Castle with moat and drawbridge for sale: $2.299m Michigan, USA. Castle For Sale With Drawbridge and Moat

$35 Million Castle With Moat and Dungeon for Sale

PHOTOS: $35 Million Castle With Moat and Dungeon for Sale

Search iconA magnifying glass. It indicates, “Click to perform a search”.
Insider logoThe word “Insider”.

US Markets Loading…

H
M
S

In the news

Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.HOMEPAGE

Real Estate

Save Article IconA bookmarkShare iconAn curved arrow pointing right.

Download the app

John F Pizzi/Zillow

• Connecticut’s “Chrismark Castle” was built in 2010 by the great-grandson of a Chicago steel tycoon.
• The 9-bedroom home once doubled as a personal zoo. Now it’s the star of “princess TikTok.”
• Listed at $35 million, it’s complete with a moat, dungeon, and drawbridge — see inside. 

This custom-built gothic castle may look like it belongs in medieval Europe — but it was really built in a Connecticut suburb in 2010.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

Known as the Chrismark Castle, the 9-bedroom mansion belongs to Christopher Mark, the great-grandson of Chicago steel tycoon.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

He has been trying to sell the unique property since 2014, and recently lowered his asking price from $45 million to $35 million, according to Zillow.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

Complete with a moat, dungeon, and knights in shining armor, the only thing more intriguing than the castle itself is the headlines it’s made over the years.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

On top of the $125 per hour photoshoots, the castle was once home to a personal zoo with “ponies, emus, camels, llamas, a donkey,” the New York Post reported.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

Source: The New York Post

The Chrismark Castle’s TikTok page has over 300 thousand followers and six million likes.

One video with over 50 thousand views shows “red flags in the castle,” including the dungeon, a cage, and a mini tank on the property.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

Source: @chrismarkcastle1

The TikToks also show the castle’s glamorous side, including parties with circus performers and pole dancers as well as a giant indoor hot tub.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

Source: @chrismarkcastle1

Chrismark Castle’s halls have seen a fair amount of drama.

Mark reportedly lived there with his now ex-wife and their two children until she filed for divorce in 2010.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

Source: Insider

He later moved his then-pregnant girlfriend into the castle with her older daughter, but that relationship also ended and she took Mark to court over child support, per The New York Post.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

Source: The New York Post

Pulitzer & National Book Award finalist Rebecca Makkai documented the castle owner’s various escapades in a Twitter thread that went viral this week with over 45,000 likes.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

Source: Rebecca Makkai

The construction of the Woodstock, CT home cost $4.1 million and took seven years to build. The property also includes 75 acres of land.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

The interior of Chrismark Castle is just as impressive as the stone exterior.

Many rooms have custom-built doors and large windows revealing sweeping views of Potter Pond.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

Overall, the castle has 18,777 square feet of space, 7 full bathrooms and 3 half-baths, according to the real estate listing.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

The master bedroom has a full dressing room, fireplace, walk-in closet, and sitting area.

There are 12 total fireplaces throughout the house.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

There is also a massage room and a pool.

John F Pizzi/Zillow

Deal iconAn icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

Keep reading

LoadingSomething is loading.

More:

Features
Real Estate
TikTok
Castle

• Connecticut

Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Amazing castles for sale in America

Amazing castles for sale in America | loveproperty. com

Amazing castles for sale in America

Gallery View|

Expand View

Fairytale estates on the market across the US

Sotheby’s International Realty

If traditional homes made from bricks and mortar do nothing for you, then why not consider something with a little more drama? Though many of the world’s finest castles are scattered across Europe, America is home to plenty of enchanting estates that could have been plucked straight out of a fairytale. From a mock Tudor residence in Mississippi to an elegant historic estate in Kansas, click or scroll on to discover the amazing castles across the United States on the market right now…

Unfinished castle, South Daytona, Florida: $995,000 (£859k)

Adams Cameron

Ever wanted to create your own castle but don’t know where to start? This impressive property in South Daytona has all the makings of an exquisite home—it’s just waiting for a buyer to complete its transformation.  Encompassing 9,000 square feet, the regal residence sits on nearly two acres of land. After a huge price reduction, it could be yours for just $995,000 (£859k) through Adams Cameron.

Unfinished castle, South Daytona, Florida: $995,000 (£859k)

Adams Cameron

This space can be moulded into whatever you like, but it comes with room for at least six bedrooms and six bathrooms. The property won’t fall short in terms of living spaces either—this impressive, vaulted space gives you an idea of the gorgeous communal areas you could create in this incredible structure.

Unfinished castle, South Daytona, Florida: $995,000 (£859k)

Adams Cameron

The Floridian residence is 50-60% complete, and so far it includes a garage that can accommodate up to eight cars, making it perfect for car lovers. Five years in the making, this remarkable modern fortress just needs a new owner to push it over the finish line and complete the interior.  

Unfinished castle, South Daytona, Florida: $995,000 (£859k)

Adams Cameron

Outside, an elaborate stone archway entrance with two fountains frames the front of the property, plus there’s over 1,200 square feet of outdoor terraces to enjoy beneath the ancient oak trees. Complete with turrets and even a dungeon for storage, this fantastic fortress is ready to become the finest castle in all the land.

English Tudor-style castle, Jackson, Mississippi: $1.5 million (£1.3m)

Charlotte Smith Real Estate

Considering its scale, beauty and history, this English Tudor-style castle in Jackson, Mississippi, is somewhat of a bargain. Listed with Charlotte Smith Real Estate for just under $1.5 million (£1.3m), the grand property is sure to get snapped up quickly. With ivy crawling up its spectacular central tower, it’s one of the most enchanting pieces of real estate on the market right now.  

English Tudor-style castle, Jackson, Mississippi: $1.5 million (£1.3m)

Charlotte Smith Real Estate

Aptly named, The Castle is considered one of the best examples of Tudor Revival residential architecture in Mississippi. It was designed by Memphis architect J. Frazier Smith, who studied in England in the 1920s and was heavily influenced by English Tudor design. When he returned to America, he set about building a home to reflect the architecture he’d seen during his travels. Construction began in 1927 and was completed in 1930. 

English Tudor-style castle, Jackson, Mississippi: $1.5 million (£1.3m)

Charlotte Smith Real Estate

Thanks to an extensive renovation in 2005, the property is now modern, light-filled, and inviting, with a beautiful blend of historic and contemporary elements. From the original hardwood and slate floors to the leaded glass windows, panelled ceilings and majestic fireplaces, there’s much to admire. The 7,542-square-foot home has six bedrooms, five bathrooms, a wine cellar, formal and informal living rooms, a wood-panelled study, a large kitchen and a laundry room.  

English Tudor-style castle, Jackson, Mississippi: $1.5 million (£1.3m)

Charlotte Smith Real Estate

As for the backyard, it’s a real oasis. The home’s original swimming pool has been refinished, but there’s also a tennis court, a stone pavilion, a 490-square-foot pool house with a kitchen and bathroom, and a garage. The beautiful house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010, and we can certainly see why.

Quaint castle home, Monroe, Washington: $2.1 million (£1.8m)

RSVP Real Estate

This is one for property buyers in Washington looking to dip their toe in the castle market, without going fully medieval just yet. A gated entrance leads to 18. 75 acres of private land, including this stunning castle-inspired home built in 1993. The Monroe property is currently on the market for just shy of $2.1 million (£1.8m) with RSVP Real Estate.

Quaint castle home, Monroe, Washington: $2.1 million (£1.8m)

RSVP Real Estate

Italian marble floor paves the way to the great hall, which is the grandest room in the house. Featuring a cathedral ceiling, suits of armour, and vibrant flags from around the world hanging from the beams, residents are transported into a world well before their time. Keen readers will also have plenty of space for books… 

Quaint castle home, Monroe, Washington: $2.1 million (£1.8m)

RSVP Real Estate

Offering four bedrooms and three bathrooms across 3,161 square feet, there’s plenty of space to play with. Quirky features throughout the property emphasise its regal inspiration, like this hexagonal doorway. Set within crisp, grey stonework, the door features black metal detailing and a ferocious-looking knocker. 

Quaint castle home, Monroe, Washington: $2.1 million (£1.8m)

RSVP Real Estate

Stepping into the property’s expansive grounds, you’re greeted by a sparkling pond, quirky dragon sculptures and a creek with its own waterfall. The sellers have even thrown in two tractors and a Polaris Ranger for roaming around this large plot. It doesn’t get much more fairytale than that!

Château Rochamore, Stamford, Connecticut: $2.4 million (£2.1m)

Compass

On the market with Compass for a cool $2.4 million (£2.1m), Château Rochamore can be found in Stamford, Connecticut, on its very own three-acre estate. The magnificent property was designed by renowned architect Gustav Steinbeck at the beginning of the 20th century and offers ample space, style and history for its price tag.

Château Rochamore, Stamford, Connecticut: $2.4 million (£2.1m)

Compass

The historic home soars up four floors thanks to its lovely turret, and measures an impressive 9,477 square feet. While the exterior benefits from gorgeous stonework, pretty windows and timber elements that are reminiscent of stately German schlosses, inside you’ll find grand, formal living areas designed for entertaining. The finest of these has to be this great room, with its 30-foot, beamed barrel ceiling, stone fireplace, and Juliet balcony.

Château Rochamore, Stamford, Connecticut: $2.4 million (£2.1m)

Compass

Across the property, there are five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a spacious kitchen, a formal dining room with a wraparound stone terrace, and a panelled library that would make a lovely home office. Everywhere you look you’ll spot refined period details, such as wide plank hardwood floors, stone fireplaces, vintage light fixtures, French doors, and unique built-in cabinetry. Plus, despite its age, the home is move-in ready and fitted out with every modern convenience you can ask for.

Château Rochamore, Stamford, Connecticut: $2.4 million (£2.1m)

Compass

The beautiful backyard is every bit as enticing as the interior. Surrounded by a lush woodland of towering trees, the home was truly built for a king or queen in need of privacy. The three-acre garden is home to a koi pond, pergola, and landscaped gardens, as well as plenty of space for further development. A swimming pool or guest house perhaps? The choice is yours.

Faux-medieval castle, Oakland County, Michigan: $2.5 million (£2.2m)

Sotheby’s International Realty

If you’re searching for a characterful home that offers architectural wow-factor and all the modern conveniences of a newly-built mansion, then this weird and wonderful property could well be for you. The faux-medieval castle lies in Oakland County, Michigan, and despite its historic-looking façade, it was actually finished in 1990. Yet there’s nothing 90s about this pad. Let’s head inside…

Faux-medieval castle, Oakland County, Michigan: $2.5 million (£2.2m)

Sotheby’s International Realty

The property is nestled on six private acres of land and is surrounded by a wrought-iron fence and two gated towers for total privacy and security. According to the listing, the house took almost seven years to build. It was constructed by the finest artisans from around the world, and cost around $10 million (£8.6m) to complete. Standing 60 feet tall, it boasts a moat, waterfall, drawbridge, 26 rooms, an elevator, and one seriously amazing entrance hall, complete with a knight in shining armour…

Faux-medieval castle, Oakland County, Michigan: $2.5 million (£2.2m)

Sotheby’s International Realty

The 6,106-square-foot property has plenty of elegant living areas, with soaring coffered ceilings, ornate fireplaces, panelled walls and stained glass elements. There are five bedrooms and five bathrooms. This home comes with plenty of surprising extras too, including secret rooms, hidden doors, passageways and staircases—not to mention a wine cellar and a Tudor-style pub, both of which are tucked away in the basement. But that isn’t all…

Faux-medieval castle, Oakland County, Michigan: $2.5 million (£2.2m)

Sotheby’s International Realty

That’s right, the house has its very own tiny town concealed in the basement. The space doubles as a garage and boasts a nightclub-esque dancefloor, as well as a cobbled street with faux storefronts and lamp posts. Amazingly, the house last sold in 2015 for just $900,000 (£778k), but was back on the market six years later for the inflated price of $2.3 million (£2m). Since then it’s been on and off the market. If you fancy getting your hands on the place, then it’s currently for sale with Sotheby’s International Realty for $2.5 million (£2. 2m). 

Magnificent castle-like estate, Lancaster, Pennsylvania: $2.5 million (£2.2m)

Anne Lusk / Sotheby’s International Realty

A tree-lined driveway leads the way to this impressive manor, which is currently one of Pennsylvania’s most eligible properties. Featuring battlements, a grand wooden front door, and Tudor-inspired architecture, this is one regal residence. It also comes with a price tag to match its grandeur—it could be yours for just under $2.5 million (£2.2m) through Sotheby’s International Realty.

Magnificent castle-like estate, Lancaster, Pennsylvania: $2.5 million (£2.2m)

Anne Lusk / Sotheby’s International Realty

The castle-like estate sprawls across four levels and encompasses more than 10,000 square feet of space. There are a total of 10 bathrooms and seven bathrooms, but it’s the property’s communal spaces that give the pad its historic feel. The entrance includes detailed wood panelling and a two-storey coffered ceiling, while the checkered marble floor makes it look as though the knight’s armour is ready and waiting for an elaborate game of chess.

Magnificent castle-like estate, Lancaster, Pennsylvania: $2.5 million (£2.2m)

Anne Lusk / Sotheby’s International Realty

Behind a set of French doors lies the real focal point of this house—the great hall. There are no end of beautiful design details that add to the room’s grandeur, including a Tudor-style fireplace, leaded floor-to-ceiling windows, and a second-floor minstrel gallery that overlooks the yard and pond outside.

Magnificent castle-like estate, Lancaster, Pennsylvania: $2.5 million (£2.2m)

Anne Lusk / Sotheby’s International Realty

Heading outside, you’re greeted by immaculate grounds, where the lawns and shrubbery are landscaped to perfection. The property’s beautiful gardens can be enjoyed from the expansive patio on warm summer evenings, while the in-ground swimming pool and bar area is the ideal spot for an alfresco party.

The Campbell Castle, Wichita, Kansas: $3.5 million (£3m)

Coldwell Banker Realty

Over in Wichita, Kansas, lies this magnificent residence that’s not only unique, but also a piece of local history. The Campbell Castle was constructed between 1886 and 1888 by Colonel Burton Harvey Campbell and his wife Ellen, and is reportedly an authentic reproduction of a Richardsonian Romanesque castle from Scotland. On the market with Coldwell Banker Realty for $3.5 million (£3m), it offers plenty of bang for your buck.

The Campbell Castle, Wichita, Kansas: $3.5 million (£3m)

Coldwell Banker Realty

The landmark home is listed on the Local, State and National Register of Historical Places, and comes with many classic castle characteristics, including sprawling grounds, a decadent interior, towering turrets, antique limestone walls, and living areas overflowing with precious antiques.  It benefits from approximately 15,000 square feet of living space spread across two structures—the main castle and a standalone carriage house. 

The Campbell Castle, Wichita, Kansas: $3.5 million (£3m)

Coldwell Banker Realty

Grand and palatial, the luxurious home has been described by the listing agents as “exuding romantic and historical intrigue”. Fit for royalty, the property comes complete with numerous structural antiques, which were originally imported from Europe by Colonel Campbell himself. These include fireplaces, hand-carved fretwork, German stained glass and the 300-year-old staircase that connects each of the home’s main floors.

The Campbell Castle, Wichita, Kansas: $3.5 million (£3m)

Coldwell Banker Realty

The carriage house features three of the 17 bedrooms, as well as an office and a 1,300-square-foot owners’ apartment that was converted from a hayloft. Elsewhere, there’s also a chef-worthy kitchen, a formal dining room, a solarium, a coffee bar, and a 1,000-square-foot basement with a wet bar. In terms of outside space, there are three exterior balconies, a rooftop deck with panoramic views, and two acres of landscaped grounds.

Cornwall Castle, Litchfield County, Connecticut: $4 million (£3.5m)

Klemm Real Estate

From the outside, Cornwall Castle looks like a storybook illustration. Regal, sprawling and entirely magical, the palatial property was built in 1921 and is situated at the end of a mile-long drive in Cornwall, Connecticut, surrounded by almost 280 acres of land. From its charming stone exterior to the towering turrets, whimsical gargoyles and griffins, there’s no denying this fairytale home has endless kerb appeal.

Cornwall Castle, Litchfield County, Connecticut: $4 million (£3.5m)

Klemm Real Estate

The European-inspired château was built by New York socialite Charlotte Bronson Hunnewell Martin, and has been sympathetically restored by its current owners. Now, every room blends old-world charm with modern conveniences, resulting in a truly stunning home. Inside, you’ll find 8,767 square feet of space, including seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, a luxurious living room, a gourmet kitchen, and a wood-panelled dining room.

Cornwall Castle, Litchfield County, Connecticut: $4 million (£3.5m)

Klemm Real Estate

Every room is defined by remarkable craftsmanship and stunning architectural details, such as 20-foot ceilings, mahogany-panelled walls, marble floors, traditional French doors, and hand-painted beams. Many of the spaces also open up to the garden’s numerous stone terraces or exterior balconies. Standout details include the property’s hand-carved staircase, tiny tiled alcoves, and leaded glass windows. Plus, just look at the master suite!

Cornwall Castle, Litchfield County, Connecticut: $4 million (£3.5m)

Klemm Real Estate

The gorgeous garden benefits from rolling meadows, babbling brooks, enchanting ponds, and magical waterfalls, as well as stone footbridges and courtyard fountains. Alongside the main structure, there’s also a heated pool, a four-bedroom gatehouse, a two-bedroom caretaker’s apartment, a pool house, a six-bay heated garage, a four-stall stable, and a private licensed helipad. It’s no wonder the castle is up for grabs for a cool $4 million (£3.5m).

Bespoke rural castle, Fayetteville, Arkansas: $4.6 million (£4m)

Keller Williams

If you’re house-hunting in Fayetteville, Arkansas, then this dreamy rural estate might be to your liking. Despite its rustic, European-inspired façade, this cool castle was actually built in 2007. Designed by an acclaimed architect, the house is reportedly formed from more than 4,000 tonnes of native rock, with each piece hand-hewn and intricately fitted into place. The price tag on this one has shrunk fairly recently and it’s now on the market with Keller Williams for $4.6 million (£4m), $200,000 (£173k) less than last year.

Bespoke rural castle, Fayetteville, Arkansas: $4.

6 million (£4m)

Keller Williams

Inside, you’ll find 8,825 square feet of space, which includes five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and dozens of incredible living rooms decked out with coffered ceilings, maple and walnut woodwork, structural columns, elegant light fixtures, hand-carved mouldings, and roaring fireplaces. 

Bespoke rural castle, Fayetteville, Arkansas: $4.6 million (£4m)

Keller Williams

Key features include the home’s vast great room, which is perfect for entertaining, and its stunning cherry library, which would be the ultimate place to unwind with a good book. Elsewhere, the master suite dazzles with a vaulted beamed ceiling and Grecian-inspired columns. Ideally located, the pad is just a mile away from the private airport at Drake Field so you can jet in whenever you fancy.

Bespoke rural castle, Fayetteville, Arkansas: $4.

6 million (£4m)

Keller Williams

The home’s picturesque estate stretches 34 acres and features ponds, lawns and flowerbeds, as well as a swimming pool and dining patio. There’s even a 70-foot observation deck that offers priceless panoramic views across the Ozarks. We don’t mind if we do…

Château Cocomar, Houston, Texas: $9 million (£7.8m)

Greenwood King Properties

This majestic château is positioned close to the centre of Houston, Texas, but was inspired by the classic castles of Normandy, France. Sitting on over seven acres of land, the contemporary property was finished in 2005 and offers a striking façade and perfectly manicured grounds. If that piques your interest, it’s currently up for grabs for $9 million (£7.8m), a $1 million (£866k) price drop since the end of last year.

Château Cocomar, Houston, Texas: $9 million (£7.

8m)

Greenwood King Properties

Step through the front door and you’ll be greeted by lavish interior spaces, kitted out with the finest materials and finishes. The 37,000-square-foot mansion comes equipped with seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, as well as plenty of formal living rooms that were made for hosting elegant gatherings.

Château Cocomar, Houston, Texas: $9 million (£7.8m)

Greenwood King Properties

Of course, many of the interior spaces feature grand elements, such as double-height ceilings, decorative columns, marble floors and antique fixtures imported from Europe. The ultimate party house, you’ll find a stately ballroom, a library, a chef’s kitchen and a billiard room. There’s a second ballroom upstairs, which opens onto a spacious terrace. With its regal proportions, white masonry, and vast windows, this enchanting space is perfect for entertaining.  

Château Cocomar, Houston, Texas: $9 million (£7.8m)

Greenwood King Properties

The house is equipped with an elevator that connects every floor of the property, including the basement. Originally built as a family residence, the castle has also been used as a private events venue for almost 1,000 guests, making it a fantastic investment opportunity too. Outside, you’ll find impeccably maintained grounds, complete with elegant Italian fountains, carved statues, and a gazebo—the perfect backdrop for evening drinks.

Castle on the hill, Crystal Bay, Nevada: $64.5 million (£56m)

Chase International Real Estate / Realtor

This lakefront masterpiece sits next to 525 feet of private shoreline, right on Lake Tahoe’s crystal clear blue waters. The architectural marvel, which according to Realtor has been dubbed ‘castle on the hill’ by locals, includes the stunning main residence, a beach house, a caretaker’s apartment, and a four-car garage.  To become the lord or lady of this bayside beauty, you’d need a spare $64.5 million (£56m). Perhaps unsurprisingly, this is currently Nevada’s most expensive home. Let’s take a close look…

Castle on the hill, Crystal Bay, Nevada: $64.5 million (£56m)

Chase International Real Estate / Realtor

The living space sprawls across 16,232 square feet. There are 13 fireplaces to ensure the residence is snug during the colder months and a gorgeous entry pavilion styled around a bespoke crystal sculpture. Soaring wooden beams and natural wood room dividers bring the Nevadan forest indoors. Other highlights include the 10-seat cinema, gym, and wine cellar that can hold more than 1,600 bottles.

Castle on the hill, Crystal Bay, Nevada: $64.5 million (£56m)

Chase International Real Estate / Realtor

There are eight bedrooms, each with bespoke designs, and dazzling views across the lake. This elegant space features an intricate, handcrafted bed frame with a decorative easel to match. A large printed tapestry dominates the main wall, while a decorative relief has been carved into the immaculate white stone wall opposite. Even the luxurious bathrooms provide panoramic views—all 11 of them. 

Castle on the hill, Crystal Bay, Nevada: $64.5 million (£56m)

Chase International Real Estate / Realtor

Spacious entertaining areas both inside and out allow for plenty of space to host guests. Included in the property’s grounds are magical zen gardens, ponds, and waterfalls. And don’t worry about scaling the rocky cliff face—two glass funicular cable cars offer the very best view of the lake. Talk about a billionaire’s backyard! Four buoys are included with the property, and a new private pier is also in the works, so you can set sail just steps away from your own front door.

Loved this? Follow us on Facebook for more unusual homes for sale

16 September 2022

Homes

See more on this topic

Do you want to comment on this article?
You need to be signed in for this feature

Castle With Trapdoors and Hidden Passageways on Sale for $2.3 Million

Castle With Trapdoors and Hidden Passageways on Sale for $2.3 Million

Search iconA magnifying glass. It indicates, “Click to perform a search”.

Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.HOMEPAGE

Save Article IconA bookmarkShare iconAn curved arrow pointing right.

Download the app

The Medieval-inspired castle in Michigan with 26 rooms was first built in the mid-1980s.

Courtesy of Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

• A Medieval-inspired castle completed in 1990 is on sale for $2.3 million in Rochester, Michigan.
• LeBlanc Castle has 26 rooms and includes a moat and drawbridge, and hidden passageways.
• Nick Asplund, a representative for Lux Partners Global, told Insider: “The surprises are endless.”

A Medieval-inspired castle built between the mid-1980s and 1990 in Rochester, Michigan, is on sale for $3.

2 million.

An exterior view of LeBlanc Castle in Rochester, Michigan, built in 1990.

Courtesy of Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

Source: Lux Partners Global

Once inside, the 10,790-square-foot property nods to its Middle Age Scottish baronial theme with a suit of armor by the door.

A suit of armor by the front door of LeBlanc Castle.

