Citadels Around the World Trivia Quiz

Answer: Quebec City

La Citadelle, or the Citadelle of Quebec, was constructed in the early eighteenth century as a strategic military fortification and its construction was a major factor in the layout of Quebec City as a whole; it's one of the few cities in not only Canada, but in the Americas to be surrounded by city walls.

The Historic District of Old Québec is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its historical role in the formation of Canada and North America and because of its architectural backing. The Citadelle continues to be used for active military functions and is home to royal residences.

Answer: Hue

Groundbreaking on this citadel commenced in the early nineteenth century after a new Emperor of Vietnam ascended to the throne, claiming Huế as his city and starting a new dynasty. The Imperial City there remained the home of the monarchy until World War II; it was seized by the Tet Offensive in the 1960s and sustained massive damage. Following the Vietnam War and preservation efforts, the Imperial City has since become a tourist site and the centrepiece for a city on the mend.

The citadel surrounding Huế is constructed of ramparts which, in turn, are surrounded by a moat.

Answer: The Citadel of Aleppo

One of the longest-surviving castle structures in the world, the Citadel of Aleppo is over five millennia old. Resting on a hilltop in the old city of Aleppo, it faced extensive damage between 2012 and 2016 during battles held during the civil war in Syria, and while it has seen protection as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the preservation and restoration efforts required to maintain it are fairly hard to come by due to recurrent armed conflict and military occupation.

The citadel is also home to a large tunnel complex linking to other structures around the fort.

Answer: The Tower of London

Constructed in the 11th century, the Tower of London has long been a symbol of the elite and of imprisonment, right on the banks of the Thames just downstream from the site of the old London Bridge. In addition to holding numerous famous political prisoners in its walls over the centuries (including a handful of Henry VIII's wives), the Tower of London has also been a site for the Royal Mint and the safe home of the Royal Crown Jewels. Millions of tourists visit the site on an annual basis.

Answer: Budapest, Hungary

Constructed atop a network of caves winding their way through Gellért Hill, Citadella overlooks the city of Budapest from 235m up, giving a full view of the Danube River as it cuts through and splits the city in two. Citadella has been used for military purposes since its construction in the 1850s.

Another citadel found in Gozo, Malta also goes by the name 'Cittadella'; Gozo's is much older, having been built in the 15th century in an attempt to protect the city against the Ottoman invasion. It didn't work.

Answer: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is a city known for its walls; built on the edge of the sea, the walls rise up along the cliffs to form a fortification almost two kilometres in length and are surrounded by water even where they don't meet the sea. The Old City of Dubrovnik, a World Heritage Site, is so distinctive in its construction that it's become a major tourist destination in the region (considering the only other major cities on the Adriatic are Venice and Bari on the opposite side of the water). You may recognize Dubrovnik from the TV show "Game of Thrones"; it was used for scenes in King's Landing.

Answer: Lahore Fort

The Herat Citadel is in Afghanistan while the Red Fort and Jaswant Thada are Indian landmarks (in Delhi and Jodhpur). Lahore Fort, however, was built in the city of Lahore, Pakistan in the 16th century and rebuilt over the years as empires came and went.

Influences of Mughal, Sikh, and British influence can be seen throughout. Interestingly, the fort didn't really do its job since it was taken over by enemy forces repeatedly in its history. Today, Lahore Fort is one of the most prominent landmarks in Punjab and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Answer: The Tower of David

The Tower of David stands at the end of Jaffa Road, one of Jerusalem's oldest roads cutting right through the Old City. Found adjacent to the Jaffa Gate on the edge of the Armenian and Christian Districts, the Tower of David has a rich history that continues to be unearthed since the existing tower was constructed atop earlier portions of the city walls. Because of how much use it's seen as a cultural and religious landmark, the Tower of David contains a noteworthy museum about Jerusalem's history which, considering its location, receives millions of visitors annually.

Answer: Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle, having been under siege repeatedly since the 10th century, has withstood dozens of battles and been rebuilt when necessary to lock down the land on Castle Rock, one of the highest points overlooking the Old City of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Although the site has been occupied for about two thousand years, the fort atop it was built about a thousand years into this time and used as a royal residence for centuries. While still in use by the military, the citadel is also a tourist destination and home to museums, St. Margaret's Chapel (perhaps the oldest surviving building in the city), and courtyards hosting performances of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Answer: Kremlin

One of the most famous landmarks in Russia, the Kremlin not only features the architectural beauty and recognizability of St. Basil's Cathedral, but the royal residence of the Russian President. The citadel also acts as the starting point for the Russian highway system.

Originally built in the fifteenth century, the Tsar who commissioned it (Ivan III) called upon architects from Renaissance Italy to build the Kremlin's fortifying walls.