Medieval castles of Europe - presentation on MHC. The main features of castle construction Project on the history of medieval castles

Pproject on the topic:

Medieval castle in Europe.

Project participants:

Item:history of the Middle Ages

Supervisor:teacher history and social studies

Smirnov A.N.

Cpossession:

1. Introduction.

2. Purpose of the project.

3. Relevance.

4. Project plan.

5. Presentation.

6. Conclusion.

Introduction

You write about a baron in a castle - at least have a rough idea of how the castle was heated, how it was ventilated, how it was lit...
From an interview with G . L. Oldie

We chose this topic for several reasons. We explore the world of history, learn about the development of human engineering over time. We drew attention to the architecture of the Middle Ages, namely the military, administrative, political, cultural and economic center of life for the people of this era - the castle.

When we hear the word “castle,” our imagination conjures up an image of a majestic fortress - a calling card of the Middle Ages. There is hardly any other architectural structure that would attract so much attention from historians, military experts, tourists, writers and amateurs.

We play computer games where we have to explore, build or capture impenetrable castles. But do we know what these fortifications actually are? What interesting stories are associated with them? What do the stone walls hide behind - witnesses of entire eras, grandiose battles, knightly nobility and vile betrayal?

During our preparation, we found a lot of questions, for example: “How did the first castles arise, what were they like and how did their appearance change over time?”, “What were the constituent elements of this structure?”

Objective of the project:

Study the origin and development of medieval castles and take a tour of these architectural structures.

Relevance:

Currently, the history of architecture, and in particular medieval castles, is given great attention. A large number of research papers and desserts have been written, archaeological work and all kinds of reconstructions are being carried out to preserve the “spirit of the era”. Not a single historical film can complete its plot without scenes of a medieval castle. They have created magnificent museums that every tourist can visit, but due to our remote location, we cannot do this. Therefore, we decided to take a tour of these architectural structures. But at the same time we had many questions:

1. Where did the first castles appear?

2. What functions did they have?

4. What were the main elements of the buildings?

6. Was it expensive to maintain the castle?

7. Who was the owner of “these walls”?

8. At what level were the social and living conditions?

9. How was the defense of the castle carried out?

And we decided to look into all these issues.

Project plan:

1. Find out about the emergence of the first castles.

2. Get acquainted with the structure plan and conduct of defense. Tell us about social and living conditions

1. The emergence of the first castles.

The Middle Ages in Europe were a turbulent time. The feudal lords started small wars among themselves for any reason. If a neighbor had money, it had to be taken away. Lots of land and peasants? This is simply indecent, because God ordered sharing. And if knightly honor was affected, then it was simply impossible to do without a small victorious war.

Under such circumstances, the large aristocratic landowners had no choice but to strengthen their homes with the expectation that one fine day their neighbors might come to visit them, and if they don’t feed them bread, let them kill someone.

Initially, these fortifications were made of wood and did not resemble the castles we know in any way - except that a ditch was dug in front of the entrance and a wooden palisade was placed around the house. However, progress did not stand still - with the development of military affairs, the feudal lords had to modernize their fortifications so that they could withstand a massive assault using stone cannonballs and rams.

The European castle has its roots in antiquity. The earliest structures of this kind copied Roman military camps (tents surrounded by a palisade). It is generally accepted that the tradition of building huge stone structures began with the Normans in Britain, with classical castles appearing in the 12th century. A castle is, in fact, one building in which walls, bridges, living quarters, towers, ditches, and other structures are connected into a single whole.

The castle had very simple requirements - it must be inaccessible to the enemy, provide surveillance of the area, have its own source of water (in case of a siege) and show the power and wealth of the feudal lord. There were castles that belonged not to one feudal lord, but to a knightly order. Such castles were larger in size, as an example of which is Königsberg Castle. Numerous castles have been preserved in the Rhine and Loire valleys, in Spain and Palestine (Crusader castles). With the end of the Middle Ages, castles began to lose their original - defensive - purpose, which now gave way to a residential one. With the development of artillery, the defensive task of castles disappeared completely; the features of the castle architecture were preserved only as decorative elements.