Courtesy of Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

Source: Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

It has five levels, six outdoor balconies, four bedroom suites, and seven bathrooms. It also has a Tudor-style pub, wine cellar, fitness room, library, and home theatre.

A view of the stairs and chandelier on the first floor of LeBlanc Castle.

Courtesy of Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

Source: Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

LeBlanc Castle also has a lot of secret spaces within its walls.

There is a secret dungeon, an underground grotto with a jacuzzi, and a tower with a 50-foot spiral staircase.

A four-poster bed with red detailing located in one of the bedrooms at LeBlanc Castle.

Courtesy of Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

Source: Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

Asplund told Insider: “The surprises are endless, it must truly be seen to be believed.”

Another bedroom in LeBlanc Castle, which is inspired by Middle Age Scottish baronial style.

Courtesy of Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

The property description says “although the castle remains authentic to this period design — it is constructed completely of modern materials.”

Arched windows in one of five full bathrooms in LeBlanc Castle, Michigan.

Courtesy of Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

Source: Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

The description also adds that none of the work was done for a fixed cost.

The craftsmen who built the property in the mid-1980s were allowed to take as much time as needed —no expense spared.

Another bathroom with an octagonal bathtub in LeBlanc Castle.

Courtesy of Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

Source: Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

One of the castle’s most unique aspects is its two secret rooms, as well as this passageway hidden between the walls.

A secret passageway, which is one of many hidden details in LeBlanc Castle.

Courtesy of Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

Source: Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

The castle also boasts “architectural antiques from around the world,” as well as specially commissioned pieces.

A network of underground passageways in the basement at LeBlanc Castle.

Courtesy of Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

Source: Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

Regarding the “no-expense-spared” approach the original builder had, Asplund said: “The build quality and cost is unmatched and couldn’t be done today for under $15 million.

“

A personalized bar featuring the name of James LeBlanc, the man who had the castle built.

Courtesy of Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

Asplund said that the castle has received a lot of interest since it was listed in September. It is currently only being shown to pre-qualified buyers, who have proved they are able to afford the castle’s listed price.

An aerial view of the LeBlanc Castle, located in 6 acres of land in a private gated community.

Courtesy of Nick Asplund, Lux Partners Global

Deal iconAn icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

Keep reading

LoadingSomething is loading.

More:

Features
Lifestyle UK
Michigan
Castle

• Interiors
• Property
• Secret Room

Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Castle Property For Sale in Italy

Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 Plot Size 270 m² Internal Area 230 m²

3 Bedroomed ground floor apartment in a medieval castle. Restored, private courtyard, garden and a spacious cellar/workshop. Great holiday home, vacation rental or is ideal to live in year round. Nicely priced. More info

Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 Plot Size 270 m² Internal Area 230 m² Heating Radiators + fireplace Property Stone walls, terracotta and stone flooring, wooden beams with terracotta tiles, fireplace, garden, paved courtyard, spacious cellar/workshop

Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 6 Plot Size 30000 m² Internal Area 500 m²

Castle real estate, a restored 13th-century medieval castle for sale near Foligno in Umbria. Presently a small 5-star boutique hotel and a perfect backdrop for weddings and events but would also make a superb prestige home. More info

Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 6 Plot Size 30000 m² Internal Area 500 m² Heating Underfloor + air conditioning Property Stone building, wooden beams, original stone fireplaces, frescoes, arches, old tower, vaulted ceilings, original cotto floors, Guelph crenellations, chemin de ronde, private chapel, garden, brick-paved walkways, relaxation areas on the towers, bio-climatic pergola

Bedrooms 11 Bathrooms 13 Plot Size 66000 m² Internal Area 2525 m²

Magical castle property in Italy. Restored and features 11 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, and a lovely 15th-century chapel. 6.6 hectares (16.3 acres) of land which include a keep and cascina needing renovation.  Ideal as a prestige private home, boutique hotel, venue for weddings, conferences, events etc or company headquarters. More info

Bedrooms 11 Bathrooms 13 Plot Size 66000 m² Internal Area 2525 m² Property Stone walls, Guelph crenellation, round towers, wall walk, paved courtyard, frescoed chapel, dungeons, vaulted ceilings, wooden beams, coffered ceilings, flagstone roofs, original monumental fireplaces, cocciopesto, stone and wooden floors

Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 Plot Size 300 m² Internal Area 280 m²

An unusual opportunity near to Pieve Santo Stefano in Tuscany comprising a Historic Medieval tower which needs complete restoration (possible 6 beds) and a small restored 2-bed house.
A lot of property for a small price. More info

Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 Plot Size 300 m² Internal Area 280 m² Heating Radiators Property Stone walls, old stone fireplace, ceilings with wooden beams and terracotta tiles, old terracotta flooring, wooden ceilings

Bedrooms 20+ Bathrooms 20+ Plot Size 116000 m² Internal Area 3360 m²

Hotel business for sale in Italy, near to Orvieto in Umbria, a 12th-century medieval castle style abbey which has been converted into a luxury hotel with 29 bedrooms. An ideal wedding venue. More info

Bedrooms 20+ Bathrooms 20+ Plot Size 116000 m² Internal Area 3360 m² Heating Radiators, air conditioning Property Original tufaceous walls, antique terracotta floors, coffered ceilings, mullioned windows with original capitals, wooden beams, original fireplaces, dodecagonal bell tower

Bedrooms 20+ Bathrooms 16 Plot Size 201000 m² Internal Area 2570 m²

Italian Castle estate for sale close to the border of Umbria and Lazio. Castle – agriturismo, villas, restaurant, wellness centre, outbuildings, farm, 20.1 hectares (49.7 acres) olive and bamboo groves. Further development potential. Very well priced. More info

Bedrooms 20+ Bathrooms 16 Plot Size 201000 m² Internal Area 2570 m² Heating Radiators + air conditioning Property Stone walls, wooden beams, original terracotta floors, fireplaces, stone columns, wooden fixtures, wellness centre, panoramic roof terrace, loggia, restaurant

Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 Plot Size 20000 m² Internal Area 600 m²

Near to Cortona in Tuscany Italy is this medieval tower which has been restored and transformed into a spacious cosy castle style home with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, large plot with gardens and a swimming pool. More info

Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 Plot Size 20000 m² Internal Area 600 m² Heating Radiators Property Stone walls, terracotta and stone floors, wooden beams, stone fireplaces, vaulted stone ceilings, stone staircases

Bedrooms 10 Bathrooms 10 Plot Size 1345000 m² Internal Area 7660 m²

Castle and wine estate near the sea and Rimini in Emilia Romagna. The estate covers 134.5 hectares with vineyards, Olives and arable land. There are 4 farmhouses plus agricultural outbuildings.
An excellent commercial opportunity. More info

Bedrooms 10 Bathrooms 10 Plot Size 1345000 m² Internal Area 7660 m² Heating Radiators Property Stone and brick walls, courtyard for events, modern cellar, historic cellar, stone vaults, vineyards, olive grove, farmhouses

Bedrooms 10 Bathrooms 14 Plot Size 6900 m² Internal Area 2150 m²

Looking to buy a castle in Italy? This one in Piedmont is not only restored it is also a boutique hotel with 10 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms, restaurant and ideal for events, weddings and small conferences. More info

Bedrooms 10 Bathrooms 14 Plot Size 6900 m² Internal Area 2150 m² Heating Radiators Property Stone walls, crenellated towers, ancient terracotta floors, frescoed and painted walls, coffered ceilings, Neoclassical frames, vaulted ceilings, wooden beams, boiserie, stone staircases

Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 Plot Size 300000 m² Internal Area 350 m²

A unique sea view property in Tuscany comprising a restored 16th-century watchtower converted into a luxury 4 bedroom villa home. 30 hectares land. Private access to the sea. More info

Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 Plot Size 300000 m² Internal Area 350 m² Heating Radiators Property Stone walls with glacis, paved courtyard, stone vaulted, wooden beams, terracotta floors, sea view terraces, original fireplaces, staircase leading down to the seaside, possibility of building a helipad and a pool

Bedrooms 20+ Bathrooms 20+ Plot Size 6830000 m² Internal Area 154000 m²

In need of renovation and restoration, this Tuscan Castle Estate for sale comprises a castle with a hamlet of ten farmhouses and 687 ha of land. Once developed it would make a superb hotel plus farmhouse accommodation. More info

Bedrooms 20+ Bathrooms 20+ Plot Size 6830000 m² Internal Area 154000 m² Property Stone walls, gardened courtyard with well, farmhouses to be restored, possibility of planting a vineyard, crenellated tower, frescoed halls

Bedrooms 20+ Bathrooms 20+ Plot Size 47000 m² Internal Area 3500 m²

Italian castle and hamlet for sale in a superb central Italy location with views over Lake Trasimeno. When fully restored the property would be ideal for upmarket hotel use with 40+ bedrooms. 4.7 hectares of land inc gardens and olive grove. More info

Bedrooms 20+ Bathrooms 20+ Plot Size 47000 m² Internal Area 3500 m² Property stone walls, wooden beams, painted vaulted ceilings, multicoloured marble floors, underground escape tunnel, tower, original terracotta tiles, systems already installed,

Bedrooms 20+ Bathrooms 20+ Plot Size 18700 m² Internal Area 5900 m²

Piedmont castle property, on top of a hill in Monferrato, in a dominating position above a beautiful medieval town, this castle with a surface area of over 5,000 sqm is ideal to start a luxury boutique hotel. The project has already been approved to increase the number of bedrooms to 23. It is also possible to further expand the building with another 16 bedrooms. The property is completed by a frescoed church, the old convent, land and gardens and a 12 x 6 m swimming pool. More info

Bedrooms 20+ Bathrooms 20+ Plot Size 18700 m² Internal Area 5900 m² Heating Thermoconvectors Property Stone walls, underground tunnels, panoramic terraces, frescoed halls, rib vaults, barrel vaults, tower, fireplaces, terracotta floor, wooden beams, coffered ceilings, frescoed church

Bedrooms 10 Bathrooms 8 Plot Size 30000 m² Internal Area 790 m²

Near to Amelia in Umbria is this beautiful luxury property which has been fully renovated and comprises a farmhouse with medieval tower and guesthouse with a total of 790 sqm of surface area and 10 bedrooms. More info

Bedrooms 10 Bathrooms 8 Plot Size 30000 m² Internal Area 790 m² Parking Garage Heating Fancoils + air-conditioning Property Stone walls, medieval tower, original terracotta floors, wooden beams, stone fireplaces, rib vaults, pergola, Infinity pool, panoramic terrace, loggia,

Internal Area 963 m²

Historic Castle for sale in Tuscany. Located in the Valdambra region close to Bucine. Sadly neglected this medieval castle (16th-century origins) will need restoration and renovation. More info

Internal Area 963 m² Property Stone walls, tower, crenellation, brackets, rib vaults, barrel vaults, terracotta floors, wall decorations, panoramic terrace, decorated stone fireplaces, double-arched windows, wooden beams, terracotta tiles

Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 Internal Area 192 m²

Medieval tower for sale In Italy located near to Gualdo Cattaneo, Perugia and Terni in Umbria. Renovation project with main work already done.
More info

Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 Internal Area 192 m² Property Stone walls, stone staircase, panoramic terrace on the roof

Bedrooms 10 Bathrooms 12 Plot Size 30000 m² Internal Area 2600 m²

Norman Castle For Sale In Italy with superb history, magnificent far-reaching views over the Umbrian countryside and virtually fully restored.

More info

Bedrooms 10 Bathrooms 12 Plot Size 30000 m² Internal Area 2600 m² Heating Radiators Property Exposed stone walls, wooden beams, masonry fireplaces, stone fireplaces, wooden floors, wooden roofs, ancient terracotta floors, wooden truss, internal courtyard

Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 5 Plot Size 4200 m² Internal Area 2500 m²

For sale near to Assisi in Umbria, a Castle property which will be of interest to developers and investors. Restored to a builders finish and suitable (subject to permissions) for a variety of uses. More info

Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 5 Plot Size 4200 m² Internal Area 2500 m² Property Stone fireplaces, frescoes, ceilings with wooden beams, brick arches, wood window frames, internal courtyards, balconies, small tower

Bedrooms 20+ Bathrooms 20+ Plot Size 900000 m² Internal Area 2400 m²

Superb, prestige property. Italy castle for sale in Tuscany. Currently running as an accommodation business also catering for functions and events plus vineyard and olive grove and land. More info

Bedrooms 20+ Bathrooms 20+ Plot Size 900000 m² Internal Area 2400 m² Heating Radiators Property Beamed ceilings, vaulted ceilings, exposed stone, terracotta floors, finely decorated walls, stone staircases, arches

Bedrooms 20+ Bathrooms 20+ Plot Size 35000 m² Internal Area 3666 m²

Incredible Neogothic castle for sale in Piedmont Italy. For over thirty years, a luxury hotel with a renowned restaurant. Restored with luxury finishes. Excellent business opportunity with further potential. More info

Bedrooms 20+ Bathrooms 20+ Plot Size 35000 m² Internal Area 3666 m² Heating Radiators + air conditioning Property Stone walls, crenellated towers, rectangular crenels, Neogothic style, coffered ceilings, frescoed halls, stone and marble fireplaces, frescoes, columns with Corinthian capitals, stone staircases, parquet and graniglia floors, restaurant, paved terraces, historic cellar

Inside a $35 Million Connecticut Castle With Moat and Dungeon – Robb Report

As youngsters, Chris Mark’s two daughters reportedly loved to dress-up as little princesses. So, as any proud parent does, he built them a fairytale castle complete with turrets and towers, along with a moat and a drawbridge.

To make sure there was enough room for everyone, Mark, great-grandson of Chicago steel tycoon Clayton Mark Sr., designed the 18,777-square-foot castle, roughly 40 miles from Hartford, with eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms and seven different levels. Naturally the basement featured a theater with a stage, lights and music for his daughters to perform.

Now, after first listing Chrismark Castle for an ambitious $45 million in 2014 and removing it from the market in 2016 (by which time the asking price had dropped to $32 million), Mark is testing the waters again with a still-lofty $35 million price tag.

The drawbridge to the front door. 

Photo: Tyra Pacheco

“It is a genuine, one-of-a-kind fairytale castle set on 75 acres of Connecticut woodland and built with truly remarkable craftsmanship and attention to detail,” John Pizzi, listing agent with Randall Realtors Compass, tells Robb Report.

Pizzi explains that construction on the castle kicked off in 2003 after Mark had spent two years traveling through Europe. There he had gathered materials from old churches, French chateaux and architectural salvage yards, shipping them back to the US in a multitude of containers.

The observation room also has glass floor panels. 

Photo: Tyra Pacheco

He also imported rare hardwoods from around the world—more than 25 different species are represented—and enlisted a local Connecticut boat builder specializing in restoring wooden yachts to hand-carve the doors and moldings and lay the floors. Mark even bought a local iron foundry for its specialized metal-working equipment, so that they could create intricate wrought-iron gates, windows and staircases.

“During the seven-year build process, more than 100 artisans, mainly from Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic, were flown-in to help with the construction. The craftsmanship is just astonishing,” says Pizzi.

The dining room. 

Photo: Tyra Pacheco

The castle itself is built on a peninsula that juts out into the 30-acre, tree-lined Potter Pond. One end of the peninsula was excavated to create the moat, which is spanned by a pair of castellated stone bridges.

Seems that during the build process, Mark also acquired a total of 400 acres of surrounding land. While the current listing includes “only” 75 acres, more land can be made available if a buyer was interested, says Pizzi.

The kitchen has views of the lake. 

Photo: Tyra Pacheco

Of course, being a fairytale castle, the home is not short of an eccentric feature or two. The master bathroom has soaring tree trunk supports, a huge jacuzzi tub filled by a cascading rock waterfall and steam outlets, while the soaring, domed observation room has a glass floor that looks down into the master bedroom 40 feet below. And yes, there’s a couple of secret passageways and even a dungeon.

Flip through Mark’s website for the property and you’ll come across a few more of those eccentricities. Like the castle’s use as a backdrop for daughter Christina Mark’s high-energy TikTok videos, a number of music videos and fashion shoots and a recent heart-warming Hallmark Channel movie called One Royal Holiday.

The master bedroom. 

Photo: Tyra Pacheco

At one time, the castle even boasted its own private zoo for the daughters that included a zebra, several emus and a pair of camels called Abu and Habibi, who are reportedly still around.

Mark’s passion for collecting also shows in the fleet of old military vehicles, fire engines, ambulances and antique farm equipment housed in various barns and buildings around the property. There’s even an ex-Navy fighter jet, sadly non-operational, that’s parked under trees in front of the home. According to Pizzi, Mark is open to offers for the items.

An ornate bathroom. 

Photo: Tyra Pacheco

Inside the castle, other stand-out features include a sprawling, semi-circular kitchen with280-degree views of the lake, stunning inlaid wood floors throughout, no fewer than 12 fireplaces, a carved, wooden spiral staircase and a medieval-style formal dining room. In the grounds, there’s a swimming pool and boat dock.

“Of course, such a specialized property is not going to be for everyone,” says Pizzi. “It’s probably only going to appeal to a buyer looking for something unusual, unique and extraordinary. Someone who really wants to live like a king, or queen, in a real-life castle.”

Check out more images of the home below:

A dining area. 

Photo: Tyra Pacheco

Another bedroom. 

Photo: Tyra Pacheco

Many of the materials were sourced from Europe. 

Photo: Tyra Pacheco

The wood was carved by local artisans. 

Photo: Tyra Pacheco

Another bathroom. 

Photo: Tyra Pacheco

Another view of the exterior. 

Photo: Tyra Pacheco

 

Castles for sale in Europe

Show sold properties

• Vineyard…

  Lorgues

  Guide price €3,750,000(£3,289,196)

  Price inclusive of fees

  • 17th century bastide…17th century bastide…

  • 11. 5 ha estate with 1.2 ha of vineyard…11.5 ha estate with 1.2 ha of vineyard…

  • Main house compromises 400m2 of living space…Main house compromises 400m2 of living space…

  • Guest house compromises 100m2 of living space…Guest house compromises 100m2 of living space…

  Castle / Chateaux

• Duncraig Castle…

  Plockton, Ross-Shire, IV52 8TZ

  40 Ac(16.19 Ha)

  Offers over £2,850,000

  • Exquisite 15 bedroom (all en suite) coastal castle currently operating as a B&B.…Exquisite 15 bedroom (all en suite) coastal castle currently operating as a B&B.…

  • Additional staff accommodation within the main castle.…Additional staff accommodation within the main castle.…

  • 5 generously proportioned reception rooms plus a private chapel.…5 generously proportioned reception rooms plus a private chapel.…

  • Coach House with domestic space and adjoining garages, workshops and storage facilities. …Coach House with domestic space and adjoining garages, workshops and storage facilities.…

  Castle / Chateaux

  40 Ac (16.19 Ha)

  15Bedrooms

  15Bathrooms

  4Receptions

• Fa’side Castle…

  Tranent, East Lothian, Eh43 2LE

  7,411 sq ft(688.50 sq m)

  Offers over £1,700,000

  • Stunning views over Firth of Forth…Stunning views over Firth of Forth…

  • Easily commutable to Edinburgh city centre…Easily commutable to Edinburgh city centre…

  • Incredible 14th century castle…Incredible 14th century castle…

  • Many impressive historic features…Many impressive historic features…

  Castle / Chateaux

  7,411 sq ft (688.50 sq m)

  6Bedrooms

  3Bathrooms

  5Receptions

• Myres Castle…

  Auchtermuchty, Cupar, Fife, KY14 7EW

  14,300 sq ft(1,328.51 sq m)

  Offers over £3,500,000

  • 5 reception rooms, 10 bedrooms with bathrooms, family and catering kitchens…5 reception rooms, 10 bedrooms with bathrooms, family and catering kitchens…

  • Cottage & Gate Lodge…Cottage & Gate Lodge…

  • Extensive outbuildings. Garden room…Extensive outbuildings. Garden room…

  • Formal “Vatican” walled garden. Maze. Lawns & pond. Tennis court. Helicopter pad…Formal “Vatican” walled garden. Maze. Lawns & pond. Tennis court. Helicopter pad…

  Castle / Chateaux

  14,300 sq ft (1,328.51 sq m)

  10Bedrooms

  10Bathrooms

  5Receptions

• Cannes…

  French Riviera, 06400

  7,104.18 sq ft(660 sq m)

  Asking price €8,900,000(£7,806,359)

  Price inclusive of fees

  • Elegant 19th century property…Elegant 19th century property…

  • Gated domain…Gated domain…

  • Landscaped grounds…Landscaped grounds…

  • Swimming pool…Swimming pool…

  Castle / Chateaux

  7,104.18 sq ft (660 sq m)

  9Bedrooms

  8Bathrooms

  3Receptions

• Vineyard…

  Guide price €10,500,000(£9,209,750)

  Price inclusive of fees

  • Bucolic setting…Bucolic setting…

  • 9,8 ha vineyards…9,8 ha vineyards…

  • 600m² of living space…600m² of living space…

  • Heated swimming pool…Heated swimming pool…

  Castle / Chateaux

• Vineyard…

  Guide price €7,000,000(£6,139,833)

  Price inclusive of fees

  • 100 hectares of freehold land…100 hectares of freehold land…

  • 42 hectares of vines…42 hectares of vines…

  • Distributed over 5 communes…Distributed over 5 communes…

  • Chateau of 700m² with outbuildings of…Chateau of 700m² with outbuildings of…

  Castle / Chateaux

• Vineyard…

  Guide price €2,800,000(£2,455,933)

  Price inclusive of fees

  • 60 ha estate with 36. 5 ha of vineyards…60 ha estate with 36.5 ha of vineyards…

  • Winery and storage facilities…Winery and storage facilities…

  • Attractive wine shop…Attractive wine shop…

  • Administrative offices…Administrative offices…

  Castle / Chateaux

• 1183 Bursins…

  13,777.81 sq ft(1,280 sq m)

  Price on application

  • Castle,…Castle,…

  • Outibuilding,…Outibuilding,…

  • Vineyard.…Vineyard.…

  • Lake Geneva…Lake Geneva…

  Castle / Chateaux

  13,777.81 sq ft (1,280 sq m)

  14Bedrooms

  14Bathrooms

  11Receptions

• Monboddo Castle…

  Fordoun, By Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, AB30 1JT

  4,565 sq ft(424.10 sq m)

  Offers over £950,000

  • Fully and sensitively restored, beautifully presented…Fully and sensitively restored, beautifully presented…

  • Imposing yet easily manageable, and very accessible…Imposing yet easily manageable, and very accessible…

  • Ideal for entertaining and modern family living…Ideal for entertaining and modern family living…

  • Delightful and extensive gardens with garaging and stables…Delightful and extensive gardens with garaging and stables…

  Castle / Chateaux

  4,565 sq ft (424. 10 sq m)

  5Bedrooms

  2Bathrooms

  2Receptions

• Vineyard…

  Guide price €1,564,500(£1,372,253)

  Price inclusive of fees

  • 24.8 hectare estate…24.8 hectare estate…

  • 23ha vineyard arranged over 5 main blocks…23ha vineyard arranged over 5 main blocks…

  • The entire vineyard is farmed organically…The entire vineyard is farmed organically…

  • Wine shop and warehouse…Wine shop and warehouse…

  Castle / Chateaux

• Vineyard…

  Guide price €1,457,500(£1,278,401)

  Price inclusive of fees

  • Set in a wooded and private setting…Set in a wooded and private setting…

  • 300m² bastide…300m² bastide…

  • Winery and residential buildings…Winery and residential buildings…

  • Two courtyards…Two courtyards…

  Castle / Chateaux

• Vineyard…

  Guide price €2,887,500(£2,532,681)

  Price inclusive of fees

  • Located in the Provencal Drôme,…Located in the Provencal Drôme,…

  • Views of Mount Ventoux…Views of Mount Ventoux…

  • Main house and cottages…Main house and cottages…

  • 5 bedrooms…5 bedrooms…

  Castle / Chateaux

• Vineyard…

  Herault

  Guide price €7,950,000(£6,973,096)

  Price inclusive of fees

  • Approx 800m² of living space…Approx 800m² of living space…

  • Vaulted ceilings…Vaulted ceilings…

  • 8 bedrooms with bathrooms…8 bedrooms with bathrooms…

  • Two further residences…Two further residences…

  Castle / Chateaux

• Vineyard…

  Guide price €1,960,000(£1,719,153)

  Price inclusive of fees

  • 350 sqm living space…350 sqm living space…

  • Set in private valley…Set in private valley…

  • 12,5ha of vineyard…12,5ha of vineyard…

  • Aging cellar and wine shop…Aging cellar and wine shop…

  Castle / Chateaux

• Vineyard…

  Guide price €11,000,000(£9,648,309)

  Price inclusive of fees

  • Restored 17th century château…Restored 17th century château…

  • Classified as a Historic Monument since 1983…Classified as a Historic Monument since 1983…

  • 170 hectares of freehold land…170 hectares of freehold land…

  • 6 hectares of olive groves…6 hectares of olive groves…

  Castle / Chateaux

Regions

Property types

Inside a medieval castle.

