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.
Castles
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6Martinuzzi Castle (Ruins), Vintu de Jos
Today only ruins, the Martinuzzi Castle is located in Vintu de Jos , Alba County. The name of Vintu de Jos town is mentioned in documents in the history of Transylvania and not at any pleasant event.
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2Melczer Castle, Keked
Melczer Castle, Keked. The 15th-16th century, Gothic style Melczer Mansion, can be found in the centre of the village Keked.
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1Meszes Castle (Ruins)
Castle ruins near village Meszes in Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen county, Hungary.
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5Metropolitan Castle, Blaj
The Metropolitan Castle is a historic monument, built by G. Bagdi in 1535. It also belonged to Michael Apafi II, the last prince of Transylvania. It was turned into headquarters for the Greek Catholic Diocese (1737), then for the Metropolitan Church (1853). For a while it hosted the city's History Museum.
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1Middachten Castle
Castle Middachten is a monumental manor house, located on the Middachten estate, De Steeg, Netherlands. The current building dates from 1693-1698.
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8Miko Castle
The Miko Castle is a fortified castle in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania. It is among the city's most important monuments, and today houses an ethnographic museum devoted to Szekely heritage.
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10Mir Castle Complex
The Mirsky Castle Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Belarus. It is located in the town of Mir, in the Karelichy District of the Hrodna voblast, 29 km to the north-west from another World Heritage site, Nesvizh Castle.
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2Mohosvar Castle (Ruins)
Mohosvar (Mohos) Castle (Ruins). The castle was built by the Gut-Keled family on top of a hardly approachable mountain top after the Mongol invasion.
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3Monok Castle
Monok is one of the oldest residental settlement situated between the area of the River Tisza and Hernad. From its historic buildings the fortified castle rises above the others which is now under construction.
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5Montebello, Bellinzona
Montebello Castle (known as the Small, New or Middle Castle in the 15th century, as Schwyz Castle from 1506 and St. Martin's Castle after 1818) is located to the east of the town center. It was built before 1313 for the pro-Imperial Rusca family, who occupied the castle following the Visconti victory and occupation of the Castelgrande.
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10Mozyr Castle
The castle was built in Mozyr which is one of the oldest towns in the Belarusian Polesie in the 15th century. Walls and defensive towers surrounded a palace, residential and household buildings, St. Savior’s Church and the deepest well in Belarus which was erected in case of a longstanding siege of the castle.
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2Muran Castle (Ruins)
Muran Castle, is a ruin of a medieval castle situated above the village of Muran, in the Muranska planina National Park in Slovakia.
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7Nakagusuku Castle
Nakagusuku Castle is a gusuku in the village of Kitanakagusuku, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is one of a number of castles built on the island of Okinawa during the Ryukyu Kingdom now in ruins.
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7Nakijin Castle
Nakijin Castle is a Ryukyuan castle or fortress located in Nakijin, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is currently in ruins.
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1Nalatzi-Fay Castle, Nalatvad
Nalatzi-Fay Castle in Nalatvad village, Romania. Nalatzi-Fay Castle now is ruined.
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9Nesvizh Castle
Nesvizh Castle or Niasvizh Castle is a residential castle of the Radziwill family in Nesvizh, Belarus. It is situated at an elevation of 183 meters. From 1921 to 1939 the complex was located in Poland and was considered one of the most beautiful Polish castles in the Kresy region.
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1Nevytsky Castle
Nevytsky Castle is a semi-ruined castle in Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukraine 12 km north of Uzhhorod. It was founded in the early 15th century.
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7New Castle, Banska Stiavnica
he main fortress against the Turks became the renaissance building of the New Castle built in 1564 - 1571. It was a part of a signaling equipment used for informing about the approaching enemy on the territory from Pukanec to Lubietova. There were 21 canons around the castle.
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2Nialiab Castle (Ruins)
Ruins of Nialiab Castle on the outskirts of Korolevo. Hungarian king Ishtvan V builds a hunting lodge on grounds of what was one an old Slavic settlement.
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3Niedzica Castle
Niedzica Castle also known as Dunajec Castle, is located in the southernmost part of Poland in Niedzica (Nowy Targ County in Lesser Poland). It was erected between the years 1320 and 1326 by Kokos of Brezovica on the site of an ancient stronghold surrounded by earthen walls in the Pieniny mountains.
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10Nitra Castle
Nitra Castle is a castle located in the Old Town of Nitra, Slovakia. It is a dominant of the city and a national cultural monument. It is the seat of the Diocese of Nitra.
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3Nograd Castle (Ruins)
Nograd Castle (Ruins). The Nograd castle was built before 1108 but abandoned after the 1685 lightning which destroyed the inner part of the castle.
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1Novy Svetlov Chateau
Castle Novy Svetlov: the original fort was built in the 1480s to protect the town from the attacks of Hungarians. Later it was converted into a castle in the Neo-gothic style.
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4Old Castle, Banska Stiavnica
Old Castle is one of the oldest buildings in Banska Stiavnica, it´s the jewel of mediaeval architecture. It documents the development of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque style.
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2Old Castle, Kittsee
The Old Castle Kittsee is located in the market town of Kittsee im Burgenland. It is a listed building. Old Castle Kittsee.