In the 15th century, a layout with clearly defined symmetry appeared, and the main building acquired a palace character. In the 16th century, castle architecture in Western Europe was finally replaced by palace architecture.

2. Structure plan, components and conduct of defense.

Let's start the tour. We are on our way to a castle standing on a ledge of a mountain slope. The road goes through a small settlement - one of those that usually grew up near the fortress wall. Simple people live here - mostly artisans, and warriors guarding the outer perimeter of defense. These are the so-called “castle people”.

The road is laid in such a way that the newcomers always face the castle with their right side, not covered by a shield. Directly in front of the fortress wall there is a bare plateau, lying at a significant slope; the castle itself stands on an elevation - natural or embankment, in order to be more impregnable. The vegetation here is low so that there is no cover for attackers.

The first obstacle is a deep ditch, and in front of it is a shaft of excavated earth. The ditch can be transverse or crescent-shaped, curved forward. If the landscape allows, a moat encircles the entire castle in a circle. Sometimes dividing ditches were dug inside the castle, making it difficult for the enemy to move through its territory.

A bridge spanning a moat leads to the outer wall of the castle. Depending on the size of the ditch and bridge, the latter is supported by one or more supports (huge logs). The outer part of the bridge is fixed, but the last section (right next to the wall) is movable.

This drawbridge is designed so that in a vertical position it covers the gate. The bridge is powered by mechanisms hidden in the building above them. From the bridge to the lifting machines, ropes or chains go into the wall openings. To facilitate the work of people servicing the bridge mechanism, the ropes were sometimes equipped with heavy counterweights, taking part of the weight of this structure on themselves.

Of particular interest is the bridge, which worked on the principle of a swing (it is called “tipping” or “swinging”). One half of it was inside - lying on the ground under the gate, and the other stretched across the ditch. When the inner part rose, covering the entrance to the castle, the outer part (which the attackers sometimes already managed to run into) sank down into the ditch, where the so-called “wolf pit” was built (sharp stakes dug into the ground), invisible from the outside until the bridge is down.

The gate is the most vulnerable part of the castle; it was usually not made directly into its wall, but was located in the so-called “gate towers”. Most often, the gates were double-leaf, and the doors were knocked together from two layers of boards. To protect against arson, they were lined with iron on the outside. In addition to locks and iron bolts, the gate was closed by a transverse beam lying in the wall channel and sliding into the opposite wall. The cross beam could also be inserted into hook-shaped slots on the walls. Its main purpose was to protect the gate from being attacked by attackers with a ram.

Behind the gate there was usually a lowering grate made of steel tetrahedral bars. The lattice could descend from a crack in the arch of the gate portal, or be behind them, descending along grooves in the walls. The grate hung on ropes or chains, which in case of danger could be cut off so that it would quickly fall down, blocking the path of the invaders.

Inside the gate tower there were rooms for guards. They kept watch on the upper platform of the tower, asked the guests the purpose of their visit, opened the gates, and, if necessary, could shoot with a bow all those who passed under them. For this purpose, in the arch of the gate portal there were vertical loopholes, as well as “resin noses” - holes for pouring hot resin onto the attackers.

The most important defensive element of the castle was the outer wall - high and thick. Processed stones or bricks made up its outer surface. Inside it consisted of rubble stone and slaked lime. The walls were placed on a deep foundation, under which it was very difficult to dig.

Often, double walls were built in castles - a high outer wall and a small inner one. The attackers, overcoming the outer wall, could not take with them additional assault devices (bulky ladders, poles and other things that cannot be moved inside the fortress). Once in front of another wall, they became easy targets for archers.

At the top of the wall there was a gallery for defense soldiers. On the outside of the castle they were protected by a strong parapet of half human height, on which stone battlements were regularly located. You could stand behind them at full height and, for example, load a crossbow. The shape of the teeth was extremely varied - rectangular, round, swallowtail-shaped, decoratively decorated.

