Country with the Most Castles
November 19, 2020
Country with the Most Castles
Castles, castles, which country has the most castles? You'll likely be surprised at
the answer.
Wales, a country on the western edge of England, has more castles than any other in
the United Kingdom! Total castle numbers vary from over 500 to 641, depending on who
you talk with, but either way, you won't have to drive far between castles!
Wales, the Castle Capital of the World – Top Castles to See
Ruthin Castle
Located in the charming medieval market town of Ruthin, you can stay in the 'Red Fort,'
and even take part in a Medieval Banquet. The only Edward I castle in Wales where
guests can stay overnight, the castle sits on the location of a wooden fort where
King Arthur is said to have visited frequently.
Cardigan Castle
Cardigan Castle is a castle overlooking the River Teifi in Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales.
It is a Grade I listed building. The castle dates from the late 11th-century, though
was rebuilt in 1244. Castle Green House was built inside the castle walls in the early
1800s.
Caerphilly Castle
Readers of Wales Online voted Caerphilly Castle the best in Wales. The largest castle
in Wales, Caerphilly is surrounded by purpose built defensive lakes and considered
one of the best medieval castles in Europe.
Caernarfon Castle
Famous for its ornamentation, many towers, and curtain walls built of colored stone,
this northwestern castle is called the most impressive castle built by Edward I. In
1969, Caernafon Castle was the site of the investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales.
Raglan Castle
One of the last medieval castles to be built in Wales, Raglan Castle was built for
comfort and showmanship rather than defense. The boyhood home of Henry Tudor, Later
King Henry VII, Raglan Castle had a reputation for entertainment which continues to
this day as the castle regularly hosts poetry reading, plays, singing, and dancing.
Conwy Castle
A World Heritage Site, Conway Castle is so well intact that nearly all of the castle
is accessible to visitors. The town of Conwy, with its medieval walls and simple streets,
will transport you back to the 13th century.
Harlech Castle
Rising, seemingly from the cliffs above the Irish Sea, Harlech Castle may be one of
the most dramatic in Wales. Another World Heritage Site, Harlech Castle is linked
to the tragic heroine of Branwen in Welsh mythology, a decade-long siege during the
'War of the Roses,' and was one of the last Royalist holdouts to fall to Cromwell.
Pembroke Castle
Built over a natural cavern, this massive stone fortress, begun by William Marshall
in the late 1200's, remains impressively intact. The birthplace of Henry VII, the
castle has the distinction of having never fallen to the Welsh.
Carreg Cennen
Wales' "most romantic ruin" lies on the western edge of Brecon Beacons National Park.
Located on a craggy hilltop, archeological evidence points to Iron Age Man and Roman
occupancy long before a castle was built here. Once owned by Henry of Bolingbroke,
later King Henry V, the castle ruins are now privately owned and can be visited 364
days a year.
Castell Dinas Bran
The only castle on this list built for a Welsh prince and not Norman occupancy, the
ruins of Castell Dinas Bran, built in the mid-1200's, sit high above the Dee Valley.
Accessible only after a rugged, but well-marked, climb, the views of the valley from
the castle are astounding.
