7 oldest castles in the world

Some of the most magnificent and grand pieces of architecture in the world were made by the royalty and high ranking people of the society. These impressive structures, when built in the middle ages as residences and protective abodes, were termed as Castles. Across the world there are some awe-inspiring castles with beautiful history and even stunning designs. Find out 7 of the oldest castles in the world below!

Created in the year c.3000 BCE, the Citadel of Aleppo, located in Aleppo, Syria is the oldest and largest castle in the world. Built atop a hill in Aleppo, the castle was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. It was partially damaged in the Syrian Civil War and thus much of its current structure was rebuilt by the Ayyubid dynasty during the 12th century.

Reichsburg Cochem or the Cochem Castle is believed to be the second oldest castle in the world and was built around the year 1000 by the Palatinate count Ezzo. It was partially destroyed by French King Louis XIV's troops in 1688 but was restored by businessman Louis Fréderic Jacques Ravené in 1868.

The first castle built on the site of Warwick Castle was made in 1068 by William the Conqueror. Later around 1260, each successive Earl of Warwick rebuilt the castle in stone. While it fell into despair in the 16th century, it was sold to the Tussauds Group for $1.7 million in 1978 and since then, its structure and grounds have been restored.

Established in the year 1070 in Windsor, Berkshire, England Windsor Castle is the longest occupied castle in the world that has been a residence since the reign of King Henry I. While the original castle was built of motte and bailey, King Henry III built a royal palace inside the castle. It is still a royal residence and a popular tourist destination.

Located in Salzburg, Austria the Hohensalzburg Fortress was built in 1077 by Gebhard I of Helffenstein, an archbishop at that time. With the archbishop being forced into exile, the castle was completed by his successors and was fully constructed around 1500 by Archbishop Leonard von Keutschach.

The Rochester Castle in England was built in the late 1080s by Gundulf, Bishop of Rochester on a request by king William II, who wanted to take command of an important river crossing. The castle's great keep was built by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1127 and it is accessible for public viewing under the guardianship of English heritage.

The Alcázar of Segovia, located in Spain, was initially an Arab fortress built on the remains of a Roman fort. It was under the reign of King Alfonso VI and his wife Eleanor of England that the castle as it looks today was built in 1120. It remained one of the most important fortresses until the capital was moved to Madrid.