From the glistening white towers of feudal
Japanese architecture to the Baroque and Gothic keeps of Eastern Europe, today we look at
the Biggest Castles On Earth. Number 10. Edinburgh Castle
One of the oldest castles in Scotland, the castle of Edinburgh dates back to the Iron
Age in the second century A.D. The 385 thousand square foot structure was
built upon the plug of an extinct volcano, called Castle Rock, that raises it above the
city for which its named. This placement on Castle Rock has given Edinburgh
Castle a spot among Scotland's beloved symbols due to its resulting iconic skyline. While it may not be the largest on this list,
its history and significance among locals definitely places it as the greatest Scottish
castle. Number 9. Citadel of Aleppo
In northern Syria, a 160-foot tall structure towers at the center of the city of Aleppo
. With a history dating back to the 3rd millennium BC, the massive hill this castle rests on
was used by a plethora of cultures including the Ayyubids , Byzantines , Greeks and Mamluks
. Identified as originating from an ancient temple for ancient Mesopotamian storm deity
Hadad , this structure would develop over the years as a fortress for the armies that
would pass through Aleppo over the next 5000 years. The hill first became a defensive post under
the rule of Greek leader of the Seleucid Empire and successor to Alexander the Great — Seleucus
. Establishing an acropolis on this ancient hill in Aleppo , the Greek control lasted
until the Romans took the area in 64 BC. Evidence of the Roman reign is relatively
scarce as muslim troops converged on the citadel in 636 AD, and the years following would be
spent in conflict between various islamic dynasties. Mongols and central Asian armies would continue
to attack the citadel as well and in 1400 AD, the citadel was actually demolished due
to combat. It was then rebuilt and renovated multiple
times over by the empires and governments that came after. Today the 428,447 square foot citadel is still
utilized by rivalling forces in modern strife, and as such has received massive damage in
recent years. Number 8. Himeji Castle
The legendary japanese complex known as Himeji Castle is a shining example of classic prototypical
feudal architecture. Also known as the White Egret or White Heron
castle, this 83-room white spectacle of a building resembles a majestic ivory bird taking
flight. Dating back to the year 1333 AD, this castle
began as a fort built atop Himeyama hill in the Hyogo Prefecture before being torn down
and rebuilt as a castle a dozen years later. Further remodeling occurred in 1581 with the
construction of a three story tower within an area of 590 square feet within the castle
grounds. Seemingly stricken with great fortune, the
castle is known for surviving a series of shifts in political climate, the likes of
which saw the fall of many other feudal structures. Local folklore regarding Himeji Castle includes
ghost stories, moral-enforcing fables, and unsettling urban legends. Perhaps its this supernatural significance
that is to thank for the survival of the 446,357 square foot Japanese fortress. Number 7. Buda Castle
In the city of Budapest sits a monumental structure illuminated in golden yellow lights
that looms above the surrounding urban rooftops. The Hungarian palace of Buda Castle has been
around since 1265, but the baroque structure admired today wasn't constructed until the
late 18th century. Constructed with beautiful themed rooms, cellars,
ballrooms, staircases and halls, the castle itself is a masterful work of art. But within these castle grounds are gorgeous
individual pieces as well in the form of brilliant sculptures. Two pairs of glorious lions guard the gates
to an area of the castle called Lions Court. The statue of Prince Eugene of Savoy is a
huge bronze tribute to the Battle of Zenta in 1697 and adorns the Danube terrace. A representation of the Turul bird, a mythological
symbol of Hungary, displays the nationally-revered bird atop a tall pillar above the coat of
arms of the Kingdom of Hungary. These pieces of art, combined with the gorgeous
architecture of Buda Castle, prepared the property for its modern purpose as the palace
now contains the Budapest History Museum and Hungarian National Gallery. This cements the 480 thousand square foot,
riverside castle as a historical masterpiece. Number 6. Spis [spisz] Castle
The eastern European ruins of Spis [spisz] Castle rise above the nearby town of Spisske
Podhradie in the nation of Slovakia. The grounds of the castle are vastly spacious,
encompassing the whole of the hilltop on which it rests. A mixture of Romanesque and Gothic architectural
styles combine to create the regal aesthetic of this historical hub of eastern Europe. But the grace of Spis [spisz] Castle took
some damage and fell into disrepair when it caught fire in 1780. Differing stories tell of the fire originating
from either attempts by the Csaky family to escape rooftop taxation, the mistake of soldiers
brewing moonshine, or the unfortunate placement of natural lightning strike. Regardless of the reason, the Castle was shortly
abandoned thereafter, yet still remained under Csaky ownership until 1945. Once procured by Czechoslovakia, and concurrently
Slovakia, the castle became a popular archaeological site in the 20th century, with interesting
artifacts such as torture devices being found within the 532,652 square foot Spis [spisz]
Castle. Number 5. Hohensalzburg Castle
