History of medieval castles
In fact, the history of the appearance of castles originates not even in the Middle Ages, but in much earlier times, possibly even prehistoric. And the emergence of castles and fortresses as such is associated with the satisfaction of one of the basic human needs - the need for protection. After all, times have always been turbulent, no, of course, there were times that were relatively more peaceful, but even then wars were fought somewhere. And by and large, wars have always been fought as long as humanity existed. And even if at some time in some place they were not conducted, there was always a certain marginal part of society who wanted to feast on the good of their neighbors (and the distant ones as well).
That is, the castles were originally created as a means of providing protection for themselves and their loved ones, so that in the event of an attack, either by the enemy's troops, or simply by dashing robbers and bandits, it would be possible where to hide and successfully repel the attack of intruders.
The first castles in history were not at all similar to what we mean by them now - they were built of wood and represented a space enclosed by a wooden palisade, and a moat dug around this palisade.
Progress did not stand still, and construction of wood was replaced by construction of stone. The first stone castles began to be built by the Romans, often they arose in the places of fortified garrisons of the Roman legions. With the fall of the Roman Empire and the onset of the Middle Ages, numerous counts, barons, feudal lords and, of course, kings of the newly formed European medieval states took over the business of castle building.
The Middle Ages were a very turbulent time, and the need for protection was especially strong, so castles arose like mushrooms after rain - in case of danger, all the inhabitants of the surrounding villages fled under the protection of the castle walls. Subsequently, large medieval cities were formed on the site of many castles. For example, the hometown of the author of the article, Lviv, was formed from a castle built by the prince (and later the king) Danila Galitsky in the 1240s. And already in 1256, there is the first written mention of the city that arose from a settlement around this very castle and named after the son of the founder Lev Danilovich - Lvov. Unfortunately, until our time, the Lviv Castle (also known as the High Castle) has not survived.
Over time, in the era of the late Middle Ages, castles from ordinary places of refuge and protection turned into an attribute of luxury, power and prestige - it happened that some influential feudal lord with a fortified castle could not be subject even to the king himself. In general, European feudal lords often measured their castles (hello to grandfather Freud), on the subject of who has a larger and more inaccessible castle.
In general, every decent medieval castle had to meet the following basic requirements:
is located in an inaccessible and elevated area so that you can observe significant distances from a height and see the approach of a potential enemy from a distance (during this time, you have time to prepare for the defense, close the gates, heat the resin for intruders, and so on), have a source of water inside - in case of a possible prolonged siege, perform representative functions, that is, to emphasize in every possible way the wealth and power of the owner of the castle, be it a count, baron, prince or even a king. Outline of a medieval castle
One of the important details of the medieval castle is a deep moat dug along its perimeter, and in front of it is a rampart of elongated land. Ideally, when the moat surrounds the walls of the castle completely, but often this is not allowed by the landscape and the shape of the soil. If the soil around the castle is rocky, then the ditch is either not dug at all, or they make it small, capable of delaying only the advance of the enemy infantry. Some historians classify the types of medieval castles, depending on whether they have a moat, or vice versa.
If there is a deep moat, then the entrance to the medieval castle is through a special drawbridge, which was usually set in motion by mechanisms hidden in the building above it. Also, in European castles, there were often drawbridges operating on the principle of a swing - one half of them was inside the castle, the other outside. When attacking the castle, the inner part of the bridge rose, lowering the outer one, thereby throwing off the attackers, who managed to climb on it, into the "wolf's pit" hidden in the ditch. Also, when the gates were closed, one could get into the castle through the side gate, which also had its own small drawbridge.
