Who built medieval castles and for how long? How medieval castles were built. Why was it so difficult to capture them? Gate and gate tower

Since the seas and rivers provided great visibility for tracking down and attacking foreign invaders.

The water supply made it possible to preserve ditches and ditches, which were an indispensable part of the castle’s defense system. Castles also functioned as administrative centers, and bodies of water helped facilitate the collection of taxes, since the rivers and seas were important trade waterways.

Castles were also built on high hills or in rocky cliffs, which were difficult to attack.

Castle construction stages

At the beginning of the construction of the castle, ditches were dug in the ground around the location of the future building. Their contents were folded inside. The result was an embankment or hill called a “mott.” A castle was later built on it.

Then the castle walls were built. Often two rows of walls were erected. The outer wall was lower than the inner one. It contained towers for the castle defenders, a drawbridge and a lock. Towers were built on the inner wall of the castle, which were used for. The basement rooms were intended to store food in the event of a siege. The area, which was surrounded by an internal wall, was called a “bailey”. On the site there was a tower where the feudal lord lived. Castles could be supplemented with extensions.

What were castles made of?

The material from which the castles were made depended on the geology of the area. The first castles were built from wood, but later stone became the building material. Sand, limestone, and granite were used in construction.

All construction work was done by hand.

Castle walls rarely consisted entirely of solid stone. The outside of the wall was faced with processed stones, and on the inside, stones of uneven shape and different sizes were laid. These two layers were connected using lime mortar. The solution was prepared right on the site of the future structure, and the stones were also whitened with its help.

Wooden scaffolding was erected at the construction site. In this case, horizontal beams were stuck into holes made in the walls. Boards were placed across them on top. On the walls of medieval castles you can see square recesses. These are the marks from the scaffolding. At the end of construction, the building niches were filled with limestone, but over time it fell off.

The windows in the castles were narrow openings. Small openings were made on the castle tower so that the defenders could shoot arrows.

How much did the locks cost?

If we were talking about a royal residence, then specialists were hired throughout the country for construction. This is how the king of medieval Wales, Edward the First, built his ring castles. Masons cut stones into blocks of the correct shape and size using a hammer, chisel and measuring tools. This work required high skill.

Stone castles were an expensive pleasure. King Edward almost bankrupted the state treasury by spending £100,000 on their construction. About 3,000 workers were involved in the construction of one castle.

The construction of castles took from three to ten years. Some were built in war zones and took longer to complete the work. Most of the castles built by Edward the First still stand.

The first fortifications in the form medieval castles appeared in IX - X centuries. at a time when the countries of Central Europe ( France, Germany and Northern Italy) began to be threatened by aggression and invasion of barbarian tribes and Vikings. This greatly hindered the development of the empire created Charlemagne. To protect the lands, they began to build fortifications from wooden buildings. This kind of architecture" durable wood"for more reliable protection, it was added by surrounding an earthen ditch and rampart. A suspension bridge was overturned through the ditch on chains or strong ropes, along which one entered a residential village. A palisade was installed on the crest of the rampart. The top of its trunk was sharpened with tools and dug into the ground for a sufficiently large height, safe from penetration inside the fortifications.In the 11th century, castles began to be built on artificial hills.Such hills were poured next to the courtyard, fenced with a high palisade.
Sometimes there was also a log gate tower. Inside the wooden fortification there were craft workshops, a barn, a well, a chapel and the very home of the leader and his retinue. For even more reliable and additional defense, a high hill was raised (about 5 m), on which an additional defensive fortification was built. The hill could be constructed using an artificial method, by pouring earth onto a given surface. The material for construction was always chosen from wood, because... the stone was too heavy, which meant it could fall down due to its greater weight.

Knight's castles

Locks- these are stone buildings that protected from enemies and served as the home of one or another owner of the estate. In the most common meaning of the word, it is the fortified dwelling of a feudal lord in medieval Europe.
The architecture of medieval castles was significantly influenced by Ancient Roman Fortifications and Byzantine structures, from where 9th century penetrated into Western Europe. The castles of noble feudal lords, in addition to housing, also performed defensive functions. They tried to build them in areas inaccessible to humans (rocky ledges, hills, islands). Inside castles and fortresses there was a main tower called donjon, in which its most important inhabitants (mostly the feudal nobility) took refuge. They tried to make the walls of the castles strong and high enough to protect the buildings from the assault of enemies (siege works, artillery and stairs). A typical wall was 3 meters thick and 12 meters high. Various recesses on the tops of the walls made it possible to conduct less safe fire on the enemy who was below, and even to throw heavy objects and pour tar towards the storming gates. To make the castles difficult to pass, ditches were dug out, which blocked access to the castle walls and gates (the gates were lowered on chains across the moat like a bridge, and sometimes a bridge was built at the entrance Gersu- lowering wooden-metal grille). The ditches were deep holes filled with water (sometimes with stakes) to prevent enemies from swimming and digging through them.