Knight castles. Kilchurn Castle, Scotland

The position of the defenders of the besieged castle was far from hopeless. There were many ways in which they could push back the attackers. Most castles were located in hard-to-reach places and were designed to withstand a long siege. They were built on top of a steep hill or surrounded by a moat or trench. The castle always had an impressive supply of weapons, water and food, and the guards knew how to defend themselves. However, in order to survive the siege, a born leader was needed, versed in the art of war, defensive tactics and military cunning.

Crenellated parapet
Guards continuously watched the surroundings from behind a battlemented parapet, behind which a path ran over the walls of the castle.
Defense equipment


If the defenders knew in advance about the approach of the attackers, they prepared to defend themselves, stocking up on provisions and providing shelter to the surrounding residents. Villages and fields around were often burned so that the besiegers would not get anything. The locks were designed according to the highest technical standards of those times. Wooden castles caught fire easily, so they were built of stone. Stone walls withstood siege shells, and ditches prevented enemy attempts to dig a tunnel into the fortress. Wooden paths were made on top of the walls – from them the defenders threw stones at the attackers. Later they were replaced by stone battlements. The spread of cannons brought about radical changes in the construction of castles and in the methods of warfare.
Loopholes


Defenders could safely shoot at the enemy from the loopholes and because of the jagged parapet on the walls of the castle. For the convenience of archers and musketeers, the loopholes expanded inwards. It also made it possible to increase the sector of fire. But it was difficult for the enemy to get into a narrow loophole, although there were well-aimed arrows who were specially trained for this purpose.

Loopholes
There were different types of loopholes: straight, in the form of a cross and even a key.
All for protection
1 The weak point of any castle was the gate. First, the enemy had to pass the drawbridge, and then the gate and portcullis. But even here, the defenders had a few surprises in store.
2 Holes in the wooden floor allowed the defenders to throw stones down on the heads of the besiegers, pour hot sand on them and pour slaked lime, boiling water or oil.
3 The defenders dug a defensive tunnel.
4 Arrows and other projectiles bounced off rounded walls better.
5 Crenellated parapet.
6 The attackers were often wounded by stones bouncing off the walls.
7 They shot at the enemy from loopholes.
8 The soldiers defending the castle repelled the ladders of the attackers with long poles.
9The defenders tried to neutralize the battering ram by lowering mattresses on the ropes or trying to catch the end of the battering ram with a hook and pull it up.
10 Extinguishing the fire within the castle walls.

Fight to the death?


If, despite all possible means, the defenders could not convince the attackers to retreat or surrender, they had to hold out until someone came to their rescue. If help did not come, there were only two options: fight to the death or surrender. The first meant that there would be no mercy. The second is that the castle will be lost, but the people in it can be spared. Sometimes the besiegers gave the defenders the opportunity to come out unharmed in order to get the keys to the castle from their hands.
Underground War


If the besiegers managed to dig a tunnel under the walls, this could decide the fate of the castle. Therefore, it was vitally important to notice in time the intentions of the attackers to do this. A tub of water or a drum with peas sprinkled on the skin was placed on the ground, and if there were ripples in the water, and the peas jumped, it was clear that work was being done underground. In an effort to avert the danger, the defenders dug a defensive tunnel to stop the attackers, and a real underground war began. The winner was the one who first managed to smoke the enemy out of the tunnel with smoke or, after the spread of gunpowder, to blow up the tunnel.

Functions

The main functions of the feudal castle with suburbs were:

• military (center of military operations, means of military control over the district),
• administrative-political (administrative center of the district, the place where the political life of the country was concentrated),
• cultural and economic (handicraft and trade center of the district, a place of the highest elite and folk culture).

Characteristics

It is widely believed that castles existed only in Europe, where they originated, and in the Middle East, where they were transferred by the Crusaders. Contrary to this view, similar structures appear in 16th and 17th century Japan, where they develop without direct contact and influence from Europe and have a completely different history of development, are built differently from European castles and are designed to withstand attacks of a completely different nature.

Components

Hill

Mound of earth, often mixed with gravel, peat, limestone, or brushwood. The height of the embankment in most cases did not exceed 5 meters, although sometimes it reached 10 meters or more. The surface was often covered with clay or wooden decking. The hill was round or nearly square at the base, and the diameter of the hill was at least twice its height.

A wooden, and later a stone, defensive tower surrounded by a palisade was erected on the top. Around the hill there was a moat filled with water or dry, from the earth of which a mound was formed. Access to the tower was through a swinging wooden bridge and a staircase built on the hillside.

Courtyard

A large courtyard with an area (with rare exceptions) of no more than 2 hectares, surrounding or adjoining the hill, as well as various residential and utility buildings – the dwellings of the owner of the castle and his soldiers, stables, a smithy, warehouses, a kitchen, etc. – inside it. From the outside, the court was protected by a wooden palisade, then by a moat, which was filled from the nearest body of water, and by an earthen rampart. The space inside the courtyard itself could be divided into several parts, or several adjoining courtyards were built near the hill.

Donjon

Castles proper appeared in the Middle Ages and were the dwellings of feudal nobility. Due to feudal fragmentation and, as a result, frequent internecine wars, the dwelling of the feudal lord had to perform a defensive task. Castles were usually built on high ground, islands, rock ledges, and other hard-to-reach places.

With the end of the Middle Ages, castles began to lose their original – defensive – task, which has now given way to a residential one. With the development of artillery, the defensive task of castles disappeared completely; features of castle architecture were preserved only as decorative elements (French castle Pierrefonds, late XIV century).

A regular layout with a pronounced symmetry prevailed, the main building acquired a palatial character (Madrid Castle in Paris, XV-XVI centuries) or Nesvizh Castle in Belarus (XVI century). In the XVI century, castle architecture in Western Europe was finally supplanted by palace architecture. The defensive task was preserved for the longest time by the castles of Georgia, which were actively built until the 18th century.

There were castles that belonged not to one feudal lord, but to a knightly order. Such castles were larger, as an example, the Königsberg Castle.

Castles in Russia

The main part of the medieval castle was the central tower – donjon, which served as a citadel. In addition to its defensive functions, the donjon was the direct dwelling of the feudal lord. Also in the main tower there were often living rooms of other inhabitants of the castle, a well, utility rooms (food warehouses, etc.). Often in the donjon there was a large front hall for receptions. Donjon elements can be found in the castle architecture of Western and Central Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, etc.

Wasserschloss in Schwerin

Usually the castle had a small courtyard, which was surrounded by massive battlements with towers and well-fortified gates. This was followed by the outer courtyard, which included outbuildings, as well as the castle garden and vegetable garden. The whole castle was surrounded by a second row of walls and a moat, across which a drawbridge was thrown. If the terrain allowed, then the moat was filled with water and the castle turned into a castle on the water.

The centers of defense of the walls of the castle were the towers protruding beyond the plane of the walls, which made it possible to organize flanking fire on those going to attack. In Russian fortification, sections of the walls between the towers were called paraslas. In this regard, the castles were in terms of a polygon, the walls of which followed the terrain. Numerous examples of such structures have survived to this day in Great Britain, Germany, France, Ukraine and Belarus (for example, Mir Castle in Belarus or Lutsk Castle in Ukraine).

Over time, the structure of castles became more complex; the territory of the castles already included barracks, a court, a church, a prison and other structures (Cousy Castle in France, XIII century; Wartburg Castle in Germany, XI century; Harleck Castle in Great Britain, XIII century).

Rosenberg Castle in Kronach. Rov
and auditorium ventilation towers

With the beginning of the mass use of gunpowder, the decline of the era of castle building begins. So, the besiegers began to carry out, if the soil allowed it, sapper work – quietly dig saps, which made it possible to bring large explosive charges under the walls (storming the Kazan Kremlin in the 16th century). As a measure of struggle, the besieged dug an underground gallery at a considerable distance from the walls in advance, from which they listened in order to detect tunnels and destroy them in a timely manner.

However, the development of artillery and the increase in its destructive effect eventually made it necessary to abandon the use of castles as the basis of defensive strategy and tactics. The time has come for fortresses – complex engineering structures with a developed system of bastions, ravelins, etc.; the art of building fortresses – fortification – developed. The recognized fortification authority of this era was the chief engineer of Louis XIV, Marshal of France Sebastien de Vauban (1633-1707).

Such fortresses, sometimes developed over time from castles, were also used during the Second World War to pin down enemy forces and delay his advance (see: Brest Fortress).

Construction

The construction of the castle began with the choice of location and building materials. A wooden castle was cheaper and easier to build than a stone castle. The cost of building most castles has not survived to this day; most surviving documents on the topic are from royal palaces. A castle made of wood with a motte and a bailey could have been built by unskilled labor – peasants dependent on the feudal lord who already had the skills necessary to build a wooden castle (they knew how to cut wood, dig and work with wood). Forced to work for the feudal lord, the workers most likely were not paid anything, so building a castle out of wood was cheap. According to experts, it took 50 workers and 40 days to build a medium-sized hill – 5 meters high and 15 meters wide. The famous architect en: James of Saint George, responsible for the construction of the Beaumaris castle, described the costs associated with the construction of the castle as follows:

If you think where so much money can be spent in a week, we inform you that we needed and will need in the future 400 masons, as well as 2000 less experienced women, 100 carts, 60 wagons and 30 boats for the supply of stone; 200 workers at the quarry; 30 blacksmiths and carpenters to lay cross beams and floors, as well as to perform other necessary work. That’s not including the garrison… and the purchase of materials. Which require a large number … Payments to the workers are still delayed, and we are having great difficulty retaining the workers, because they simply have nowhere to live.

A study was carried out that examined the costs associated with the construction of the castle of Lange, built in 992 in France. The stone tower is 16 meters high, 17.5 meters wide and 10 meters long with walls averaging 1.5 meters. The walls contain 1200 square meters of stone and have a surface of 1600 square meters. It was estimated that the tower took 83,000 man-days to build, most of which required unskilled labor.

Stone castles were not only expensive to build, but also to keep in good condition because they contained a large amount of timber, which was often unseasoned and needed constant care.

Medieval machines and inventions were indispensable during construction; antique timber frame construction methods have been improved. The search for stone for construction was one of the main problems; often the solution was a quarry near the castle.

Due to the shortage of stone, alternative materials were used, such as brick, which was also used for aesthetic reasons, as it was in vogue. Therefore, even despite the sufficient amount of stone, some builders chose brick as the main material for building the castle.

The material for construction depended on the locality: in Denmark there are few quarries, so most of its castles are made of wood or brick, in Spain most castles are made of stone, while in Eastern Europe castles were usually built using wood.

Castles today

Nowadays, castles perform a decorative function. Some of them are turned into restaurants, others become museums. Some are being restored and sold or rented.

Led to a boom in castle building, but building a fortress from scratch is far from easy.

Bodiam Castle in East Sussex, founded 1385

1) Carefully choose a place to build

It is extremely important to build your castle on an elevated and strategic point.

Castles were usually built on natural elevations, and were usually equipped with a link to the external environment, such as a ford, bridge or passage.

Historians have rarely been able to find evidence of contemporaries regarding the choice of a site for the construction of the castle, but still they exist. On September 30, 1223, 15-year-old King Henry III arrived in Montgomery with his army. The king, who had successfully led a military campaign against the Welsh prince Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, was going to build a new castle in this area to ensure security on the border of his possessions. The English carpenters had been given the task of preparing the timber a month earlier, but the king’s advisers had only just now determined the site for the construction of the castle.

Montgomery Castle, when it was built in 1223, was located on a hill

After a careful survey of the area, they chose a point on the very edge of the ledge above the valley of the River Severn. According to the chronicler Roger of Wendover, this position “looked unassailable to anyone”. He also noted that the castle was created “for the security of the region from the frequent attacks of the Welsh.”

Tip
: Identify places where the topography rises above traffic routes: these are natural places for castles. Keep in mind that the design of the castle is determined by the place of construction. For example, a castle on a ledge of exposed rocks will have a dry moat.

2) Make a workable plan

You will need a master mason who can draw plans. An engineer knowledgeable in weapons will also come in handy.

Experienced soldiers may have their own ideas about the design of the castle, in terms of the shape of its buildings and their location. But it is unlikely that they will have the knowledge of the level of specialists in design and construction.

To implement the idea, a master mason was needed – an experienced builder, whose hallmark was the ability to draw a plan. With a grasp of practical geometry, he used simple tools such as straightedge, square, and compasses to create architectural plans. Master masons submitted a drawing with a building plan for approval, and during construction supervised its construction.

When Edward II ordered the construction of the tower at Knarsborough, he personally approved the plans and demanded construction reports

When Edward II in 1307 began to build a huge residential tower at Narsborough Castle in Yorkshire for his favorite Pierce Gaveston, he not only personally approved the plan created by the London master mason Hugh of Tichmarshevsky – probably made in the form of a drawing – but also demanded regular construction reports. From the middle of the 16th century, a new group of professionals called engineers increasingly began to take on a role in planning and building fortifications. They had technical knowledge of the use and power of cannons, both for defense and for attacking castles.

Board
: Plan slits for a wide angle of attack. Shape them according to the weapon you are using: longbow archers need large slopes, crossbowmen need smaller ones.

3) Hire a large group of experienced workers

You will need thousands of people. And not all of them will come of their own free will.

It took a lot of effort to build the castle. We do not have documentary evidence of the construction of the first castles in England since 1066, but from the scale of many castles of that period it becomes clear why some chronicles claim that the English were under the yoke of building castles for their Norman conquerors. But from the later time of the Middle Ages, some estimates with detailed information have come down to us.

During the invasion of Wales in 1277, King Edward I began building a castle in Flint, northeast Wales. It was erected quickly, thanks to the rich resources of the crown. A month after the start of work, in August, 2300 people were involved in the construction, including 1270 diggers, 320 lumberjacks, 330 carpenters, 200 masons, 12 blacksmiths and 10 charcoal burners. All of them were driven from the surrounding lands under an armed escort who watched so that they did not desert from the construction.

From time to time, foreign specialists could be involved in the construction. For example, millions of bricks for the rebuilding of Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire in the 1440s were supplied by a certain Baldwin “Docheman”, or Dutchman, that is, “Dutchman” – obviously a foreigner.

Tip
: Depending on the size of the workforce and the distance she had to travel, it may be necessary to arrange for them to live on site.

4) Secure the construction site

An unfinished castle in enemy territory is very vulnerable to attacks.

To build a castle in enemy territory, you need to protect the construction site from attacks. For example, you can enclose the construction site with wooden fortifications or a low stone wall. Such medieval defense systems sometimes remained after the construction of the building as an additional wall – as, for example, in the castle of Beaumaris, the construction of which was begun in 1295.

Beaumaris (English Beaumaris, Val. Biwmares) is a city on the island of Anglesey, Wales.

Secure communication with the outside world is also important for the delivery of building materials and provisions. In 1277, Edward I dug a canal to the river Kluid directly from the sea and to the location of his new castle in Rydlane. The outer wall, built to protect the construction site, extended to the piers on the banks of the river.

Rudlan Castle

Security problems can also arise when a major rebuilding of an existing castle. When Henry II rebuilt Dover Castle in the 1180s, all work was carefully planned so that the fortifications provided protection for the duration of the renovation. According to surviving decrees, work on the inner wall of the castle began only when the tower was already sufficiently repaired so that guards could be on duty in it.

Board
: building materials for the construction of the castle are large and voluminous. If possible, it’s best to transport them by water, even if that means building a dock or canal.

5) Prepare the landscape

When building a castle, you may have to move an impressive amount of land, which is not cheap.

It is often forgotten that the castle fortifications were built not only by architectural methods, but also by landscape design. Enormous resources were allocated for the movement of land. The scale of land works of the Normans can be recognized as outstanding. For example, according to some estimates, the embankment erected in 1100 around Pleshy Castle in Essex required 24,000 man-days.

Some aspects of landscaping required considerable skill, especially the creation of water ditches. When Edward I rebuilt the Tower of London in the 1270s, he hired a foreign specialist, Walter of Flanders, to create a huge tidal moat. Digging the ditch under his direction cost £4,000, a staggering amount, almost a quarter of the cost of the entire project.

An 1597 engraving of the plan of the Tower of London shows how much land had to be moved to build moats and ramparts.

With the rise of cannons in the art of siege, the earth has become even more important as an absorber of cannon shots. Interestingly, experience in moving large amounts of land has led some of the fortification engineers to find work as garden designers.

Tip
: Reduce time and cost by digging out masonry for castle walls from the moats around it.

6) Lay the foundation

Carefully implement the mason’s plan.

Using ropes of the required length and pegs, it was possible to mark the foundation of the building on the ground in full size. After the foundation ditches were dug, work began on the masonry. To save money, the responsibility for construction was assigned to the senior mason instead of the master mason. Masonry in the Middle Ages was usually measured in rods, one English rod = 5.03 m. At Warkworth in Northumberland, one of the complex towers stands on a lattice of rods, possibly for the purpose of calculating construction costs.

Warkworth Castle

Often the construction of medieval castles was accompanied by detailed documentation. In 1441-42 the tower of Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire was demolished and a plan for its successor was drawn up on the ground. But the Prince of Stafford, for some reason, was not pleased. The king’s master stonemason, Robert of Westerley, was sent to Tutbury, where he held a conference with two senior masons to design a new tower at the new site. Westerley then left, and over the next eight years a small group of workers, including four junior masons, built the new tower.

Senior masons could be called in to certify the quality of work, as was the case at Cooling Castle in Kent when the king’s stonemason, Henry Jewel, assessed work completed from 1381 to 1384. He criticized the deviations from the original plan and rounded the estimate down.

Tip
: Don’t let the master mason fool you. Make him make a plan so that it is easy to make an estimate for it.

7) Fortify your castle

Finish with complex fortifications and specialized timber structures.

Until the 12th century, the fortifications of most castles consisted of earth and logs. And although stone buildings were subsequently given preference, wood remained a very important material in medieval wars and fortifications.

Stone castles were prepared for attacks by adding special battle galleries along the walls, as well as shutters that could close the gaps between battlements to protect the defenders of the castle. All this was made of wood. Heavy weapons used to defend the castle, catapults and heavy crossbows, springalds, were also built of wood. Artillery was usually designed by a highly paid professional carpenter, sometimes with the title of engineer, from the Latin “ingeniator”.

Storming of the castle, 15th century drawing

Such experts were not cheap, but could eventually be worth their weight in gold. This, for example, happened in 1266, when Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire resisted Henry III for almost six months with catapults and water defenses.

There are records of camping castles made entirely of wood – they could be transported and erected as needed. One such was built for the French invasion of England in 1386, but the Calais garrison captured it along with the ship. It was described as consisting of a wall of logs 20 feet high and 3,000 paces long. There was a 30-foot tower every 12 paces, capable of housing up to 10 soldiers, and the castle also had an unspecified defense for archers.

Board
: Oak wood becomes stronger with age and is easiest to work with when it is green. The top branches of trees are easy to transport and shape.

8) Provide water and sanitation

Don’t forget “amenities”. You will appreciate them in case of a siege.

The most important aspect for the castle was the efficient access to water. These could be wells that supply water to certain buildings, such as a kitchen or a stable. Without a detailed acquaintance with the medieval well shafts, it is difficult to do justice to them. For example, in Beeston Castle in Cheshire there is a well 100 m deep, the upper 60 m of which are lined with hewn stone.

There is some evidence of elaborate plumbing that brought water to the apartments. The tower of Dover Castle has a system of lead pipes that delivers water throughout the rooms. She was fed from a well with a winch, and possibly from a rainwater harvesting system.

Efficient disposal of human waste was another challenge for lock designers. The latrines were assembled in one place in the buildings so that their shafts were emptied in one place. They were located in short corridors that trap unpleasant odors, and were often equipped with wooden seats and removable covers.

Chipchase Thinking Room

Today it is widely believed that latrines used to be called “cloakrooms”. In fact, the lexicon for toilets was extensive and colorful. They were called gongs or gangs (from the Anglo-Saxon word for “a place to go”), nooks and jakes (the French version of “john”).

Tip
: Ask the master mason to plan comfortable and private outhouses outside the bedroom, following the example of Henry II and Dover Castle.

9) Decorate as needed

Not only does a castle need to be well-guarded, its high-status residents demanded a certain amount of chic.

During the war, the castle must be defended – but it also serves as a luxurious home. The noble gentlemen of the Middle Ages expected their dwelling to be both comfortable and richly furnished. In the Middle Ages, these citizens traveled with servants, things and furniture from one residence to another. But home interiors often had fixed decorative features, such as stained-glass windows.

Henry III’s tastes in furnishings are recorded very carefully, with interesting and attractive details. In 1235-36, for example, he ordered that his hall at Winchester Castle be decorated with images of a map of the world and a wheel of fortune. Since then, these decorations have not survived, but the well-known round table of King Arthur, possibly created between 1250 and 1280, remains in the interior.

Winchester Castle with King Arthur’s Round Table hanging on the wall

A large area of ​​castles played an important role in luxurious life. Parks were created for hunting, a jealously guarded privilege of aristocrats; gardens were also in demand. The extant description of the construction of Kirby Maxloe’s castle in Leicestershire says that its owner, Lord Hastings, began laying out gardens at the very beginning of the construction of the castle in 1480.

In the Middle Ages, rooms with beautiful views were also loved. One of the 13th-century groups of rooms at the castles of Leeds in Kent, Corfe in Dorset and Chepstow in Monmouthshire were called gloriettes (from the French gloriette, a diminutive of glory) for their splendor.

Board
: The interior of the castle must be luxurious enough to attract visitors and friends. Entertainment can win battles without having to expose itself to the dangers of combat.

For some reason, at the mention of the word “fairy tale”, medieval castles and fortresses come to mind first of all. Maybe because they were built in those ancient times, when wizards freely roamed the fields and meadows, and fire-breathing dragons flew over the mountain peaks.

Be that as it may, even now, looking at the castles and fortresses that have been preserved in some places, one involuntarily imagines princesses sleeping in them and evil fairies conjuring with magic potions. Let’s look at the once luxurious housing of the powers that be.

(German Schloß Neuschwanstein, literally “New Swan Stone”) is located in Germany, near the town of Füssen (German Fussen). The castle was founded in 1869 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The construction was completed in 1891, 5 years after the unexpected death of the king. The castle is magnificent and attracts curious tourists from all over the world with its beauty of architectural forms.

This is the “dream palace” of the young king, who never saw her incarnate in her full glory. Ludwig II of Bavaria, founder of the castle, ascended the throne too young. And being a dreamy nature, imagining himself as the fairy-tale character Lohengrin, he decided to build his own castle in order to hide in it from the harsh reality of the defeat of Bavaria in alliance with Austria in 1866 in the war with Prussia.

Away from state concerns, the young king demanded too much from the army of architects, artists and artisans. Sometimes he set completely unrealistic deadlines, the observance of which required round-the-clock work of masons and carpenters. During the construction, Ludwig II went deeper and deeper into his fictional world, for which he was later recognized as crazy. The architectural design of the castle was constantly changing. So the rooms for guests were excluded and a small grotto was added. The small audience hall was transformed into the majestic Throne Room.

A century and a half ago, Ludwig II of Bavaria tried to hide from people behind the walls of a medieval castle – today millions of people come to admire his fabulous refuge.

(German: Burg Hohenzollern) is an old castle-fortress in Baden-Württemberg, 50 km south of Stuttgart. The castle was built at an altitude of 855 m above sea level on the top of Mount Hohenzollern. Only the third castle has survived to this day. The medieval castle fortress was first built in the 11th century and completely destroyed after the capture, at the end of a grueling siege by the troops of the cities of Swabia in 1423.