In addition to the battlements, behind which it was convenient to hide, the castle walls were equipped with loopholes. The attackers fired through them.

At the corners of the castle, small towers were built on the walls, most often flanking (that is, protruding outward), which allowed the defenders to fire along the walls in two directions. In the late Middle Ages, they began to be adapted for storage. The inner sides of such towers (facing the castle courtyard) were usually left open so that an enemy who broke into the wall could not gain a foothold inside them.

The internal structure of the locks was varied. Behind the main gate there could be a small rectangular courtyard with loopholes in the walls - a kind of “trap” for attackers. But an indispensable attribute of the castle was a large courtyard (outbuildings, a well, rooms for servants) and a central tower, also known as the “donjon”.

The life of all the inhabitants of the castle directly depended on the presence and location of the well. Problems often arose with it - after all, as mentioned above, castles were built on hills. The solid rocky soil also did not make the task of supplying water to the fortress any easier. There are known cases of castle wells being laid to a depth of more than 100 meters (for example, Kuffhäuser Castle in Thuringia or the Königstein fortress in Saxony had wells more than 140 meters deep). Digging a well took from one to five years. In some cases, this consumed as much money as the entire interior of the castle cost.

Due to the fact that water had to be obtained with difficulty from deep wells, issues of personal hygiene and sanitation faded into the background. Instead of washing themselves, people preferred to care for animals - especially expensive horses. It is not surprising that townspeople and villagers wrinkled their noses in the presence of castle inhabitants.

When there was no way to dig a well, a cistern was built in the castle to collect rainwater from the roofs. Such water needed purification - it was filtered through gravel.

The military garrison of castles in peacetime was minimal. So in 1425, two co-owners of the castle of Reichelsberg in the Lower Franconian Aube entered into an agreement that each of them would provide one armed servant, and pay two gatekeepers and two guards together.

The castle also had a number of buildings that ensured the autonomous life of its inhabitants in conditions of complete isolation (blockade): a bakery, a steam bath, a kitchen, etc.

The tower was the tallest structure in the entire castle. It provided the ability to observe the surrounding area and served as a last refuge. When the enemies broke through all the defense lines, the population of the castle took refuge in the donjon and withstood a long siege.

The exceptional thickness of the walls of this tower made its destruction almost impossible (in any case, it would have taken a huge amount of time). The entrance to the tower was very narrow. It was located in the courtyard at a significant (6-12 meters) height. The wooden staircase leading inside could easily be destroyed and thereby block the attackers' path.

Inside the tower there was sometimes a very high shaft going from top to bottom. It served either as a prison or a warehouse. Depending on the purpose of the mine, the winch lowered prisoners or provisions into it.

If there were no prison premises in the castle, then the prisoners were placed in large wooden boxes made of thick boards, too small to stand up to their full height. These boxes could be installed in any room of the castle.

Of course, they were taken prisoner primarily to obtain a ransom or to use the prisoner in a political game. Therefore, noble persons were provided for in the highest class - guarded chambers in the tower were allocated for their maintenance. This is how Richard the Lionheart was held captive in Trifels.

At the base of the tower there was a basement, which could also be used as a dungeon, and a kitchen with a pantry. The main hall (dining room, common room) occupied an entire floor and was heated by a huge fireplace; it distributed heat only a few meters, so further along the hall iron baskets with coals were placed. Above were the chambers of the feudal lord's family, heated by small stoves.

At the very top of the tower there was a platform where a catapult or other throwing weapon could be installed to fire at the enemy. The standard (banner) of the owner of the castle was also erected there.

It should be noted that the living conditions in the castles were far from the most pleasant. Only the largest ones had a large knightly hall for celebrations. It was very cold in the dungeons. Fireplace heating helped, but the walls were still covered with thick tapestries and carpets - not for decoration, but to preserve heat.

The windows let in very little sunlight, and not all of them were glazed. The toilets were arranged in the form of a bay window in the wall; they were unheated.