Donjon

Donjon It was the main building during the defense and was a high stone tower, where the most important people of the castle took refuge in the event of an attack by enemies. The construction of such a building was taken very seriously. This required experienced artisans who were very good at erecting and building reliable stone structures. Estate owners began to take a particularly serious attitude towards such construction towards XI century, where it was attempted to build such defensive towers.
The thickest and most inaccessible dungeons first appeared in Normans. In the later period, almost all high towers were built of stone, which replaced buildings made of wood. In order to completely and completely capture the donjon, its enemies needed to destroy the stones with special assault installations, or dig a tunnel under the building in order to get inside. Over time, tall, defensive towers acquired a round and polygonal shape during construction. This external design provided more convenient shooting for the defenders of the dungeons.
The internal architecture of the tall, defensive towers consisted of a garrison, a main hall and chambers for the owner of the castle and his family. The walls were covered with brick and stone masonry. Sometimes the walls were lined with cut stone. In the upper part of the donjon there was a spiral staircase leading to a watchtower, where there was a sentinel guard, and next to him was the banner of the owner of the castle with the coat of arms.

Medieval castles

For more reliable protection, the owners of some castles preferred to build additional fortifications for their walls. Ultimately, after the completion of such buildings, a double barrier was obtained, one of which was higher than the other and located at the rear of the defense. This strategic architecture allowed for double fire for the riflemen defending the castle. If the enemy took one of the walls by storm, they would stumble upon the next one or find themselves completely trapped, since the construction of the walls was connected to a high tower - the donjon.

Medieval castles were the mainstay and most reliable defense of the feudal lord from enemies. Their appearance varies from country to country.

Castles of France

Castles of France. Numerous constructions of architectural structures in France began in the Loire River valley. The oldest of them is donjon fortress Due-la-Fontaine. In the historical era King Philip II Augustus (1180-1223 ) medieval castles were built with fairly reliable dungeons and fences.
A distinctive feature of French castles is the rounded roof of hip material, cone-shaped, which fits evenly over the tower with a neat surface design. The upper part of the towers has an angular surface of concave openings of loopholes with windows, merging with the tops of the “triangles” and “trapezoids”. The location of the middle windows for daylight is large enough for full penetration of sunlight into the interior of the room. Sometimes large windows are located in the attic compartment of the roof, most likely to illuminate a particularly important room. In some sections of the buildings you can see solid, clearly defined holes of loopholes, because... France's constant pre-modern wars forced these defensive structures to cost. In a later period of time, castle designs began to evolve into palace-like architecture.
The entrance to the castle was via stone steps, flanked by two merging towers. Above the head of the rising guest, in the wall, there were three loopholes in the event of a siege or storming of the building. On the right side of the stairs there were solid and flat slopes for convenient lifting and lowering of various loads.
The most mysterious and shrouded in the secrets of legends was the castle Saumur. In medieval times, it was constantly restored and eventually acquired an unimaginably fabulous appearance. This architecture was so highly valued that many parts of the buildings were lined with gold materials.
In the courtyard of Sumor Castle there was a well with a huge underground reservoir. A house was built above the well (above), and there was a well gate in it, with the help of which a large bucket of water could be raised. The lifting mechanism consisted of wooden wheels connected by a separate tooth and groove.
IN XVII century The western part of the castle began to collapse, which was the reason for its abandonment. The building began to be used as a prison and barracks, but soon the architecture was restored and again “raised” to the pedestal of honor.
The main distinguishing feature of French castles- These are high, pointed roofs with a cone-shaped appearance.

Castles of Belgium

Castles of Belgium began to be erected in the Middle Ages with 9th century first millennium. The most outstanding castles are Arenberg, Castle of the Counts of Flanders, Beløy, Vev, Gaasbeek, Stan And Anweng. In appearance they are small in size, but subjectively they are very cute and attractive. Their main distinguishing feature is the presence of an arched bend in the area of ​​the lower parts of the roofs and the presence of upper domes on some types of castles. The cone-shaped tops have pronounced vertical edges, which also give a distinctive style to Belgian architecture. On the high tips of the sharp knitting needles you can see emblazoned coats of arms and various figures, adding additional uniqueness. To some extent, the castles of Belgium are very similar in external design to the English ones, but the British kingdom emphasizes a more rectangular architecture. The windows are tall and large, quite elongated in size. They are most often located in palace-type castles.
The most unique in their beauty are the castles Arenberg And Gravensteen (Count's Castle of Flanders). The first one is very similar in external design to a Catholic church, which is complemented by 2 black domes on the sides. The center is lined with a ladder-like roof and an acute-angled, small tower, which fits very nicely into the interior. The Count's Castle also stands out with its peculiarly unusual shape. Its defensive wall has convex cylindrical towers, the top of which is much thicker than the bottom. And in the walls there are perforated recesses and additional shutters for the round architectures placed on them.