A new fortress was built on its ruins in 1454-1461, which served as a refuge for the House of Hohenzollern during the Thirty Years’ War. Due to the complete loss of the fortress of strategic importance, by the end of the 18th century, the castle was noticeably dilapidated, and some parts of the building were finally dismantled.

The modern version of the castle was built in 1850-1867 on the personal instructions of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, who decided to completely restore the family castle of the Prussian royal house. The construction of the castle was led by the famous Berlin architect Friedrich August Stüler. He managed to combine new, large-scale castle buildings in the neo-Gothic style and the few surviving buildings of the former ruined castles.

(Karlštejn), built by the decree of the Czech king and emperor Charles IV (named after him) on a high limestone rock above the Berounka river, as a summer residence and a place of storage of sacred relics of the royal family. The first stone in the foundation of Karlštejn Castle was laid by Archbishop Arnošt, close to the Emperor, in 1348, and in 1357 the construction of the castle was completed. Two years before the end of construction, Charles IV settled in the castle.

The stepped architecture of Karlštejn Castle, culminating in a tower with the Grand Cross Chapel, is quite common in the Czech Republic. The ensemble includes the castle itself, the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Catherine Chapel, the Big Tower, the Mariana and Well Towers.

The majestic Student Tower and the Imperial Palace, which housed the king’s quarters, take tourists back to the Middle Ages, when a powerful monarch ruled the Czech Republic.

Royal Palace and fortress in the Spanish city of Segovia, in the province of Castile and Leon. The fortress is built on a high rock, above the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores rivers. Such a good location made it almost impregnable. Now it is one of the most recognizable and beautiful palaces in Spain. Originally built as a fortress, the Alcazar was once a royal palace, a prison, and an artillery academy.

The Alcazar, which was a small wooden fortress in the 12th century, was later rebuilt into a stone castle and became the most impregnable defensive structure. This palace became famous for great historically significant events: the coronation of Isabella the Catholic, her first marriage to King Ferdinand of Aragon, the wedding of Anna of Austria with Philip II.

(Castelul Peleş) was built by King Carol I of Romania near the city of Sinai in the Romanian Carpathians. The king was so fascinated by the local beauty that he bought up the surrounding land and built a castle for hunting and summer recreation. The name of the castle was given by a small mountain river flowing nearby.

In 1873, the construction of a grandiose building began, under the direction of the architect Johann Schulz. Along with the castle, other buildings necessary for a comfortable life were built: royal stables, guard houses, a hunting house and a power station.

Thanks to the power plant, Peles became the first electrified castle in the world. The castle officially opened in 1883. At the same time, central heating and an elevator were installed in it. The construction was completed in 1914.

It is a symbol of the small city-state of San Marino on the territory of modern Italy. The beginning of the construction of the fortress is considered to be the 10th century AD. Guaita is the first of three San Marino fortresses built on the peaks of Mount Titano.

The construction consists of two rings of fortifications, the inner one has retained all the signs of the forts of the feudal era. The main entrance gate was located at a height of several meters, and it was possible to pass through it only by a drawbridge, now destroyed. The fortress was restored many times in the 15th-17th centuries.

Well, here we have seen some of the medieval castles and fortresses of Europe, of course, not all of them. Next time we will admire the fortresses on the tops of impregnable rocks. There are so many exciting discoveries ahead!

Not every castle is actually a castle.
Today, the word “castle” we call almost any significant building of the Middle Ages, whether it be a palace, a large estate or a fortress – in general, the dwelling of a feudal lord of medieval Europe. This everyday use of the word “castle” is at odds with its original meaning, because the castle is primarily a fortification. Inside the castle territory there could be buildings for various purposes: residential, religious, and cultural. But still, first of all, the main function of the castle is defensive. From this point of view, for example, the famous romantic palace of Ludwig II – Neuschwanstein is not a castle.

Location,
and not the structural features of the castle – the key to its defensive power. Of course, the layout of the fortification is important for the defense of the castle, but what really makes it impregnable is not the thickness of the walls and the location of the loopholes, but the correctly chosen construction site. A steep and high hill, which is almost impossible to get close to, a sheer cliff, a winding road to the castle, which is perfectly shot from the fortress, determine the outcome of the battle to a much greater extent than any other equipment.

Gate
is the weakest spot in the castle. Of course, the fortress should have had a central entrance (in peaceful moments, it happens that you want to enter beautifully and solemnly, the castle is not always defended). When capturing, it is always easier to break into the entrance that already exists than to create a new one by destroying massive walls. Therefore, the gates were designed in a special way – they had to be wide enough for carts and narrow enough for the enemy army. Cinema often sins by depicting a castle entrance with large wooden gates locked: such would be extremely impractical in defense.

The interior walls of the castle were colored.
The interiors of medieval castles are often depicted in gray-brown tones, without any cladding, just like the inside of bare cold stone walls. But the inhabitants of medieval palaces loved bright colors and generously decorated the interior of their living quarters. The inhabitants of the castles were rich and, of course, wanted to live in luxury. Our ideas are connected with the fact that in most cases the paint has not stood the test of time.

Large windows are rare
for a medieval castle. As a rule, they were absent altogether, giving way to multiple small window “slots” in the castle walls. In addition to the defensive purpose, the narrow window openings protected the privacy of the inhabitants of the castle. If you come across a castle building with luxurious panoramic windows, most likely they appeared at a later time, as, for example, in the castle of Roctaiade in southern France.

Secret passages, secret doors and dungeons.
Walking through the castle, be aware that somewhere below you lie corridors hidden from the eyes of the layman (perhaps someone wanders through them today?). Poterns – underground corridors between the buildings of the fortress – made it possible to quietly move around the fortress or leave it. But the trouble is if a traitor opens a secret door to the enemy, as happened during the siege of Corfe Castle in 1645.

Storming the castle
was not such a quick and easy process as it is portrayed in the movies. A massive attack was a rather extreme decision in an attempt to capture the castle, putting the main military force at unreasonable risk. Castle sieges were carefully thought out and implemented for a long time. The most important thing was the ratio of the trebuchet, the throwing machine, to the thickness of the walls. It took a trebuchet from several days to several weeks to make a breach in the castle wall, especially since a simple hole in the wall did not guarantee the capture of the fortress. For example, the siege of Harlech Castle by the future King Henry V lasted about a year, and the castle fell only because the city ran out of provisions. So the rapid attacks of medieval castles are an element of cinematic fantasies, and not historical realities.

Hunger
is the most powerful weapon when taking a castle. Most castles had tanks that collected rainwater, or wells. The chances of the castle inhabitants to survive during the siege depended on the water and food supplies: the option to “sit out” was the least risky for both sides.

For castle defense
didn’t need as many people as it seems. Castles were built in such a way as to allow those inside to calmly fight off the enemy, managing with small forces. Compare: the garrison of Harlech Castle, which held out for almost a whole year, consisted of 36 people, while the castle was surrounded by an army numbering hundreds or even thousands of soldiers. In addition, an extra person on the territory of the castle during the siege is an extra mouth, and as we remember, the issue of provisions could be decisive.

Top 30 castles in England

England keeps its own traditions and cultural values. In addition, the remoteness from the mainland allowed her to avoid direct invasion during World War II and some other military conflicts. The combination of these and other factors is a guarantee of the preservation of ancient buildings, to which the tourist trail is not overgrown now. Castles are scattered almost throughout the country. They reflect the era and represent different styles.

Almost everyone is associated with historical events, famous personalities and amazing legends. Travelers are offered to see the splendor of majestic buildings and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of their past and present life. Among the excursions there are both individual visits to towers and castles, as well as complex tours that allow you to compare sights with each other.

List, photos with names and descriptions.

Tower of London

Stands on the banks of the Thames. Founded in 1066. One of the symbols of the British capital. He managed to change many appointments in his history: a fortress, a palace, a prison, a repository of valuables, an arsenal. Now it is a museum. Guards have guarded the Tower since its construction. In modern times, on the occasion of the holidays, they put on a dress uniform in the colors of the ruling dynasty. The castle is associated with a legend about ravens, which are specially taken care of: supposedly their disappearance is a harbinger of the fall of England.

See also: London’s 65 top attractions.

Windsor Castle

Located in Berkshire. The time of foundation is approximately 1070. The largest residential castle in the world. He gave the name of the current ruling royal dynasty. It is their official residence. It is located on a hill, because of the steep slopes there are few gardens, but there is a large park nearby. The ceremony of the “Order of the Garter”, held to this day with the participation of the Queen, is associated with the castle. Partially open to tourists.

Rochester Castle

Located in Kent. The first wooden fortress appeared here in 1087. A couple of years later, stone fortifications began to be erected. It is a monument of the highest importance. The initial purpose is strategic and defensive. It has also been used as an apartment. High and thick walls withstood many attacks. There were ditches that fell asleep with the loss of need.

Leeds

Located in Kent. First mentioned in records of the 11th century. It stands on a lake island, which gave additional opportunities for the introduction of architectural details, such as a drawbridge. History connects the castle with the queens of England, or rather, with the widows of monarchs. The details of the interiors are carefully worked out: stairs of different styles, wall decoration, rare furniture and so on. Nearby is a plant labyrinth, an extensive aviary, a museum of ancient dog collars.

Warwick Castle

Located in Warwickshire. Founded in 1068. Initially it was a fortification fortress, in the 17th century it was converted into a country estate. It underwent a special restructuring during the Hundred Years War, becoming even more defensive. The attraction of the castle is the world’s largest mechanical siege mechanism – the trebuchet. The halls contain the attributes of past eras. The courtyard with a lawn is used for walking.

Bodyam

Located in East Sussex. Founded in 1385. Several noble families lived in the castle in turn. Initially, it was built as a defensive likeness of a fort from French raids. It is separated from the land by a large moat. A drawbridge is thrown over it. The building has features characteristic of its time: a square shape, round towers in the corners, sandstone as a material for the walls.

Dover Castle

Located in Kent. It was founded in the 1st century as a settlement that grew and was fortified. One of the largest castles in area. It was of strategic importance and was considered the key to the country – the island position allowed for a long and successful defense if necessary. Under the ground, tunnels were dug, used to house batteries, as well as as bomb shelters. Now the castle has become a museum.

Bamborough

Located in Northumberland. The territory first appeared in the annals in 547. Wooden buildings were gradually replaced by stone ones. Survived a long siege during the Wars of the Roses. At the beginning of the last century, Bamborough was finally restored and made into a museum. The exposition tells the history of the local buildings and significant events in the area, as well as state events in which the castle was involved.

Alnwick

Located in Northumberland. Founded in the 11th century. Changed owners and participated in the collection of troops during the campaign against the Scots. It belonged to the crown, but went to the local duke, who was able to restore Alnwick and give it a new look. From the beginning of spring to the middle of autumn, it is open to visitors. Often appears in films, and not only in historical ones.

Framlingham

Located in Suffolk. Founded at the turn of the VI-VII centuries. A distinctive feature is that flint was used in the facing of the outer side of the main wall. This is typical for many buildings in the area, but not for other castles. Another atypical detail of that time is the absence of a fortress or a central tower. It is replaced by bizarre architecture. Framlingham is known as the residence of Mary Tudor.

Arundel

Located in West Sussex. Laid down in the 11th century and expanded in the 12th century. The architectural style is neo-gothic, but interspersed with other features. Changes in appearance are associated primarily with civil wars, during which the walls and towers were repeatedly damaged. Queen Matilda lived in Arundel for some time, and Queen Victoria also stayed here.

Tintagel

Located in Cornwall. The first fortifications were left here by the Romans in the 3rd century. In 1233, a full-fledged castle appeared, which is now almost completely destroyed, however, some characteristic features, such as the fortress wall, have been preserved and are a tourist attraction. Tintagel is associated with the legend of King Arthur, which generates additional public interest.

Corfe

Located in Dorset. Founded at the beginning of the 11th century. On the site of the castle was originally a fort – the place of death of King St. Edward. The military fortress managed to be a hunting lodge and a prison, especially dangerous criminals were executed here. Later, Korf was rebuilt into a residential residence. Now the castle is in a deplorable state – ruins remained from it, but they are recognized as a cultural monument.

Bolsover

Located in Derbyshire. Founded in the 12th century, but rebuilt in the 17th. Extensive meadows and forests adjoin the castle. Inside there is an exhibition with portraits of historical figures associated with the castle. Some of the halls have been restored in a modern way, some are intact and have retained their original outlines. The fortress wall with characteristic battlements was restored. Its appearance is typical for a residential building, and not for a defensive one.

Kenilworth

Located in Warwickshire. Founded in 1122. Withstood a six-month siege – the longest in the history of England, but fell due to lack of food. The castle belongs to the city: it was donated by the previous owner. It is famous not only for its decoration and preserved architectural features, but also for its park with symmetrical lines, flower beds and sculptures.

Tamworth

Located in Staffordshire. Founded in the 11th century as a wooden fortress. It stands on a hill, which is justified by the strategic purpose of the castle. Now inside there are exhibitions showing different eras: each room is equipped and decorated according to the time it tells about. There is a park area and terraces with flower beds and a stage nearby, where an orchestra plays in warm weather.

Warkworth

Located in Northumberland. It is believed that the foundation century is XII, but this is not certain. Survived several sieges, and was not taken by the enemy. It has been visited by several monarchs. Not completely preserved, some parts of the fortifications were destroyed, the walls were dilapidated. Despite this, it is open to visitors, including for self-examination, and is a state monument.

Beeston

Located in Cheshire. Built in the 20s of the XIII century. Consists of two conditional parts. The courtyard sits atop a sandstone cliff and is virtually impregnable thanks to the walls. The outer courtyard is much lower on the slope, it is more open and served as a garrison camp during the fighting. According to legend, the treasures of Richard II are hidden here, which have never been found.

Peckforton Castle

Located in Cheshire. Built around 1844. Beeston Castle was taken as the basis during the design. It was the residence of the Tollmach family for almost a hundred years. During the Second World War, children were placed here, saving them from the bombing. Since the late 60s of the last century, many historical scenes from films have been filmed on the castle grounds. Now the castle has been turned into a high-class hotel.

Portchester

Located in Hampshire. It was founded around the 11th century and is an example of a surviving Roman fort, slightly modified over time. Used as a palace and prison. The halls and courtyard are the place for exhibitions and expositions related to the history of the castle. Included in the number of compulsory school excursions. Attraction nearby – the Church of St. Mary.

Herstmonceau

Located in East Sussex. Built in 1441. Stylized as buildings of an earlier period. It was the most extensive private property in England of its time. In the second half of the 18th century it was destroyed: only the walls and the gatehouse remained. Went through a major renovation. Now inside is a training center where they teach trade and the humanities. In August, the castle hosts a medieval festival.

Howard

Located in North Yorkshire. Founded in 1699. The palace of the complex, built in the Baroque style, is considered the most luxurious in England. A French park is laid out nearby – all plants are adjusted to symmetrical lines of regular geometric shapes, there is also an extensive arboretum where rare species are preserved and cultivated. Howard is privately owned, the interiors include a collection of paintings.

Durham Castle

Located in Durham County. Built around the 11th century. It was the residence of the bishops, and also served as a defense against the raids of the Scots. Subsequently transferred to the local university, and its buildings were enlarged to accommodate students. The castle has remained accessible to tourist groups, and the income from excursions goes to its maintenance. Attraction nearby – Durham Cathedral – a monument of world heritage.

Carlisle

Located in Cumbria. It was built for several decades, starting from the 11th century. Since it stands close to the border with Scotland, it was often subjected to sieges and attacks. Partial destruction is due to the fact that the stone from the walls was used as raw material for other buildings. Now it serves as a museum, where there are expositions dedicated to the past of the castle, as well as the history of the region.

Lincoln

Located in Lincolnshire. The first stone was laid in 1068. A characteristic feature of the building is that the donjon stands separately from the walls; for protection, it was surrounded by a moat. A copy of the Magna Carta is kept in the castle, four of them have been preserved in total. In modern times, the existing entrance and the bridge leading to it have been restored. This made it easier for tourists.

Beaver Castle

Located in Leicestershire. Built in neo-Gothic style at the end of the 18th century. It is the residence of an aristocratic family that owns the castle from the moment of its foundation to this day. Beaver Castle is more like a palace, so it attracts those who want to play weddings here. The owners rent the property not only to the newlyweds, but also to the organizers of other events, as well as to filmmakers for location shooting.

Scarborough

Located in Yorkshire. Founded in 1130. Located in a hilly area, which affected the architectural features. Besieged several times and changed owners, both after the sale and after military campaigns. Available for visits almost the entire year, but not restored and ennobled. Archaeological excavations are taking place nearby.

Lindisfarne

Located in Northumberland. Built in 1550 on the Holy Island. The castle arose on the site of the monastery, as it was necessary to strengthen the territory, vulnerable to attacks. The change in orientations in foreign and domestic policy also affected the appointment of Lindisfarne. The pier and the coast guard post have been preserved, otherwise it has gradually turned into an architectural monument.

Chillingham

Located in Northumberland. Founded in the 12th century. Initially, only a watch tower was located here. Gradually erected a military citadel, walls, a library, and so on. The castle has been visited by the current monarch. Attractions – torture room, dungeon, French garden. There are many legends about ghosts haunting the castle, including the shining boy and the spirit of Lady Mary Berkeley.

St. Michael’s Maun

Located on the island of the same name, which is a mountain. The castle is located at the very top. This is a former monastery, although outwardly it looks more like a fortress. You can get to the island by motorboat or by a special path, but it is only accessible at low tide. Below the castle there is a park, and around there are many other related buildings.

Rivau Castle, Lemaire, France – HiSoUR – HiSoUR – Hi So You Are Rivau is one of the castles of the Loire and has been classified as a historical monument since July 1918 (castle) and August 1999 (general) as well as an inscription in February 1988 (company).

Rivau combines elements of medieval architecture, renaissance architecture and modern art.

story
At the same time, Rivau is a strong house.

This castle of Touraine was fortified in the 14th century and humanized the Renaissance. It is both an impregnable fortress and a pleasant place to live.

Rivau Castle, located in the heart of the Anglo-French conflicts, has a strategic position. It dominates the valley of Vienne and the Vedas and thus controls the great axes of communication.

In the 14th century, the building that surrounded the quadrangle of the castle was destroyed. At the same time, the Gothic windows of the castle’s western façade were enlarged and decorated with sculptures. Prestigious stables were acquired in the palace.
The 17th century buildings south of the forecourt were remodeled and covered with hollow tiles for low pitched roofs, preventing slate from being installed, requiring a steep slope. Local tradition used slate roofs for noble buildings and tiles for service buildings.

There was no modernization of the frame in the 16th century, but the roof gardens of Rivau were surrounded by walls. The bridge, which has now disappeared, seems to have been thrown at that time on the western ditch. The mouth was full. The very important lands of Rivau were planted with sapphire and walnut trees and 45 hectares of vines. These rich lands were coveted and the castle became a “castle record”, no longer undergoing any changes. It retained all the characteristics of its construction.

In the 19th century the chapel north of the Secret Garden was destroyed (1880). “Little wood” windows replaced window panes, destroying the medieval harmony. The castle became a place of storage of wheat and forgot about its splendor of the past.

Passage of Joan of Arc
Rivau has been famous for its stables since the 14th century, while they are still in the forest.

In the 18th century, the kingdom of France is in complete conflict with the British during the Hundred Years War. One of the prominent heroes of this is Joan of Arc. Recognizing a dolphin in Chinon in 1427, she crossed France to join various places.

Knowing her reputation for her horses, Joan of Arc will stop at Rivau and come to fight the horses in 1429 before joining Orléans’ headquarters.

Influence of the Beauvau family
The Beauvau family has been associated with the kings of France since the marriage of Isabeau de Beauvau to Count Vande Jun de Bourbon, Prince of the Blood.

Since 1438, Rivau has been given as a dowry to Pierre de Beauvou, the first chamberlain of the dolphin Charles VII. He received permission from King Charles VII to fortify the castle thanks to his exploits. Thus, the fortified castle of Rivau became xv. century. Reconstruction work began in 1443, the same year as the construction of the Hotel Jacques Coeur in Bourges. The new lock in the shape of a quadrilateral was raised in one plane. There was an independent chapel on the site of the current “Cradle of Greens” (we can still see the shape of the vault on the castle wall). The current building closed the quadrangle.

In 1510, François de Beauvou, lord of Rivau and captain of François I, began building monumental stables that would provide his stallions to the king. He died at the Battle of Romagna along with Bayard in 1524.

His successor Gabriel de Bovo decided around 1550 to build a very innovative building, influenced by the buildings that the great lords opened by accompanying the king through the Italian countryside.

Since 1631, Rivau was saved by Cardinal Richelieu, who wanted to dismantle all the castles near the current city of Richelieu in order to restore the stones that would be used to build his city (only 10 km from Rivau). His sister Françoise Duplessis was married to Jean de Bovova, the lord of the place, Rivau escaped the dismantling suffered by the castles of the surrounding area.

His descendant Jacques de Beauvou, marshal of the camps and armies of King Louis XIV, left the castle of Rivau to go to the court of the Sun King. In 1664, he received the elevation of the land of Beauvo in the marquis. Ruined by his lifestyle in the royal court, he borrowed £80,000 from Dammond Mary, widow of Charles Croisset, Marquis of Ethyau, 1st Counsel to the King. Unable to repay his demand, Jacques de Beauvou ceded the land to Rivau in 1697. However, he made the castle uninhabitable by removing all the doors and windows that he had hidden in Lemaire the priest.

His cousin, René, was the king’s adviser. After the sale of the castle, Bovau left Touraine, took up the service of the King of Poland, the Duke of Lorraine and became the princes of Lorraine.

For two centuries, different masters succeeded in each other: artists, marquises, etc. From the 19th century, Rivau remained uninhabited and sank into oblivion.

In 1911 the property was sold to a landowner. A wall was erected between the castle and the house. In 1918, the new owner, the sculptor Montzel de Perrin, received his classification as a Historical Monument.

Artist and poster artist Pierre-Laurent Brenot takes over the castle in February 1961 and lives until it is resold to the current owners, Eric and Patricia Laino, in December 1992. They immediately begin the restoration work needed to restore the castle, its outbuildings and gardens. In 2000, the site opened to the public.

restoration
When the castle was purchased in 1992, it was in danger of ruin. Mr. and Mei Laigno wanted to restore the site.

Recovery in several digits:

more than 5000 m2 of roof surfaces replaced
73 m3 of oak needed for single lock frame suitability
148 new windows redone in the same way
In 1996 the French Heritage Grand Prix announces the work done, and then in 2001 the Grand Prix de la Demeruere.

Architecture

Chateau
Château du Rivau, built into the landscape of the castles of the Loire Valley, is a medieval fortress, the first foundations of which date back to the 11th century. It was a strong house. Since that time, there remains a quadrangle formed by four walls and corner towers.

Rivau Castle is a building from the 1450s. After the Hundred Years’ War, the first series of castles was restored. Rivau belongs to the first generation of buildings. Bovo created a new type of stately home that foresees more than a decade with its general plan and its internal distribution, the most modern buildings of the time.

Rivau Castle is a medieval fortress and Renaissance castle.

The fortress outside with its hold, its moat, its drawbridge (in operation) and its walkway, the castle is also a pleasure castle. At the entrance – led by the crest of the Bovo family and their motto “Bovo without leaving” – the visitor climbs a spiral staircase where many 18th-century graffiti are deciphered.

Rivau’s spacious rooms create a warm atmosphere. Everything takes part in this experience: the monumental white-washed Gothic chimneys, as we can see in Tuscany, the sumptuous Brussels tapestry on cushions in front of cushioned communal windows where visitors are invited to sit down to view the gardens.

Big House Hall
This great armory and banquet room was also used by Lord Bovo to resolve conflicts between the peasants on the one hand and between them and the lord on the other. At the head of a huge senate that extended over more than 1,200 hectares of arable land, vines, orchards and forests, Mr. Bovova, the owner of the land, actually has the land and public justice, that is, power over the land and over people. The hall of the big house is populated with a collection of trophies, family memories. In the old regime, only the king and great lords had the privilege of hunting because they had the right to carry weapons. Nobles had to obtain permission from the king to hunt their own lord.