Concluding our “tour” of the castle, we cannot fail to mention that it necessarily had a room for worship (temple, chapel). The indispensable inhabitants of the castle included a chaplain or priest, who, in addition to his main duties, played the role of a clerk and teacher. In the most modest fortresses, the role of a temple was played by a wall niche where a small altar stood.

Large temples had two floors. Commoners prayed below, and gentlemen gathered in a warm (sometimes glassed-in) choir on the second tier. The decoration of such rooms was quite modest - an altar, benches and wall paintings. Sometimes the temple served as a tomb for the family living in the castle. Less often it was used as a refuge along with the donjon.

There are many tales told about underground passages in castles. Of course, there were moves. But very few of them led from the castle somewhere into the neighboring forest and could be used as an escape route. As a rule, there were no long moves at all. Most often there were short tunnels between individual buildings.

Castles A medieval castle, at the mere mention of which every person conjures up a familiar picture - towers, drawbridges, battlements - as if transporting us to the era of tournaments and crusades. Meanwhile, medieval castles are very different from each other. The first castles were earthen trenches of more or less extensive size, surrounded by a moat and crowned with a wooden palisade. In the 11th century they take on a more familiar appearance to us; the 14th and 15th centuries are the heyday of castle architecture, and starting from the 16th century. castles are gradually turning into mansions and palaces.

The castle is a symbol of power. The medieval era is a world of knights and castles. In the 10th century, the predominant wooden dungeons and primitive front gardens began to be replaced by fire-resistant stone fortifications. In about two hundred years, Europe became covered with a dense, continuous network of castles and cities, surrounded by strong walls, and controlling all key areas of the terrain...

What castles looked like inside Over time, castles began to be built from stone. From the XIII–XIV centuries. they turned into complex complexes that included a courtyard, a house, a castle chapel, a well, a “banal” oven, artisans’ houses, a prison, public and household buildings. the buildings.

What is a castle - a fortified dwelling of a medieval feudal lord. In the era of feudalism, everyone had to think about their own safety. The answer to this need was castles, where feudal lords and vassals who surrendered under their protection could hide from attacks. The first castles were simply fenced estates in the middle with a tower built on a hill surrounded by a moat. Such fortified estates began to be called camps. The tower, where the owners of the Castle later lived, was called donjon (dominium - master's house). Soon these primitive fortifications were improved: in a place that was difficult to reach by nature, they built the main tower and surrounded it with a high wall, at the corners of which more towers were built. In addition to the wall, the castle was also protected by a deep ditch and a strong wall. The castle courtyard was divided into two by an internal wall. On one side there were services and during the siege the vassals camped; on the other there was a tower where the owner of the castle lived. - fortified dwelling of a medieval feudal lord. In the era of feudalism, everyone had to think about their own safety. The answer to this need was castles, where feudal lords and vassals who surrendered under their protection could hide from attacks. The first castles were simply fenced estates in the middle with a tower built on a hill surrounded by a moat. Such fortified estates began to be called camps. The tower, where the owners of the Castle later lived, was called donjon (dominium - master's house). Soon these primitive fortifications were improved: in a place that was difficult to reach by nature, they built the main tower and surrounded it with a high wall, at the corners of which more towers were built. In addition to the wall, the castle was also protected by a deep ditch and a strong wall. The castle courtyard was divided into two by an internal wall. On one side there were services and during the siege the vassals camped; on the other there was a tower where the owner of the castle lived.

