Do castles have secret rooms?

Do castles have secret rooms? Some buildings have secret areas built into their original plans, such as secret passages in medieval castles, designed to allow inhabitants to escape from enemy sieges. Other castles' secret passages led to an underground water source, providing water during prolonged sieges.

What is the most secure place in Earth?

Where do servants eat in a castle?

The servants ate their main meal in the servants' hall, after which the upper servants retired to the housekeeper's room for dessert and wine. Dinner was a solemn affair, presided over by the housekeeper and butler. Dinner was laid on the table by the cook, while the beer was drawn by the first footman or under-butler.

Why do castles have teeth?

These upright projections resemble teeth, bared at invaders to prevent their attempted entries and at allies to show the owner's strength.

When did people stop living in castles?

After the 16th century, castles declined as a mode of defense, mostly because of the invention and improvement of heavy cannons and mortars. This artillery could throw heavy cannonballs with so much force that even strong curtain walls could not hold up.

Are there bathrooms in castles?

The toilets of a castle were usually built into the walls so that they projected out on corbels and any waste fell below and into the castle moat. Even better, waste went directly into a river as is the case of the latrines of one of the large stone halls at Chepstow Castle in Wales, built from the 11th century CE.

What were loopholes in castles?

Arrow slits, also known as loopholes, were narrow openings in castle walls that allowed archers to shoot arrows at attackers while remaining protected behind the walls. These openings were designed to be very narrow, which made it difficult for attackers to shoot back, and also provided protection for the archers.

Why do castles have secret rooms?

These were often used as a means of escape or as a way to move around the castle undetected. The secret passages could be used as an escape route in case of a siege or an invasion, or as a way to move around the castle without being seen by enemies.

What was the hygiene in medieval castles?

The bathing itself consisted of washing the body with sweet smelling oils, or if they could afford it, tallow soap. If they had lots of money, or say, were a Lord or Lady in a castle, they'd 'top and tail' at least twice a day.

What is the most secure room in a castle?

At the time of Chr tien de Troyes, the rooms where the lord of a castle, his family and his knights lived and ate and slept were in the Keep (called the Donjon), the rectangular tower inside the walls of a castle. This was meant to be the strongest and safest place.

Do castles have prisons?

Purpose-built prison chambers in castles became more common after the twelfth century, when they were built into gatehouses or mural towers.

Do castles have toilets?

In the medieval period luxury castles were built with indoor toilets known as 'garderobes', and the waste dropped into a pit below.