How to build a medieval castle. Secrets that medieval castles hide
Medieval castles were actually more than just large fortresses with massive stone walls. These were ingeniously designed fortifications that used many ingenious and creative ways to protect the castle's inhabitants from attack by enemies. Literally everything - from the outer walls to the shape and placement of the stairs - was very carefully planned to ensure maximum protection for the inhabitants of the castle. This review is about little-known secrets hidden in the construction of medieval castles.
Almost every castle was surrounded by a moat filled with water. It is generally accepted that this was an obstacle to the assaulting troops, but in fact this was not the main function of the ditch.
Wischering Castle in Germany. The castle consists of an outer defensive courtyard, protective gateways, a drawbridge spanning a moat, a main building and a chapel.
One of the biggest concerns for the inhabitants of a medieval castle or fortress was that an invading army could dig tunnels under the fortifications. Not only could the enemy get inside the castle underground, but the tunnels could also cause the castle walls to collapse. The ditch prevented this, since the tunnel dug under the ditch inevitably flooded with water and it collapsed.
Nesvizh Castle. Belarus.
This was a very effective deterrent against tunneling. Often the moat was laid not around the outer wall of the castle, but between the outer and inner walls.
Concentric circles of defense
This was an extremely effective method of defense for the inhabitants of a medieval castle, which appeared as a series of obstacles surrounding the castle.
Hochosterwitz Castle. Austria.
As a rule, such obstacles were (depending on the distance from the castle) a scorched and dug up field, an outer wall, a ditch, an inner wall, and a donjon tower. The attacking army had to overcome each of these obstacles in turn. And it took a lot of time and effort.
Main Gate
The main gate of a castle was often the most dangerous place in the entire structure, as it could turn into a deadly trap if necessary.
Eltz Castle in Germany.
They often led to a small courtyard, at the other end of which there was also another gate equipped with an iron lowering grate. If the attackers broke through the first gate and found themselves in the courtyard, then the grate would lower, after which the aggressors would be trapped.
Svirzh Castle in the village of Svirzh, Lviv region. Main gate.
At the same time, there were small holes in the walls of the courtyard through which the defenders could shoot from bows and crossbows at the enemy soldiers who were trapped.
Hidden secrets of stairs
Stairwells in medieval castles were actually very carefully designed. Firstly, they were almost always screw-type, very narrow and built clockwise.
Spiral staircase in Mir Castle. Belarus.
This meant that attacking opponents who climbed up the stairs (and one at a time, because the stairs were narrow) had a very difficult time fighting, because they had a sword in their right hand. And since there was always a wall on the right hand, they had no opportunity to swing. The defenders had the wall of the spiral staircase on their left hand, so they had more opportunities to swing.
A staircase with a reverse twist and uneven steps at Wallenstein Castle in Germany.
Another original feature of the stairs was that they had uneven steps: some were very high, and others were low. The defenders of the castle, being familiar with the local stairs, could quickly ascend and descend along them, and the attackers often stumbled and fell, exposing themselves to attack.
Secret passages
Many castles had secret passages that served various purposes. Some of them were made so that the inhabitants of the castle could escape in case of defeat, and also so that during a siege the defenders would not be cut off from food supplies.
Koretsky Castle in Ukraine.
Secret passages also led to secret chambers where people could hide, food could be stored, and (quite often) an additional well was dug for water.
Predjama Castle in Slovenia.
Therefore, a medieval castle was much more than just a big glamorous palace with massive stone walls around it. It was a structure designed down to the smallest detail to protect its inhabitants. And each castle was full of its own little secrets.
The Norman Conquest of England led to a boom in castle building, but the process of creating a fortress from scratch is far from simple. If you want to start building a fortress yourself, then you should familiarize yourself with the tips given.
It is extremely important to build your castle on high ground and at a strategic point.
Castles were usually built on natural elevations, and were usually equipped with a link connecting them with the external environment, such as a ford, bridge or passage.
Historians have rarely been able to find evidence from contemporaries regarding the choice of location for the construction of the castle, but they still exist. On September 30, 1223, 15-year-old King Henry III arrived in Montgomery with his army. The king, who had successfully carried out a military campaign against the Welsh prince Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, was planning to build a new castle in this area to ensure security on the border of his possessions. The English carpenters had been given the task of preparing the wood a month earlier, but the king's advisers had only now determined the site for the construction of the castle.