There are also castles on earth that were created by nature itself. For example, Pammukale in Turkey is a terrace-like ledge 20 meters high. In Turkish, “Pammukale” means “Cotton Castle”, and indeed, in appearance it is very reminiscent of a white fortress with the finest filigree trim, in places similar to marvelous lace. This strange structure was formed in time immemorial, because a warm spring, which originates in the limestone mountain range located nearby, has long carried its waters to the ledge. There are also castles on earth that were created by nature itself. For example, Pammukale in Turkey is a terrace-like ledge 20 meters high. In Turkish, “Pammukale” means “Cotton Castle”, and indeed, in appearance it is very reminiscent of a white fortress with the finest filigree trim, in places similar to marvelous lace. This strange structure was formed in time immemorial, because a warm spring, which originates in the limestone mountain range located nearby, has long carried its waters to the ledge. At the edge of the ledge, the mineralized water of the spring, before falling into the Menderes valley, spreads widely, and in some places falls from the ledges in a noisy cascade. But for the most part the water flows slowly, almost imperceptibly. When it comes out of the cracks to the surface, the calcium bicarbonate dissolved in it quickly loses carbon dioxide under the influence of light, and the calcium carbonate that falls out of the solution forms calcite, a dazzling white rock with a glassy sheen. This is how this stalactite castle was formed, striking both local residents and numerous tourists with its splendor. At the edge of the ledge, the mineralized water of the spring, before falling into the Menderes valley, spreads widely, and in some places falls from the ledges in a noisy cascade. But for the most part the water flows slowly, almost imperceptibly. When it comes out of the cracks to the surface, the calcium bicarbonate dissolved in it quickly loses carbon dioxide under the influence of light, and the calcium carbonate that falls out of the solution forms calcite, a dazzling white rock with a glassy sheen. This is how this stalactite castle was formed, striking both local residents and numerous tourists with its splendor.

The largest castle Prague Castle is rightfully considered the largest medieval castle in the world. This castle is 570 meters long and 130 meters wide. Prague Castle is also one of the oldest medieval castles that has survived to this day. The citadel was built more than 11 centuries ago - in 870 AD. Prague Castle is rightfully considered the largest medieval castle in the world. This castle is 570 meters long and 130 meters wide. Prague Castle is also one of the oldest medieval castles that has survived to this day. The citadel was built more than 11 centuries ago - in 870 AD.

Conclusion The castle is a fortified dwelling of a medieval feudal lord, protected by a deep moat. A castle is a fortified dwelling of a medieval feudal lord, protected by a deep moat. The castle is a symbol of strength and power. The castle is a symbol of strength and power. It served for protection. It served for protection.

Invitation to the knight's castle... Lesson-trip on the course of the history of the Middle Ages, grade 6 Goals and objectives of the lesson To familiarize students with the living conditions of knights; lead to an understanding of how the feudal knights maintained their dominance over the peasants and what moral standards they had. Brief summary of the lesson The lesson is conducted in the form of a virtual journey, during which we will visit the knight's castle. Let's get acquainted with the main structures of the castle, the structure of the drawbridge, the interior decoration of the premises and outbuildings. We will visit the center of the castle - the Donjon Tower. Where were the castles located? They tried to build the castle in the most inaccessible place, on the top of a steep hill, on a rock, on an island in the middle of the river. The castle was surrounded by a high and thick stone wall. At the top of the wall there was a covered path along which warriors walked. Some castles had several rows of walls. Castle House of the feudal lord buildings Living quarters Donjon Refuge of the feudal lord Shelter of the feudal lord's family during the siege Powerful walls Deep moat with water Stables Halls Food supplies Drawbridge Pantry Workshops Kitchen Bedrooms Women's room Servants' quarters In the basement there is a prison and a well Underground passage outside the castle Iron gratings "Porticles" "If If I had one foot in heaven and the other in the castle, I would move the first one to go fight,” this was the attitude towards the life and death of a medieval knight. What was there in the castle that one could give up paradise in order to return to it? Gate Gate towers tower Corner tower Drawbridge Castle wall Drawbridge and castle gates A bridge spanning a moat leads to the outer wall of the castle. The outer part of the bridge is fixed, but the last section (right next to the wall) is movable. 1. Drawbridge 2. Counterweights on the gate lift 3. Lock gate This drawbridge is designed so that in a vertical position it closes the gate. The bridge is powered by mechanisms hidden in the building above them. From the bridge to the lifting machines, ropes or chains go into the wall openings. To facilitate the work of people servicing the bridge mechanism, the ropes were sometimes equipped with heavy counterweights, taking part of the weight of this structure on themselves. Donjon Tower The internal structure of the castles was varied. Behind the main gate there could be a small rectangular courtyard with loopholes in the walls - a kind of “trap” for attackers. An indispensable attribute of the castle was a large courtyard (outbuildings, a well, rooms for servants) and a central tower, also known as the “donjon”. Donjon at Vincennes Castle. Pentagonal tower of Laenk Castle. The life of all the inhabitants of the castle directly depended on the presence and location of the well. Problems often arose with it - after all, as mentioned above, castles were built on hills. The solid rocky soil also did not make the task of supplying water to the fortress any easier. There are known cases of castle wells being laid to a depth of more than 100 meters (for example, Kuffhäuser Castle in Thuringia or the Königstein fortress in Saxony had wells more than 140 meters deep). Digging a well took from one to five years. In some cases, this consumed as much money as the entire interior of the castle cost. Main conclusions Castles served as a support for the independence of the feudal lord; Traveling kings and nobles made stops at castles; Traveling troubadours, jugglers and minstrels performed in castles; In the castle, the lord carried out trials and reprisals against the serfs; Noble prisoners were held in the castle, awaiting ransom for their lives; The castle was a wonderful example of medieval architecture. Questions?

