Source: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons
Malbork Castle
> Town or region: Malbork, Poland
> Century: 13th
This UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by the Teutonic Knights, is the world’s largest castle in terms of area covered.
Source: Berthold Werner / Wikimedia Commons
Castel del Monte
> Town or region: Andria, Italy
> Century: 13th
This hilltop castle, built by Emperor Frederick II, is comparatively small by castle standards, but is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and appears on the Italian minting of the one-cent Euro coin.
24/7 Wall St.
Source: olliemtdog / iStock via Getty Images
Conwy Castle
> Town or region: Conwy, Wales
> Century: 13th
In classifying it as a World Heritage Site, UNESCO described this impregnable-looking castle as among “”the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe.”
Source: Canoneer / iStock via Getty Images
Hluboká Castle
> Town or region: Hluboká, Czechia
> Century: 13th
Originally Gothic in style, this castle was refashioned several times over the centuries in different architectural styles. Its present-day exterior was modeled after that of Windsor Castle (see above).
Source: saiko3p / iStock via Getty Images
Scaligero Castle
> Town or region: Sirmione (Lake Garda), Italy
> Century: 13th
One of the most popular castles in Italy among visitors, and one of the best preserved, this medieval fortress on the banks of Lake Garda was built by the Della Scala family, rulers of nearby Verona and its region.
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