After a careful survey of the area, they chose a point on the very edge of a ledge overlooking the Severn valley. According to the chronicler Roger of Wendover, this position "looked unassailable to anyone." He also noted that the castle was created “for the security of the region from frequent attacks by the Welsh.”
Tip: Identify areas where the topography rises above traffic routes: these are natural spots for castles. Keep in mind that the design of the castle is determined by where it is built. For example, a castle will have a dry moat on a ledge of outcroppings.
2) Come up with a workable plan
You will need a master mason who can draw plans. An engineer knowledgeable in weapons will also come in handy.
Experienced soldiers may have their own ideas about the design of the castle, in terms of the shape of its buildings and their location. But it is unlikely that they will have the knowledge of specialists in design and construction.
To implement the idea, a master mason was required - an experienced builder, whose distinguishing feature was the ability to draw a plan. With an understanding of practical geometry, he used simple tools such as the ruler, square, and compass to create architectural plans. Master masons submitted a drawing with a building plan for approval, and during construction they supervised its construction.
When Edward II began building a huge residential tower at Knaresborough Castle in Yorkshire in 1307 for his favorite Piers Gaveston, he not only personally approved the plans created by the London master mason Hugh of Titchmarsh - probably made as a drawing - but also demanded regular reports on the construction . From the mid-16th century, a new group of professionals called engineers increasingly began to take on a role in drawing up plans and constructing fortifications. They had technical knowledge of the use and power of cannons, both for defense and attack on castles.
Tip: Plan the loopholes to provide a wide angle of attack. Shape them according to the weapon you're using: longbow archers need larger slopes, crossbowmen need smaller ones.
You will need thousands of people. And not all of them will necessarily come of their own free will.
The construction of the castle required enormous efforts. We have no documentary evidence of the construction of the first castles in England from 1066, but from the scale of many castles of that period it is clear why some chronicles claim that the English population was under pressure to build castles for their Norman conquerors. But from the later Middle Ages, some estimates with detailed information have reached us.
During the invasion of Wales in 1277, King Edward I began building a castle at Flint, north-east Wales. It was erected quickly, thanks to the rich resources of the crown. A month after the start of work, in August, 2,300 people were involved in the construction, including 1,270 diggers, 320 woodcutters, 330 carpenters, 200 masons, 12 blacksmiths and 10 charcoal burners. All of them were driven from the surrounding lands under an armed escort, who made sure that they did not desert from the construction site.
From time to time, foreign specialists could be involved in construction. For example, millions of bricks for the reconstruction of Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire in the 1440s were supplied by a certain Baldwin “Docheman”, or Dutchman, that is, “Dutchman” - obviously a foreigner.
Tip: Depending on the size of the workforce and the distance they have to travel, they may need to be housed on site.
An unfinished castle on enemy territory is very vulnerable to attack.
To build a castle on enemy territory, you need to protect the construction site from attacks. For example, you can surround the construction site with wooden fortifications or a low stone wall. Such medieval defense systems sometimes remained after the construction of the building as an additional wall - as, for example, at Beaumaris Castle, the construction of which began in 1295.
Safe communication with the outside world for the delivery of building materials and supplies is also important. In 1277 Edward I dug a canal to the River Clwyd straight from the sea to the site of his new castle at Rydlan. The outer wall, built to protect the construction site, extended to the piers on the banks of the river.
Security problems can also arise when radically renovating an existing castle. When Henry II rebuilt Dover Castle in the 1180s, the work was carefully planned so that the fortifications would provide protection for the duration of the renovation. According to the surviving decrees, work on the inner wall of the castle began only when the tower was already sufficiently repaired so that guards could be on duty in it.
Tip: building materials for building a castle are large and voluminous. If possible, it is better to transport them by water, even if this means building a dock or canal.
When building a castle, you may have to move a significant amount of earth, which is not cheap.
It is often forgotten that the castle’s fortifications were built not only through architectural techniques, but also through landscape design. Huge resources were devoted to moving land. The scale of the Norman land work can be considered outstanding. For example, according to some estimates, the embankment built around Pleshy Castle in Essex in 1100 required 24,000 man-days.
Some aspects of landscaping required serious skill, especially the creation of water ditches. When Edward I rebuilt the Tower of London in the 1270s, he hired a foreign specialist, Walter of Flanders, to create a huge tidal ditch. Digging the ditches under his direction cost £4,000, a staggering sum, almost a quarter of the cost of the entire project.
With the increasing role of cannons in siege art, the earth began to play an even more important role as an absorber of cannon shots. Interestingly, experience in moving large volumes of earth allowed some fortification engineers to find work as garden designers.
