A moat is a deep artificial ditch, built as a line of defense around a castle or even an entire town. Here’s a list of some beautiful moats found around the world.
Bodiam Castle, East Sussex, England – This beautiful castle was built at the end of the 14th century. The castle was built by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge in order to defend the area from French invasion during the Hundred Years’ War. The moat surrounding the castle is on average only 1.5 meters (5 ft) deep but reaches a maximum of 2.1 meters (7 ft). The castle is about two hours drive from London.
Muiderslot Castle, Muiden, Netherlands – Muiderslot is one of the most famous castles in the Netherlands and is located just 15 km (about 10 miles) from Amsterdam. The castle was built in the 14th century on top of a 13th century castle. and surrounded by a moat. The castle served as a prison during the 18th century and today it’s a museum.
Forbidden City, Beijing, China – The previous two moats surround beautiful castles, but they are rather small. On to much larger moats, the Forbidden City in the center of Beijing was the Chinese imperial palace from the 15th century to early 20th century. The large complex of almost a thousand buildings is surrounded by a 7.9 meters (26 ft) high wall, and a moat 6 meters (20 ft) deep and 52 meters (171 ft) wide
Château du Plessis-Bourré, Écuillé, France – The Chateau du Plessis-Bourre is located in the Loire Valley, about 3 hours drive from Paris. Built in just 5 years during the 15th century, this moat surrounded castle changed very little over the years.
Caerlaverock Castle, southern coast of Scotland – The Caerlaverock Castle is a triangular shaped moated castle. First built in the 13th century, the castle was ruined and reconstructed many times, but kept it’s original shape. Today the castle is a popular tourist attraction.
Leeds Castle, Kent, England – Originally built in the 12th century, the castle we see today is mostly from the 19th century. The castle is built on an island in a small lake, that acts as a natural moat. During the 13th century the castle was a favorite residence to King Edward I, and in the 16th century Henry VIII used it as a residence for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Today the castle is open to the public.
Caerphilly Castle, Caerphilly, Wales – This 13th century medieval fortification in South Wales saw many battles. The castle is surrounded by artificial lakes and considered to be the most elaborate water defenses in Britain. The castle and its moats are among the largest castles in Britain. As expected, today the castle is a tourist attractions.
Matsumoto Castle, near Tokyo, Japan – Located about 3 hours drive from Tokyo, the Matsumoto Castle is the oldest and one of the most famous castles in Japan. Also known as the Crow Castle, the castle is surrounded by walls and moats. The castle was built at the beginning of the 16th century and was used till mid 19th century.
Egeskov Castle, Funen island, Denmark – This 16th century castle is often mentioned as Europe’s best preserved Renaissance water castle. It is located in a small lake with a maximum depth of 5 meters (16 ft) that acts as a natural moat. Originally the only access to the castle was with a drawbridge. Today most of the castle is open to the public, and it is home to several museums.
