Castles

A castle (from Latin: castellum) is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble. This is distinct from a palace, which is not fortified; from a fortress, which was not always a residence for nobility; and from a fortified settlement, which was a public defence - though there are many similarities among these types of construction. Usage of the term has varied over time and has been applied to structures as diverse as hill forts and country houses. Over the approximately 900 years that castles were built, they took on a great many forms with many different features, although some, such as curtain walls and arrowslits, were commonplace.

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    Castle on Island (Ruins), Krylow

    There are ruins of the castle on an island on the Bug River. The castle was built in the 14th century by J. Ostrorog, the castellan of Poznan.

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    Castle St. Miklos, Chinadievo

    Castle St. Miklos or Saint Nicholas is located in the village of Chinadievo that in Mukachevo Transcarpathian region. In addition, he has a third, more romantic name - Castle of Love.

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    Castle Uchanski (Ruins), Uchanie

    Castle Uchanski was build after 1470 years. Now Castle is ruined. Castle Uchanski located in Uchanie village in Hrubieszow County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland.

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    Castle, Belzyce

    The first mention of the Belzyce village goes from the 14th century. The castle was erected probably by Spytek of Tarnow before 1416. In 1417 Belzyce were granted civic rights. In the mid-15th century Belzyce belonged to the Pilecki family of the house of Leliwa.

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    Castle, Czemierniki

    Old castle in Czemierniki village in Radzyn Podlaski County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland.

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    Castle, Halych

    The Castle in Halych was built in the middle of the XIV century. However it was known as the fixed citadel in 1114. Archaeologists consider that at the first this was a wooden building which later became the strong Castle of Halych princes (XII-XIV centuries).

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    Castle, Krasiczyn

    The castle in Krasiczyn is one of the greatest treasures of Renaissance in Poland and ranks among the most beautiful castles in Europe.

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    Castle, Rachodoszcze

    Castle in Rachodoszcze village in the administrative district of Gmina Adamow, within Zamosc County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland.

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    Castle, Veseli nad Moravou

    A former medieval water castle from the 13th century was rebuilt in the 16th century into a Renaissance chateau. In 1621 was the Chateau heavily damaged, riddled and set on fire. In the 2nd half of the 17th century was Castle reconstructed.

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    Castle, Wojciechow

    Castle in Wojciechow (Defensive Tower) was built in the early fifteenth century. Wojciechow is a village in Lublin County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland.

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    Cejkovice Castle (Chateau)

    The renaissance castle with historical wine cellars from 13th century originally belonged to the Templar order. After the Order had been abolished the castle came to one of the noble families and after the Thirty-years War came to Jesuit order.

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    Chateau, Museum, Hustopece nad Becvou

    Four-wing two-storey Renaissance chateau with a square layout, which was built by the Zerotins in place of the original 16th century fortress. Chateau, Museum, Hustopece nad Becvou.

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    Chonkovce Castle (Ruins)

    Chonkovce Castle (Ruins). Castle is mentioned in 1418, however, this is the last mention of the castle.

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    Chortkiv Castle (Ruins)

    Chortkiv Castle dates from 1610, when Chortkiv and whole Western Ukraine were part of Polish Kingdom) and is situated on the top of a hill on the bank of the river Seret, which flows south through Chortkiv and is a tributary of Dniester.

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    Cicava Castle (Ruins)

    Cicava Castle was built in 1309-1316. The castle did not survive the last Rakoczis rebellion in 1711 when it was damaged. Cicava Castle (Ruins).

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    Cimburk Castle (Ruins)

    Ruins of a castle founded at the turn of the 13th century. The castle was built as the residence of the Lords of Cimburk. Over the centuries the castle changed owners numerous times.

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    Citadel of Severin

    The Medieval Citadel of Severin that overlooks the Danube has three possible origins attributed to its name, the first being associated with the name of Roman Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus, another coming from the Slavic word 'severnai' that translates into 'northern', and the last being religious, alluding to Severin of Noricum the patron saint of the medieval Latin church discovered within the ruins of the citadel.

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    Conwy Castle

    Conwy Castle is a medieval fortification in Conwy, on the north coast of Wales. It was built by Edward I, during his conquest of Wales, between 1283 and 1289.

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    Corvin Castle

    Corvin Castle, also known as Hunyadi Castle or Hunedoara Castle, is a Gothic-Renaissance castle in Hunedoara, Romania. It is one of the largest castles in Europe and figures in a top of seven wonders of Romania.

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    Czorsztyn Castle (Ruins)

    The ruins of Czorsztyn Castle are located in the southernmost part of Poland in Czorsztyn (Nowy Targ County in Lesser Poland), at Czorsztyn Lake within Pieniny National Park borders. On the other side of the Czorsztyn Lake is located Niedzica Castle.

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    Damasd Castle (Ruins)

    Damasd Castle (Ruins). The Damasd castle is mentioned for the first time in 1361, as a hunting palace of the king.

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    Devin Castle

    Devin Castle is a castle in Devin, which is a borough of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Owing to its strategic position, the cliff (altitude of 212 meters) at the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers was an ideal place for a fort.