Castles in Germany

Castles in Germany They are inherently varied in design, but most have shapes that resemble pointed tips at the tops and tall, oblong towers with a flat surface. The most outstanding of them are Maxburg, Meshpelbrunn, Cochem, Palatinate And Liechtenstein. Many buildings are very similar to French ones, but German architecture has many more numerous extensions on the side walls. Some upper castle roofs consist of ladder-like forms of descent of the side coverings. The sharp and elongated ends of the skyscrapers have various symbols, statues or bell towers, which adds even more interest to German architecture. Loop holes ( machicoul) locks have a fairly wide diameter. Apparently the medieval Germans loved to defend their castles not only with a bow and crossbow, but also with other methods of heavily armed attributes.
The extensions sometimes included residential, utility and church premises, which were lined mainly with brick and formed rectangular courtyards. The main entrance of the castles was blocked by an iron-wooden grate with a lowering mechanism. The design of the movement of the grate down and up was ensured using the outer wall on stone brackets. In some buildings in other countries, such a rise at the entrance was realized by a narrow sliding gap inside the portal.
In Germany, they tried to build all castles on mountainous and hilly areas. This ruled out a full-fledged enemy assault; convenient shooting from siege weapons and digging, which was hampered by the rocky rock below the architecture. In some types of buildings, the Germans used the principle of the Tower of Babel, when the height of the building rushed high up, and the celestial plane was lined with many loopholes around the area.

Castles of Spain

Castles of Spain. The architectural structures of Spain were originally built by the Arabs, since this land was under their dominance in the early medieval period. They had a luxurious, fortified palace on one of their hills - the Alhambra with openwork arches of the courtyard. But in 1492, Europeans recaptured Southern Spain from the Muslims and with it the last city of Grenada. Initially, Muslims erected buildings very similar to garrison fortresses (alcazabas) with square and acute-angled towers. Later, Europeans began to build tall, round dungeons with alternating structures.
The appearance of Spanish castles has a repeating combination of multiple, tall, elongated towers with a flat surface, reminiscent of numerous chess pieces and very similar to a rook. At the top tips of skyscrapers there are octagonal, small towers. From a distance they look more like rectangular, jagged slabs. The side surface of the walls has a wavy relief, which gives additional originality to the castles. The middle part of the stone covering of high towers was sometimes covered with an additional layer of convex alternations of huge cobblestones. This cunning arrangement of buildings served to prevent the penetration of enemy installations and stairs. As a decoration, an image of a shield with a coat of arms was driven into the stone wall. Just above the middle, there were guard corridors, which were decorated with curved patterns and various curves, including wide, arched windows.
An example of the described external image of the Moorish style is the castle-palace of El Real de Manzanares, built north of Madrid in 1475 by the first Duke of Infantado. This unique architecture had a square structure, which was surrounded by 2 rows of walls with round towers at the corners. Later, the Duke's heir in 1480 added to the outstanding gallery and decorated the palace with turrets and stone hemispheres.

Castles of the Czech Republic

Castles of the Czech Republic. The construction of Czech castles was widespread in XIII-XIV centuries. The most famous of them are Hluboka, Bezdez, Bouzov, Bukhlov, Zvikov, Coast, Karlstein And Křivoklát. Their architectural appearance is more reminiscent of palaces than seriously fortified defense against enemy onslaught. Jagged rectangular slabs and blocking, high walls are practically absent from the defensive functions of former castle buildings. The main distinctive feature of Czech architecture is the large triangular and polygonal roofs, with pointed towers and stone chimneys embedded in them. The attics have arched windows for daylight and access to the top of the roof. Large, dial chimes were sometimes built into the central towers of castles. Many palaces were built in the Renaissance, Classicism and Gothic styles. Some views were rebuilt and restored, after which they became picturesque, elegant and even more beautiful.

But there are some types of castles that are completely different from the standard design of the local medieval buildings. For example, a castle Gluboka(previously Frauenberg ) has an appearance more reminiscent of the Spanish style of architecture. Because it contains a large number of the same high towers, reminiscent of dungeons and a rook chess piece with numerous jagged rectangular slabs. And in addition to everything, such elongated buildings have windows. This is one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, although not particularly large. It looks more like a huge mansion than a large palace. From the inside, the architecture contains 140 rooms, 11 towers and 2 rectangular courtyards. The outside of the white castle is decorated with elaborate carvings of various figures, deer heads and hanging, antique lanterns.

Castles of Slovakia

Castles of Slovakia. The construction of Slovak castles began in XI century, but most of them were built in XIII century. The most outstanding of them are Bitchjanski Castle, Boinitsky, Bratislava Castle, Budatinsky, Zvolensky, Orava Castle, Smolenitsky, Spiš Castle And Trenčiansky Castle locks. Architectures inherently have diverse designs. The size also varies in large and small forms. The roofs of large castles stretch out to enormous dimensions with polygonal shapes. The towers have elongated, acute-angled ends with thin, long, spherical spokes. Windows are located quite less often than in other state castles, but most often they are found in large numbers in small buildings. In some architectures you can find convex, perforated slits of stripes, which are an additional decoration, emphasizing a pronounced design. They can mainly be seen on the rounded ends of elongated cylinders. Some castles in Slovakia have small balconies. They feature arched windows and vertical railings. The buildings have practically no protective walls. They can only be found near mountain buildings in the highlands.