Constructed at the request of the archbishops of Salzburg under the Holy Roman Empire, the
castle known also as the Hohensalzburg Fortress is one of the best preserved and all around
biggest castles across Europe. Originally erected in 1077, the castle began
expanding as the papacy began feuding with then Emperor Henry IV. Its now emblematic ring walls and towers were
constructed in 1462 and further expansion continued under the guidance of subsequent
archbishops over the next 150 years. By the end of the 19th century, though, the
castle had become more of a tourist attraction with refurbishing and preservation becoming
chief priorities of the Austrian caretakers overseeing the property. Today, millions of tourists visit Hohensalzburg
Castle for the various attractions within its grounds. These include the Salzburg Bull, a large mechanical
organ boasting 200 pipes that's played daily between April and October each year, and the
trumpeter tower, which was constructed for specialized tower keepers in 1465. Other nearby sights like the Marionette Museum
and tours of legendary composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's hometown only help increase attendance
to this lavish, 586,880 square foot stronghold. Number 4. Windsor Castle
Home to the Queen of England and nine centuries of royal history, in the English county of
Berkshire , lies a castle straight out of a storybook. Considered the oldest castle in the world
with the actual castle being constructed in the 11th century, this landmark of the United
Kingdom came about after the Norman invasion led by William the Conqueror. Since its development, Windsor Castle has
hosted the royal family and is the longest-occupied palace in Europe with Queen Elizabeth II still
residing within its walls on weekends. With a millennium of history, the castle has
housed an astonishing 39 separate monarchs! For centuries the castle remained well preserved,
with most all damage being almost immediately fixed during times of conflict. But in 1992, a fire broke out and blazed across
the fortress for nearly 15 hours straight! The damage done to the Upper Ward section
of this 590 thousand square foot estate required 5 years time and 47 million dollars in repair
costs. Perhaps the most impressive number, however,
comes in the 1.5 million gallons of water used to put out the fire...which, in addition
to the fire and smoke damage, unfortunately led to extensive water damage too! Number 3. Prague [prahg] Castle
From its humble beginnings as the Church of the Virgin Mary, the modern day office to
the President of the Czech Republic has grown to a massive 718,609 square feet. Known now as Prague [prahg] Castle, the religious
origins of this citadel were absorbed by the erection of a palace in the 12th century. Within the castle grounds, more palaces, churches,
basilicas and gardens were added over the next nine centuries. One of the most impressive traits of these
additions is the inclusion of nearly every architectural style of the last thousand years! From the Gothic stylings of the St. Vitus
Cathedral to the Romanesque design of the Basilica of St. George to the Renaissance
flavor of the Old Royal Palace, the Prague [prahg] Castle covers all its bases. Between the vast expanse of the estate grounds
and the various buildings, differing in age and style, Prague [prahg] Castle blurs the
line between a castle and a small city! Number 2. Mehrangarh Fort
Rising out of the desert like it was sculpted directly out of the mesa on which it sets,
overlooking the city of Jodhpur is the Indian castle known as Mehrangarh Fort. Nearly 560 years old, the fort was erected
by the 15th century ruler Rao Jodha and has withstood the test of time as well as combat. The 874,320 square foot property is known
for its intricate carvings, seven prominent gates, and well-preserved artifacts now on
display throughout the fort. A gallery within proudly hangs paintings of
the Marwar style, particularly pieces originating from the Jodhpur region. The Mehrangarh Museum contains a collection
of the different turbans that gained prevalence across the history of Rajasthan , representing
the Indian state's various communities, festivals and regions. This museum also houses priceless treasures
in an area called the Daulat Khana , which preserves among other valuables the remains
of the famed ruler Emperor Akbar . There is also a well-maintained armory equipped with
rare swords and firearms of old, decorated in ivory and jade and studded with precious
gems. Ornate vehicles like the royal howdahs that
sat on elephants or the palanquins that servants would carry can also be found on the grounds. And these are just the treasures that can
be seen! Who knows what other ancient riches are hidden
within this great bastion. Number 1. Malbork Castle
Founded in the 13th century by German-Catholics known as the Teutonic Order, this Polish castle
is the largest in the world by far. The castle was built to establish a stronger
foundation in the Baltics and would steadily expand to accommodate the growing number of
Teutonic Knights that would accumulate during the Crusades. Though widespread European conflict over the
years would see the castle sustain foreign occupation and heavy damage, it would eventually
settle as one of the landmarks of Poland following extensive restoration efforts. Today, the giant castle estate is an enormous
35 acres, or more than one and a half million square feet. That's bigger than the Pentagon and twenty
times the size of the White House!
