The history of Europe is marked by wars and conflict. Visiting modern cities in Europe today reveals their violent pasts. Today many of the old cities of Europe preserve their old walls - from both Roman and medieval times. Some of these walls are preserved in their entirety, while others are only partially preserved.

Some of the walls have been restored, and it is often possible for visitors to climb and walk along the city walls (as in the case of the English city of Chester). Here are ten cities in Europe with some of the most impressive ancient city walls to see.

10 Lugo, Spain: Complete Roman Walls

Roman wall of Lugo, Galicia, Spain
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Roman wall of Lugo, Galicia, Spain

Lugo is an old Roman city in Spain and is famous for having the only nearly intact Roman city walls left in Europe. The ancient defensive walls of Lugo are an impressive sight and make visitors feel like they are in a movie.

The walls of Lugo run for around 2 kilometers or well over a mile and are one of the great free Roman attractions in Spain.

9 Chester, England: Longest, Oldest, & Most Complete In England

Chester City Walls In England
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Chester City Walls in England

Chester is a quiet English city (a small city) near the Welsh border famous for its Roman heritage and for having some of the best preserved medieval architecture in England today.

The old city walls date mostly from medieval times, but their foundations and lower parts of the walls are from the early times of Roman Britain. Today, Chester's walls are the oldest, longest, and most complete city walls in England.

Related: Chester Rows: What To Know Of The English Medieval Shops Built Over Roman Ruins

8 Rome, Italy: The Aurelian Walls of Rome

The Aurelian walls along the avenue of Porta Ardeatina
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The Aurelian walls along the avenue of Porta Ardeatina

For hundreds of years, Rome barely had any walls. The Romans prided themselves on knowing their capital city was so secure that it didn't need defensive walls. But as the security of the Roman Empire declined, massive walls were hurriedly built around the Eternal City.

Today, visitors can see the remains of the impressive Aurelian Walls of Rome.

7 Istanbul, Turkey: The Theodosian Walls of Constantinople

The Walls of Constantinople Roman ruins in Turkey
Aaron Spray
The Walls of Constantinople Roman ruins in Turkey

Perhaps no city walls in history are as famous or formidable as those of the ancient Roman (later Eastern Roman and Byzantine) capital city of Constantinople. The walls were so formidable that army after army in history failed to breach them or just gave up and went home after seeing them.

Today, the Walls of Constantinople are one of the great attractions in Istanbul.

6 Avila, Spain: The Imposing Medieval Walls

Medieval city walls of Avila, Spain
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Medieval city walls of Avila, Spain

Perhaps the most impressive medieval walls in Europe today are the massive walls in an excellent state of preservation around the Spanish city of Avila.

These walls were built when Avila was a Christian frontier city during the prolonged struggle between the Christian Spanish kingdoms of the north and the Moorish kingdoms of the south.

Related: Why The Beautiful Ottoman Walls Of Jerusalem Is One Of Its Greatest Attractions

5 Tallinn, Estonia: The Mystical Medieval Walls

Viru Gate In Tallinn Old Town
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Viru Gate In Tallinn Old Town 

Tallinn is the capital city of the Baltic European nation of Estonia. It is a timeless city with a well-preserved medieval old town. Notably, Tallinn also preserves its distinctive old city walls more or less intact.

Tallinn is a great historic city to relax in and a dreamy European destination to enjoy the Christmas holiday season.

4 Kraków, Poland: The Old Polish Capital Walls

Polish flag on the Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow, Poland
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Polish flag on the Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow, Poland

Kraków is the ancient capital of Poland (although for hundreds of years since then, the capital has been Warsaw). The historic core of Kraków, with its impressive castle and cathedral, was one of the very first UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The city is perhaps the best medieval city to visit in Poland, and Kraków also still preserves its old city walls.

Related: Visiting Krakow? Do These Historic Things During Your Trip

3 Mérida, Spain: The Roman & Moorish Walls

Alcazaba walls, the Arab fortress of Mérida
Besides the Obvious / Shutterstock
Alcazaba walls, the Arab fortress of Mérida

Merida in Spain is one of the best locations to see ancient Roman ruins in Spain. It was founded as a retirement colony for Roman legionaries, and today it reserves a wide selection of iconic Roman ruins.

Among these ruins are the old Roman walls (over which the later medieval Moorish walls were built). Merida is worth visiting for its impressive Roman ruins (including the longest Roman bridge still standing).

2 Nördlingen, Germany: The Walls With Diamonds

An impressive aerial view from high above Nördlingen, Germany.
Photo by oliverfoerschner via Shutterstock
An impressive aerial view from high above Nördlingen, Germany.

Nördlingen is a medieval town in the southern German state of Bavaria. It is famous for a couple of things. It has a well-preserved medieval city center and more or less complete medieval walls encircling the town (in a circle).

But perhaps one of the most remarkable things about Nördlingen is that it is built in a meteorite crater, and the buildings are full of thousands of micro diamonds.

1 York, England: The Powerful Medieval City Of The North

Cathedral called York minster and historic walls
Photo 130544923 © Jaroslav Moravcik | Dreamstime.com
Cathedral called York minster and historic walls

York was once the second most important city in England and the most important city of medieval northern England. It was the inspiration for Winterfell in Game of Thrones.

Today, York is a small modern city but preserves some of the best medieval architecture in England - including some of the best preserved medieval walls in Europe.