Castle Features
A castle was the fortified home of a wealthy
noble and built as a place of protection in
times of battle.
Moat
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A moat was a great ditch around a castle and
could be either wet or dry.
The moat, usually filled with water, was an
important part of medieval fortification.
Castle builders frequently diverted small streams
or rivers to fill the moats with water and
enhance the defenses of a castle.
Moat
Drawbridge
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The drawbridge was one of the most important
defensive features of a castle.
A drawbridge was a main entry to a castle and
usually located over a moat.
This drawbridge could be raised, leaving
attackers unable to enter the castle.
Drawbridge
Gatehouse
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The gatehouse was the living quarters of the
guards over the main gate of the castle.
As time went on it became heavily fortified and
very important.
Access to the palace grounds on this side could
be made only through this drawbridge and
gatehouse.
Gatehouse
Gatehouse
The portcullis was a heavy gate made of wood
and iron which could be dropped down to
close off the gatehouse.
An exposed portcullis.
Outer Wall
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The outer wall, or curtain as it was sometimes called, a
feature common to most medieval castles.
The curtain was simply a set of walls that surrounded
and protected the interior of the castle.
Strongly built, it was not uncommon for the castle's
walls to be 10 or more feet in thickness.
Walls were often connected by a series of towers to add
strength and provide for better defense of the ground
outside the castle.
A drum tower was a round tower built into a wall,
usually connecting stretches of exterior curtain wall.
Wall Walks
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Wall Walks were an important security feature in
medieval castles.
They made it easy to move quickly between
towers and allowed the garrison to better defend
the castle.
Sentries could keep watch for approaching enemies from their
high position, and defenders could use the wall walks as a
fighting platform from which attackers could be repulsed.
Battlement – a narrow wall built along the outer edge
of the wall walk to protect soldiers against attack.
A Closer Look
Arrow-loops were narrow openings or crosses set
inside walls and towers enabling defenders to launch
arrows at outside attackers.
The Keep
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Almost all castle construction began as a single tower,
called a keep, to which other defensive works were later
added.
The keep was the strongest and most heavily fortified
part of the castle, and was usually the place of last
refuge when defending the castle.
The keep was the center of castle life, often serving as
the lord's residence.
In it the great hall was located. The great hall was the
heart of the castle. It was used for family dinners,
banquets, games, dancing, and entertainment and
sometimes a courtroom.
Keeps were sometimes built round and
sometimes square. Square keeps made nicer
rooms
But round keeps were easier to defend
Attacking a Castle
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A movable tower, used to put armed men on
top of the walls of a fortified place.
Animal hides have been hung on the side of the
tower to prevent its catching fire from fire
arrows.
The moat, at lower left, has been filled in with
logs so the tower can be rolled into position.
Movable Tower
Attacking a Castle
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The trebuchet was a serious weapon of medieval
castle warfare and siege.
Using a large counterweight, it was able to hurl
huge stones against castle walls and was
surprisingly effective.
Trebuchet
Trebuchet