Tip: Reduce time and cost by excavating the stonework for your castle walls from the moats around it.
Carefully implement the mason's plan.
Using ropes of the required length and pegs, it was possible to mark the foundation of the building on the ground in full size. After the ditches for the foundation were dug, work began on the masonry. To save money, responsibility for construction was assigned to the senior mason instead of the master mason. Masonry in the Middle Ages was usually measured in rods, one English rod = 5.03 m. At Warkworth in Northumberland, one of the complex towers stands on a grid of rods, perhaps for the purpose of calculating construction costs.
Often the construction of medieval castles was accompanied by detailed documentation. In 1441-42 the tower of Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire was destroyed and plans were drawn up for its successor on the ground. But for some reason the Prince of Stafford was dissatisfied. The king's master mason, Robert of Westerley, was sent to Tutbury where he held a meeting with two senior masons to design a new tower on a new site. Westerly then left, and over the next eight years a small group of workers, including four junior masons, built a new tower.
Senior masons could be called upon to certify the quality of the work, as was the case at Cooling Castle in Kent when the royal mason Heinrich Yewel assessed the work carried out from 1381 to 1384. He criticized deviations from the original plan and rounded down the estimate.
Tip: Don't let the master mason fool you. Make him make a plan so that it is easy to make an estimate.
Complete the construction with complex fortifications and specialized wooden structures.
Until the 12th century, the fortifications of most castles consisted of earth and logs. And although later preference was given to stone buildings, wood remained a very important material in medieval wars and fortifications.
Stone castles were prepared for attacks by adding special battle galleries along the walls, as well as shutters that could be used to cover the gaps between the battlements to protect the castle defenders. All this was made of wood. Heavy weapons used to defend the castle, catapults and heavy crossbows, springalds, were also built from wood. Artillery was usually designed by a highly paid professional carpenter, sometimes with the title of engineer, from the Latin "ingeniator".
Such experts were not cheap, but could end up being worth their weight in gold. This, for example, happened in 1266, when the castle of Kenilworth in Warwickshire resisted Henry III for almost six months with the help of catapults and water defense.
There are records of marching castles made entirely of wood - they could be carried with you and erected as needed. One of these was built for the French invasion of England in 1386, but the garrison of Calais captured it along with the ship. It was described as consisting of a wall of logs 20 feet high and 3,000 steps long. There was a 30-foot tower every 12 paces, capable of housing up to 10 soldiers, and the castle also had unspecified defenses for archers.
Tip: Oak wood becomes stronger over the years, and it is easiest to work with when it is green. The upper branches of trees are easy to transport and shape.
8) Provide water and sewerage
The most important aspect for the castle was efficient access to water. These could be wells that supplied water to certain buildings, for example, a kitchen or stable. Without a detailed knowledge of medieval well shafts, it is difficult to do them justice. For example, at Beeston Castle in Cheshire there is a well 100 m deep, the top 60 m of which is lined with cut stone.
There is some evidence of complex aqueducts that brought water to the apartments. The tower of Dover Castle has a system of lead pipes that delivers water to the rooms. It was fed from a well using a winch, and possibly from a rainwater collection system.
Effective disposal of human waste was another challenge for lock designers. Latrines were collected in one place in the buildings so that their shafts were emptied in one place. They were located in short corridors that trapped unpleasant odors, and were often equipped with wooden seats and removable covers.
Today, it is widely believed that restrooms used to be called “wardrobes.” In fact, the vocabulary for toilets was extensive and colorful. They were called gongs or gangs (from the Anglo-Saxon word for "place to go"), nooks and jakes (the French version of "john").
Tip: Ask a master mason to design comfortable and private latrines outside the bedroom, following the example of Henry II and Dover Castle.
The castle not only had to be well guarded - its inhabitants, having a high status, demanded a certain chic.
During war, the castle must be defended - but it also serves as a luxurious home. Noble gentlemen of the Middle Ages expected their homes to be both comfortable and richly furnished. In the Middle Ages, these citizens traveled together with servants, things and furniture from one residence to another. But home interiors often had fixed decorative features, such as stained glass windows.
Henry III's tastes in furnishings are recorded very carefully, with interesting and attractive detail. In 1235-36, for example, he ordered his hall at Winchester Castle to be decorated with images of the world map and the wheel of fortune. Since then, these decorations have not survived, but the well-known round table of King Arthur, created perhaps between 1250 and 1280, remains in the interior.