List of main castles
https://all-andorra.com/the-chateau-de-la-roche/
https://all-andorra.com/the-chaintre-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/chateau-des-jacques-and-its-wineries/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-corcelles/
https://all-andorra.com/vinzelles-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-laye/
https://all-andorra.com/the-rochetaillee-castle-and-its-henri-malartre-automobile-museum/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-pont-de-veyle-dates-back-to-1249/
https://all-andorra.com/the-machy-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-ombreval-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-epeyssoles-castle-is-mentioned-since-1289/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-montmelas-and-its-wineries/
https://all-andorra.com/jarnioux-and-its-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/montsegur-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-commequiers-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-noirmoutier-castle-with-its-almost-20-metre-high-keep/
https://all-andorra.com/careil-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/gressiere-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/la-verie-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-apremont/
https://all-andorra.com/the-plassac-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-mareuil-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/kervaudu-castle-former-residence-of-ferdinand-du-puigaudeau/
https://all-andorra.com/beaumarchais-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-jonzac/
https://all-andorra.com/chateau-des-egretaux/
https://all-andorra.com/tremeac-castle-property-of-the-le-pourceau-family-from-rolivaud/
https://all-andorra.com/the-citadel-of-chateau-doleron/
https://all-andorra.com/chateau-de-la-roche-courbon-and-its-gardens/
https://all-andorra.com/fouras-fort-vauban/
https://all-andorra.com/crazannes-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/panloy-castle-and-its-park/
https://all-andorra.com/nieul-les-saintes-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/montreuil-bellay-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/chateau-de-saumur/
https://all-andorra.com/the-audardiere-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/goulaine-castle-the-oldest-known-wine-business-still-in-existence/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-des-ducs-de-bretagne/
https://all-andorra.com/mirambeau-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/cazeneuve-royal-castle-property-of-henri-iv/
https://all-andorra.com/fort-louvois-welcomes-nearly-27000-visitors-a-year/
https://all-andorra.com/gataudiere-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-saint-jean-dangle/
https://all-andorra.com/talmont-castle-and-its-ruins/
https://all-andorra.com/classerie-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/coing-castle-and-its-famous-muscadet-wines/
https://all-andorra.com/the-napoule-castle-and-its-gardens/
https://all-andorra.com/vallauris-castle-former-priory-of-the-abbey-of-lerins/
https://all-andorra.com/the-can-feu-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/chateau-du-plessis-in-la-roche-sur-yon-france/
https://all-andorra.com/arcangues-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-souzy-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/chateau-de-la-barge-and-its-park/
https://all-andorra.com/the-montribloud-castle-dates-back-to-1299/
https://all-andorra.com/the-saint-bernard-castle-property-of-maurice-utrillo/
https://all-andorra.com/the-adhemar-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/bellocq-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/montreal-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-fetan-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/arques-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-thoiriat-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-courbeville-castle-dates-back-to-the-13th-century/
https://all-andorra.com/laballe-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-saint-elme-citadel/
https://all-andorra.com/grimaldi-castle-and-its-museum-of-modern-art-and-ethnography/
https://all-andorra.com/salses-fortress/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-roquebrune-cap-martin-and-its-medieval-village/
https://all-andorra.com/the-beaupuy-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/pailhes-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/villerouge-termenes-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/cabezac-castle-and-its-wineries/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-the-archbishops-of-narbonne-first-mentioned-in-1360/
https://all-andorra.com/chateau-de-jonquieres/
https://all-andorra.com/guilhem-castle-built-for-the-lords-of-clermont-lherault/
https://all-andorra.com/the-peyrepertuse-castle-with-its-views/
https://all-andorra.com/malmont-castle-and-its-wineries/
https://all-andorra.com/grezan-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/cassan-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/margon-castle-the-imposing-12th-century-fortress/
https://all-andorra.com/the-lezignan-la-cebe-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/chateau-les-sacristains/
https://all-andorra.com/do-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-grammont-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castries-castle-little-versailles-of-languedoc/
https://all-andorra.com/the-mogere-castle-designed-by-an-architect-jean-giral-in-1715/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-flaugergues/
https://all-andorra.com/the-mallet-castle-dates-from-the-18th-century/
https://all-andorra.com/the-girard-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-maureilhan-castle-in-the-department-of-herault/
https://all-andorra.com/the-agel-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-aguilar-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-padern-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-puilaurens-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/can-jaumar-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-can-taio/
https://all-andorra.com/fort-du-mont-alban/
https://all-andorra.com/the-torre-de-claramunt-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-piera/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-castellet/
https://all-andorra.com/saissac-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/lastours-castles/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-sant-ferran/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-peralada/
https://all-andorra.com/requesens-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/masllorenc/
https://all-andorra.com/the-emporda-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-balsareny/
https://all-andorra.com/urtubie-castle-and-its-tapestry-collection/
https://all-andorra.com/plessis-castle-was-listed-as-a-historical-monument-in-1975/
https://all-andorra.com/the-riudabella-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/evol-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-besora/
https://all-andorra.com/fort-liberia/
https://all-andorra.com/talamanca-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-fort-or-castle-of-bellaguarda/
https://all-andorra.com/tossa-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-colomers-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/vilopriu-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/sant-mori-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/vilajoan-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-farners-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/rodonya-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/aubiry-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/pals-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/lladurs-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-cartella-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/puivert-the-cathar-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-floresta/
https://all-andorra.com/the-mur-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-albons/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-bellcaire/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-montgri/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-ager/
