Which was the safest part of a castle?


Which was the safest part of a castle? What other rooms were there in a Medieval 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.


Are castles fireproof?

Fire as a weapon and as punishment Archers shot fire into the garrison, while two young boys made it into the castle and started a fire within the walls. Stone castles were actually fairly susceptible to fire. Though stone and brick are relatively fire resistant, castles were filled with flammable materials.


What is the weakest part of any castle?

The Gate. The entrance was often the weakest part in a castle. To overcome this, the gatehouse was developed, allowing those inside the castle to control the flow of traffic. Gatehouses were inside the wall and connected with the bridge over the moat, but they were more than just doorways.


What is the biggest surviving castle?

1. Malbork Castle is officially the biggest by area. Malbrook Castle is the world's biggest castle. Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (known as Zamek w Malborku in Polish and Ordensburg Marienburg in German) is a medieval fortress in Malbork, Poland.


How safe were medieval castles?

Although they were frequently attacked, castles were the safest dwellings of the time. A castle was typically built on the top of a hill to protect the community from invasions.


Where did servants sleep in castles?

Most domestic servants would have slept in shared chambers in either the cellars or attics of the castle buildings. There might also be simple buildings outside the castle for herdsmen, mill workers, wood-cutters, and craftspeople such as rope-makers, candle-makers, potters, basket-weavers, and spinners.


What was the most critical part of a medieval castle?

The castle gatehouse was one of the most defensive parts of any medieval fortress. It was a strong, fortified building positioned to defend the entrance to a castle. Gatehouses usually contained multiple traps and obstacles to foil any intruder. These traps included vast metal portcullises, and infamous murder holes.


What do castles smell like?

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


What castle was never conquered?

Castle of Zafra, Campillo de Duenas This partly restored castle in Spain was built in the late 12th century or early 13th century. It holds the distinction of never being conquered.


What is the most attacked castle?

Over the centuries around 23 different siege attempts were made on Edinburgh Castle – making it the most besieged place in Europe.


What was the safest part of a medieval castle?

What other rooms were there in a Medieval 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.


Why were castles so cold?

“Things we take for granted, like tomatoes and peppers, they didn't have in Europe in the Middle Ages. Those came from this continent. They didn't have oranges, those came from Africa,” Bachrach said. Without electricity and just wood for heat, castles were often dark and cold in Medieval times, Bachrach said.


How comfortable were medieval castles?

Were medieval castles comfortable? It depends what they were for and who the actual boss was of the place. If you were standing guard near an arrow shoot at winter, it usually may not have been the most comfortable place. Also most of the clothes were kept within the same room where they pooped.


Why do castles last so long?

Initially, castles were built out of wood, but eventually, people made castles from stone because they were stronger and lasted longer. Castles usually consisted of a group of buildings that were surrounded by a huge wall and a moat designed to keep attackers out.


What was the worst job in a castle?

When it comes to horrible jobs in a castle, gong farmer has to win the prize. Gong farmers, also known as nightmen, were responsible for cleaning out human excrement from the cesspits within the castle walls.


What was the weakest part of a castle and how did they protect it?

The weakest part of the castle's defenses was the entrance. To secure access to the castle, drawbridges, ditches and moats provided physical barriers to entry.


What is the best castle never built?

Beaumaris on the island of Anglesey is famous as the greatest castle never built. It was the last of the royal strongholds created by Edward I in Wales – and perhaps his masterpiece.


Which castle has been attacked the most?

Over the centuries around 23 different siege attempts were made on Edinburgh Castle – making it the most besieged place in Europe.


How thick were castle keep walls?

The height of walls varied widely by castle, but were often 2.5–6 m (8.2–19.7 ft) thick. They were usually topped with crenellation or parapets that offered protection to defenders.