Lord Bovo’s Workshop
This vaulted sex room, called Plantagenet, is typical of Angevin Gothic architecture and recreates the atmosphere of a lord’s office. The richness of the fabrics softened the modesty of the furniture, because it had to be, above all, portable. The firm presents a collection of furniture and boxes from the 15th, 16th and 18th centuries, which formed the bulk of the manufactory home furnishing.

Celebration Hall
This room is marked by the Renaissance because it contains traces of frescoes from that time. In the 16th century, all the walls of the castle were decorated with frescoes, says the Abbé Beauceboif, a 19th-century historian of Touraine, who tells in the garden of France (1902):

“The dining room seems to us in its former decoration. The walls are decorated with a very curious decoration of lattices of vines with genii sitting or lying under horns, whose inspiration recalls the decorations of Raphael’s famous lodges.

At the beginning of the 10th century, the fashion of exposed stone in decor was, unfortunately, cleared of all Rivau paintings. Only the fresco on the ceiling of Balthazar’s banqueting hall survives, hidden by this whitewash, which was methodically cut with a scalpel by specialized workshops and was marked during the restoration of the castle. Vineyard motifs that intertwine reduce the 4 seasons of the year. On the mantelpiece you can find a painting by a Flemish master who repeats the biblical episode of Balthazar’s feast.

Ladies Lounge
This room is a tribute to the ladies and heroines of Rivau and elsewhere. There are cushions that allow women to sit near windows to embroider, weave, sing, play the harp, and so on. The floor is terracotta tiles. A light force from west to east can bring out the pink ocher walls painted with limena, as was customary in the 14th century.

Room Jeanne d’Arc
This is the only room renovated in the xix th. It pays homage to the various performances of Joan of Arc in the 19th century. With the emergence of various political currents, Joan of Arc was sometimes monopolized by them. Thus the vision of Joan of Arc in the 19th century when it sparked a national craze.

Even today it is both a national trophy and a symbol of perseverance and stubbornness.

Stables
“The Stables of Rivau is the most beautiful example of the evolution of the architectural appearance of equestrian buildings.” (In the stables of the French castles “Pascal Lievaux” (published by “Editions du Patrimoine”, 2005). The specificity of Rivau was that for the first time in the history of equestrian architecture, the stables were designed by an architect who developed an innovative style to be installed in relation to.

Stables , formed in L, are inspired by Second Renaissance architecture.The Rivau Stables, located in L, housed about thirty horses, probably mares on one side and stallions on the other, on the ground floor. suitors

The horses lined up along the facing wall were attached to the rings without dividing the cab. Feeders carved from limestone stand against the walls.

Pierced by numerous strictly superimposed holes, they are connected by stone strips. Each bay is crowned with bells crafted by the boss. The boss is a projection from the left onto the face of a carved stone intended for decoration. The tower on the trunk that covers the stairs was a very complex structure that only the most experienced companions could design. Tufa tuff walls were covered with plaster and skilfully refracted with stone bands.

Glazed windows on the ground floor and on the north side prevented drafts and allowed the stable to ventilate. The deep embrasures of the bays overlooking the courtyard penetrate inside, which facilitates the diffusion of light.

Single-column, flat-bottom coffered vaults, set in stone hewn stone, structured with three longitudinal strips, the center of which is carved with leather cartridges. Some wear royal insignia, others are not yet completed.

The lower parts are raised in large limestone to support the structure, while the upper parts are in a small apparatus to facilitate the realization of the cradle and brighten it. This difference in healing amplifies the effect of burning at the beginning of the vault.

No document to identify the architect of the stables, however several similarities to the work of Philibert Delorme may suggest that the architect was the designer of the stables

General section

Inactivity and renewal
The castle was separated from its common until the 20th century. At the time of its consideration in 1911, Rivau consisted of 63 hectares, while during its glory period it was 1200 hectares. The damage has been done over the years. Among them, a concrete wall was built between the castle and its outbuildings, the wall was pierced to accommodate the combine, which is too important to pass through the gate, a path of standing stones, also called a kalyada, was buried under 80 cm of earth.

Thanks to the restoration work of the current owners, the total find finds its full significance.

Barn tithe and press
Among the buildings that are melting in communities, tithes sar and press were important places in the Middle Ages for the village community that lived on the land of the lord. On the right, entering the Rivau enclosure, the tithe granary and the press are witnesses to the vital life of the area, very important lords with medieval and renaissance periods, then fragmented and gradually falling into escot, until the recent reunification of the common in the castle and the restoration of the whole.

Royal Stable
Joan of Arc came to Le Rivau to bring horses in 1429. At that time, war horses were already bred in Le Rivau, where the current property stands.

During the Renaissance, François de Beauvois, chief armourer of the king, decided to build stables (particularly in the forest) where they had existed during the Hundred Years’ War. He died during the Battle of Romagna, on Bayard’s side in 1524. His heir, Gabriel de Bovo, carefully undertook the erection of the original stables, whose plans were directly inspired by Italian architecture, the knights discovered during the battle for the king.

Until then, Rivau’s stables were only meant to be functional and not to have any decorations. One of the main features of Le Rivau is that for the first time in the history of equestrian architecture, the stables were designed by an architect who developed a pioneering style.

Gardens
Fairy Gardens
Since 1992, the new owners have carried out a major renovation campaign to prevent the destruction of the castle, barns and stables and restore it to its former glory. Today, Rivau has classified a historical monument that attracts visitors with its history, but especially for these gardens to fairy tales.

Indeed, the 14 gardens of the Château du Rivau (marked “Remarkable Garden”) evoke a wondrous and fantastical world for visitors to enjoy. The gardens of Château du Rivau will also delight botanists with a collection of over 400 roses created by breeders such as David Austin and André Eva and his rare plants, in a very modern atmosphere thanks to sculptures and exhibitions by living artists.

14 gardens inspired by legendary stories and stories:

Lavender parterres
Garden Gargantua

In the crescent of Gargantua’s vegetable garden, vegetables with a giant development planted on a stretch of a raised chestnut tree are presented. This technique was used to combat the destruction caused by wildlife during the Middle Ages. Gourds called Gargantua, Etampes and Touraine, highlight the lush Galeux Eysines, polished Potimarrons, and Aladin’s turban natives. The Rivau Garden is a vegetable conservatory in the Center region and features a collection of over 43 squash varieties.

There are many varieties of cabbage: san san cabbage, Tuscan cabbage, red cabbage, cabbage, etc. Artichokes brought from Italy by Rabelais are said to symbolize candlesticks.

Grapevine crinolines exude Potager de Gargantua. Each crinoline is inhabited by an old variety of vines from the region, now extinct after being attacked by Phylloxera. These vines are carried in lobes as described by O. de Serres in his messageri ao during the Renaissance.

Open Air Museum of Modern Art
Rivau wanted to turn his gardens into an open-air museum of modern art. Thus, several artists came to the castle to create permanent works. Works by Fabien Vershaer 6, Côte Loray, Jerome Basserod 8 Frans Kreitzeb or Philippe Ramette are present in the gardens of Rivau.

Restoration of the plant
At the end of the twentieth century, a 10-year restoration restored the building to a medieval fortification with a drained moat, a drawbridge, machines and loopholes.

The interior of the castle can be accessed from the courtyard via a spiral staircase. Above the entrance you can see the motto of the Bovo family: Beauvau sans départir. The main beams of the building measure 80 × 60 cm and are thus larger in cross section than in all other Loire châteaux. The trees needed were 300 years old when they were cut down.

The Great Hall is paved with Turin flints. The windows of the western façade were enlarged already in the Renaissance. It was possible to get the original decoration of deciduous wood from the fireplace.

Events and exhibitions
Since it opened to the public in 2000, several exhibitions have taken place in the different halls of the Château du Rivau.

2009: Camille Claudel
2013: If I was told the art of decorating.

Parties organized every year:
Rendez-vous in the gardens
Party of pumpkins
Equestrian games
Nocturnes
Sale of charitable wine

Medieval fortifications. Secrets that hide medieval castles. Reichsburg Castle, Germany

Features

The main functions of the feudal castle with suburbs were:

• military (center of military operations, means of military control over the district),
• administrative and political (the administrative center of the district, the place where the political life of the country was concentrated),
• cultural and economic (handicraft and trade center of the district, a place of the highest elite and folk culture).

Characteristics

It is widely believed that castles existed only in Europe, where they originated, and in the Middle East, where they were transferred by the crusaders. Contrary to this view, similar structures appear in 16th and 17th century Japan, where they develop without direct contact and influence from Europe and have a completely different history of development, are built differently from European castles and are designed to withstand attacks of a completely different nature.

Components

Hill

Mound of earth, often mixed with gravel, peat, limestone or brushwood. The height of the embankment in most cases did not exceed 5 meters, although sometimes it reached 10 meters or more. The surface was often covered with clay or wooden decking. The hill was round or nearly square at the base, and the diameter of the hill was at least twice its height.

A wooden, and later a stone, defensive tower surrounded by a palisade was erected on the top. Around the hill there was a moat filled with water or dry, from the earth of which a mound was formed. Access to the tower was through a swinging wooden bridge and a staircase built on the hillside.

Courtyard

A large courtyard with an area (with rare exceptions) of no more than 2 hectares, surrounding or adjacent to the hill, as well as various residential and utility buildings – the dwellings of the owner of the castle and his soldiers, stables, a forge, warehouses, a kitchen, etc. – inside it . From the outside, the court was protected by a wooden palisade, then by a moat, which was filled from the nearest body of water, and by an earthen rampart. The space inside the courtyard itself could be divided into several parts, or several adjoining courtyards were built near the hill.

Donjon

Castles themselves appeared in the Middle Ages and were the dwellings of feudal nobles. Due to feudal fragmentation and, as a result, frequent internecine wars, the dwelling of the feudal lord had to perform a defensive task. Castles were usually built on high ground, islands, rock ledges, and other hard-to-reach places.

With the end of the Middle Ages, castles began to lose their original – defensive – task, which has now given way to a residential one. With the development of artillery, the defensive task of castles disappeared completely; features of castle architecture were preserved only as decorative elements (French castle Pierrefonds, late XIV century).

A regular layout with a pronounced symmetry prevailed, the main building acquired a palace character (Madrid Castle in Paris, XV-XVI centuries) or Nesvizh Castle in Belarus (XVI century) In the XVI century, castle architecture in Western Europe was finally replaced by palace architecture. The defensive task was preserved for the longest time by the castles of Georgia, which were actively built until the 18th century.

There were castles that belonged not to one feudal lord, but to a knightly order. Such castles were larger, as an example, the Königsberg Castle.

Castles in Russia

The main part of the medieval castle was the central tower – donjon, which served as a citadel. In addition to its defensive functions, the donjon was the direct dwelling of the feudal lord. Also in the main tower there were often living rooms of other inhabitants of the castle, a well, utility rooms (food warehouses, etc.). Often in the donjon there was a large front hall for receptions. Donjon elements can be found in the castle architecture of Western and Central Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, etc.

Wasserschloss in Schwerin

Usually the castle had a small courtyard, which was surrounded by massive battlements with towers and well-fortified gates. This was followed by the outer courtyard, which included outbuildings, as well as the castle garden and vegetable garden. The whole castle was surrounded by a second row of walls and a moat, across which a drawbridge was thrown. If the terrain allowed, then the moat was filled with water and the castle turned into a castle on the water.

The centers of defense of the walls of the castle were the towers protruding beyond the plane of the walls, which made it possible to organize flanking fire on those going to attack. In Russian fortification, sections of the walls between the towers were called paraslas. In this regard, the castles were in terms of a polygon, the walls of which followed the terrain. Numerous examples of such structures have survived to this day in Great Britain, Germany, France, Ukraine and Belarus (for example, Mir Castle in Belarus or Lutsk Castle in Ukraine).

Over time, the structure of castles became more complex; the territory of the castles already included barracks, a court, a church, a prison and other structures (Cousy Castle in France, XIII century; Wartburg Castle in Germany, XI century; Harleck Castle in Great Britain, XIII century).

Rosenberg Castle in Kronach. Rov
and ventilation turrets of the auditorium

With the beginning of the mass use of gunpowder, the decline of the era of castle building begins. So, the besiegers began to carry out, if the soil allowed it, sapper work – quietly dig saps, which made it possible to bring large explosive charges under the walls (storming the Kazan Kremlin in the 16th century). As a measure of struggle, the besieged dug an underground gallery at a considerable distance from the walls in advance, from which they listened in order to detect tunnels and destroy them in a timely manner.

However, the development of artillery and the increase in its destructive effect eventually made it necessary to abandon the use of castles as the basis of defensive strategy and tactics. The time has come for fortresses – complex engineering structures with a developed system of bastions, ravelins, etc.; the art of building fortresses – fortification – developed. The recognized fortification authority of this era was the chief engineer of Louis XIV, Marshal of France Sebastien de Vauban (1633-1707).

Such fortresses, sometimes developed over time from castles, were also used during World War II to pin down enemy forces and delay his advance (see: Brest Fortress).

Construction

The construction of the castle began with the choice of location and building materials. A wooden castle was cheaper and easier to build than a stone castle. The cost of building most castles has not survived to this day; most surviving documents on the topic are from royal palaces. A castle made of wood with a motte and a bailey could have been built by unskilled labor – peasants dependent on the feudal lord who already had the skills necessary to build a wooden castle (they knew how to cut wood, dig and work with wood). Forced to work for the feudal lord, the workers most likely were not paid anything, so building a castle out of wood was cheap. According to experts, it took 50 workers and 40 days to build a medium-sized hill – 5 meters high and 15 meters wide. The famous architect en: James of Saint George, responsible for the construction of the Beaumaris castle, described the costs associated with the construction of the castle as follows:

If you think where so much money can be spent in a week, we inform you that we needed and will need in the future 400 masons, as well as 2000 less experienced women, 100 carts, 60 wagons and 30 boats for the supply of stone; 200 workers at the quarry; 30 blacksmiths and carpenters to lay cross beams and floors, as well as to perform other necessary work. That’s not including the garrison… and the purchase of materials. Which require a large number … Payments to the workers are still delayed, and we are having great difficulty retaining the workers, because they simply have nowhere to live.

A study was carried out that examined the costs associated with the construction of the castle of Lange, built in 992 in France. The stone tower is 16 meters high, 17.5 meters wide and 10 meters long with walls averaging 1.5 meters. The walls contain 1200 square meters of stone and have a surface of 1600 square meters. It was estimated that the tower took 83,000 man-days to build, most of which required unskilled labor.

Stone castles were expensive not only to build, but also to keep in good condition because they contained a large amount of timber, which was often unseasoned and needed constant care.

Medieval machines and inventions were indispensable during construction; antique timber frame construction methods have been improved. The search for stone for construction was one of the main problems; often the solution was a quarry near the castle.

Due to the lack of stone, alternative materials were used, such as brick, which was also used for aesthetic reasons, as it was in vogue. Therefore, even despite the sufficient amount of stone, some builders chose brick as the main material for building the castle.

The material for construction depended on the locality: in Denmark there are few quarries, so most of its castles are made of wood or brick, in Spain most castles are made of stone, while in Eastern Europe castles were usually built using wood.

Castles today

Nowadays locks have a decorative function. Some of them are turned into restaurants, others become museums. Some are being restored and sold or rented.

The position of the defenders of the besieged castle was far from hopeless. There were many ways in which they could push back the attackers. Most castles were located in hard-to-reach places and were designed to withstand a long siege. They were built on top of a steep hill or surrounded by a moat or trench. The castle always had an impressive supply of weapons, water and food, and the guards knew how to defend themselves. However, in order to survive the siege, a born leader was needed, versed in the art of war, defensive tactics and military cunning.

Crenellated parapet
Guards continuously watched the surroundings from behind a battlemented parapet, behind which a path ran over the walls of the castle.
Defense equipment


If the defenders knew in advance about the approach of the attackers, they prepared to defend themselves, stocking up on provisions and providing shelter to the surrounding residents. Villages and fields around were often burned so that the besiegers would not get anything. The locks were designed according to the highest technical standards of those times. Wooden castles caught fire easily, so they were built of stone. Stone walls withstood siege shells, and ditches prevented enemy attempts to dig a tunnel into the fortress. Wooden paths were made on top of the walls – from them the defenders threw stones at the attackers. Later they were replaced by stone battlements. The spread of cannons brought about radical changes in the construction of castles and in the methods of warfare.
Loopholes


Defenders could safely shoot at the enemy from the loopholes and because of the jagged parapet on the walls of the castle. For the convenience of archers and musketeers, the loopholes expanded inwards. It also made it possible to increase the sector of fire. But it was difficult for the enemy to get into a narrow loophole, although there were well-aimed arrows who were specially trained for this purpose.

Loopholes
There were different types of loopholes: straight, in the form of a cross and even a key.
All for protection
1 The weak point of any castle was the gate. First, the enemy had to pass the drawbridge, and then the gate and portcullis. But even here, the defenders had a few surprises in store.
2 Holes in the wooden floor allowed the defenders to throw stones down on the heads of the besiegers, pour hot sand on them and pour slaked lime, boiling water or oil.
3 The defenders dug a defensive tunnel.
4 Arrows and other projectiles bounced off rounded walls better.
5 Crenellated parapet.
6 The attackers were often wounded by stones bouncing off the walls.
7 They shot at the enemy from loopholes.
8 The soldiers defending the castle repelled the ladders of the attackers with long poles.
9The defenders tried to neutralize the battering ram by lowering mattresses on the ropes or trying to catch the end of the battering ram with a hook and pull it up.
10 Extinguishing the fire within the castle walls.

Fight to the death?


If, despite all possible means, the defenders could not convince the attackers to retreat or surrender, they had to hold out until someone came to their rescue. If help did not come, there were only two options: fight to the death or surrender. The first meant that there would be no mercy. The second is that the castle will be lost, but the people in it can be spared. Sometimes the besiegers gave the defenders the opportunity to come out unharmed in order to get the keys to the castle from their hands.
Underground War


If the besiegers managed to dig a tunnel under the walls, this could decide the fate of the castle. Therefore, it was vitally important to notice in time the intentions of the attackers to do this. A tub of water or a drum with peas sprinkled on the skin was placed on the ground, and if there were ripples in the water, and the peas jumped, it was clear that work was being done underground. In an effort to avert the danger, the defenders dug a defensive tunnel to stop the attackers, and a real underground war began. The winner was the one who first managed to smoke the enemy out of the tunnel with smoke or, after the spread of gunpowder, to blow up the tunnel.

After all, medieval architects were geniuses – they built castles, luxurious buildings, which were also extremely practical. Castles, unlike modern mansions, not only demonstrated the wealth of their owners, but also served as powerful fortresses that could hold the defense for several years, and at the same time, life in them did not stop.

Even the fact that many castles, having survived wars, natural disasters and the carelessness of the owners, are still intact, suggests that a more reliable home has not yet been invented. And they are insanely beautiful and seem to have appeared in our world from the pages of fairy tales and legends. Their high spiers are reminiscent of the times when beauties fought for the hearts, and the air was saturated with chivalry and courage.

Reichsburg Castle, Germany

The thousand-year-old castle was originally the residence of King Conrad III of Germany and later King Louis XIV of France. The fortress was burned down by the French in 1689 and would have sunk into oblivion, but a German businessman purchased the remains in 1868 and spent most of his wealth rebuilding the castle.

Mont-Saint-Michel, France

Swallow’s Nest, Crimea

Initially, there was a small wooden house on the rock of Cape Ai-Todor. And the Swallow’s Nest got its current look thanks to the oil industrialist Baron Steingel, who loved to relax in the Crimea. He decided to build a romantic castle that resembles medieval buildings on the banks of the Rhine River.

Stalker Castle, Scotland

Stalker Castle, which means “Falconer”, was built in 1320 and belonged to the MacDougal clan. Since that time, its walls have experienced a huge number of strife and wars, which affected the state of the castle. In 1965, Colonel D. R. Stewart of Allward became the owner of the castle, who personally restored the structure with his wife, family members and friends.

Bran Castle, Romania

Bran Castle is a pearl of Transylvania, a mysterious museum-fort, where the famous legend of Count Dracula, a vampire, murderer and governor Vlad the Impaler, was born. According to legend, he spent the night here during the periods of his campaigns, and the forest surrounding Bran Castle was Tepes’s favorite hunting ground.

Vyborg Castle, Russia

Vyborg Castle was founded by the Swedes in 1293, during one of the crusades against Karelian land. It remained Scandinavian until 1710, when the troops of I drove the Swedes back far and for a long time. Since that time, the castle managed to visit both a warehouse, and a barracks, and even a prison for the Decembrists. And today there is a museum here.

Cashel Castle, Ireland

Cashel Castle was the seat of the kings of Ireland for several hundred years before the Norman invasion. Here in the 5th century A.D. e. Saint Patrick lived and preached. The walls of the castle witnessed the bloody suppression of the revolution by the troops of Oliver Cromwell, who burned soldiers alive here. Since then, the castle has become a symbol of the cruelty of the British, the real courage and fortitude of the Irish.

Kilchurn Castle, Scotland

Very beautiful and even a little creepy ruins of Kilchurn Castle are located on the banks of the picturesque Lake Eyve. The history of this castle, unlike most castles in Scotland, proceeded quite calmly – numerous earls lived here, who succeeded each other. In 1769, the building was struck by lightning and was soon completely abandoned, as it remains to this day.

Lichtenstein Castle, Germany

Built in the 12th century, this castle has been destroyed several times. It was finally restored in 1884 and since then the castle has become a filming location for many films, including the film The Three Musketeers.

Medieval castles were actually not just large fortresses with massive stone walls. These were ingeniously designed fortifications that used many ingenious and creative ways to protect the inhabitants of the castle from attack by enemies. Literally everything – from the outer walls to the shape and location of the stairs – was very carefully planned to provide maximum protection to the inhabitants of the castle. In this review about the little-known secrets hidden in the construction of medieval castles.

Almost every castle was surrounded by a moat filled with water. It is generally accepted that this was an obstacle to the storming troops, however, in fact, this was not the main function of the moat.

Vischering Castle in Germany. The castle consists of an outer defensive courtyard, protective locks, a drawbridge thrown over a moat, the main building and a chapel.

One of the biggest problems for the inhabitants of a medieval castle or fortress was that the invading army could dig tunnels under the fortifications. Not only could the enemy get inside the castle underground, but the tunnels could also lead to the collapse of the castle walls. The ditch prevented this, since the tunnel dug under the ditch inevitably flooded with water and collapsed.

Nesvizh Castle. Belarus.

This was a very effective deterrent against tunneling. Often the moat was laid not around the outer wall of the castle, but between the outer and inner walls.

Concentric circles of defense

This was an extremely effective method of defense for the inhabitants of a medieval castle, which looked like a series of obstacles surrounding the castle.

Hochosterwitz Castle. Austria.

As a rule, such obstacles were (in proportion to the distance from the castle) a scorched and dug field, an outer wall, a moat, an inner wall, a donjon tower. The attacking army had to overcome each of these obstacles in turn. And it took a lot of time and effort.

Main gate

The main gate of the castle was often the most dangerous place of the entire structure, since, if necessary, it could turn into a deadly trap.

Eltz Castle in Germany.

They often led to a small courtyard, at the other end of which there was also another gate equipped with an iron sliding grate. If the attackers broke through the first gate and found themselves in the yard, then the grate fell, after which the aggressors found themselves in a trap.

Svirzh castle in the village of Svirzh, Lviv region. Main gate.

At the same time, there were small holes in the walls of the courtyard through which the defenders could shoot from bows and crossbows at the enemy soldiers who were trapped.

Hidden secrets of stairs

Stairwells in medieval castles were actually very elaborate. First, they were almost always helical, very narrow and built clockwise.

Spiral staircase in Mir Castle. Belarus.

This meant that it was very difficult for attacking opponents who climbed up the stairs (and one at a time, because the stairs were narrow), because they had a sword in their right hand. And since there was always a wall on the right hand, they had no opportunity to swing. The defenders, on the other hand, had the wall of the spiral staircase on their left hand, so they had more opportunities to swing.

Staircase with reverse twist and uneven steps in the Wallenstein castle in Germany.