The most impressive and unique in their structure castles of Slovakia- This Bratislava Castle (square shape and towers located at each corner), Orava Castle (built with a gradually rising foundation) , Trečiansky Castle (having a huge, powerful tower in the center), Zvolensky (with jagged square slabs on its roof) And Smolenitsky (possessing three prominent roofs in the middle, green and red in color) locks.

Castles of England

Castles of England. Many castles in England were built in XI century, but most of them today are in a dilapidated state. The main distinguishing feature is the solid rectangular towers, which consisted of narrow, elongated buildings. Their roofs are covered with jagged square slabs, which can extend along the entire perimeter surrounding the architecture. Only a few buildings have triangular and cone-shaped tops. If there are any, then such tips form a continuous row of acute-angled limbs in some raised row. For beauty, many architectures were treated with long, elongated pits along the entire circumference of the towers. This appearance emphasizes the unusual originality of English castles. Another unusual feature is the presence of large and large windows in the walls, more like semi-palatial buildings. Sometimes elongated windows are located in wide arched arches, which further emphasize the extraordinary style. In many, even small, square castles, the British constructed and strengthened dial clocks with melodic chimes. They still attach great importance to exact time in their upbringing and culture.

England is a huge island, which means it first of all needed the defense of coastal territories and a powerful fleet. Maybe that’s why her castles did not have a particularly reliable and protected architecture from enemies.

Castles in Austria

Castles in Austria laid the foundation for their construction in VIII-IX centuries last millennium. The most famous of them are Artstetten, Hochosterwitz, Graz, Landskron, Rosenburg, Shattenburg, Hohenwerfen And Ehrenberg. Their main characteristic feature is the tall and very thick, rectangular towers with huge triangular and polygonal roof domes. The side surfaces are too wide due to the fact that the buildings of high castles have many floors, which means that this requires a full climb up the spacious spiral staircase. At the highest height, at the base of the sharp pins, the builders placed artificial sculptures of various figures in the form of angels with wings. Near high bases in architectural buildings, additional convex structures are sometimes added in the form of patterns and dimples running along the perimeter or circle. Some types of castles have railings with a varied vertical structure at the top. The architecture of the huge roofs is added by small, sharp-angled towers, designed not so far from each other. On them you can also see attic windows and an exit to the upper part of the ceiling. The windows have a small oval and square shape. In some places, the side walls of the towers are decorated with healthy, arched glass with patterns.
Some castles served not only as a home and defense for noble society, but soon turned into a prison, barracks, museum and even a restaurant. One such example is Schattenburg Castle.

Castles of Italy

Castles of Italy. Most of the castles in Italy began to be built in X-XI century second millennium. The most famous of them are Aragonese (Ischia), Balsiliano, Bari, Carbonara, Castello Maniace, Corigliano, Holy Angel, San Leo, Forza, Otranto,Ursino And Estense.

The huge, thick width of the walls and the healthy circumference of the towers are the main distinguishing features of Italian castles. They are primitive and absolutely simple to the analyzing eye of a traveler or tourist. Judging by their appearance, many of their species are very well adapted for defensive defense against enemies. Watchtowers are located quite high in the central parts of the castle architecture. They have many windows and a significantly convex projection in relation to the lower part of the stone tower.
The square tops of the walls have cuts in the form of tendrils, thereby significantly emphasizing the originality from other state castles. Under the jagged rectangular slabs of Italian castles there are numerous, pronounced oval depressions that stretch across the entire width of the rectangular and round stone towers. On some architectures you can also notice the presence of balconies with vertical, white railings on them. The doorways in the lower parts of the castle have huge, arched shapes. This is most likely due to the fact that in case of alarm, the defenders of the castle do not crowd, but fully run out in large detachments from their barracks. Similar factors include the presence of signal bells in the upper parts of the towers. The construction of castles and fortresses in Italy was a militarized vision of noble rulers and their architects.

Castles of Poland

Castles of Poland. The most intensive growth in the construction of Polish castles dates back to 1200-1700. second millennium. The most outstanding of them are Grodno, Kschenzh, Kurnicki, Krasicki, Lenchicki, Lublin, Marienburg, Stettin and Chęcinski. According to their structure, they have a variety of designs in large and small sizes. Most castles have a palace appearance and only a small part of them have serious defensive architecture. Polish castles are characterized by long, curvaceous domes, shaped like an elephant chess piece or an umbrella-shaped projection. These also include huge trapezoid-like roofs that extend across the entire width of the architectural top. Small, sharp-angled towers contain bell towers, while large ones contain rectangular windows for sentinel observation. The windows in the side parts of the walls have a variety of shapes, but most of them are rectangular and arched, as are their arched frames, emphasizing the distinctive appearance.

The architectural style of Poland is quite unique. The buildings were erected from the donjon style to the neo-Gothic style. This rather elegant type of building structure includes Kurnitsky Castle, very nice external design.
Some types of castles are so tiny that they resemble a small mansion rather than a heavily defensive fortress. An example would be Szymbark Castle. And if you compare him with such a giant as Marienburg, then the first one will seem like an absolute highlight compared to the thug.

