Europe map shows which countries have the most castles – there’s a clear winner | World | News
A map has shown the location of castles across western and central Europe, and one nation seems to be the stand out winner. During the medieval period, the defensive buildings came into their own on the continent as factions sought to establish their rule over territories.
In France, rival dukes and counts, who were not completely under the direct control of the King, vied for supremacy, including those in Normandy, Brittany and Anjou. The peasantry began to gather and live near the buildings, and the country became the home of chivalry, boasting knights and cavalry.
Some of the most famous examples standing today include the Château de l’Hermine in Britanny and Château Gaillard in Normandy. When William I assumed the crown in England following his victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, he deployed motte-and-bailey castles to consolidate his rule. France looks to be more or less covered in red on the map, signifying a large number of castles, with several areas of its large landmass featuring a very high concentration of structures.
This includes patches in the north west of the country, and a loop at the bottom, including Bordeaux, Toulouse, Montpellier and Lyon. Belgium also contains a large amount in its relatively small area, and there’s also a lot bunched together in the north west of Spain.
Moreover, the middle and bottom of Germany is covered, as well as the north and south of the Alps.
Some are even in the mountains themselves. Castles in Italy, Portugal, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Denmark and Scandinavia are also featured on the map.
They look quite sparse in the UK in comparison, while in Ireland, there appears to be a large number concentrated in specific areas.
According to the World Population Review, France has the highest number of castles in 2025, 45,000.
Second is Italy with less than half this total, 20,000.
Germany, meanwhile, has 3,481, and Czechia 1,820.
The UK has 1,500. Spain comes close with 1,459, and Belgium just after that with 1,240.