Another original feature of the stairs was that they had uneven steps: some were very high and others were low. The defenders of the castle, being familiar with the local stairs, could quickly climb up and down them, and the attackers often stumbled and fell, exposing themselves to a blow.

Secret passages

Many castles had secret passages that served various purposes. Some of them were made so that the inhabitants of the castle could flee in case of defeat, and also so that during the siege the defenders would not be cut off from food supplies.

Korets castle in Ukraine.

Secret passages also led to secret chambers where people could hide, food was stored and (quite often) an additional well was dug for water.

Predjama Castle in Slovenia.

Therefore, the medieval castle was much more than just a large glamorous palace with massive stone walls around it. It was a structure designed down to the smallest detail to protect the inhabitants. And each castle was full of its own little secrets.

The Middle Ages in Europe was a turbulent time. The feudal lords, for any reason, arranged small wars among themselves – or rather, not even wars, but, in modern terms, armed “showdowns”. If a neighbor had money, they had to be taken away.

Lots of land and peasants? It’s just indecent, because God ordered to share. And if knightly honor is hurt, then here it was simply impossible to do without a small victorious war.

Initially, these fortifications were made of wood and did not resemble castles known to us in any way – except that a moat was dug in front of the entrance and a wooden palisade was erected around the house.

The manor houses of Hasterknaup and Elmendorv are the ancestors of castles.

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 besieged castle of Mortan (withstood the siege for 6 months).

Beaumarie Castle, owned by Edward I.

Welcome

We are on our way to the castle, which stands on a ledge of a mountainside, on the edge of a fertile valley. The road goes through a small settlement – one of those that usually grew up near the fortress wall. Common people live here – mostly artisans, and warriors guarding the outer perimeter of protection (in particular, guarding our road). This is the so-called “castle people”.

Scheme of castle structures. Note – two gate towers, the largest stands separately.

The first barrier is a deep ditch, and in front of it is a rampart of excavated earth. The moat can be transverse (separates the castle wall from the plateau), or sickle-shaped, curved forward. If the landscape allows, the moat encircles the entire castle in a circle.

The shape of the bottom of the ditches could be V-shaped and U-shaped (the latter is the most common). If the soil under the castle is rocky, then ditches were either not made at all, or they were cut down to a shallow depth, which only hindered the advancement of infantry (it is almost impossible to dig under the castle wall in the rock – therefore, the depth of the moat was not decisive).

The crest of an earthen rampart lying directly in front of the moat (which makes it seem even deeper) often carried a palisade – a fence of wooden stakes dug into the ground, sharpened and tightly fitted to each other.

A bridge over the moat leads to the outer wall of the castle. Depending on the size of the moat and bridge, the latter supports one or more supports (huge logs). The outer part of the bridge is fixed, but its last segment (right next to the wall) is movable.

Castle entrance scheme: 2 – gallery on the wall, 3 – drawbridge, 4 – lattice.

Counterweights on the gate lift.

This drawbridge is designed to cover the gate when vertical. 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 holes. To facilitate the work of people servicing the bridge mechanism, the ropes were sometimes equipped with heavy counterweights that took part of the weight of this structure onto themselves.

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

To enter the castle with the gates closed, there was a side gate next to them, to which a separate lifting ladder was usually laid.

Gates – the most vulnerable part of the castle, were usually made not directly in its wall, but were arranged in the so-called “gate towers”. Most often, the gates were double-leaf, and the wings were knocked together from two layers of boards. To protect against arson, they were upholstered with iron on the outside. At the same time, in one of the wings there was a small narrow door, which could be entered only by bending over. 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 transverse beam could also be wound into hook-shaped slots on the walls. Its main purpose was to protect the gate from their landing attackers.

There was usually a drop-down portcullis behind the gate. Most often it was wooden, with iron-bound lower ends. But there were also iron gratings made of steel tetrahedral rods. The lattice could descend from a gap in the vault of the gate portal, or be behind them (on the inside of the gate tower), descending along the grooves in the walls.

The grate hung on ropes or chains, which, in case of danger, could be cut off so that it quickly fell down, blocking the way for the invaders.

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

All on the wall!

Zwinger at Lahneck Castle.

A gallery for defense soldiers ran along the top of the wall. From the outside of the castle, they were protected by a solid parapet, half the height of a man, on which stone battlements were regularly arranged. Behind them it was possible to stand at full height and, for example, load a crossbow. The shape of the teeth was extremely diverse – rectangular, rounded, in the form of a dovetail, decoratively decorated. In some castles, the galleries were covered (wooden canopy) to protect the warriors from bad weather.

A special type of loophole – spherical. It was a freely rotating wooden ball fixed in the wall with a slot for firing.

Pedestrian gallery on the wall.

Balconies (the so-called “mashikuli”) were arranged in the walls very rarely – for example, in the case when the wall was too narrow for the free passage of several soldiers, and, as a rule, performed only decorative functions.

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 adapt to storage. The inner sides of such towers (facing the courtyard of the castle) were usually left open so that the enemy who broke into the wall could not gain a foothold inside them.

Flanking corner tower.

The lock from the inside

The internal structure of the locks was varied. In addition to the mentioned zwingers, behind the main gate there could be a small rectangular courtyard with loopholes in the walls – a kind of “trap” for the attackers. Sometimes castles consisted of several “sections” separated by internal walls. But an indispensable attribute of the castle was a large courtyard (outbuildings, a well, premises for servants) and a central tower, also known as a donjon.

Donjon at Château de Vincennes.

The location of the water source depended primarily on natural causes. But if there was a choice, then the well was dug not in the square, but in a fortified room in order to provide it with water in case of shelter during the siege. If, due to the peculiarities of the occurrence of groundwater, a well was dug behind the castle wall, then a stone tower was built above it (if possible, with wooden passages to the castle).

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 to be purified – it was filtered through gravel.

The military garrison of castles in peacetime was minimal. So in 1425, two co-owners of the Reichelsberg castle in the Lower Franconian Aub entered into an agreement that each of them exposes one armed servant, and two gatekeepers and two guards are paid jointly.

Kitchen at Marksburg Castle.

Inside the tower there was sometimes a very high shaft going from top to bottom. It served as either a prison or a warehouse. The entrance to it was possible only through a hole in the vault of the upper floor – “Angstloch” (in German – a frightening hole). Depending on the purpose of the mine, the winch lowered prisoners or provisions there.

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

Of course, prisoners were taken primarily for a ransom or to use the prisoner in a political game. Therefore, VIP-persons were provided according to the highest class – guarded chambers in the tower were allocated for their maintenance. This is how Friedrich the Handsome spent his time in the Trausnitz castle on Pfaimd and Richard the Lionheart in Trifels.

Chamber in Marksburg Castle.

Abenberg castle tower (12th century) in section.

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 spread heat only a few meters, so that iron baskets with coals were placed further along the hall). Above were the chambers of the feudal lord’s family, heated by small stoves.

Sometimes the donjon did not serve as living quarters. It could well be used only for military and economic purposes (observation posts on the tower, dungeon, provisions storage). In such cases, the feudal lord’s family lived in the “palace” – the living quarters of the castle, standing apart from the tower. The palaces were built of stone and had several floors in height.

It should be noted that living conditions in the castles were far from the most pleasant. Only the largest carpets had a large knight’s hall for celebrations. It was very cold in the donjons and carpets. Fireplace heating helped out, but the walls were still covered with thick tapestries and carpets – not for decoration, but to keep warm.

The windows let in very little sunlight (due to the fortification nature of the castle architecture), not all of them were glazed. Toilets were arranged in the form of a bay window in the wall. They were unheated, so visiting the outhouse in winter left people with simply unique sensations.

Large temples had two floors. The common people prayed below, and the gentlemen gathered in the warm (sometimes glazed) choir on the second tier. The decoration of such premises was rather modest – an altar, benches and wall paintings. Sometimes the temple played the role of a tomb for the family living in the castle. Less commonly, it was used as a shelter (along with a donjon).

War on earth and underground

To take the castle, it was necessary to isolate it – that is, to block all food supply routes. That is why the attacking armies were much larger than the defending ones – about 150 people (this is true for the war of mediocre feudal lords).

The food issue was the most painful. A person can live without water for several days, without food – for about a month (in this case, one should take into account his low combat capability during a hunger strike). Therefore, the owners of the castle, preparing for the siege, often went to extreme measures – they drove out of it all commoners who could not benefit the defense. As mentioned above, the garrison of the castles was small – it was impossible to feed the whole army under the siege.

The attackers had no less problems. The siege of castles sometimes dragged on for years (for example, the German Turant defended itself from 1245 to 1248), so the question of supplying the rear of an army of several hundred people was particularly acute.

In the case of the siege of Turant, chroniclers claim that during all this time the soldiers of the attacking army drank 300 fouders of wine (fouder is a huge barrel). This is about 2.8 million liters. Either the scribe made a mistake, or the constant number of besiegers was over 1,000.

View of Eltz Castle from Trutz Eltz Countercastle.

The war against castles had its own specifics. After all, any more or less high stone fortification was a serious obstacle for conventional armies. Direct infantry attacks on the fortress could well have been successful, which, however, came at the cost of heavy casualties.

That is why a whole complex of military measures was necessary for the successful capture of the castle (it has already been said about the siege and starvation). Undermining was one of the most time-consuming, but at the same time extremely successful ways to overcome the protection of the castle.

Undermining was done for two purposes – to give troops direct access to the courtyard of the castle, or to destroy a section of its wall.

So, during the siege of the castle of Altwindstein in Northern Alsace in 1332, a brigade of sappers of 80 (!) People took advantage of the distracting maneuvers of their troops (periodic short attacks on the castle) and for 10 weeks made a long passage in the hard rock in the south eastern part of the fortress.

If the castle wall was not too large and had an unreliable tunnel, then a tunnel broke through under its foundation, the walls of which were reinforced with wooden struts. Next, the spacers were set on fire – just under the wall. The tunnel collapsed, the base of the foundation sagged, and the wall above this place crumbled into pieces.

Curious devices were used to detect tunnels. For example, large copper bowls with balls inside were placed throughout the castle. If the ball in any bowl began to tremble, this was a sure sign that a mine was being dug nearby.

But the main argument in the attack on the castle were siege machines – catapults and battering rams.

Storming of the castle (14th century miniature).

Type of catapult – trebuchet.

Sometimes barrels filled with combustible materials were loaded into catapults. To deliver a couple of pleasant minutes to the defenders of the castle, catapults threw the severed heads of captives to them (especially powerful machines could throw even whole corpses over the wall).

Storming the castle with a mobile tower.

In addition to the usual ram, pendulum rams were also used. They were mounted on high mobile frames with a canopy and were a log suspended on a chain. The besiegers hid inside the tower and swung the chain, forcing the log to hit the wall.

In response, the besieged lowered a rope from the wall, at the end of which steel hooks were fixed. With this rope, they caught a ram and tried to lift it up, depriving it of mobility. Sometimes a gaping soldier could get caught on such hooks.

Having overcome the rampart, breaking the palisades and filling up the moat, the attackers either stormed the castle with the help of ladders or used high wooden towers, the upper platform of which was on the same level with the wall (or even higher than it). These gigantic structures were doused with water to prevent arson by the defenders and rolled up to the castle along the flooring of the boards. A heavy platform was thrown over the wall. The assault group climbed up the internal stairs, went out onto the platform and with a fight invaded the gallery of the fortress wall. Usually this meant that in a couple of minutes the castle would be taken.

Silent glanders

Sapa (from the French sape, literally – a hoe, saper – to dig) – a way of extracting a ditch, trench or tunnel to approach its fortifications, used in the 16-19 centuries. Flip-flop (quiet, secretive) and flying glanders are known. The work of the crossover glanders was carried out from the bottom of the original ditch without the workers coming to the surface, and the flying glanders were carried out from the surface of the earth under the cover of a pre-prepared protective mound of barrels and bags of earth. In the second half of the 17th century, specialists – sappers – appeared in the armies of a number of countries to perform such work.

The expression to act “on the sly” means: sneak, slowly, imperceptibly go, penetrate somewhere.

Fights on the stairs of the castle

One could get from one floor of the tower to another only by a narrow and steep spiral staircase. The ascent along it was carried out only one after another – it was so narrow. At the same time, the warrior who went first could only rely on his own ability to fight, because the steepness of the turn of the turn was chosen in such a way that it was impossible to use a spear or a long sword from behind the leader. Therefore, the fights on the stairs were reduced to single combat between the defenders of the castle and one of the attackers. It was the defenders, because they could easily replace each other, since a special extended area was located behind their backs.

Samurai castles

We know the least about exotic castles, such as Japanese ones.

Stone castles began to be built at the end of the 16th century, taking into account European achievements in fortification. An indispensable attribute of a Japanese castle is wide and deep artificial ditches with steep slopes that surrounded it from all sides. Usually they were filled with water, but sometimes this function was performed by a natural water barrier – a river, a lake, a swamp.

Inside the castle was a complex system of defensive structures, consisting of several rows of walls with courtyards and gates, underground corridors and labyrinths. All these structures were located around the central square of the honmaru, on which the feudal lord’s palace and the high central tenshukaku tower were erected. The latter consisted of several rectangular tiers gradually decreasing upwards with protruding tiled roofs and gables.

Japanese castles were usually small – about 200 meters long and 500 wide. But among them there were also real giants. Thus, Odawara Castle occupied an area of ​​170 hectares, and the total length of its fortress walls reached 5 kilometers, which is twice the length of the walls of the Moscow Kremlin.

Charm of antiquity

Saumur French castle (14th century miniature).

If you find a typo, please highlight the text and press Ctrl+Enter
.

Castle (building) | it’s… What is a Castle (building)?

This term has other meanings, see Castle.

Castle and cathedral in Meissen

Castle (from Polish zamek through Czech zámek, tracing from Middle East German slōʒ – “castle” and “castle”. Middle High German word 9006 tracing clusa “lock, fort, fortification” ^{[1] [2]} ) is a building (or a complex of buildings) that combines residential and defensive and fortification tasks. In the most common sense of the word, it is a fortified dwelling of a feudal lord in medieval Europe. A large number of castles have survived to this day and are recognized monuments of history and culture.

Contents 1 Functions 2 Characteristics 3 Components 3. 1 Hill 3.2 Courtyard 3.3 Donjon 3.4 Fortification wall 3.5 Ditch 3.6 Gate 4 History of origin and development of 5 Castles in Russia 6 Structure 7 Construction 8 Castles today 9 Photo gallery 10 Castles in culture 11 Notes 12 Literature 13 Links

Functions

The main functions of the feudal castle with suburbs were:

• military (center of military operations, means of military control over the district),
• administrative-political (administrative center of the district, the place where the political life of the country was concentrated),
• cultural and economic (handicraft and trade center of the district, a place of the highest elite and folk culture).

Defining characteristics

Hohenzollern Castle

Unlike the Anglo-Saxon fortifications (en:Burh) or the walled cities of Constantinople and Antioch, the castles were not public defenses but were built and owned by local nobles, mostly feudal lords. ^[3] Accordingly, the castles were intended for the feudal lord and his overlords. The vassal system is based on the relationship between the overlord and his vassals, where in exchange for the military service of the vassal, the overlord granted him his sovereign lands and expected loyalty. ^[4]

During the first crusade, the Western armies encountered walled cities and forts which they called castles, but these would not be considered as such by the modern definition. ^[5] One should understand the difference between a fortress and a castle. If a castle is, in fact, one structure (building), in which walls, bridges, living quarters, towers, ditches, and other structures are connected into a single whole, then a fortress is, in fact, a piece of land, surrounded by a wall with towers.

Himeji Castle (White Heron Castle) is one of the most popular castles in Japan among tourists

case, we can talk about the fortress yard. In addition, the fortress, as a rule, has a much larger area than the castle, which made it possible to build up the interior of the fortresses with various buildings.

The term “castle” is also incorrectly used to refer to buildings, Iron Age fortifications, such as the Maiden’s Castle in Dorset. ^[6] The castle was used not only as a fortress and prison, but, no less important, as a place where knights could feast with their comrades. Although the castle has long served as a defense against enemy forces, over time, the aesthetic component takes over in the architecture of castles, because the appearance and size are a reflection of the prestige and power of the owner. ^[7]

It is widely believed that castles existed only in Europe, where they originated, and in the Middle East, where they were transferred by the crusaders. ^[8] Contrary to this view, similar structures appear in 16th and 17th century Japan, where they develop without direct contact and influence from Europe and have a completely different history of development, are built differently from European castles and are designed to withstand attacks of a completely different nature. . ^[9]

Components

Hill

See also: Motte and bailey

Donjon of the Château de Guizor, built on a hill

Mound of earth, often mixed with gravel, peat, limestone. The height of the embankment in most cases did not exceed 5 meters, although sometimes it reached 10 meters or more. The surface was often covered with clay or wooden flooring. The hill was round or nearly square at the base, and the diameter of the hill was at least twice its height.

A wooden, and later a stone, defensive tower surrounded by a palisade was erected on the top. Around the hill there was a moat filled with water or dry, from the earth of which a mound was formed. Access to the tower was through a swinging wooden bridge and a staircase built on the hillside.

Courtyard

Large courtyard area (with rare exceptions) no more than 2 hectares, surrounding or adjacent to the hill, as well as various residential and utility buildings – dwellings of the owner of the castle and his soldiers, stables, forge, warehouses, kitchen, etc. .. inside it. Outside, the courtyard was protected by a wooden palisade, then a moat, which was filled from the nearest reservoir, and an earthen rampart. The space inside the courtyard itself could be divided into several parts, or several adjoining courtyards were built near the hill.

Keep

See also: Donjon

Main tower in European feudal castles. Unlike the towers on the walls of the castle, the donjon is located inside the fortress walls (usually in the most inaccessible and protected place) and is usually not connected with them – it is like a fortress inside the fortress. Along with the defensive, donjons usually served as the direct dwelling of the feudal lords. Also, it often housed various important premises of the castle – weapons, the main well, food warehouses.

Donjons come in a wide variety of shapes: quadrangular towers were popular in the UK, but round, octagonal, regular and irregular polygonal donjons, as well as combinations of several of these shapes, were also found. The change in the shape of donjons is associated with the development of architecture and siege technology. A round or polygonal turret is better able to withstand projectiles. Sometimes, when building a donjon, builders followed the terrain, for example, placing a tower on an irregularly shaped rock.

Fortress wall

See also: Fortress wall

Carcassonne in France, showing the classic elements of a fortified wall, a protective moat with a stone bridge, cylindrical towers, gates, and a gourditia. They had to be tall enough to make it difficult for attackers to assault using ladders, and thick enough to withstand the power of siege mechanisms, which from the 15th century included artillery. A typical wall was 3 meters thick and 12 meters high, but the dimensions varied greatly from castle to castle. To protect them from undermining, stone pavements were sometimes arranged in front of the fortress walls. The battle move at the top of the fortress wall allowed the defenders to throw projectiles at the opponents below, and the parapet gave them additional protection. Numerous towers on the fortress wall allowed the defenders to conduct longitudinal fire along the wall. Loopholes in walls were not common in Europe until the 13th century, as it was believed that they could weaken the strength of a wall.

Ditch

See also: Ditch

Moat and castle wall Altenburg

As a rule, ditches were dug around castles as part of the defensive system. They made it difficult to access the fortress walls, including siege weapons such as a battering ram or a siege tower. An important property of a moat filled with water is the prevention of undermining. Often, rivers and other natural bodies of water were connected to ditches to fill them with water. The ditches needed to be periodically cleared of debris to prevent shallowing. Sometimes stakes were placed at the bottom of the ditches, making it difficult to overcome it by swimming. Access to the fortress was usually organized by means of drawbridges.

Gate

See also: City Gate

Traditionally, city gates were built to provide a controlled entry and exit point for people, vehicles, goods and animals from a walled city. In addition, such gates had a number of other functions. Depending on situations and historical context, the city gates could have defensive, protective, commercial or other functions. Usually the gates were guarded by guards, often they were closed at night. To enter with the main gate closed, a gate located on the side of the gate served. The entrance was often the weakest link in a wall’s defenses. To overcome this, gates were built, thus allowing the flow of traffic within the castle to be controlled. There was a blind spot in front of the gate, so towers were added on each side of the gate. The gate had more defense mechanisms to make a direct attack on it much more difficult. Usually, there was another portcullis (gersa) made of wood and reinforced with metal, as well as loopholes for archery. The passage through the gate was lengthened to increase the amount of time the enemy had to spend under fire, unable to respond while in a confined space.

The history of origin and development

The first forerunners of castles were the fortifications of the 8th-7th centuries BC. e., erected on the territory of Assyria. Then the prototypes of castles can be seen in the architecture of ancient Rome. During this era, for example, the country palaces of the Roman emperors (the palace of Emperor Diocletian in the now Croatian city of Split) were strengthened. Ancient Roman fortifications had a significant impact on the architecture of European castles of the Middle Ages. Fortifications were widely spread in Byzantium, from where they penetrated into Western Europe by the 9th century.

Castles themselves appeared in the Middle Ages and were the dwellings of feudal nobility. Due to feudal fragmentation and, as a result, frequent internecine wars, the dwelling of the feudal lord had to perform a defensive task. Usually castles were built on hills, islands, rock ledges and other hard-to-reach places.

Castle building reached its peak in England in the 12th century. Numerous castles have also been preserved in the valleys of the rivers Rhine and Loire, in Palestine (castles of the Crusaders) and Spain.

With the end of the Middle Ages, castles began to lose their original – defensive – task, which has now given way to a residential one. With the development of artillery, the defensive task of castles disappeared completely; features of castle architecture were preserved only as decorative elements (the French castle of Pierrefonds, the end of the 14th century).

A regular layout with a pronounced symmetry prevailed, the main building acquired a palace character (Madrid Castle in Paris, XV-XVI centuries) or Nesvizh Castle in Belarus (XVI century) In the XVI century, castle architecture in Western Europe was finally replaced by palace architecture. The defensive task was preserved for the longest time by the castles of Georgia, which were actively built until the 18th century.

There were castles that belonged not to one feudal lord, but to a knightly order. Such castles were larger, as an example is the Königsberg Castle.

Castles in Russia

As for Russia, even during the period of feudal fragmentation, castles were not widely spread. Old Russian fortifications in general had a very peculiar character: closely connected with the city, they contained not only defensive structures, but also religious and residential buildings. On Russian soil, an obligatory sign of a city was a fence around it, either in the form of a fence, or in the form of a wall, wooden or stone. The last refuge of the inhabitants during the siege of the city was the Kremlin (also krom or detinets), in its function, in principle, similar to a European castle, or rather, its citadel. However, castles in the direct sense of the word – fortified dwellings of feudal lords – practically did not exist in Russia. One of the rare examples of a Russian castle was the castle of Vladimir Monomakh in Lyubech. Numerous fortified monasteries were also not castles as such – they were fortresses.

Structure

Early European castles were built primarily of wood; they were surrounded by a wooden fence – a palisade; even then moats began to appear around the castles. An example of such a castle is the Vyshgorod castle of the Kyiv princes. Stone castle building spread in Western and Central Europe only by the 12th century.

Renaissance castle – Egeskov in Denmark

The main part of the medieval castle was the central tower – donjon, which served as a citadel. In addition to its defensive functions, the donjon was the direct dwelling of the feudal lord. Also in the main tower there were often living rooms of other inhabitants of the castle, a well, utility rooms (food warehouses, etc.). Often in the donjon there was a large front hall for receptions. Donjon elements can be found in the castle architecture of Western and Central Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, etc.

Wasserschloss in Schwerin

Usually the castle had a small courtyard, which was surrounded by massive battlements with towers and well-fortified gates. This was followed by the outer courtyard, which included outbuildings, as well as the castle garden and vegetable garden. The whole castle was surrounded by a second row of walls and a moat, across which a drawbridge was thrown. If the terrain allowed, the moat was filled with water and the castle turned into a castle on the water.

The centers of defense of the walls of the castle were the towers protruding beyond the plane of the walls, which made it possible to organize flanking fire on those going to attack. In Russian fortification, sections of the walls between the towers were called spindles. In this regard, the castles were in terms of a polygon, the walls of which followed the terrain. Numerous examples of such structures have survived to this day in Great Britain, Germany, France, Ukraine and Belarus (for example, Mir Castle in Belarus or Lutsk Castle in Ukraine).