The large area of the castles played an important role in luxurious life. Parks were created for hunting, a jealously guarded privilege of aristocrats; gardens were also in demand. The extant description of the construction of Kirby Muxloe Castle in Leicestershire says that its owner, Lord Hastings, began laying out gardens at the very beginning of the castle's construction in 1480.
The Middle Ages also loved rooms with beautiful views. One group of 13th-century rooms in the castles of Leeds in Kent, Corfe in Dorset and Chepstow in Monmotshire were called gloriettes (from the French gloriette - a diminutive of the word glory) for their magnificence.
Tip: The interior of the castle should be luxurious enough to attract visitors and friends. Entertainment can win battles without having to expose oneself to the dangers of combat.
There are few things in the world more interesting than the knightly castles of the Middle Ages: these majestic fortresses breathe evidence of distant eras with grandiose battles, they have seen both the most perfect nobility and the most vile betrayal. And not only historians and military experts are trying to unravel the secrets of ancient fortifications. The Knight's Castle is of interest to everyone - the writer and the layman, the avid tourist and the simple housewife. This is, so to speak, a mass artistic image.
How the idea was born
A very turbulent time - in addition to major wars, the feudal lords were constantly fighting with each other. Like a neighbor, so it doesn't get boring. The aristocrats fortified their homes against invasion: at first they would only dig a ditch in front of the entrance and put up a wooden palisade. As they gained siege experience, the fortifications became more and more powerful - so that they could withstand rams and were not afraid of stone cannonballs. In antiquity, this is how the Romans surrounded their army with a palisade while on vacation. The Normans began to build stone structures, and only in the 12th century did the classic European knightly castles of the Middle Ages appear.
Transformation into a fortress
Gradually, the castle turned into a fortress; it was surrounded by a stone wall into which high towers were built. The main goal is to make the knight's castle inaccessible to attackers. At the same time, be able to monitor the entire area. The castle must have its own source of drinking water - in case a long siege awaits.
The towers were built in such a way as to hold off any number of enemies for as long as possible, even alone. For example, they are narrow and so steep that the warrior coming second cannot help the first in any way - neither with a sword nor with a spear. And you had to climb them counterclockwise so as not to cover yourself with a shield.
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Imagine a mountain slope on which a knight's castle is built. Photo attached. Such structures were always built at a height, and if there was no natural suitable landscape, they made a bulk hill.
A knight's castle in the Middle Ages was not only about knights and feudal lords. Near and around the castle there were always small settlements where all kinds of artisans settled and, of course, warriors guarding the perimeter.
Those walking along the road always face their right side towards the fortress, the side that cannot be covered by a shield. There is no tall vegetation - there is no hiding. The first obstacle is the ditch. It can be around the castle or across between the castle wall and the plateau, even crescent-shaped, if the terrain allows.
There are dividing ditches even within the castle: if the enemy suddenly managed to break through, movement will be very difficult. If the soil is rocky, a ditch is not needed and digging under the wall is impossible. The earthen rampart directly in front of the ditch was often surrounded by a palisade.
The bridge to the outer wall was made in such a way that the defense of a knight's castle in the Middle Ages could last for years. It's liftable. Either the whole thing or its extreme segment. In the raised position - vertically - this is additional protection for the gate. If part of the bridge was raised, the other was automatically lowered into the ditch, where a “wolf pit” was set up - a surprise for the most hasty attackers. The knight's castle in the Middle Ages was not hospitable to everyone.
Gate and gate tower
The knightly castles of the Middle Ages were most vulnerable precisely in the area of the gate. Latecomers could enter the castle through the side gate via a lifting ladder if the bridge was already raised. The gates themselves were most often not built into the wall, but were located in gate towers. Usually double doors, made of several layers of boards, were sheathed with iron to protect against arson.
Locks, bolts, cross beams sliding across the opposite wall - all this helped hold out the siege for quite a long time. In addition, behind the gate there was usually a strong iron or wooden grille. This is how knightly castles of the Middle Ages were equipped!
The gate tower was designed so that the guards guarding it could find out from the guests the purpose of the visit and, if necessary, treat them with an arrow from a vertical loophole. For a real siege, there were also holes built in for boiling resin.
Defense of a knight's castle in the Middle Ages
The most important defensive element. It should be tall, thick and better if it is on the base at an angle. The foundation under it is as deep as possible - in case of undermining.
Sometimes there is a double wall. Next to the first high one, the inner one is small, but impregnable without devices (ladders and poles that remained outside). The space between the walls - the so-called zwinger - is shot through.