https://all-andorra.com/the-os-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/manresana-tower/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-calaf/
https://all-andorra.com/enfesta-castle-declared-cultural-good-of-national-interest/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-malgrat/
https://all-andorra.com/sallent-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-villavecchia/
https://all-andorra.com/roquefixade-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-gardeny/
https://all-andorra.com/mont-louis-the-city-and-the-fortress-of-the-sun-king/
https://all-andorra.com/the-riner-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/castellar-castle-declared-a-cultural-asset-of-national-interest/
https://all-andorra.com/castles-of-spain-castellmeia/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-sitges/
https://all-andorra.com/florejacs-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/granyena-castle-it-had-been-the-first-templars-castle-in-catalonia/
https://all-andorra.com/torre-del-riu-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-cervera/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-verdu/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-tarrega/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-and-village-of-talarn-are-a-medieval-fortification-complex/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-sort-declared-a-cultural-asset-of-national-interest/
https://all-andorra.com/catalan-castles-vilamajor-dagramunt-tower/
https://all-andorra.com/the-vicfred-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/ribelles-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/preixens-castle-an-object-of-spains-cultural-heritage/
https://all-andorra.com/guimera-castle-rise-at-555-meters-above-the-corb-river/
https://all-andorra.com/ciutadilla-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/fonolleres-castle-declared-a-cultural-asset-of-national-interest/
https://all-andorra.com/remei-castle-and-its-wineries/
https://all-andorra.com/catalan-fortresses-formos-in-balaguer/
https://all-andorra.com/montclar-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/montsonis-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/castles-of-spain-castellvell-in-solsona-catalonia-pyrenees/
https://all-andorra.com/montesquieu-castle-in-the-municipality-of-osona-catalan-pyrenees/
https://all-andorra.com/the-varennes-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-chatillon-dazergues/
https://all-andorra.com/the-tours-castle-in-anse/
https://all-andorra.com/lloberola-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-orgeix-castle-on-the-lake-dorgeix-near-ax-les-thermes/
https://all-andorra.com/the-royal-castle-of-collioure/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-cornella-del-bercol/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-mill-ratera/
https://all-andorra.com/montcortes-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/aranyo-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/pallargues-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/bagnols-and-its-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-cardona-and-the-shapel-of-sant-vicenc/
https://all-andorra.com/the-lachassagne-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/breil-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/platane-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-suria/
https://all-andorra.com/butron-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/carre-fort/
https://all-andorra.com/pobla-de-claramunt-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/de-joyese-duces-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-foix-the-main-citadel-of-the-county-of-foix/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-penyafort/
https://all-andorra.com/beauregard-mirouze-castle-and-its-wineries/
https://all-andorra.com/coustaussa-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/cavanac-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/socoa-fort/
https://all-andorra.com/de-la-hille-castle-a-place-related-to-ww-ii/
https://all-andorra.com/llers-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-les-escaules/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-concabella/
https://all-andorra.com/beaulon-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/begur-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-walls-of-rupia-and-its-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-verges-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/hostalric-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/bidache-the-feudal-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-milmanda/
https://all-andorra.com/vila-rodona-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-lespunyola/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-dartes/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-la-curullada/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-cambrils/
https://all-andorra.com/the-saint-elm-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/quillan-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-biart/
https://all-andorra.com/arbeca/
https://all-andorra.com/kings-castle-of-lleida/
https://all-andorra.com/saldes-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/sanauja-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-briante-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-chessy-castle-city/
https://all-andorra.com/mauvaisin-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-castellbell/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-sant-vicenc-de-castellet/
https://all-andorra.com/the-sant-feliu-de-la-garriga-castle/
https://all-andorra.com/the-castle-of-peralta/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-malda/
https://all-andorra.com/castle-of-espluga-calba/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/1/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/2/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/3/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/4/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/5/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/6/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/7/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/8/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/9/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/10/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/11/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/12/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/13/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/14/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/15/
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https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/17/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/18/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/19/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/20/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/21/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/22/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/23/
https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/castles-and-fortresses-of-the-pyrenees/page/24/
Medieval castle walls The walls of the castle, perhaps, deserve a whole separate section, because, in fact, they form the castle itself. So, first of all, the walls of a medieval castle had to have a deep foundation, so that it would be difficult for opponents to dig under them. The walls themselves were built of processed stone or bricks.
Castles often had double walls: a high outer wall and a smaller inner wall. Between them was an empty space, which received the German name - "zwinger". This zwinger was essential for the defenders of the castle, the fact is that if the attackers managed to overcome the outer wall, they ended up in this very close "zwinger", sandwiched between two walls, where it became an excellent target for archers.
Also, almost all the walls of medieval castles have teeth on top, behind which the defenders could hide, for example, while charging their crossbows. In addition to the battlements on the walls, there were loopholes through which archers, crossbowmen, and in later times musketeers could fire at the enemy.
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