Oldest Castle in Europe

Oldest Castle in Europe

If there’s one thing that Europe is definitely famous for, it is its architecture. This continent is home to some of the world’s most stunning and famous buildings, and in this article, we’re going to take a closer look at them! We’ll be focusing on the oldest castles in Europe in particular, and we hope that you enjoy reading this article. 

Let’s dive right in. 

5 Oldest Castles In Europe

5. Drottningholm Palace

Age: 56 Year or century of construction: Late 17th century
Style of architecture: French Baroque and Italian Classical
Location: Drottningholm, Sweden

Drottningholm Palace

Drottningholm Palace is another of the oldest castles in Europe. This particular palace is one of many royal residences in Sweden, though this one is the royal family’s private residence. It is located on Lovön island in Ekerö Municipality, which is in Stockholm County. One of the most interesting features of this castle is that the version of it that exists today is actually a rebuilt building! 

Back in 1661, the Queen Dowager Regent Hedwig Eleonora bought a castle, but it later burned down in that same year. She later hired an architect named Nicodemus Tessin the Elder to redesign and construct a new building with updated features and decor, and work started in 1662. It took over 20 years to complete, but unfortunately Tessin died before seeing the finished product. His son took over his father’s work, and added lots of elaborate interior design features. The castle included several busts, marble sculptures, and a wooden staircase. 

Did you know?

Drottningholm translates to “queen’s islet”. 

4. Palace of Versailles

Year or century of construction: 1661
Style of architecture: Classicalism and Baroque
Location: Versailles, France

Palace of Versailles

When researching this article, we realized that our list would be incomplete if it did not have this famous and fabulous castle on it! The Palace of Versailles is one of the oldest castles in Europe, and it is known for being a place that is steeped with European and world history. It’s interesting to note that the construction on this castle first began in 1661. Louis XIII began constructing this castle after visiting the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, where he was a guest at a feast. Although he had traveled to and hunted in Versailles in the past, he didn’t have any special interest in it until he visited the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. 

He turned the Palace of Versailles into a full-fledged royal residence after emerging victorious from the War of Devolution against Spain. In the years before the war, the construction of the palace focused less on the actual building itself, but more on the gardens. The construction took several years to complete, but eventually, it was finished. 

Did you know? 

The Palace of Versailles has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.

3. Egeskov Castle

Year or century of construction: Early 15th century, completed in mid 16th century
Style of architecture: Late Gothic
Location: Kværndrup, Denmark

Egeskov Castle

The Egeskov Castle is another one of the oldest castles in Europe! This castle is located in Kværndrup, in Denmark. Unfortunately, we don’t know when exactly this castle was built, but we do know that it was first mentioned around 1405. However, the castle’s overall structure was erected and completed after 1554 by Frands Brockenhuus.

This castle has quite an interesting history. The reason that it was built in water is because during a civil war called Count’s Feud, noblemen in Denmark often constructed their homes as fortifications. This meant that the castle was built inside a small lake, and at the time, the only means of access was through a drawbridge. 

Did you know? 

The Egeskov Castle is home to several museums in the present day, including a collection of flying vehicles and a collection of written works describing the history of agriculture. 

2. Alcázar of Segovia 

Year or century of construction: 12th century
Style of architecture: Medieval style
Location: Segovia, in Castile and León, Spain

Alcázar of Segovia

Alcázar of Segovia is another of the oldest castles in the world, and it is located in Spain. One of the most interesting things about this castle is the fact that it has existed since the 12th century, though its exact age remains a mystery until today. It is also one of the most popular places to visit in Spain, and is a medieval castle that remains renowned among architecture and history enthusiasts. 

Alcázar of Segovia originally began as a Roman castrum, though its worth noting that most of its original foundation does not exist anymore today. The Alcazar was actually built by the Berber Almoravid dynasty. Although this dynasty produced beautiful work, most of it has not survived and remains erased from design and architectural studies today. Still, it’s interesting to note that this castle served multiple purposes, including being both a fortress and a royal palace for Castilian monarchs. It’s also important to note that its architectural style was an example of power architecture. 

Did you know? 

Alcázar of Segovia is currently a museum and a military archive building. 

1. Windsor Castle

Year or century of construction: 11th century
Style of architecture: Gothic, Georgian, and Victorian architecture
Location: Berkshire, England

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is arguably the oldest castle in Europe and even the world! This castle is woven into the fabric of British history, and is known for being one of the primary homes of the British royal family. It was built after the Norman invasion of England in the 11th century, after the country was invaded by William the Conqueror. It has been used by whoever the current reigning monarch is since Henry I, making it the world’s only palace to be continually occupied. 

It’s no secret that this castle is one of the most lavish places to live in the entire world! Back in the 19th century, it was remarked that this castle’s apartments were considered to be superb and unrivalled. Many even stated that the apartments within the castle were a prime example of Victorian architecture and Georgian taste. Over the years, this castle has seen its fair share of renovations and repairs by different kings, including Charles I, George III, and George IV. 

Did you know? 

The royal family took refuge at this castle for several weeks during the Second World War when the Luftwaffe bombing campaigns took place. 

Conclusion

In this article, we looked more closely at some of the oldest castles in Europe. These castles have all survived centuries of war, pain, and lots of historical change. We hope that you enjoyed reading this article, and that you learned something new from it today. Let us know in the comments below which castle you liked learning about the most!

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