The outer wall at the top is equipped for the defenders of the fortress, sometimes even with a canopy from the weather. The teeth on it existed not only for beauty - it was convenient to hide behind them at full height in order to reload, for example, a crossbow.
The loopholes in the wall were adapted for both archers and crossbowmen: narrow and long for a bow, widened for a crossbow. Ball loopholes - a fixed but rotating ball with a slot for firing. Balconies were built mainly for decorative purposes, but if the wall was narrow, they were used by retreating and allowing others to pass.
Medieval knight's towers were almost always built with convex towers at the corners. They protruded outward to fire along the walls in both directions. The inner side was open so that the enemy, who penetrated the walls, would not gain a foothold inside the tower.
What's inside?
In addition to the Zwingers, other surprises could await uninvited guests outside the gates. For example, a small closed courtyard with loopholes in the walls. Sometimes castles were built from several autonomous sections with strong internal walls.
Inside the castle there was always a courtyard with household facilities - a well, a bakery, a bathhouse, a kitchen and a donjon - the central tower. Much depended on the location of the well: not only the health, but also the life of the besieged. It happened that (remember that the castle, if not just on a hill, then on the rocks) cost more than all the other buildings of the castle. The Thuringian castle Kuffhäuser, for example, has a well more than one hundred and forty meters deep. In the rock!
Central tower
The donjon is the tallest building of the castle. From there the surrounding area was monitored. And it is the central tower that is the last refuge of the besieged. The most reliable! The walls are very thick. The entrance is extremely narrow and located at a high altitude. The stairs leading to the door could be pulled in or destroyed. Then the knight's castle can hold a siege for quite a long time.
At the base of the donjon there was a basement, a kitchen, and a storage room. Next came floors with stone or wooden floors. The stairs were made of wood; if they had stone ceilings, they could be burned to stop the enemy on the way.
The main hall was located on the entire floor. Heated by a fireplace. Above were usually the rooms of the castle owner's family. There were small stoves decorated with tiles.
At the very top of the tower, most often open, there is a platform for a catapult and, most importantly, a banner! Medieval knightly castles were distinguished not only by chivalry. There were cases when a knight and his family did not use the donjon for housing, having built a stone palace (palace) not far from it. Then the donjon served as a warehouse, even a prison.
And, of course, every knight's castle necessarily had a temple. The obligatory inhabitant of the castle is the chaplain. Often he is both a clerk and a teacher, in addition to his main job. In rich castles, churches were two-story, so that the gentlemen would not pray next to the mob. The owner's ancestral tomb was also built within the temple.
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After all, medieval architects in Europe were geniuses - they built castles, luxurious buildings that were also extremely practical. Castles, unlike modern mansions, not only demonstrated the wealth of their owners, but also served as powerful fortresses that could hold a defense for several years, and at the same time life in them did not stop.
Medieval castles
Even the very fact that many castles, having survived wars, natural disasters and the carelessness of their owners, still stand intact, suggests that more reliable housing has not yet been invented. They are also incredibly beautiful and seem to have appeared in our world from the pages of fairy tales and legends. Their tall spiers remind of the times when the hearts of beauties were fought for, and the air was saturated with chivalry and courage.
To get you into the romantic mood, I have collected in this material 20 of the most famous castles that still remain on Earth. You will definitely want to visit them and, perhaps, stay to live.
Reichsburg Castle, Germany
The thousand-year-old castle was originally the residence of King Conrad III of Germany and then King Louis XIV of France. The fortress was burned by the French in 1689 and would have fallen into oblivion, but a German businessman acquired its remains in 1868 and spent much of his wealth restoring the castle.
Mont Saint Michel, France
The impregnable castle of Mont Saint-Michel, surrounded on all sides by the sea, is one of the most popular attractions in France after Paris. Built in 709, it still looks stunning.
Hochosterwitz Castle, Austria
The medieval castle of Hochosterwitz was built back in the 9th century. Its towers still vigilantly monitor the surrounding area, proudly towering above it at an altitude of 160 m. And in sunny weather they can be admired even at a distance of 30 km
Bled Castle, Slovenia
The castle is located on a hundred-meter cliff, hanging menacingly over Lake Bled. In addition to the magnificent view from the windows of the castle, this place has a rich history - the residence of the Serbian queen of the dynasty, and later of Marshal Josip Broz Tito, was located here
Hohenzollern Castle, Germany
This castle is located on the top of the Hohenzollern mountain, 2800 meters above sea level. During its heyday, the castle in this fortress was considered the residence of the Prussian emperors.