The appearance of the architecture was Gothic and Renaissance style. But all Belarusian castles have different designs, uniquely different from each other. The largest of them is Mir Castle. Its main distinguishing feature is its large size and the presence of defensive walls. They contain a number of small windows (loopholes) designed for camouflaged observation and protection of the castle. The entire architecture consists mainly of red brick, covering the entire perimeter of the building. Rectangular windows and loopholes are surrounded by white, arched frames. The roofs have a triangular shape at the tips of the spokes of which there are patterns of balls and flags. Entrance inside is through oval arches located in several parts of the castle.
Gomel Castle It was also quite large in area, but consisted of separate buildings and a very low defensive wall. There were small towers with oval domes on it. Rather, this architecture resembled more a monastery of free-standing buildings than a castle for defense. The tall towers had pointed, black roofs with varied shapes. Even a single pipe on the roof had a unique, colorful pattern.

At first, buildings were built from wood, but with the advent of firearms, a much stronger material such as stone was needed. Solid fortifications held back the onslaught of bullets and igniting fire much better.
Castles were built on hills, pouring artificial hills and covering them with cut stone. To ensure the reliability of the fortifications, strategically tricky areas with seas and lakes were chosen. Sometimes the defense was supplemented with deep ditches with water, to further isolate land penetration into buildings. The many courtyards in the castle made it difficult for the enemy to reach the main tower. To get close to it, the attackers had to wander through them for a long time, like through a labyrinth, in search of a way out. It was easy to get lost. Some castles served as barracks for samurai warriors, built by daimyo - the owners of the provinces on the site of small fortresses. Such buildings could be constructed in cities and serve as fortified administrative centers.
The appearance of Japanese castles resembled solid, upwardly curved layered blocks of roofs, superimposed on one another. From the outside they looked quite primitive and were very similar to each other. But the interior of the premises was attractive and varied. At the very top of the towers there was a high, carved pediment of the castle - a sign of the power of its owner. The roofs were multi-tiered, like a pagoda, with wide slopes. Their surfaces were covered with wooden shingles. The outer walls were plastered and painted white. Their side coverings had slit-like windows and loopholes. The lower floors were faced with stone slabs.
Sometimes a castle had several towers, and the defenders fired at the enemy from different sides. Often a one-story tower was placed above the gate. And in the very center of the castle stood a multi-tiered main tower, erected on an embankment hill. Later, the base of the tower began to be covered with stone, while other parts remained wooden. To reduce the risk of fire, the walls were covered with a thick layer of plaster, and the gates were bound with iron plates. The towers served simultaneously as a headquarters, observation tower and huge warehouses. The owner's chambers were located on the upper floors. Wooden buildings could be a combination of entrance halls, upper rooms, huts, corridors and towers with numerous rooms. Most often, only noble princes, nobles and boyars could afford such luxurious dwellings. Their rooms were located on the top floors. Below, there were rooms for servants and subjects.
The mansions were divided into resting , restless And outbuildings . Premises chamber architectures had separate dwellings, in one of which the owner lived, and in the other his wife and children. Their rooms were connected by common corridors, through which one could go to the desired room. Unrested mansions served for meetings, special events and holidays. They built huge halls for large numbers of people. Household mansions used for everyday needs in crafts and households. They looked like stables, barns, laundries and workshops.

By the half of the eleventh century, a social system had reigned in Europe, which modern historians call the feudal system. From approximately the middle of the eleventh century until the very end of the thirteenth century, the uniqueness of this era was expressed especially clearly in advanced countries.

Power belonged to landowners-feudal lords who were divided into secular and ecclesiastical. The majority of the population were forced peasants. They were all ruled by a single ruler (monarch) - a king, and in a smaller state - a count or duke.

The privileges and responsibilities of rulers and the peasant masses were formalized by certain traditions, written laws and regulations. Peasants and city residents were not included in the feudal ladder, but were also attached to the rulers through contractual relations. Such personal relationships in the form of agreements and oaths of obligation are a noticeable feature of the medieval West.

Feudal lords built huge castles for themselves and lived in them. Since the eighth century, a huge number of castles have been built in Europe to protect against Viking or Hungarian raids. Each ruler sought to build a castle for himself, of course, depending on the capabilities of the feudal lord, it was huge or modest. The castle was both the home of the feudal lord and his defensive fortress.

The first fortresses were built from wood, later they began to build from stone. Hefty walls with crenellated towers were a reliable defense. A castle-fortress was often built on a hill or even on a high rock; the outside area was surrounded by a wide ditch with water.

Some feudal lords built their castles on an island in the middle of a river or some lake. A drawbridge was thrown across a ditch or channel, which was raised on chains at night or during an enemy attack. From the towers on the walls, guards constantly surveyed the surrounding area and if they saw an approaching enemy, they sounded an alarm. Hearing the signal, the defenders of the fortress hurried to take up their combat posts on the walls and towers of the castle.

