3 ms·

Nice project, but unfortunately (as others have also commented) a bit incomplete. Some stuff missing in Romania (which I'm reasonably familiar with): - Arad fo

by rob74 3mo ago

Nice project, but unfortunately (as others have also commented) a bit incomplete. Some stuff missing in Romania (which I'm reasonably familiar with): - Arad fortress (similar to Alba Iulia, but less well known, currently a military base): https://maps.app.goo.gl/a2Dw3W2CKCpU7cJA7 https://maps.app.goo.gl/a2Dw3W2CKCpU7cJA7 - Oradea fortress (same as above, but open to the public): https://maps.app.goo.gl/a2Dw3W2CKCpU7cJA7 https://maps.app.goo.gl/a2Dw3W2CKCpU7cJA7 - Târgu Mureș fortress (slightly smaller than the ones above, but also notable): https://maps.app.goo.gl/qcwSFL9hGqoCZXWv7 https://maps.app.goo.gl/qcwSFL9hGqoCZXWv7 - plus lots of villages and smaller towns in Transylvania also have fortresses or fortified churches: Biertan https://maps.app.goo.gl/VVMkpaFbf7HJjbPQA https://maps.app.goo.gl/VVMkpaFbf7HJjbPQA, Râșnov https://maps.app.goo.gl/1LnB5h2sTj1WRmTk7 https://maps.app.goo.gl/1LnB5h2sTj1WRmTk7, Saschiz https://maps.app.goo.gl/Yb5dDz38xXyy8JEZ7 https://maps.app.goo.gl/Yb5dDz38xXyy8JEZ7, Viscri https://maps.app.goo.gl/318uMB1fEvpqXSzi7 https://maps.app.goo.gl/318uMB1fEvpqXSzi7, Rupea https://maps.app.goo.gl/6hTM8PtkQhQxXcyG8 https://maps.app.goo.gl/6hTM8PtkQhQxXcyG8

thyristan 3mo ago
There is a lot of stuff missing. I'm from a region in Germany where every other village has it's own castle, ruin or palace. There needs to be some selection, otherwise it's just more overwhelming. Therefore I do like the map, and it's very good imho that there is some tier-selector to pick out the good ones.
- lo_zamoyski 3mo ago
  The trouble is that the definition of "castle" varies considerably between countries. For instance, the German classification divides them into "Schloss" and "Burg", but these can include anything from earthworks to barely present ruined remains of a foundation to buildings that resemble a larger than average house. French classification - under the term "chateau" and its subdivisions - is even more generous. Compare that with the Polish classification which is more strict and precise, differentiating between manors, palaces, strongholds, and permanent fortified complexes, for instance.
  - rob74 3mo ago
    Sure, you could argue forever what should be included, what's significant enough (only still existing buildings or also ruins? how well-known does it have to be?), if only historical castles should be included or also things like Hearst Castle in California (which is actually a large mansion built in historical style, with the main building looking like a church - if that's included, you could also include, say, Mar-a-Lago?).
    - uxhacker 3mo ago
      It is also important in context to include castles in Africa to show that the area did contain castles. This fact often surprises people that Africa has castles and some of them dating back to the 11 century. For example just by looking from my eye you are missing Lamu Castle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamu_Fort https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamu_Fort Siyu Fort https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siyu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siyu Thimlich Ohingahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thimlich_Ohinga https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thimlich_Ohinga And then in Tanzania you have the Gerezani Fort in Kilwa Kisiwani, the Old Fort of Zanzibar, the German Fort in Bagamoyo. And then Taleh Fort in Somalia. I have not even started on either Mozambique, or Angola.
  - uxhacker 3mo ago
    The importance of the definition is to actually save the castles. For example in Lower Silesia in Poland, which was Germany, and Czech before, there where about 2000 Castles (Schloss's). Now many of these castles lay in ruins. By only including the popular ones like this map does it means the less famous ones will become even less popular, and a piece of history will disappear.
    - twic 3mo ago
      An Italian friend was excited to visit a castle, and on arrival disappointedly exclaimed "but this is a "fortezza!".
- kakacik 3mo ago
  In our tiny little village of 2000 people, we have 4 small castles (chateaux). Next one also has some. So does next one. Its fine if its not exhaustive list. All major I could think of in few european countries I could find with all info correctly. Thank you for this effort, much appreciated.
  - rob74 3mo ago
    I hope I don't get into hot water here, but (without knowing the buildings you are referring to) one person's large villa/mansion can be another person's small chateau, so I'd argue that probably not all small chateaux have to be included :)
soco 3mo ago
As the other commenter said: Europe is filled to the brim with fortifications and castles. It's almost pointless to make a complete map - every second place will have one. So I agree with the approach of having a selection. But how to select? Here of course everybody will disagree - on one hand we surely have the obvious and well known tourist hotspots, but on the other hand basically everything else can fall under "hidden gems". Transylvania only has over 150 such fortified churches... what can you do with so much raw information?

by rob74 3mo ago

thyristan 3mo ago

There is a lot of stuff missing. I'm from a region in Germany where every other village has it's own castle, ruin or palace. There needs to be some selection, otherwise it's just more overwhelming. Therefore I do like the map, and it's very good imho that there is some tier-selector to pick out the good ones.

lo_zamoyski 3mo ago
The trouble is that the definition of "castle" varies considerably between countries. For instance, the German classification divides them into "Schloss" and "Burg", but these can include anything from earthworks to barely present ruined remains of a foundation to buildings that resemble a larger than average house. French classification - under the term "chateau" and its subdivisions - is even more generous. Compare that with the Polish classification which is more strict and precise, differentiating between manors, palaces, strongholds, and permanent fortified complexes, for instance.
- rob74 3mo ago
  Sure, you could argue forever what should be included, what's significant enough (only still existing buildings or also ruins? how well-known does it have to be?), if only historical castles should be included or also things like Hearst Castle in California (which is actually a large mansion built in historical style, with the main building looking like a church - if that's included, you could also include, say, Mar-a-Lago?).
  - uxhacker 3mo ago
    It is also important in context to include castles in Africa to show that the area did contain castles. This fact often surprises people that Africa has castles and some of them dating back to the 11 century. For example just by looking from my eye you are missing Lamu Castle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamu_Fort https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamu_Fort Siyu Fort https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siyu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siyu Thimlich Ohingahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thimlich_Ohinga https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thimlich_Ohinga And then in Tanzania you have the Gerezani Fort in Kilwa Kisiwani, the Old Fort of Zanzibar, the German Fort in Bagamoyo. And then Taleh Fort in Somalia. I have not even started on either Mozambique, or Angola.
- uxhacker 3mo ago
  The importance of the definition is to actually save the castles. For example in Lower Silesia in Poland, which was Germany, and Czech before, there where about 2000 Castles (Schloss's). Now many of these castles lay in ruins. By only including the popular ones like this map does it means the less famous ones will become even less popular, and a piece of history will disappear.
  - twic 3mo ago
    An Italian friend was excited to visit a castle, and on arrival disappointedly exclaimed "but this is a "fortezza!".
kakacik 3mo ago
In our tiny little village of 2000 people, we have 4 small castles (chateaux). Next one also has some. So does next one. Its fine if its not exhaustive list. All major I could think of in few european countries I could find with all info correctly. Thank you for this effort, much appreciated.
- rob74 3mo ago
  I hope I don't get into hot water here, but (without knowing the buildings you are referring to) one person's large villa/mansion can be another person's small chateau, so I'd argue that probably not all small chateaux have to be included :)

soco 3mo ago

As the other commenter said: Europe is filled to the brim with fortifications and castles. It's almost pointless to make a complete map - every second place will have one. So I agree with the approach of having a selection. But how to select? Here of course everybody will disagree - on one hand we surely have the obvious and well known tourist hotspots, but on the other hand basically everything else can fall under "hidden gems". Transylvania only has over 150 such fortified churches... what can you do with so much raw information?