Barciense Castle, Spain
Barciense Castle in the Spanish province of Toledo was built in the 15th century by a local count. For 100 years, the castle served as a powerful artillery fortress, and today these empty walls attract only photographers and tourists.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
The romantic castle of the Bavarian king Ludwig II was built in the middle of the 19th century, and at that time its architecture was considered very extravagant. Be that as it may, it was its walls that inspired the creators of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland
Methoni Castle, Greece
Since the 14th century, the Venetian castle-fortress of Methoni has been the center of battles and the last outpost of Europeans in these parts in the battles against the Turks, who dreamed of capturing the Peloponnese. Today, only ruins remain of the fortress.
Hohenschwangau Castle, Germany
This castle-fortress was built by the Knights of Schwangau in the 12th century and was the residence of many rulers, including the famous King Ludwig II, who hosted the composer Richard Wagner within these walls
Chillon Castle, Switzerland
This medieval bastille resembles a warship from a bird's eye view. The castle's rich history and distinctive appearance have served as inspiration for many famous writers. In the 16th century, the castle was used as a state prison, as described by George Byron in his poem “The Prisoner of Chillon.”
Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
The castle, located on a rocky island in the Loch Duich fjord, is one of Scotland's most romantic castles, famous for its heather honey and legends. Many films have been filmed here, but most importantly, the castle is open to visitors and everyone can touch the stones of its history.
Bodiam Castle, England
Since its founding in the 14th century, Bodiam Castle has seen many owners, all of whom enjoyed fighting. Therefore, when Lord Curzon acquired it in 1917, only ruins remained of the castle. Fortunately, its walls were quickly restored, and now the castle stands as good as new.
Guaita Castle, San Marino
The castle has been located on the top of the inaccessible Monte Titano mountain since the 11th century and, together with two other towers, protects the oldest state in the world, San Marino.
Swallow's Nest, Crimea
Initially, there was a small wooden house on the rock of Cape Ai-Todor. And the “Swallow’s Nest” received its current appearance thanks to the oil industrialist Baron Steingel, who loved to vacation in Crimea. He decided to build a romantic castle that resembles medieval buildings on the banks of the Rhine River
Castle Stalker, Scotland
Castle Stalker, which means "Falconer", was built in 1320 and belonged to the MacDougall clan. Since that time, its walls have survived a huge number of strife and wars, which affected the condition of the castle. In 1965, the owner of the castle became Colonel D. R. Stewart from Allward, who personally, together with his wife, family members and friends, restored the building
Bran Castle, Romania
Bran Castle is the pearl of Transylvania, a mysterious fort museum where the famous legend of Count Dracula - the vampire, murderer and commander Vlad the Impaler - was born. According to legend, he spent the night here during his campaigns, and the forest surrounding Bran Castle was Tepes’s favorite hunting ground.
Vyborg Castle, Russia
Vyborg Castle was founded by the Swedes in 1293, during one of the crusades against Karelian land. It remained Scandinavian until 1710, when the troops of Peter I threw the Swedes back far and wide. From that time on, the castle managed to be a warehouse, a barracks, and even a prison for the Decembrists. And today there is a museum here.
Cashel Castle, Ireland
Cashel Castle was the seat of the kings of Ireland for several hundred years before the Norman invasion. Here in the 5th century AD. e. Saint Patrick lived and preached. The castle walls witnessed the bloody suppression of the revolution by the troops of Oliver Cromwell, who burned soldiers alive here. Since then, the castle has become a symbol of the cruelty of the British, the true courage and fortitude of the Irish.
Kilhurn Castle, Scotland
The very beautiful and even slightly creepy ruins of Kilhurn Castle are located on the shores of the picturesque Lake Euw. The history of this castle, unlike most castles in Scotland, proceeded quite calmly - numerous earls lived here, who replaced each other. In 1769, the building was damaged by a lightning strike, and soon it was finally abandoned, as it remains to this day.
Lichtenstein Castle, Germany
Built in the 12th century, this castle was destroyed several times. It was finally restored in 1884 and since then the castle has become a filming location for many films, including The Three Musketeers.
Time is inexorable, and ancient structures come to us mainly in the form of ruins, more interesting to archaeologists than to tourists. But fate favored some especially durable ones, and they were well preserved. Thus, some of the oldest castles in the world became accessible to tourists, visits to which are always interesting and educational. In Europe, castles began to be actively built at the end of the 10th century, and by the 14th century this type of architecture reached its perfection.