To get into the feudal lord's fortress, it was necessary to overcome many obstacles. The assaulting troops had to fill up the ditch, overcome the hill in the open space under a cloud of arrows, approach the walls, climb them along the assault ladders provided, or try to break down the oak gates, but bound with iron sheets, with a ram.

The defenders of the fortress threw stones, logs and other heavy objects onto the heads of the attackers, poured boiling water and burning tar, threw spears, and fired a hail of arrows from bows and crossbows at them. Often the attacking enemy fighters had to storm another, higher second wall.

The main tower of the fortress, called the donjon, rose above all the buildings of the castle. In the donjon, where a large supply of provisions was stored, the feudal lord with his soldiers and servants could endure a long siege, even if the rest of the castle’s fortifications had already been captured by the enemy. The tower consisted of halls that were located one above the other. Food supplies were stored in the basement, and a well was made there that provided water to those under siege. In the same damp and dark basement of the donjon, especially dangerous prisoners languished (since escape from there was almost impossible). In some castles there was a secret underground passage through which the besieged feudal lord could get out of the castle to the forest or river.

The only metal door that led into the keep was located high above the ground. Even if the invaders managed to break it, they still had to fight for all the floors. It was necessary to climb along ladders through hatch openings that were locked with bulky stone slabs. In case of capture of the donjon, a spiral staircase was built in the thickness of the wall, along which the owner of the castle, along with his retinue and soldiers, could go down to the basement and escape through an underground passage.

There are many medieval castles scattered across Europe, which many centuries ago were intended to house and protect the families of feudal lords. Today, castles are silent witnesses to royal dramas, the fall of great houses and historical events.

Now tourists visit ancient fortresses in winter and summer to see their splendor with their own eyes. We have collected in this list incredibly beautiful castles that are worth visiting!

1 Tintagel Castle, England

Tintagel is a medieval fort on the headland of the island of the same name. The castle borders the village of Tintagel in Cornwall. It was built by Richard, a member of the Plantagenet dynasty, in 1233. However, Tintagel is often associated with another famous character - King Arthur. Here he was conceived, born and taken away by the wizard Merlin in infancy.

The castle has been a tourist attraction since the 19th century and is under the ownership of Prince Charles. It is managed by English Heritage, the British government commission for historic buildings.

2 Corvin Castle, Romania

This Gothic-style castle with Renaissance elements is located in Transylvania, a Romanian town called Hunedoara, on a cliff near the Zlašte River. The castle was built in the mid-15th century by the father of the Hungarian king Matthew Corvinus and was inherited until 1508.

Since then, Korvinov has had 22 owners and has been open to the public as a museum. The castle is still one of the wonders of Romania. By the way, according to rumors, Vlad the Impaler himself, known as Count Dracula, spent seven years in captivity here.

3 Alcazar de Segovia, Spain

This fortress of the Spanish kings is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle is located in an incredibly beautiful location - a rock at the confluence of two rivers. Thanks to its location, it is one of the most recognizable castles in Spain.

In 1120, the Alcazar was used as an Arab fortress. Then there was a royal residence, an artillery academy and even a prison. Currently it houses a military archive and museum.

4 Eltz Castle, Germany

Eltz Castle is considered one of two medieval buildings in the Eifel highlands that have never been destroyed or captured. The castle has withstood all wars and shocks since its construction in the 12th century.

It is surprising that the castle has been owned by the same family for 33 generations - Eltz, whose descendants still take care of it to this day, keeping it in its original form. The owner opened it to tourists, who are especially attracted by the Eltz treasury with jewelry exhibits and other works of art from different centuries.

5 Windsor Castle, England

This castle has been closely associated with the monarchs of Great Britain for more than 900 years and is their symbol. The current ruling royal dynasty of Windsor is named in his honor. The castle was built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, and has been used as a royal residence since the reign of Henry I. Over so many centuries, it has been rebuilt and expanded several times in accordance with the requests of the reigning monarchs.

Interestingly, during the Second World War the castle served as a refuge for the royal family. Today, the castle is used for state receptions, tourist visits, and for Queen Elizabeth II's vacation in the spring of each year.

6 Himeji Castle, Japan

This castle near the city of Himeji is one of the most ancient in Japan. Its construction as a fortress began in 1333, and in 1346 the fort was reconstructed into a castle. For a long time he wandered from one samurai clan to another and only in the 1600s he found an owner. Then the main part of the 83 wooden buildings of the castle was built.

Movies are often filmed on the grounds of Himeji, as the castle is well preserved in its original form. In addition, the structure is a National Treasure of Japan and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

7 Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

This ancient castle is located on Castle Rock in the center of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. About 300-odd million years ago there was an active volcano here! The first mention of this building dates back to 1139, when the nobility and church ministers gathered in the royal castle. This continued until 1633, but from then on the castle began to be considered the heart of Scotland.

It is worth noting that this fortress survived 26 sieges, making it the most attacked on Earth. Edinburgh Castle has been frequently restored over the past 150 years and is now Edinburgh's main tourist attraction.

