What is the Biggest Castle in the World?

We all think of castles as being grand in size and structure. Yet have you ever wondered which castle is the biggest in the world? 

If measured by land area, the biggest castle in the world is Malbork Castle. This is a 13th-century Teutonic brick fortress located in the town of Malbork, north-central Poland. Today this mighty castle is still standing and visited by many.

More about the biggest castle 

Initially, Malbork castle was built by a Catholic religious order known as the Teutonic Order, in the early days.

The construction started in 1275 and carried on until the year 1300. The biggest castle in the world sits on the bank of the scenic river Nogat. 

After some time, this castle became the most significant fortified Gothic building in the whole of Europe. From 1466 onwards, it served as a royal residence housing many Polish kings and Polish officials. 

Long after WWI, the castle was restored from the impact of the battles, and its city became a part of Poland.

In the 1960s, this castle became open to the general public. To reach Marlborg castle via Gdansk, it’s about a 45-minute drive.

What is the biggest castle in the U.K?

The biggest castle in the U.K., is one of the most majestic castles out there, Windsor Castle.

Throughout the year up until now, it’s inhabited, 39 British monarchs. The current queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, lives there!

Back in the 11th, the construction began after the Norman invasion of England by William the Conqueror.

Also, it was a prison for King Charles I. Windsor castle that was restored from 1921-1930 and later used as an air aid shelter for WWII royals. 

This large British castle spans across 39 acres of land, just above the South Bank of London’s River Thames. It has a fort, palace, the 15th century St George’s Chapel, and a small town. 

If you choose to visit Britains largest castle, you can see the royal guards change their shift at 11 am, as they protect their royal guests.

By the way, not many people know that the UK is the home of the smallest castle in the world, which might be smaller than your house.

What is the biggest castle in Germany 

The biggest castle in Germany is the Burghausen Castle, which also happens to be the longest castle in Europe and the rest of the world! It has a length of over 1000 meters and is a castle you should visit. 

This castle was believed to be founded before 1205, and settlers resided there as early as the bronze age.

Then from 1255, it became the residence for many Bavarian dukes, and over time they extended Burghausen’s magnificent fortification. Again following the reunification of Bavaria, it was also modernized. 

Today, Burghausen Castle is visited by many tourists for its hauntingly beautiful gothic architecture. 

The castle has a central inner courtyard and five outer courtyards. When visiting, you can see many remarkable paintings, museums, chapels, wings, stables, great halls, and rooms.

What is the biggest castle in France 

France’s biggest castle is Château de Chambord. The castle itself is 156 meters long and up to 56 meters in height. Inside the Château de Chambord, there are 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces, and 77 staircases. 

This castle is located in Loir-et-Cher in France and is one of the most noticed castles in the world due to its stunning French architecture.

 Initially, its purpose was to be a hunting lodge for Francis I. Then, later on, many royals took ownership of the Château de Chambord.

Likewise, it has a moat and high walls. Even though it has a moat, it was never built with the intention of defence. 

This is a trendy castle, with many visitors coming far and wide to see its magnificent renaissance architecture. 

What is the biggest castle in Italy 

Located in Italy’s northern city of Milan, Italy’s most giant castle is the Sforza Castle. This castle was built in the 15th century for the Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza. 

The castle’s fortifications sit on 25.9 hectares of land. The construction of this castle began in 1360-1499 and housed many dukes.

What’s magnificent about this castle is that many fantastic artists came to decorate it. The artists who painted the castle are Leonardo Da Vinci, Bernardino Zenale, and Bernardino Butanone. 

However, French and German troops damaging it, the castle was then restored and enlarged in 1512.

The castle later became a citadel, then later a place for military use. However, in the early part of the 19th century, there was some debate about whether to destroy or use it as a residential site. 

Luckily, an architect known as Luca Beltrami renovated the castle, and the ownership was transferred back to the ownership of Milan in the 19th century. 

Again, in the second World War, the castle became damaged severely. Repairs were made in the 20th century, and a fountain was built in its centre. By 2005, the restoration and halls were completed. 

Today you can visit, see the renovation works and see many of Milan’s most beautiful artwork as this castle houses several museums featuring magnificent works of its early artists.

The biggest castle in Spain 

The biggest castle in Spain is the Alcazaba of Almeria, which is located in the South of Spain in Andalucia. It’s thought that this castle was constructed around 955 by the Caliph of Cordoba. 

This magnificent fortress is located on a hill that overlooks the cities old centre, Medina. 

This castle houses two areas; the first houses a large pond, and the second has a public area. It was the second area that housed King Alomaticin in the 11th century. 

Centuries on a Christian governor came to live and restored certain parts of the castle. 

Then, later on, Catholic Monarchs and other areas were built based on their liking.

The biggest castle in Austria 

Erected on the top of the hill at an altitude of 506m the largest castle known in Austria is Hohensalzburg Castle.

The castle at the beginning was built as a basic bailey with wooden walls in the year 1077 by Archbishop Gebhard von Helfenstein.

During the early days of 20 century it the Nazis used the castle as a prison.

Now is one of the most visited medieval castles in the centre of Europe.

We hope we’ve inspired you with the biggest castles in the world from the UK, Poland, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Austria.

If you choose to visit this castle, they recommend getting there early for 8 am as it’s one of Vienna’s most popular tourist attractions. 

Have you visited any of these castles or know of any of more biggest castles in the world? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

Related Questions

What is the oldest castle in the world?

Formerly, the oldest castle in the world was in Aleppo, northern Syria. The citadel was initially built in 3000BC. However, due to the countries war, it was bombed and no longer existed. 

Today the oldest castle in the world is The Reischsburg Cochem located in, Cochem, Germany. This castle is believed to have been built around the year 1000.

What is the most beautiful castle in the world?

There has been no title given to a specific castle for the most beautiful castle in the world. However, the most commonly reported across many sites is the Hohenzollern castle in Germany.