How many people would have lived in a castle?

How many people would have lived in a castle? The number of people who lived in a typical castle during Medieval times varied greatly depending on the size and purpose of the castle. A small castle might only have a handful of residents, while a larger castle could have hundreds of people living and working within its walls.

How many people typically lived in a castle?

Not many people lived there for much of the time. The moving household could be anywhere from 30 to 150 people; it would have included the lord and lady as well as their children (which could go into double figures – for example Queen of England Eleanor of Aquitaine had 10 children).

What did medieval castles smell like?

Castles and manor houses often smelled damp and musty. To counteract this, herbs and rushes were strewn across the floors.

Which castle has 1,000 rooms?

Windsor Castle is officially one of the biggest residences in the world, with around 1,000 rooms and 484,000 square feet. It sits on about 13 acres of land, and its imposing towers are visible from every approach.

Were castles comfortable to live in?

Castles weren't always cold and dark places to live. But, in reality, the great hall of castle had a large open hearth to provide heat and light (at least until the late 12th century) and later it had wall fireplace. The hall would also have had tapestries which would have insulated the room against too much cold.

Why were castles built so big?

Castles were a mixture of rich person's house, military installation, political centre, and warehouse. A castle had to be able to store large quantities of war materials, as well as food and water. And that meant food for the horses too.

Why did castles stop being built?

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.

Can you still live in a castle?

In most castles of a modest size you can use and live in all the rooms, with plenty of room for guests too. However, some larger estates might open up parts of the castle to day visitors or tours, either to help with finances or for the sheer love of sharing history.

Which country has 30000 castles?

There are more than 30,000 castles and ruins left in Ireland today, most dating from the 12th to 16th centuries. Visiting a few (or many) of them will allow you to learn about Irish history right from the source.

What is the smallest castle in the world?

Hermit's Castle is the smallest castle in Europe. In fact it may be the smallest castle in the world. Measuring less than 10m squared in area, the castle was built in the 1950s.