In the knight's castle Travel lesson, 6th grade Compiled by: Chumakova S.L. History teacher, MKOU "Uzinskaya secondary school"

Since the 8th century, many castles were built in Europe to protect against attacks by the Normans and Hungarians. Gradually, each gentleman tried to build himself a castle: depending on his capabilities - huge or modest.

A castle is a fortified dwelling of a feudal lord in medieval Europe. Castle of Azay-le-Rideau in the 16th century. France Where were the castles located?

Alcazar Castle. Spain. 1110 – 1140 g

Fridlant Castle. Czech

They tried to build the castle in the most inaccessible place: on the top of a steep hill, on a rock, on an island in the middle of the river. The castle was surrounded by a high and thick stone wall. At the top of the wall there was a covered path along which warriors walked. Some castles had several rows of walls.

Castle House of the feudal lord Donjon Refuge of the feudal lord Households. buildings Living quarters Stables Storeroom Kitchen Workshops Halls Bedrooms Servants' quarters Women's room Shelter for the feudal lord's family during a siege Food supplies In the basement there is a prison and a well Underground passage outside the castle Strong walls Deep moat with water Drawbridge Iron gratings "Porticles"

Corner tower Gate towers Drawbridge Castle wall

Loopholes were made at the top of the walls so that the defenders could shoot or fight while under partial cover. The loopholes could have wooden shutters for even greater protection. At the top of the walls, battlements were often built with thin slits, due to which archers could shoot with little or no risk. During the assault, enclosed wooden platforms expanded from the tops of the walls and towers. From these, defenders could shoot directly down at attackers or throw rocks and boiling liquids at them while remaining protected.

To enhance the advantage of the walls, moats were often dug at their base, completely surrounding the castle. Whenever possible, these ditches were filled with water. Such ditches made direct assault on the walls very difficult.

Drawbridge and castle gates A bridge spanning a moat leads to the outer wall of the castle. The outer part of the bridge is fixed, but the last section (right next to the wall) is movable. The drawbridge is designed so that in a vertical position it covers the gate. The bridge is powered by mechanisms hidden in the building above them.

From the bridge to the lifting machines, ropes or chains go into the wall openings. To facilitate the work of people servicing the bridge mechanism, the ropes were sometimes equipped with heavy counterweights, taking part of the weight of this structure on themselves. Counterweights on the gate lift

The internal structure of the locks was varied. Behind the main gate there could be a small rectangular courtyard with loopholes in the walls - a kind of “trap” for attackers. An indispensable attribute of the castle was a large courtyard (outbuildings, a well, rooms for servants) and a central tower, also known as the “donjon”. Donjon of Vyborg Castle

Knight's Hall

The master's bedroom of the castle. Reconstruction.