1. Bernstein Castle, (Austria)
The long history of Bernstein Castle is rich in events; it changed owners so many times that neither their exact number nor the name of who built this castle remains. It was first mentioned in documents in 860, and in the 13th century it served as a border fortress. It was built in a place where the borders of Austria, Bohemia and Hungary met, so the leaders of these countries competed for possession of the castle.
Bernstein is a wonderful example of bastion architecture. It has an oval perimeter, it has very thick, almost fortress walls with rare turrets and narrow windows. The courtyard now has a beautiful garden. The nature around Bernstein is untouched, and there is a golf course and a famous golf club nearby - this game is an important reason why guests flock to the castle. In 1953, the castle was converted into a hotel, which it remains today. The owners of the castle were able to preserve its authenticity - this applies not only to the walls, but also to the interiors and furniture, which are also very old. Entering Bernstein Castle, a person immediately feels like he is in the era of knights.
2. Foix Castle (France)
This castle, located in the south of France, in the Pyrenees, once belonged to the famous family of the Counts of Foix. Its history begins in 987. In the will of Count Roger I of Carcassonne dated 1002, the castle was transferred to his youngest son Bernard. In 1034 it became the center of government for the County of Foix, leaving a noticeable mark on medieval military history. Since the 15th century, the castle was the residence of the governor of this region, and at the same time it continued to perform protective functions throughout the religious wars. Before the Great French Revolution, a garrison lived in the castle.
The Comte de Treville, known from The Three Musketeers, and the future minister of Louis XVI, Marshal Segur, were governors here. In 1930, the museum of the Ariège department was located here, which has exhibitions dedicated to the prehistoric, Gallo-Roman and medieval eras of this land.
The first traces of human presence on Abkhazian soil are more than 300,000 years old. Abkhazia boasts a unique combination of mountainous terrain and...
3. Castle of the Black Falcon (France)
This wonderful castle is located in the French department of Indre-et-Loire, in the town of Montbazon and is the oldest surviving stone defensive structure in France. The fortress was built in the period 991-996 by order of Fulk Nerr, Count of Anjou, then several more defensive structures were added to it. Despite its long and not the most peaceful history, this castle is perfectly preserved, and since 2003 it has been open to the public. The modern outlines of the castle were given during the Middle Ages - in the 12th century, the feudal lords of Monbazon who owned it.
The dominant feature of the complex is a 28-meter high quadrangular donjon; in addition, there is a small tower fortified with a series of projections, a massive fence and a closed courtyard. In 1791, a period of decline began for this castle along with the fall of the small tower and the adjacent dungeons, and 7 years later the matter was completed by lightning striking the donjon. By the way, the cracks running along its eastern wall are evidence of this episode.
4. Langeais Castle (France)
In 992, construction began on Lange Castle, which initially consisted of a wooden donjon built on an embankment. This place is located 24 kilometers from Tours, the owner of these lands was the first Count of Blois. Unlike other capital dungeons, this one was built in a hurry, but its walls were 1.5 meters thick. Then wars followed one after another. For example, during the Hundred Years' War the castle was captured by the British many times. Finally, they agreed to leave it in 1428, but on the condition that the castle would be destroyed, leaving only the donjon.
King Louis XI ordered the restoration of the castle in 1465, after which it was owned by many monarchs. Anna of Breton came to Lange. When Charles-François Moisan acquired the castle in 1797, he noted only that he had brought it into disrepair, sold off the surrounding lands, and built a stable on the ground floor of the castle. After the purchase of the castle in 1839 by Christophe Baron, a revival began for it. In 1886, the Minister of Trade and Mayor of Le Havre, Jacques Siegfried, became the new owner of Lange, who devoted the next two decades to the restoration of the complex, especially its interiors. And in 1904 he donated the castle to the French Institute.
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5. Castle of Loches (France)
Among all the medieval donjons that have survived to this day, the one located in the castle of Loches is perhaps the oldest. It began to be built in 1005 and was completed around 1070. The result was a 38-meter-high structure with three-meter-thick walls that was almost impregnable. The history of the Losches fortress began during the reign of Count Fulk Nerr of Anjou, a restless warrior who spent his entire life at enmity with de Blois' neighbors. It was he who decided to build a square stone fortress.
Some of the castle's premises are open to the public today; the 15th-century torture chamber built by Charles VII is especially popular - in it you can see the shackles that held the legs of those executed during quartering. A copy of Louis XI's cage, in which Bishop Balu sat for 11 years, is also kept here. The French Ministry of Culture recognized the castle of Loches as a significant historical monument in 1861.
