Why were there so many walls in castles?
Why were there so many walls in castles? Castle walls were also used to help defences in other ways - for example walkways on top of the walls (chemins de rondes) allowed defenders to move quickly around the castle defences. Battlements (crenellations) protected them for enemy fire.
Why were medieval castles so big?
In order to defend themselves, they built their homes as large castles in the center of the land they ruled. They could defend from attacks as well as prepare to launch attacks of their own from their castles. Originally castles were made of wood and timber. Later they were replaced with stone to make them stronger.
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.
Why did castles have high walls?
If attackers managed to break through this outer ring of defense, castle defenders could retreat behind high inner walls. Corner towers stood out from the walls, giving defenders a better perspective on enemy movements. Windows were rare; instead, slits called loopholes were built for archers.
Why do castles have so many towers?
Uses of a Castle Tower Large towers were used as a keep or bergfried and were usually the strongest point of a castle. Towers were usually built around the gate, a vulnerable point in a castle.
Why does no one build castles anymore?
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.
Why were castles built with so many rooms?
As the seat of power for lords and monarchs, medieval castles were often large enough to house a considerable staff, as well as members of the court and important guests. As a result, they needed a series of rooms, not just residential chambers like bedrooms, but functional spaces too such as kitchens and stores.
Were medieval castles smelly damp and dark?
The first stone castles built were cold, dark, smelly and damp. Inside the castle walls, floor coverings consisted of straw rushes and, later, sweet smelling herbs to mask the smell of animal excrement, grease, rotting food and beer.
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.
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.
Were castles cold in winter?
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.
What is the oldest castle in Europe?
Converted into a donjon around 950, Château de Doué-la-Fontaine in France is the oldest standing castle in Europe.
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.
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.
What is 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.