8 Hever Castle, England

The castle was built in the 13th century in the southeast of England in Kent, as an ordinary country house. It became famous because the Boleyn family lived here from 1462 to 1539. In 1505, it was inherited by Thomas Boleyn, the father of Anne, the wife of King Henry VIII, whose wedding caused the break between England and Rome. True, after the king got bored with his new wife, he executed her in the Tower.

Since then, Hever has passed from one owner to another, but has retained its unique Tudor interiors. The castle is now used as a conference venue, but is also open to the public.

9 Bojnice Castle, Slovakia

It is considered one of the most romantic castles in Europe. Its first mention dates back to 1113 - an ordinary wooden castle in Bojnice, which was gradually strengthened. The fortress was officially handed over to the ruler of Slovakia, Matus Csak, by King Wenceslas III of Hungary in 1302.

Since then, each new owner has reconstructed the castle, and the result is the most visited place in Slovakia. Many science fiction and fairy tale films were filmed here. The castle also houses the Slovak Folk Museum.

10 Bran Castle, Romania

Bran Fortress is a national landmark of Romania. Initially, it was a wooden structure, which was founded in 1212 by the knights of the Teutonic Order, and later was completed by local residents at their own expense. In those days, the building served as a defensive fortress.

Bran has had many owners, but most often it is called "Dracula's Castle." According to legend, Prince Vlad Chepesh, nicknamed Count Dracula, often stayed here and hunted near the castle. In the 20th century, the castle was donated by local residents to Queen Maria of Romania, whose grandson currently owns it. The castle now houses a museum of furniture and art from Queen Mary's collection.

11 Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

This beautiful castle, which is recognized as one of the most romantic in Scotland, is located on the Isle of Donan - at the meeting point of three lakes. In the 7th century, a hermit monk lived on the island, after whom the castle was named. In the 13th century, the first fortress was built, and Eilean Donan itself was handed over by the king to the ancestor of the Scottish Mackenzie clan.

The structure was destroyed in 1719, and only at the beginning of the 20th century the MacRae clan acquired the castle and began its restoration. By the way, this fortress can be seen in the TV series “Outlander”.

12 Bodiam Castle, England

The lands on which the castle is now located went to Edward Dalingridge after his marriage. In 1385, during the 100 Years' War, he fortified the estate to protect the surrounding area from the French. For several decades the castle was passed down from generation to generation. When the family died at the end of the 15th century, the castle came into the possession of the Leuknor family.

Bodiam later had several owners, each of whom contributed to its restoration, for example after the siege during the Wars of the Roses. In 1925, after the death of the then owner, the castle was donated to the national trust, which maintains it today. Now anyone can visit this fortress near the village of Robertsbridge.

13 Hohensalzburg Castle, Austria

This structure is considered one of the largest of all surviving medieval castles in Europe and is located at an altitude of 120 meters on the top of Mount Festung near the Austrian city of Salzburg. The castle was built in 1077 under the leadership of the Archbishop of Salzburg, but now only the foundation remains from that building.

Hohensalzburg was fortified, rebuilt and reconstructed many times. Only in the 16th century did it acquire the appearance it has now. The fortress was used as a warehouse, barracks, fort and even a prison during the First World War. Now this castle is a favorite tourist attraction, accessible by cable car or on foot.

14 Arundell Castle, England

This castle was founded at Christmas 1067 by Roger de Montgomery (Earl of Arundel), one of William the Conqueror's subjects. It later became the main residence of the Howard Dukes of Norfolk, who have owned it for over 400 years.

The castle was rebuilt after damage during the English Civil War in the 17th century, and was also updated with the return of fashion for medieval interiors. Although Arundel is privately owned, much of the castle is open to tourists.

15 Mont Saint Michel, France

It is not for nothing that this castle is called an architectural miracle of France. It is a rocky island in northwestern France that was converted into an island fortress in the 8th century. Monks lived here for a long time, and even an abbey was built.

During the 100 Years' War, the British unsuccessfully tried to conquer this island, and during the French Revolution, when there were no monks on the island, a prison was built here. It was closed in 1863, and in 1874 the island was recognized as a historical monument. About 3 million tourists come here every year, while there are only a few dozen local residents!

These amazing historical monuments have reached our descendants in almost their original form. They preserve the centuries-old history of different peoples, which cannot always be read on the pages of textbooks.

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When you think of medieval castles, picturesque walls covered in ivy, beautiful ladies in high towers and noble knights in shining armor come to mind. But it was not these sublime images that motivated the feudal lords to build impregnable walls with loopholes, but the harsh reality.

Who owned castles in the Middle Ages?

During the Middle Ages, Europe experienced many changes. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the processes of resettlement of peoples began, new kingdoms and states emerged. All this was accompanied by constant conflicts and strife.

Nobleman-feudal lord, who had a knighthood, to protect himself from enemies, and they could even be his closest neighbors, was forced to strengthen his home as much as possible and build a castle.

Wikipedia suggests distinguishing between a castle and a fortress. Fortress - walled area land with houses and other buildings. The castle is smaller in size. This is a single structure that includes walls, towers, bridges and other structures.

