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Build in the 11 century, it was heavily modified in the 14th and 15th century, but has remained largely unchanged since then.

The original castle was build in the 12th century, but was destroyed in the late 15th century. It was rebuild as a residence, first for a capitular, later for the local aristocratic family, Bontemps.

Picture by Riccardo Locatelli

The castle of Fenis was mostly built from the 12-14th century. Because it lost its strategic importance early on, it remained largely unchanged since the 14th century, though some renovations were done in the 19th century to undo damages to the structure.

The first castle of Montepò was erected around 1000, but the structure was mostly redone during the Renaissance. Later additions were removed in the 19th century in order to restore the Renaissance look. It is now a high class winery.

OC by me, CC0

The castle goes back to the 12th century when it protected a bridge over the river Loire. It modified to fit the tastes of the late Renaissance in the 15th and 16th century, though some parts of the original 12th century building are still visible.

The castle is part of the UNESCO world heritage site of the Loire valley.

In November 2023, I stumbled upon an article about a virtually unknown ancient site that captured my imagination - a place that seemed to defy explanation with what appeared to be a floating door on a flat-topped mountain. This enigmatic site, located in Hejin City, Shanxi Province, China, sparked a viral sensation with its blend of natural and man-made mysteries. Despite its sudden fame, the fortress vanished from the limelight as quickly as it appeared, leaving many questions unanswered.

Determined to uncover the secrets of this ancient fortress, I embarked on a meticulous quest to learn more about this elusive site. My initial research led me to various names like ‘Longmen Fortress’ and ‘Wiezhaung Village Castle,’ with some even dubbing it a ‘Nephilim Hideout.’ However, none seemed officially recognized, prompting me to name it the Hejin City Fortress.

The Altenburg ("old castle") goes back to the early 12th century. It suffered heavy damages in the peasant uprisings of the 16th century and was further damaged by a landslide in the 18th century. A charity took over the ruin in the early 19th century and restored the castle.

An aerial view of the castle

The likely origin of the castle was in the 13th century, though its precise date of construction is unknown. It was renovated in the 17th century, though another renovation in 1901 aimed to restore its medieval appearance. It serves as a hotel today.
It is sometimes referred to as one of the most beautiful moated castles in France.

The castle was originally build in the 12th century in order to protect a bridge over the river Loue. After it got damaged during wars in the 17th century, the buildings were rebuilt and modified in the 18th century, though the medieval layout remained mostly intact.

Photo by Doume Piazzolli on Flickr.

The castle goes back to the 11th century, but today's buildings are mostly from the 15-17th century.

Fun fact: The castle was the ancestral seat of the Estaing family, but the family lost it in the early 19th century. The former French president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing bought the castle back in 2005.