as a home for royals. In the 17th century, it functioned as a military garrison, and now it is a national museum and a tourist site. 

The most prominent sieges were:

  • The Land Siege of 1571 – 1573 (which lasted for two years).
  • The fast siege of 1640 led by General Leslie.
  • Prince Charles Edward Stuart led the last siege in 1745.

Castles that have never been conquered: A Tale of the Undefeated

Castle rock/ the Edinburgh castle is strong; however, its inhabitants have conceded to external pressure a couple of times; sometimes, they were outsmarted, other times, due to diplomatic agreements. 

There are, however, some castles that have never been conquered before:

  • The Rumeli castle, Istanbul (1452)
  • The Dover Castle of the 11th century
  • Prague Castle – the Czech Baroque Fortress
  • The Bourtange Fort of 1648
  • Fortress of Suomenlinna, Finland
  • Kenilworth castle
  • Fortress of Orsini, Italy
  • Munrud Janjira, India
  • Bodiam castle
  • Mukachevo castle, Ukraine

What is the oldest standing Castle?

The oldest standing castle in the world is the Citadel of Aleppo. This castle traces back to 3000 BCE and is located in the ancient city of Aleppo, Syria. 

The castle has sustained severe damages from the Syrian Civil war, but it is still standing. It is also one of the largest castles in the world. 

Prince Saif al-Din Jakam built the most current structures still visible in the 12th century during the Ayuubid dynasty. The castle was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986 and is one of the most visited sites in Syria.

The strongest castle in England

The strongest castle in England is Kenilworth Castle. Although historians are divided as to which is more formidable between the Dover castle and the Kenilworth castle, most have favoured the latter.

 History has it that the Kenilworth castle has never been conquered before. However, in 1265, after the death of Simon de Montford, the 6th Earl of Leicester, his family sought safety behind the walls of the Kenilworth Castle. 

The castle has a farm and landmass for livestock to feed. In addition, it has an abundant water supply for the residents and a very fortified entrance.

 The only entrance into the castle was a wooden bridge that could be easily dismantled, and it was located in a high point that allowed its defenders to shoot down at unwanted entrants. 

The castle was under siege for a year, yet the court residents did not lose it to the English army.

Most famous fortresses of the world

Here are five of the world’s most famous fortresses:

Munrud Janjira, Maharashtra, India: 

The Munrud Janjira fortress has never been defeated. It is a massive island fortress located off the coast of India.

 It has 40 high walls and 19 round bastions. It has only one entrance that can be monitored and controlled. It has a durable freshwater supply, two large lakes, and grassland.

 No force (be it British, Portuguese, or Arabic) could penetrate it. It eventually joined the republic of India upon independence.

Le Mont-Saint Michel, Normandy, France

The Le Mont-Saint Michel is on an isolated abbey on the coast of Normandy. It didn’t fall during the Hundred years war between England and France. 

The castle is only accessible during low tides and remains impenetrable to date.

Hohensalzburg Fortress, Austria: 

This castle was primarily built in the 11th century as a defensive fortress. Although it has only been besieged once in its lifetime, its defensive features make it one of the most famous fortresses in the world.

The Windsor Castle

The Windsor castle of 1066 has received its fair share of attacks and wars but is nonetheless one of the world’s most formidable and famous fortresses. Moreover, it is currently one of the royal residences of the British Royal family.

The Tower of London

England is last on our list; it was commissioned by William the conqueror. The tower of London is one of the most famous fortresses in the world.

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