The castle was the private fortress of a noble lord and his family. In addition to the direct function of protection, it was an indicator of power and well-being. But not all knights could afford it. The owner could be an entire knightly order - a community of warriors.

How and from what materials were medieval castles built?

Building a real castle was a time-consuming and costly procedure. All work was done by hand and sometimes lasted for decades.

Before construction began, it was necessary to select a suitable location. The most impenetrable castles were built on the cliffs of steep rocks. However, more often they chose a hill with an open view and a river nearby. The waterway was necessary to fill ditches and was also used as a route for transporting goods.

A deep ditch was dug on the ground and an embankment was formed. Then the walls were erected using scaffolding.

The challenge was building the well. We had to dig deep down or chisel the rock.

Selection of material for construction depended on many factors. Of decisive importance were:

• terrain;
• human resources;
• budget.

If there was a quarry nearby, the structure was built from stone; otherwise, wood, sand, limestone or brick were used. For the outside we used facing materials, for example, processed stone. The wall elements were connected using lime mortar.

Although glass was known in those days, it was not used in castles. Narrow windows were covered with mica, leather or parchment. Inside the living quarters of the castle owners, the walls were often covered with frescoes and hung with tapestries. In the remaining rooms they limited themselves to a layer of lime or left the masonry untouched.

What elements did the castles consist of?

Exact lock configuration depended on local traditions, landscape, and wealth of the owner. Over time, new engineering solutions appeared. Previously built structures were often completed and rebuilt. Among all the Medieval fortifications, several traditional elements can be distinguished.

Ditch, bridge and gate

The castle was surrounded by a moat. If there was a river nearby, it was flooded. At the bottom they made wolf pits - depressions with stakes or sharp rods.

It was possible to get inside through the moat only with the help of a bridge. Huge logs served as supports. Part of the bridge rose and blocked the passage inside. The mechanism of the drawbridge was designed in such a way that 2 guards could handle it. In some castles the bridge had a swing mechanism.

The gates were double doors and closed a cross beam that slid into the wall. Although they were knocked together from several words of strong boards and upholstered with iron, the gates remained the most vulnerable part of the structure. They were protected by a gate tower with a guard room. The entrance to the castle turned into a long narrow passage with holes in the ceiling and walls. If the enemy was inside, a stream of boiling water or resin was poured onto him.

In addition to wooden gates, there was often a lattice, which was closed using a winch and ropes. In an emergency, the ropes were cut off and the barrier fell sharply.

An additional element of gate protection was the barbican - walls extending from the gate. Opponents had to squeeze in into the passage between them under a hail of arrows.

Walls and towers

The height of the walls of the medieval fortification reached 25 meters. They had a powerful base and withstood the blows of battering guns. The deep foundation was designed to protect against undermining. The thickness of the walls decreased towards the top, they became sloping. At the top there was a platform behind the teeth. While on it, the defenders fired at enemies through slit-like openings, threw stones down or poured out tar.

Double walls were often built . Overcoming the first obstacle, the opponents found themselves in a narrow space in front of the second wall, where they became easy prey for archers.

At the corners of the perimeter there were watchtowers that protruded forward in relation to the wall. Inside they were divided into floors, each of which was a separate room. In large castles, the towers had a vertical partition for strengthening.

All the stairs in the towers were spiral and very steep. If the enemy penetrated into the internal territory, the defender had an advantage and could throw the aggressor down. Initially, the towers had a rectangular shape. But this interfered with the view during defense. They were replaced by round buildings.

Behind the main gate there was a narrow courtyard, which was well covered by fire.

Rest of interior space The castle was occupied by buildings. Among them:

In large knightly castles there was a vegetable garden, and sometimes a whole garden, inside.

The central and most fortified structure of any castle is the donjon tower. In the lower part there was a storage room with food supplies and an arsenal with weapons and equipment. Above there was a guard room and a kitchen. The upper part was occupied by the home of the owner and his family. A throwing weapon or catapult was installed on the roof. The outer walls of the donjon had small projections. There were restrooms there. The holes opened outwards and waste fell down. Underground passages could lead from the donjon to the shelter or neighboring buildings.

Mandatory elements of a castle in the Middle Ages there was a church or chapel. It could be located in the central tower or be a separate building.

The castle could not do without a well. Without a source of water, the inhabitants would not have lasted even a few days during the siege. The well was protected by a separate building.

Living conditions in the castle

The castle provided the need for security. However, its inhabitants often had to neglect other benefits.

Little light penetrated into the premises, since the windows were replaced by narrow loopholes, which were covered with dense materials. The living rooms were heated with fireplaces, but this did not save them from the dank damp and cold. In the harsh winter the walls froze through. Using latrines during the cold season was especially uncomfortable.

Residents often had to neglect hygiene. Most of the water from the well was used to maintain vital functions and care for animals.

Over time, the structure of castles became more complex and new elements appeared. However, the development of gunpowder weapons deprived castles of their main advantage - inaccessibility. They were replaced by fortresses with more complex engineering solutions.

Gradually, medieval castles, many of which have survived to this day, turned into architectural monuments and reminiscent of the era of chivalry.