Main conclusions Castles served as a support for the independence of the feudal lord; Traveling kings and nobles made stops at castles; Traveling troubadours, jugglers and minstrels performed in castles; In the castle, the lord carried out trials and reprisals against the serfs; Noble prisoners were held in the castle, awaiting ransom for their lives; The castle was a wonderful example of medieval architecture.

Presentation for your attention "Medieval castles of Europe" will introduce you to outstanding monuments of medieval Western European architecture. This presentation can be used in a lesson on world artistic culture, history or fine arts when studying a topic "Knightly culture"

Medieval castles in Europe

In pursuit of a verse, an escaped word,
I like to go to medieval castles:
Their gloomy silence pleases my heart,
I love the sharp rise of their black and gray roofs,
Gloomy battlements on the towers and gates,
Squares of glass in lead bindings,
Openings of niches, where an unknown hand
Saints and warriors cut down for centuries,
A chapel with a turret - like a minaret,
Arcades are booming with the play of shadows and light;
I love their yards overgrown with grass,
Pushing stones from the pavement,
And the stork that soars in the azure radiance,
Describing a circle above the openwork weather vane,
And above the portal there is a coat of arms - it depicts
Unicorn or lion, eagle or griffin;
Drawbridges, deep ditches,
Steep stairs and vaulted halls,
Where the wind rustles and moans above,
Telling me about battles and feasts...
And, immersed in a dream of the past, I see again
The greatness of chivalry and the splendor of the Middle Ages."

Théophile Gautier

Construction and purpose of medieval castles

From 1000 to 1500, thousands of castle fortresses were built in Europe. In England alone in 1100 there were already more than five hundred of them. Words meaning "castle" in European languages come from the Latin "castrum" or the Germanic "burg". Castles gave their names to the Spanish province of Castile and many cities - for example, Salzburg in Austria or Edinburgh in Scotland. The high walls and towers of castles and fortresses became a symbol of the warlike Middle Ages: knights honed their military skills here, knights gathered here to rule courts and celebrate holidays. And the daily life of the feudal lord, his wife, children, and servants also took place within the walls of the castle.

Surprisingly, among the huge number of fortified castles built in Europe, you won’t be able to find even two similar ones. Despite the fact that each of the castles had a donjon tower, which served as a knight’s home, a pantry for storing food and water supplies in case of a long siege, and a prison in which prisoners awaiting ransom languished, each donjon was surrounded by a high, strong wall and a ditch and an earthen rampart, their appearance was determined by the features of the terrain, the tastes of the feudal client, and the imagination of the architect.

The knight's castle, like any other fortress of this time, is primarily a fortification structure: powerful walls, deep ditches, loopholes, towers. But a knight's castle is built not only for defensive purposes, but also to receive guests and make a lasting impression on them. You will hardly find better entertainment and conversation than in an aristocrat’s castle.

Knights returning from the Crusades brought new customs to Europe, which greatly influenced the lifestyle of the feudal lord and his entourage. The castle becomes not only a fortress, but also a center of culture. Music sounds within the castle walls. Minstrels and jugglers entertain the lord and his guests by performing epic tales about the exploits of heroes. The cult of the Beautiful Lady, which spread thanks to the Provençal troubadours and northern French trouvères, contributes to the emergence of chivalric romances and lyrical poetry. Knights are now both musicians and poets.

“The ruins of castles, which give the surrounding landscape an excitingly heroic look, tell us about the storms and strife experienced by Europe at the dawn of its youth. How many legends, which poets from all European countries subsequently turned to, are connected with these castles!

Much blood was shed at their walls in fratricidal battles and many souls were destroyed within the walls themselves out of self-interest, revenge, jealous love or for disobedience to the lord.

Even in ruins, Romanesque castles and the formidable battlements that encircled the cities of that time captivate the eye for a long time, taking us back to the time when the great edifice of European culture was slowly but surely being erected.”

Lev Lyubimov

I suggest watching a video about one of the Crusader castles: