These days, most cities around the world don’t have city walls. They don’t need them anymore (for the most part). But back in the day, you were mad if your city wasn’t fortified. Thankfully, there are plenty of walled cities that have been largely preserved and are waiting to be explored. Here are some of the very best.
Jerusalem (Israel)
Maybe the most iconic walled city on the planet, Jerusalem is important to people from many different religions and cultures and is the capital of Israel. This ancient city has been ruled by many empires over the millennia.
And its old walled city is still very much intact after going through so much. With plenty of important sites to see, including the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, there is seemingly something here for everyone.
York (England)
While the city of York stretches much further beyond its ancient walls these days, what lies inside the walls is still what lures tourists from around the world.
York is pretty special in that pretty much the entirety of its city walls are still intact. In fact, you can walk along the walls and circumvent the entire city in less than an hour.
Dubrovnik (Croatia)
No wonder “Star Wars” and “Game of Thrones” have both had scenes filmed in this incredible walled city. Most of the walls have been standing since the 14th century.
Amazingly, it took an earthquake in the 17th century to really damage the area, after withstanding so many attacks over the years.
Mdina (Malta)
Due to its remote location in the Mediterranean, large parts of Malta have been preserved over the years. One fine example is the ancient walled city of Mdina.
Apparently, it is one of the longest-inhabited places in the world. Despite this, only a few 100 people still live within the “Silent City’s” walls. And yet, thousands of people come to visit every day.
Avila (Spain)
This stunning walled city was the stage of many fierce battles between the Iberian Christians and the Arabs who once ruled it.
The walls are nothing short of impressive, with a perimeter stretching 1.5 miles, and laden with semi-circular towers. It is believed to have one of the highest concentrations of Gothic churches in all of Spain.
Carcassone (France)
Dating back to the Gallo-Roman period, this impressive fortified city ended up becoming a protected monument in the 1800s and has since been visited by many French people and foreigners alike. Tours are available, including visits to the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Celse.
Honorable Mentions
There are plenty of other great walled cities to check out. These include Cartagena (Colombia), Tallinn (Estonia), Taroudant (Morocco), Pingyao (China), Obidos (Portugal), and Xi’an (China).