6. Bled Castle (Slovenia)
Near the Slovenian city of Bled, on a 130-meter cliff overlooking Lake Bled, stands Bled Castle. It was first mentioned in a document from 1004, reporting the transfer of Feldes Castle (then German name) by Emperor Henry II to the use of Bishop Albuin of Brixen. Its oldest building is a Romanesque donjon, which was used for defense, living and viewing the surrounding area.
In the medieval period, other buildings were attached to the cliff, and at its very top, stone defensive walls with towers were built. In 1947, the castle burned, but a few years later it was restored and a historical museum was set up there, where weapons, clothing and household items of that time are displayed.
7. Angers Castle (France)
Another castle from the banks of the Loire from the Maine-et-Loire department. This area was part of the Roman Empire in the 3rd century. On the banks of the Men River there was a small border outpost, with wooden walls to protect against Vikings and barbarians. In 851, the fortress came under the control of Count Geoffroy II of Anjou, who managed to turn the modest wooden fort into a large stone castle. In 1939, the Polish government in exile settled here, but already in 1940 the Germans smoked it out from there.
After the war, Angers Castle was restored. Its main attraction was the cycle of tapestries “Apocalypse” - 7 canvases on biblical subjects, woven by 1378 according to the sketches of the Flemish painter Jean by the weaver Nicolas Bataille. The canvases have a total length of 144 meters with a height of 5.5 meters.
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8. Chepstow Castle (Wales)
This castle stands on the banks of the River Wye in the town of Chepstow in south Wales. It was built by William Fitz-Osburn in the period 1067-1071. The Earl of Pembroke added a pair of towers to it in 1200, and his sons added a barbiquene protecting the drawbridge and a gatehouse. This is the first castle on the entire island of Great Britain built entirely of stone. In the middle of the 19th century, the castle began to host holidays and gardening exhibitions, which were soon supplemented by festivals and historical competitions that are still taking place to this day. In 1914, it was bought by a businessman who preserved the castle, and in 1953 his family transferred the castle to the state, after which it became open to the public.
9. Windsor Castle (England)
This current residence of British monarchs is located in the city of Windsor. Rising on a hill in the Thames Valley for over 900 years, it is a symbol of the monarchy. Having captured England in 1066, William I the Conqueror over the next decade surrounded London with a ring of castles standing on mounded hills 30 kilometers from the capital and from each other. At first the castle was made of wood, but with a stone wall around the perimeter; it stood on a limestone hill about 30 meters above the level of the Thames.
King Henry I was the first to use Windsor Castle as his residence in 1110, and he married Adela here in 1121. By this point, the wooden buildings had partially collapsed due to the gradual subsidence of the hill. Then wooden piles were driven into the hill, on which a stone fortress was erected. Henry II, who ascended the throne in 1154, continued the construction of the castle.
Today, Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world, with about 500 people working and living there. The Queen visits there in March-April and a week in June each year, where she conducts ceremonies related to the Order of the Garter. Here she officially receives foreign representatives. About a million tourists come to Windsor every year.
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10. Dover Castle (England)
This is one of the largest English castles in size, located in Dover (Kent), on the shores of the English Channel, separating the British Isles from the continent. Some of the castle's buildings date back to ancient times. The fortress was surrounded by a huge ditch, which was probably dug in the Iron Age. At the beginning of the new era, the troops of the Roman Empire reached the British Isles; they built two lighthouses on this site, one of which has survived to this day. It can still be seen when visiting Dover.
Around the 10th century, the Church of St. Mary of Castro was added to the lighthouse, and the lighthouse was also its bell tower. This church was also able to survive. In 1066, the Normans, led by William I, captured the castle and all of England. Henry II - his grandson began to build a defensive system and the main tower of the castle. A colossal sum of 7,000 pounds was then spent on construction, of which 4,000 was spent on the construction of the donjon. In the 18th century, during the wars with Napoleon, tunnels were cut into the rocks at a 15-meter depth under the fortress to accommodate 2,000 soldiers. The castle was also expanded and strengthened to withstand the onslaught of the French. But after 1826, when Bonaparte was finished, the castle was abandoned, and all its inhabitants left it without using it in any way.
Only about a century later, in 1939, when the war with Germany began, did they remember the tunnels, which were converted first into bomb shelters and then into a military hospital. Now the castle houses a large museum complex, open to everyone.
