Rothenburg, Germany Rothenburg is the definitive fairy-tale walled city of Europe. Not quite as large as Avila or Carcassonne, when it comes to charm and enchanting walks, Rothenburg easily surpasses its rivals. The walled city and its treasure of architectural masterpieces, among the oldest in Bavaria and Germany, look as if they have been lifted straight out of a story by … [Read more...]
WALLED CITY OF CARCASSONNE
Carcassonne, France Of all of the surviving walled cities in Europe, Carcassonne in Southern France is the undisputed champion. Besting even Avila in Spain and Rothenberg in Germany, there is no other place in Europe, or arguably the world, where the true medieval character of a walled city has been as completely and perfectly preserved as Carcassonne. Standing on top of a … [Read more...]
WALLED CITIES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN (RHODES, VALLETA)
Rhodes, Greece; Valleta, Malta The Knights Hospitaller was the largest chivalrous order in the history of Europe. Except for a brief period during the Crusades when they were temporarily eclipsed by the Templars, they have also been the most important. The Hospitalers, more than any other organization or nation, fought the long, slow retreat against the Ottoman Turks. To … [Read more...]
WALLED CITY OF JERUSALEM
Jerusalem, Israel As walled cities go, Jerusalem may be the most famous, most visited and most blood soaked in history. No fewer than five walls have been constructed over the millennia to defend this holiest of cities, not to mention over a dozen renovations and expansions, with varying degrees of success. The walls of Jerusalem witnessed major fighting on over two dozen … [Read more...]
WALLED CITY OF ARBIL
Arbil, Iraq The old walled city of Arbil, also known as the Arbil Citadel, is one of the world’s oldest relatively intact walled cities, recent renovations notwithstanding. A fortification has stood on the spot since at least the 3rd millennium BC, and it was an important waystation on the vital trade routes of Northern Mesopotamia throughout much of its history. It has also … [Read more...]
CRUSADER CITY
Akko, Israel The city of Akko, or Acre as it was called by the Crusaders, was one of the most important and militarily strategic cities in the world for the better part of two hundred years. Christian warriors from Europe poured into this citadel on their way to do battle with the armies of Islam. It was from here that Hospitalers, Templars, Teutonic Knights and others … [Read more...]