Over time, the structure of castles became more complex; the territory of the castles already included barracks, a court, a church, a prison and other structures (Cousy Castle in France, XIII century; Wartburg Castle in Germany, XI century; Harleck Castle in Great Britain, XIII century).

Rosenberg Castle in Kronach. Moat and ventilation turrets of the auditorium

With the beginning of the mass use of gunpowder, the decline of the era of castle building begins. So, the besiegers began to carry out, if the ground allowed it, sapper work – imperceptibly dig saps, which made it possible to bring large explosive charges under the walls (storming the Kazan Kremlin in the 16th century). As a measure of struggle, the besieged dug an underground gallery at a considerable distance from the walls in advance, from which they listened in order to detect tunnels and destroy them in a timely manner.

However, the development of artillery and the increase in its destructive effect eventually made it necessary to abandon the use of castles as the basis of defensive strategy and tactics. The time has come for fortresses – complex engineering structures with a developed system of bastions, ravelins, etc.; the art of building fortresses – fortification – developed. The recognized authority of the fortification of this era was the chief engineer of Louis XIV, Marshal of France Sebastien de Vauban (1633-1707).

Such fortresses, sometimes developed over time from castles, were also used during World War II to pin down enemy forces and delay his advance (see: Brest Fortress).

Construction

The construction of the Coucy castle in France

The construction of the castle began with the choice of location and building materials. A wooden castle was cheaper and easier to build than a stone castle. The cost of building most castles has not survived to this day; most of the surviving documents on the topic refer to the royal palaces ^[10] . A castle made of wood with a motte and a bailey could have been built by unskilled labor – peasants dependent on the feudal lord who already had the skills necessary to build a wooden castle (they knew how to cut wood, dig and work with wood). Forced to work for the feudal lord, the workers most likely were not paid anything, so building a castle out of wood was cheap. According to experts, to build a medium-sized hill – 5 meters high and 15 meters wide – it took 50 workers and 40 days ^[11] . The famous architect en:James of Saint George, responsible for the construction of the castle of Beaumaris, described the costs associated with the construction of the castle as follows:

If you think where so much money can be spent in a week, we inform you that we needed and will need in the future 400 masons, as well as 2000 less experienced women, 100 carts, 60 wagons and 30 boats for the supply of stone; 200 workers at the quarry; 30 blacksmiths and carpenters to lay cross beams and floors, as well as to perform other necessary work. That’s not including the garrison… and the purchase of materials. Which require a large number … Payments to the workers are still delayed, and we are having great difficulty retaining the workers, because they simply have nowhere to live. [12]

Langeai Castle in France

Marienburg Castle in Poland, the world’s largest medieval brick castle

A study was conducted to investigate the costs associated with the construction of the Langeai Castle, built in 992 in France. The stone tower is 16 meters high, 17.5 meters wide and 10 meters long with walls averaging 1.5 meters. The walls contain 1200 square meters of stone and have a surface of 1600 square meters. It was estimated that the construction of the tower took 83,000 man-days, most of which required unskilled labor ^[13] .

Stone castles were not only expensive to build, but also to keep in good condition because they contained a large amount of wood, which was often unseasoned and needed constant care.

Medieval machines and inventions were indispensable during construction; antique timber frame building methods have been improved ^[14] . The search for stone for construction was one of the main problems; often the solution was a quarry near the castle.

Due to the lack of stone, alternative materials were used, such as brick, which was also used for aesthetic reasons, as it was in vogue. Therefore, even despite the sufficient amount of stone, some builders chose brick as the main material for building the castle.

The material for building depended on the locality: in Denmark there are few quarries, so most of its castles are made of wood or brick, in Spain most castles are made of stone, while in Eastern Europe castles were usually built using wood ^[15] .

Castles today

Today castles have a decorative function. Some of them are turned into restaurants, others become museums. Some are being restored and sold or rented.

Photo gallery

Castles in culture

Stylization of the Middle Ages in the 19th century – Neuschwanstein Castle

In the 18th-19th centuries, the intensive development of such a cultural trend as romanticism provoked a real “cultural expansion” of the Middle Ages – interest in the Middle Ages itself and its various cultural manifestations sharply increased in society. A literary genre such as the Gothic novel appeared, and the historical novel received a new development. The action of romantic prose in these genres is often set in the Middle Ages and/or takes place in castles.

In addition, romanticism and the development of mysticism indirectly connected with it (especially in high society) sharply increased the tendency already existing in various strata of society to inhabit castles of various kinds with ghosts, spirits and other mystical creatures. Soon the style of the Gothic novel began to acquire mystical features, and a wave of reports of contacts with the ghosts of castles swept across Europe.

The wave of romanticism also gave rise to the emergence of a number of architectural styles that imitate the Middle Ages, in particular neo-Gothic. These styles were characterized by a general tendency to stylize the building as a castle, for which decorative machicolations and walls, tall narrow windows, false loopholes, etc. were widely used.

At the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries, on the wave of romanticism, the construction of castles became more active again. At the same time, newly built castles were often stylized as medieval ones, but they had no defensive value – the walls and towers of these castles, sometimes very impressive, served only decorative purposes. Characteristic examples of this type of castles are the castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the middle of the 19th century (especially Neuschwanstein Castle).

Notes

1. ↑ Vasmer M. Etymological dictionary of the Russian language. — Progress. – M., 1964-1973. – T. 2. – S. 77.
2. ↑ E. I. Melnikov. About Czech lexical elements in Russian, borrowed through Polish and other languages ​​(in the 14th-19th centuries). // “Slavia”, XXXVI, 1, 1967. České grafické Unie, 1967. P. 101.
3. ↑ Liddiard (2005) – pp. 15-17
4. ↑ Herlihy (1970) – pp. 27-28
5. ↑ Coulson (2003) – p. 16
6. ↑ Creighton & Higham (2003) – pp. 6-7
7. ↑ Duffy (1979) – pp. 23-25 ​​
8. ↑ Allen Brown (1976) – pp. 2-6
9. ↑ Turnbull (2003) – page 5
10. ↑ McNeill (1992) – pp. 39-40
11. ↑ McNeill 1992, pp. 39-40.
12. ↑ McNeill 1992, p. 43.
13. ↑ Bachrach 1991, pp. 47-52
14. ↑ Erlande-Brandenburg 1995, pp. 121-126.
15. ↑ Higham & Barker 1992, pp. 84-88.

Literature

• Castle, fortified dwelling // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). – St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.

Links

• Medieval castles and fortresses from all over the world. History, architecture, photo
• Castles of the world
• Medieval castles in Europe
• Medieval Symbols in Western Culture: Castle
• History of medieval castles
• Lock catalog
• Forum about locks
• Castles of Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Russia. Photo

rating, names, interesting facts and reviews

The consumer is sure that by purchasing a metal front door, he will be securely protected. But he, as a rule, forgets about the selection of quality locks. But it is from them that 85% of the protection against the penetration of a thief into the territory of the owner’s apartment depends.

According to their stability, locking mechanisms, like the doors themselves, according to GOST 5089-97, are divided into several classes. In the course of tests with dynamic and static loads, breaking with a master key, as well as thermal and electric tools, the stability class of the lock is determined.

From the tests of locks and the design itself, the classes of burglary resistance of doors are determined, but it is also necessary to distinguish between types of locks in order to understand what belongs to what. All types of locks differ: by the type of installation, by purpose and by the type of mechanisms. We hope this will help you make the right choice.

According to the type of installation on the door, the locks are divided into:

Padlocks – this type is most suitable for closing external doors: garage doors, utility rooms, sheds. Such locks are easily opened and are not used for home entrance doors.

Rim locks – have a look known to everyone since ancient times. They are used in wooden door panels because of the ease of installation and the ability to maintain structural strength. From the outside they are locked with a key, and from the inside – with the help of a turntable. A safety chain may be provided.

Mortise locks – the door leaf, in which mortise locks are located, acts not only as a fastening of this type of locking mechanism, but also serves as an additional protection for them. Mortise locks are ideal for steel entrance doors, do not interfere with the appearance and are almost invisible.

Locks are divided into groups according to their purpose:

Locking – there is no latch-latch on this type of lock, which plays the role of an additional locking mechanism.

Locking-locking – the design of the lock includes not only a locking device, but also a locking device. The latch fixes the door and is removed when the handle is pressed. Its second name is “faleva latch”.

Difference in the type of mechanism:

Lever locks – today are the best solution for metal entrance doors in residential buildings. The work of the lever lock consists in the interaction of the key bits with the lever plates in the lock. How many cuts on the key, so many levers contains the lock. If there is the slightest mismatch, the lock will not open. The use of locks with less than 6 levers is not recommended, otherwise the protection will be weak. This type of lock may include protection against clogging of the bolts or the “lock recoding” function, with which, if the key is lost, you can recode the lock yourself.

Cylinder locks – work on the principle of placing a combination of small cylinders at a certain height. The mismatch of at least one of the heights dissolves all hopes for opening the castle. The secrecy of a cylinder lock directly depends on the number of cylindrical elements and their location. It is possible to combine cylinder locks with lever locks, and at the request of the customer, additional protection of the door with armor plates and armor plates can be carried out. Whichever door you choose, the choice of lock must be conscious.

Rack locks – used for garage doors, hangars, sheds, technical gates. Due to the low protective characteristics, rack locks are not allowed to be installed in apartment steel entrance doors.

Electronic locks – this name used to be associated with a car, but today they are increasingly used to protect the home. They are opened by a set of a certain combination, or using a key fob.

Combination locks are locks, usually of the old type. Most often used for entrance doors. The use of this type of lock for home doors is only possible with the latest versions.

Functions

The main functions of the feudal castle with suburbs were:

• military (center of military operations, means of military control over the district),
• administrative-political (administrative center of the district, the place where the political life of the country was concentrated),
• cultural and economic (handicraft and trade center of the district, a place of the highest elite and folk culture).

Characteristics

It is widely believed that castles existed only in Europe, where they originated, and in the Middle East, where they were transferred by the crusaders. Contrary to this view, similar structures appear in 16th and 17th century Japan, where they develop without direct contact and influence from Europe and have a completely different history of development, are built differently from European castles and are designed to withstand attacks of a completely different nature.

Components

Hill

Mound of earth, often mixed with gravel, peat, limestone or brushwood. The height of the embankment in most cases did not exceed 5 meters, although sometimes it reached 10 meters or more. The surface was often covered with clay or wooden decking. The hill was round or nearly square at the base, and the diameter of the hill was at least twice its height.

A wooden, and later a stone, defensive tower surrounded by a palisade was erected on the top. Around the hill there was a moat filled with water or dry, from the earth of which a mound was formed. Access to the tower was through a swinging wooden bridge and a staircase built on the hillside.

Courtyard

A large courtyard with an area (with rare exceptions) of no more than 2 hectares, surrounding or adjacent to the hill, as well as various residential and utility buildings – the dwellings of the owner of the castle and his soldiers, stables, a forge, warehouses, a kitchen, etc. – inside it . From the outside, the court was protected by a wooden palisade, then by a moat, which was filled from the nearest body of water, and by an earthen rampart. The space inside the courtyard itself could be divided into several parts, or several adjoining courtyards were built near the hill.

Donjon

Castles themselves appeared in the Middle Ages and were the dwellings of feudal nobles. Due to feudal fragmentation and, as a result, frequent internecine wars, the dwelling of the feudal lord had to perform a defensive task. Castles were usually built on high ground, islands, rock ledges, and other hard-to-reach places.

With the end of the Middle Ages, castles began to lose their original – defensive – task, which has now given way to a residential one. With the development of artillery, the defensive task of castles disappeared completely; features of castle architecture were preserved only as decorative elements (French castle Pierrefonds, late XIV century).

A regular layout with a pronounced symmetry prevailed, the main building acquired a palace character (Madrid Castle in Paris, XV-XVI centuries) or Nesvizh Castle in Belarus (XVI century) In the XVI century, castle architecture in Western Europe was finally replaced by palace architecture. The defensive task was preserved for the longest time by the castles of Georgia, which were actively built until the 18th century.

There were castles that belonged not to one feudal lord, but to a knightly order. Such castles were larger, as an example, the Königsberg Castle.

Castles in Russia

The main part of the medieval castle was the central tower – donjon, which served as a citadel. In addition to its defensive functions, the donjon was the direct dwelling of the feudal lord. Also in the main tower there were often living rooms of other inhabitants of the castle, a well, utility rooms (food warehouses, etc.). Often in the donjon there was a large front hall for receptions. Donjon elements can be found in the castle architecture of Western and Central Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, etc.

Wasserschloss in Schwerin

Usually the castle had a small courtyard, which was surrounded by massive battlements with towers and well-fortified gates. This was followed by the outer courtyard, which included outbuildings, as well as the castle garden and vegetable garden. The whole castle was surrounded by a second row of walls and a moat, across which a drawbridge was thrown. If the terrain allowed, then the moat was filled with water and the castle turned into a castle on the water.

The centers of defense of the walls of the castle were the towers protruding beyond the plane of the walls, which made it possible to organize flanking fire on those going to attack. In Russian fortification, sections of the walls between the towers were called paraslas. In this regard, the castles were in terms of a polygon, the walls of which followed the terrain. Numerous examples of such structures have survived to this day in Great Britain, Germany, France, Ukraine and Belarus (for example, Mir Castle in Belarus or Lutsk Castle in Ukraine).

Over time, the structure of castles became more complex; the territory of the castles already included barracks, a court, a church, a prison and other structures (Cousy Castle in France, XIII century; Wartburg Castle in Germany, XI century; Harleck Castle in Great Britain, XIII century).

Rosenberg Castle in Kronach. Rov
and ventilation turrets of the auditorium

With the beginning of the mass use of gunpowder, the decline of the era of castle building begins. So, the besiegers began to carry out, if the soil allowed it, sapper work – quietly dig saps, which made it possible to bring large explosive charges under the walls (storming the Kazan Kremlin in the 16th century). As a measure of struggle, the besieged dug an underground gallery at a considerable distance from the walls in advance, from which they listened in order to detect tunnels and destroy them in a timely manner.

However, the development of artillery and the increase in its destructive effect eventually made it necessary to abandon the use of castles as the basis of defensive strategy and tactics. The time has come for fortresses – complex engineering structures with a developed system of bastions, ravelins, etc.; the art of building fortresses – fortification – developed. The recognized fortification authority of this era was the chief engineer of Louis XIV, Marshal of France Sebastien de Vauban (1633-1707).

Such fortresses, sometimes developed over time from castles, were also used during World War II to pin down enemy forces and delay his advance (see: Brest Fortress).

Construction

The construction of the castle began with the choice of location and building materials. A wooden castle was cheaper and easier to build than a stone castle. The cost of building most castles has not survived to this day; most surviving documents on the topic are from royal palaces. A castle made of wood with a motte and a bailey could have been built by unskilled labor – peasants dependent on the feudal lord who already had the skills necessary to build a wooden castle (they knew how to cut wood, dig and work with wood). Forced to work for the feudal lord, the workers most likely were not paid anything, so building a castle out of wood was cheap. According to experts, it took 50 workers and 40 days to build a medium-sized hill – 5 meters high and 15 meters wide. The famous architect en: James of Saint George, responsible for the construction of the Beaumaris castle, described the costs associated with the construction of the castle as follows:

If you think where so much money can be spent in a week, we inform you that we needed and will need in the future 400 masons, as well as 2000 less experienced women, 100 carts, 60 wagons and 30 boats for the supply of stone; 200 workers at the quarry; 30 blacksmiths and carpenters to lay cross beams and floors, as well as to perform other necessary work. That’s not including the garrison… and the purchase of materials. Which require a large number … Payments to the workers are still delayed, and we are having great difficulty retaining the workers, because they simply have nowhere to live.

A study was carried out that examined the costs associated with the construction of the castle of Lange, built in 992 in France. The stone tower is 16 meters high, 17.5 meters wide and 10 meters long with walls averaging 1.5 meters. The walls contain 1200 square meters of stone and have a surface of 1600 square meters. It was estimated that the tower took 83,000 man-days to build, most of which required unskilled labor.

Stone castles were expensive not only to build, but also to keep in good condition because they contained a large amount of timber, which was often unseasoned and needed constant care.

Medieval machines and inventions were indispensable during construction; antique timber frame construction methods have been improved. The search for stone for construction was one of the main problems; often the solution was a quarry near the castle.

Due to the lack of stone, alternative materials were used, such as brick, which was also used for aesthetic reasons, as it was in vogue. Therefore, even despite the sufficient amount of stone, some builders chose brick as the main material for building the castle.

The material for construction depended on the locality: in Denmark there are few quarries, so most of its castles are made of wood or brick, in Spain most castles are made of stone, while in Eastern Europe castles were usually built using wood.

Castles today

Nowadays locks have a decorative function. Some of them are turned into restaurants, others become museums. Some are being restored and sold or rented.

From childhood, many people dream of visiting a real fairy tale castle. We present a list of the most beautiful and famous castles and palaces in the world. You can use it to plan trips, or you can just admire the buildings and marvel at the imagination of architects and the skill of builders.

Rating principles

Almost every country in the world has its own castles built at different times, with different purposes, in different styles. But only the most worthy can get into the list of “10 most beautiful castles in the world”. How to choose them? The criteria were: the organic connection of the structure and landscape, the originality of the architectural solution, the grandeur of the idea. Such parameters, of course, include many buildings in the world, but let’s focus on the most famous of them.

Neuschwanstein

The list of “The most beautiful castles in the world” certainly deserves to discover the fabulous castle in Bavaria – Neuschwanstein. By order of the Bavarian King Louis II in 1896, the architect Christian Jank began to build a unique building – Neuschwanstein Castle near Swan Lake, high in the mountains. The structure is spectacularly inscribed in the landscape, the castle looks organically growing out of the rocks and the forest, its white pointed towers look spectacular in the clouds and fog, which are not uncommon here. The idea of ​​building a castle was inspired by Wagner’s opera Lohengrin. The appearance of the building absorbed all the romantic tendencies of the late 19century. The chambers of the castle amaze with harmony and luxury, wall paintings, rooms in different colors and comfort made the castle a favorite refuge of the king. Near him, unfortunately, Louis ended his earthly journey.

Chambord

Many of the most beautiful castles in the world are concentrated in a valley in France, one of the most famous among them is Chambord. It was built as a hunting lodge of King Francis the first, where he rested after a hard day. The building was erected on the banks of the Kosson River, in which it is so effectively reflected. In terms of style, the castle is an example of the transition from medieval architecture to the Renaissance, there is a version that Leonardo da Vinci took part in the development of the project. Next to the park there is a beautiful regular park, where rare plants grow. The interiors of the castle corresponded to its purpose – entertainment and fun. The famous double staircase of Chambord is a masterpiece of architectural thought, its design was created by the great Leonardo. It will take more than one day to get around the 440 rooms of the residence, but several hours will be enough to inspect the main chambers.

Mont Saint-Michel

One of the oldest fortresses in Europe – Mont Saint-Michel is rightfully included in the list of “The most beautiful palaces and castles in the world.” The history of the monastery-fortress dates back to 708, when the monk was ordered to build a monastery on an island off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The location on the top of an impregnable cliff made the fortress invulnerable, and today such an original location attracts an endless series of tourists here. The castle is built in its brutal walls and towers make an indelible impression with their power. Inside the castle, you can see a collection of antique ancient books and jewels.

Conwy (Conway)

Listing the most beautiful castles in the world, the names of which excite the soul of travelers, it is worth remembering the Conwy castle in Wales from the time of Edward the First. The castle was built with the unique landscape in mind, it rises on a rocky ledge washed by the waters of the Conway River. The relief fortress with battlements and massive towers was part of the fortifications called the “iron ring”. The castle had to prove its reliability more than once. And today it makes a strong impression, its thick stone walls and brutal architecture evoke thoughts of power and might. The fortress was built by one of the most famous military architects of that time, James. Today, Conwy is one of the best preserved castles in Wales. Its eight round towers have repeatedly become scenery for films and photo shoots.

De la Pena

Describing the most beautiful castles from all over the world, one cannot ignore the most romantic building in the Portuguese Sintra – Pena Palace. In the middle of the 19th century, on the site of a dilapidated monastery, a summer castle was built for King Ferdinand II. Architect Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege created a unique building that absorbed the best trends of romanticism of that time. The building combines Manueline features and Pena Castle makes an indelible impression with its brightness, the combination of elements of the Middle Ages and the refined Manueline style. Its diverse turrets, battlements and luxurious park make it a real castle for a princess. Around the palace there is a magnificent park-forest, in which eucalyptus trees, roses and many other plants are fragrant.

Hearst

Despite its short history, the United States has also contributed to the creation of castles, and the list of “The most beautiful castles in the world” cannot do without mentioning Hearst Castle. This historical monument began to be built on the California coast since the late 19th century, but the main buildings were erected in the early 20th century. Some of the buildings are designed in the Mexican colonial style, and the main building is in the Spanish style, for which the architect purchased carved ceilings in Spain for entire rooms. A magnificent garden with many sculptures and fountains is laid out on a huge adjacent territory. The park has a luxurious decorated with columns and a portico in the ancient Greek style, with a large number of statues around the perimeter. During the life of the owner, there was a zoo here, but later it was disbanded due to the high cost of maintenance.

Dunnottar

All the most beautiful castles in the world have their own history, and the Scottish fortress of Dunnottar is also unique. It stands on a high cliff above the sea since the 7th century, and at one time was the country itself. Today, the state of the castle does not allow living in it, but you can walk here. Powerful medieval stone structures, preserved secret passages allow you to feel the power that the castle had in its heyday. He had to endure many attacks, and he withstood them with honor, but he failed to survive the test of time. Walking around the castle amaze with the grandeur of the building and the grandeur of the builders of the past.

Matsumoto

Japan is famous for its unique traditional buildings. And the names of beautiful castles are also poetic with a deep meaning. For its black color and wide “wings” of the roof, the castle in Matsumoto is called the “Crow”. It was built in the 16th century by order of the head of the Takeda clan. Today, the castle is considered the most beautiful in Japan, its architectural style is called “Hirajiro”, which is associated with its incorporation into the flat landscape. Beautiful multi-tiered pagoda towers are spectacularly reflected in the water of the moat surrounding the castle. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom in the castle garden, and tourists from all over the world come here to see a picture of stunning harmony. In autumn, a unique moon festival is held here and the Japanese come to the park to watch the moon rise above the towers, reflected in the waters of the moat and a cup of sake, which is an indispensable attribute of the ritual.

Himeji – White Heron Castle

Another beautiful castle in Japan is located in Himeji City, it also has a poetic name – White Heron Castle. This building impresses with its harmony, sharp lines and incredible elegance. The castle was built at the end of the 14th century and served as a model for subsequent buildings for many centuries. The castle is organically integrated into the hilly landscape and is surrounded by a garden in the form of a spiral labyrinth. This was done in case of an attack by enemies so that they could not immediately reach the building. Himeji is the only castle in Japan that has never suffered from earthquakes, but fires have caused some damage to it. Various films were filmed on the territory of the castle, various festivals and holidays are held here every year. Himeji is a favorite travel destination for the Japanese.

Alhambra

The Spanish fortress Alhambra near Granada must be included in our list. This palace complex, stunning in its scope, began to be built in the 13th century during the Nasrid dynasty, when Granada became the capital. The composition of the palace is created by light and water. In every yard there is a place to hide from the soaring sun and enjoy the murmur of water. The most famous objects in the Alhambra are the Lion’s Courtyard with a fountain in the center, the Myrtle Courtyard with a symmetrical composition of trimmed plants, the Stalactite Hall, in which the ceiling is decorated with amazing wooden carvings, the Golden Room. A huge garden with various buildings adjoins the palace, in which thousands of roses and fruit trees grow.

Full list

Listing the most beautiful castles in the world from France to Japan, it is impossible to limit yourself to 10 names. Indeed, around the world there are many buildings worthy of admiration. I would also like to add to the list of beauties such masterpieces of architecture as Prague Castle, Hohenzollern, Catherine’s Palace, Versailles, Potala Palace in Nepal, Castel Sant’Angelo, Chenonceau, Peles, Schwerin, Eltz, Alcazar, Quinta da Regaleira.

What type of door locks you prefer (crossbar, lever or other type) will depend on the security of the house/apartment from burglary, as well as durability, simplicity and ease of use.

Types of door locks are distinguished by:

1. locking mechanism;
2. installation method;
3. reliability class.

Used locking mechanism

Depending on which locking mechanism is used, it is possible to install in metal doors:

• bolt;
• code;
• electronic;
• lever;
• cylinder locks.

In bolt locks, opening occurs with a linear movement of a rifled key, which opens and closes the deadbolt (bolt). A significant drawback of such locks is the use of long and massive keys.

Combination locks are used in safes, entrances. Pluses – lack of keys, secrecy; cons – over time, the buttons are erased and you can easily pick up a combination of numbers, which reduces the reliability from hacking.

Electronic locks are also used in metal doors. Opening such a lock occurs by typing a combination of symbols on the panel or using magnetic keys. Pluses – high secrecy, hidden installation; cons – the need for a constant power source, the sensitivity of electronics to high humidity, voltage drop.

For metal doors, the use of a lever lock is more suitable, the mechanism of which is based on a set of plates (levers), which, under the pressure of the grooves of the key, lining up in a certain position, unlock the lock. The number and depth of the slots on the key, and, consequently, the difficulty of selecting a master key by a burglar, depend on the number of levers involved in such a lock and on the height of their step. Manufacturers of a lever lock also equip it with additional functions – the possibility of recoding, service functions, the presence of a latch, the possibility of locking in three planes. And thanks to the use of false grooves, the presence of blocking the lifting of lever plates, “free” levers, the level of reliability of the lever mechanism increases. The presence of a keyhole passing through the door, a relatively large key and the impossibility of a separate replacement of the secret mechanism are the main disadvantages of a lever lock.

Cylinder lock is the most common and used for metal doors more often due to the possibility of repair and replacement of the mechanism. There is no need to change the entire lock, as in a lock with a lever type, but it is enough to replace the cylinder mechanism, also called the “larva”. The operation of the larva is based on the principle of selecting a certain combination of various elements (pins, washers, disks, rotating blocks – depending on) in height.

Lock installation option

According to this feature, they are distinguished:

1. mounted.

Using padlocks on your home or apartment door is not the best way to protect against burglary. Despite the fact that among the padlocks there are instances with different types of locking mechanisms with different reliability classes, they can simply be torn out with a mount. Therefore, padlocks are more often used to lock sheds, basements that do not store valuables.

1. delivery notes.

Unlike padlocks, rim locks prevent burglary better, because they are located on the door leaf inside the apartment. However, manufacturers of metal doors practically do not use this type of locks, because this obliges them to reinforce the inside of the door, which will lead to an increase in the cost of the product. Yes, and many customers do not like the way the overhead lock looks on metal doors, so such locks can often be found on non-metal doors, which are more suitable for this type of lock in terms of characteristics.

1. mortise.

They are used both for various types of interior doors and for metal entrance doors. The main feature of a mortise lock is its fastening inside the door leaf, which makes it more aesthetic from the inside and, unlike padlocks, more reliable from breaking.

Security class against burglary

It is customary to distinguish 4 security classes, which determine how long it takes a burglar to enter a house without keys.

Class 1 and 2 locks with a low degree of security are more suitable for interior doors. Class 3 locks are already more secure, here it will take up to half an hour to enter the room without keys. It will take even an experienced burglar more than 30 minutes to crack metal doors equipped with a lock of the 4th security class (especially the lever and cylinder type), and, therefore, such locks are the most reliable.

As mentioned above, medieval castles and each of their components were built according to certain rules. The following main structural elements of the castle can be distinguished:

Courtyard

Fortress wall

Let’s consider them in more detail.

Most of the towers were built on natural hills. If there were no such hills in the area, then the builders resorted to arranging the hill. As a rule, the height of the hill was 5 meters, but there were more than 10 meters high, although there were exceptions – for example, the height of the hill on which one of the Norfolk castles near Thetford was placed reached hundreds of feet (about 30 meters).

The shape of the territory of the castle was different – some had an oblong shape, some – square, there were courtyards in the form of a figure eight. Variations were very diverse depending on the size of the host state and the configuration of the site.

After the site for construction was chosen, it was first dug in with a ditch. The excavated earth was thrown onto the inner bank of the moat, resulting in a rampart, an embankment called a scarp. The opposite bank of the moat was called, respectively, the counterscarp. If it was possible, then the ditch was dug around a natural hill or other elevation. But, as a rule, the hill had to be filled, which required a huge amount of earthwork.

The composition of the hill consisted of earth mixed with limestone, peat, gravel, brushwood, and the surface was covered with clay or wooden flooring.

The first fence of the castle was protected by all sorts of defensive structures designed to stop an enemy attack that was too swift: hedges, slingshots (placed between posts driven into the ground), earth embankments, fences, various protruding structures, for example, a traditional barbican that protected drawbridge access. At the foot of the wall there was a ditch, they tried to make it as deep as possible (sometimes more than 10 m deep, as in Trematon and Lass) and wider (10 m – in Loches, 12 – in Dourdan, 15 – in Tremworth, 22 m – – in Kusi). As a rule, ditches were dug around the castles as part of the defensive system. They made it difficult to access the fortress walls, including siege weapons such as a battering ram or a siege tower. Sometimes the moat was even filled with water. In shape, it more often resembled the letter V than U. If a ditch was dug right under the wall, a fence was erected over it, the lower shaft, to protect the sentinel path outside the fortress. This piece of land was called a palisade.

An important property of a moat filled with water is the prevention of undermining. Often, rivers and other natural bodies of water were connected to ditches to fill them with water. The ditches needed to be periodically cleared of debris to prevent shallowing. Sometimes stakes were placed at the bottom of the ditches, making it difficult to overcome it by swimming. Access to the fortress, as a rule, was organized by means of drawbridges

Depending on the width of the ditch, it is supported by one or more pillars. While the outer part of the bridge is fixed, the last segment is movable. This is the so-called drawbridge. It is designed so that its plate can rotate around an axis fixed at the base of the gate, breaking the bridge and closing the gate. To set the drawbridge in motion, devices are used, both on the gate itself and on its inside. The bridge is raised by hand, on ropes or chains passing through the blocks in the slots of the wall. To facilitate the work, counterweights can be used. The chain can go through the blocks to the gate, located in the room above the gate. This gate can be horizontal and rotated by a handle, or vertical and driven by beams horizontally threaded through it. Another way to raise the bridge is with a lever. Swinging beams are threaded through the slots in the wall, the outer end of which is connected by chains to the front end of the bridge plate, and counterweights are attached to the rear inside the gate. This design facilitates the rapid lifting of the bridge. And, finally, the bridge plate can be arranged according to the rocker principle.

The outer part of the plate, turning around the axis at the base of the goal, closes the passage, and the inner part, on which the attackers may already be, goes down into the so-called. a wolf pit, invisible while the bridge is down. Such a bridge is called overturning or swinging.

Fig.1. The diagram of the entrance to the castle is presented.

The fence itself was made up of thick solid walls – curtains – part of the fortress wall between two bastions and various side structures, collectively called

Fig.1.

towers. The fortress wall rose directly above the moat, its foundations went deep into the ground, and the bottom was made as gentle as possible to prevent possible undermining by the attackers, and also so that shells dropped from a height would ricochet off it. The shape of the fence depended on its location, but its perimeter is always significant.

The fortified castle did not at all resemble an individual dwelling. The height of the curtains ranged from 6 to 10 m, the thickness – from 1.5 to 3 m. However, in some fortresses, for example, in Chateau Gaillard, the thickness of the walls in places exceeds 4.5 m. Towers, usually round, less often square or polygonal , were built, as a rule, on the floor above the curtains. Their diameter (from 6 to 20 m) depended on the location: the most powerful – in the corners and near the entrance gate. The towers were built hollow, inside they were divided into floors by ceilings made of wooden boards with a hole in the center or on the side, through which a rope passed, used to raise shells to the upper platform in case of protecting the fortress. The stairs were hidden by partitions in the wall. Thus, each floor was a room where the warriors were located; in the fireplace, arranged in the thickness of the wall, it was possible to make a fire. The only openings in the tower are the archery slits, long and narrow openings widening inwards (Fig. 2).

Fig.2.

In France, for example, the height of such loopholes is usually 1 m, and the width is 30 cm outside and 1.3 m inside. Such a structure made it difficult for enemy arrows to penetrate, but the defenders were able to shoot in different directions.

The most important defensive element of the castle was the outer wall – high, thick, sometimes on an inclined plinth. Worked 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.

At the top of the fortress wall there was a so-called sentinel path, protected from the outside by a crenellated parapet. It served for observation, communication between the towers and protection of the fortress. A large wooden board, held on a horizontal axis, was sometimes attached to the battlements between two embrasures, crossbowmen took cover behind it to load their weapons. During the wars, the sentinel path was supplemented with something like a folding wooden gallery of the desired shape, mounted in front of the parapet. Holes were made in the floor so that the defenders could shoot from above if the attackers were hiding at the foot of the wall. Starting from the end of the 12th century, especially in the southern regions of France, these wooden galleries, which were not very strong and flammable, began to be replaced by real stone ledges built along with the parapet. These are the so-called mashikuli, galleries with hinged loopholes (Fig. 3). They performed the same function as before, but their advantage was greater strength and the fact that they made it possible to throw down the cannonballs, which then ricocheted off the gentle slope of the wall.

Fig.3.

Sometimes several secret doors were made in the fortress wall for the passage of infantrymen, but always only one large gate was built, invariably fortified with special care, since it was on them that the main blow of the attackers fell.

The earliest way to protect the gate was to place it between two rectangular towers. A good example of this type of protection is the arrangement of gates in the Exeter Castle of the 11th century that has survived to this day. In the 13th century, square gate towers give way to the main gate tower, which is a merger of the two former ones with additional floors built on top of them. Such are the gate towers in the castles of Richmond and Ludlow. In the 12th century, the more common way to protect the gate was to build two towers on both sides of the entrance to the castle, and only in the 13th century did gate towers appear in their finished form. Two flanking towers are now connected into one above the gate, becoming a massive and powerful fortification and one of the most important parts of the castle. The gate and entrance are now transformed into a long and narrow passage, blocked at each end by porticoes. These were doors sliding vertically along the gutters cut in stone, made in the form of large lattices of thick timber, the lower ends of the vertical bars were sharpened and bound with iron, so the lower edge of the portico was a series of sharpened iron stakes. Such lattice gates were opened and closed using thick ropes and a winch located in a special chamber in the wall above the passage. Later, the entrance was protected by mertieres, deadly holes drilled into the vaulted ceiling of the passage. Through these holes, anyone who tried to break through to the gates by force, poured and poured objects and substances common in such a situation – arrows, stones, boiling water and hot oil. However, another explanation seems more plausible – water was poured through the holes if the enemy tried to set fire to the wooden gates, since the best way to get into the castle was to fill the passage with straw, logs, soak the mixture well with combustible oil and set it on fire; they killed two birds with one stone – they burned the lattice gates and roasted the defenders of the castle in the gate rooms. In the walls of the passage there were small rooms equipped with shooting slots, through which the defenders of the castle could hit from close range with bows a dense mass of attackers who were trying to break into the castle. In Fig.4. various types of shooting slots are presented.

The upper floors of the gate tower contained quarters for soldiers and often even living quarters. In special chambers there were gates, with the help of which a drawbridge was lowered and raised on chains. Since the gate was the place that was most often attacked by the enemy besieging the castle, they were sometimes supplied with another means of additional protection – the so-called barbicans, which began at some distance from the gate. Usually the barbican consisted of two high thick walls running parallel outward from the gate, thus forcing the enemy to squeeze into a narrow passage between the walls, exposing themselves to the arrows of the archers of the gate tower and the barbican’s upper platform hidden behind the battlements. Sometimes, to make access to the gate even more dangerous, the barbican was set at an angle to it, which forced the attackers to go to the gate on the right, and parts of the body not covered by shields turned out to be a target for archers. The entrance and exit of the barbican was usually very fancifully decorated.

Fig.4.

Each more or less serious castle had at least two more rows of defensive structures (ditches, fences, curtain walls, towers, parapets, gates and bridges), smaller in size, but built on the same principle. Quite a considerable distance was left between them, so each castle looked like a small fortified city. Freteval can again be cited as an example. Its fences are round in shape, the diameter of the first is 140 m, the second is 70 m, the third is 30 m. The last fence, called the “shirt”, was erected very close to the donjon in order to block access to it.

The space between the first two fences was the lower courtyard. A real village was located there: the houses of peasants who worked on the master’s fields, workshops and dwellings of artisans (blacksmiths, carpenters, masons, carvers, carriage workers), a threshing floor and a barn, a bakery, a communal mill and a press, a well, a fountain, sometimes a pond with live fish, washroom, counters of merchants. Such a village was a typical settlement of that time with randomly arranged streets and houses. Later, such settlements began to go beyond the castle and settle in its vicinity on the other side of the moat. Their inhabitants, as, indeed, the rest of the inhabitants of the seigneury, took refuge behind the fortress walls only in case of serious danger.

Between the second and third fences there was an upper courtyard with many buildings: a chapel, housing for soldiers, stables, kennels, dovecotes and a falcon yard, a pantry with food supplies, kitchens, a reservoir.

Behind the “shirt”, that is, the last fence, there was a donjon. It was usually built not in the center of the castle, but in its most inaccessible part; it simultaneously served as the dwelling of the feudal lord and the military center of the fortress. Donjon (fr. donjon) – the main tower of a medieval castle, one of the symbols of the European Middle Ages.

It was the most massive building that was part of the castle buildings. The walls were gigantic in thickness and were set on a powerful foundation, capable of withstanding the blows of picks, drills and battering rams of the besiegers.

In height, it surpassed all other buildings, often exceeding 25 m: 27 m – in Etampes, 28 m – in Gisors, 30 m – in Uden, Dourdan and Freteval, 31 m – in Châteauden, 35 m – in Tonquedek, 40 – in Loches, 45 m – in Provins. It could be square (Tower of London), rectangular (Loches), hexagonal (Tournoel Castle), octagonal (Gizors), four-lobed (Etampes), but more often there are round ones with a diameter of 15 to 20 m and a wall thickness of 3 to 4 m.

Flat buttresses, called pilasters, supported the walls along their entire length and at the corners, at each corner such a pilaster was crowned with a turret on top. The entrance was always located on the second floor, high above the ground. An external staircase led to the entrance, located at a right angle to the door and covered by a bridge tower, installed outside directly against the wall. For obvious reasons, the windows were very small. On the first floor there were none at all, on the second they were tiny and only on the next floors they became a little larger. These distinguishing features – the bridge tower, the outer staircase and the small windows – can be clearly seen at Rochester Castle and Headingham Castle in Essex.

Donjons come in a wide variety of shapes: quadrangular towers were popular in the UK, but round, octagonal, regular and irregular polygonal donjons, as well as combinations of several of these shapes, were also found. The change in the shape of donjons is associated with the development of architecture and siege technology. A round or polygonal turret is better able to withstand projectiles. Sometimes, when building a donjon, builders followed the terrain, for example, placing a tower on an irregularly shaped rock. This type of tower arose in the 11th century. in Europe, more precisely in Normandy (France). Initially, it was a rectangular tower, adapted for defense, but at the same time being the residence of the feudal lord.

In the XII-XIII centuries. the feudal lord moved to the castle, and the donjon turned into a separate structure, significantly reduced in size, but stretched vertically. From now on, the tower was located separately outside the perimeter of the fortress walls, in the most inaccessible place to the enemy, sometimes even separated by a moat from the rest of the fortifications. It performed defensive and sentinel functions (at the very top there was always a combat and sentinel platform, covered with battlements). It was considered as the last refuge in the defense against the enemy (for this purpose there were weapons and food warehouses inside), and only after the capture of the donjon the castle was considered conquered.

By the 16th century the active use of cannons turned the donjons towering above the rest of the buildings into too convenient targets.

The inside of the donjon was divided into floors by means of wooden ceilings (fig.5).

Fig.5.

For defensive purposes, its only door was at the level of the second floor, that is, at a height of at least 5 m above the ground. They got inside by stairs, scaffolding or a bridge connected to a parapet. However, all these structures were very simple: after all, they had to be removed very quickly in the event of an attack. It was on the second floor that there was a large hall, sometimes with a vaulted ceiling – the center of the seigneur’s life. Here he dined, had fun, received guests and vassals, and even administered justice in winter. One floor above were the rooms of the owner of the castle and his wife; climbed up a narrow stone staircase in the wall. On the fourth and fifth floors there are common rooms for children, servants and subjects. The guests slept there. The top of the donjon resembled the upper part of the fortress wall with its battlemented parapet and sentinel path, as well as additional wooden or stone galleries. To this was added a watchtower to monitor the surroundings.

The first floor, that is, the floor under the great hall, did not have a single opening to the outside. However, it was neither a prison nor a stone bag, as archaeologists of the last century assumed. Usually there was a pantry where firewood, wine, grain and weapons were stored.

In some donjons in the lower room, in addition, there was a well or an entrance to a dungeon dug under the castle and leading to an open field, which, however, was quite rare. By the way, the dungeon, as a rule, served to store food during the year, and not at all to facilitate a secret flight, romantic or forced Lapin R.I. Donjon article. Encyclopedic Fund of Russia. Access address: http://www.russika.ru/.

The interior of the keep is also of particular interest.

DONJON INTERIOR

The interior of the lord’s dwelling can be characterized by three features: simplicity, modesty of decoration, and a small amount of furniture.

No matter how high (from 7 to 12 meters) and spacious (from 50 to 150 meters) the main hall was, the hall always remained one room. Sometimes it was divided into several rooms by some kind of drapery, but always only for a while and due to certain circumstances. Trapezoidal window openings separated in this manner and deep niches in the wall served as small living rooms. Large windows, rather high than wide, with a semicircular top, were arranged in the thickness of the walls in the same way as tower loopholes for archery.

No matter how high (from 7 to 12 meters) and spacious (from 50 to 150 meters) the hall always remained one room. Sometimes it was divided into several rooms by some kind of drapery, but always only for a while and due to certain circumstances. Trapezoidal window openings separated in this manner and deep niches in the wall served as small living rooms. Large windows, rather high than wide, with a semicircular top, were arranged in the thickness of the walls in the same way as tower loopholes for archery. In front of the windows there was a stone bench, which served to talk or look out the window. Windows were rarely glazed (glass is an expensive material used mainly for church stained-glass windows), more often they were covered with a small lattice of wicker or metal, or they were covered with glued cloth or an oiled sheet of parchment nailed to the frame.

A hinged wooden sash was attached to the window, often internal rather than external; usually it was not closed, unless they slept in a large hall.

Despite the fact that the windows were few and rather narrow, they still let in enough light to illuminate the hall on summer days. In the evening or winter, sunlight replaced not only the fire of the fireplace, but also resin torches, tallow candles or oil lamps, which were attached to the walls and ceiling. Thus, internal lighting always turned out to be a source of heat and smoke, but this was still not enough to defeat dampness – a real scourge of a medieval dwelling. Wax candles, like glass, were reserved only for the richest houses and churches.

The floor in the hall was made of planks of wood, clay or, more rarely, stone slabs, but whatever it was, it was never left uncovered. In winter, it was covered with straw – either finely chopped, or woven into coarse mats. In spring and summer – reeds, branches and flowers (lilies, gladioli, irises). Fragrant herbs and incense plants such as mint and verbena were placed along the walls. Wool carpets and embroidered bedspreads were generally used for seating only in bedrooms. In the great hall, everyone was usually located on the floor, spreading skins and furs.

The ceiling, which is also the floor of the upper floor, often remained unfinished, but in the 13th century they began to decorate it with beams and caissons, creating geometric patterns, heraldic friezes or ornate ornaments depicting animals. Sometimes the walls were painted in the same way, but more often they were simply painted in some particular color (red and yellow ocher were preferred) or covered with a pattern that imitated the appearance of hewn stone or a chessboard. Frescoes are already appearing in princely houses depicting allegorical and historical scenes borrowed from legends, the Bible or literary works. It is known, for example, that King Henry III of England liked to sleep in a room whose walls were decorated with episodes from the life of Alexander the Great, a hero who aroused special admiration in the Middle Ages. However, such a luxury remained available only to the sovereign. An ordinary vassal, inhabitant of a wooden dungeon, had to be content with a rough bare wall, ennobled only by his own spear and shield.

Tapestries with geometric, floral or historical motifs were used instead of wall paintings. However, more often these are not real tapestries (which were usually brought from the East), but mostly embroidery on thick fabric, like the so-called “Queen Matilda carpet”, stored in Bayeux.

Tapestries made it possible to hide a door or a window or divide a large room into several rooms – “bedrooms”.

Quite often this word meant not the room where they slept, but the totality of all the tapestries, embroidered fabrics and various fabrics intended for interior decoration. Going on a trip, they always took tapestries with them, because they were the main element of decorating an aristocratic home, capable of giving it personality traits.

In the 13th century only wooden furniture existed. She was constantly moved (The word “furniture” comes from the word mobile (fr.) – movable. (Note. Lane)), because, with the exception of the bed, the rest of the furniture did not have a single purpose. So, the chest, the main type of furniture, served simultaneously as a cabinet, table and seat. To perform the latter function, he could have a back and even handles. However, the chest is only an extra seat. They mostly sat on common benches, sometimes divided into separate seats, on small wooden benches, on small stools without a back. The chair was intended for the owner of the house or an honored guest. The squires and women sat on bundles of straw, sometimes covered with embroidered cloth, or simply on the floor, like servants and lackeys. Several boards laid on the goats made up a table; for the duration of the meal, it was arranged in the center of the hall. It turned out to be long, narrow and somewhat taller than modern tables. Companions sat on one side, leaving the other free to serve dishes.

There was little furniture: in addition to chests, in which dishes, household utensils, clothes, money and letters were shoved at random, sometimes there was a wardrobe or sideboard, less often a sideboard, where the richest placed precious dishes or jewelry. Often, such furniture was replaced by niches in the wall, hung with draperies or closed with doors. Clothes were usually not folded, but rolled up and scented. They also rolled letters written on parchment before putting them in a linen bag, which served as a kind of safe, where, in addition, one or more leather wallets were kept.

To get a better idea of ​​the furniture and decor of the main hall of the donjon, we need to add a few caskets, some knick-knacks and some cult items (relics, sprinklers). As we can see, in this respect it is very far from abundance. There was even less furniture in the bedrooms: the men had a bed and chest, the women had a bed and something like a dressing table. No benches or chairs, sitting on straw covered with cloth, on the floor or on the bed. The huge square bed looked more wide than long. One usually did not sleep.

Even if the owner of the castle and his wife had separate bedrooms, they still shared one bed. In the rooms of children, servants or guests, the beds were also shared. Two, four or six of them slept on them.

The senior’s bed usually stood on a raised platform, with his head to the wall, his feet to the fireplace. A kind of vault was created from a wooden frame, where a canopy was hung to isolate the sleeping people from the outside world. The bedding was almost indistinguishable from modern ones. A feather bed was laid on a straw mattress or mattress, and a bottom sheet was laid on top of it. She was covered with a top sheet that was not tucked in. On top lay a duvet or wadded blanket, quilted like modern ones. The bolster and pillowcases are also similar to those we use today. White embroidered sheets were made of linen or silk, woolen bedspreads were lined with ermine or squirrel fur. For less prosperous people, burlap was used instead of silk, and twill was used instead of wool.

In this soft and spacious bed (so wide that it could only be made with a stick) people usually slept completely naked, but with a cap on their heads. Before going to bed, they hung clothes on a rod driven into the wall like a hanger, protruding almost to the middle of the room parallel to the bed, they left only a shirt on themselves, but they took it off already in bed and, having folded it, put it under the pillow to put it on again in the early morning before getting up.

The fireplace in the bedroom was not heated all day. It was bred only in the evening during the family vigil, which took place here in a more intimate atmosphere than in the great hall. In the hall there was a truly gigantic fireplace, designed for large logs; in front of him stood several shops, which could accommodate ten, fifteen or even twenty people. A conical hood with protruding posts formed something like a house inside the hall. The fireplace was not decorated with anything; the custom of placing a family coat of arms on it appeared only at the beginning of the 14th century.