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

When we hear the word “castle,” our imagination conjures up an image of a majestic fortress - the hallmark of the fantasy genre. There's hardly another architectural structure, which would attract so much attention from historians, military experts, tourists, writers and lovers of “fairy-tale” fiction.

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

Surprisingly, it is a fact - fortified dwellings of feudal lords in different parts of the world (Japan, Asia, Europe) were built according to very similar principles and had many common design features. But in this article we will focus primarily on medieval European feudal fortresses, since they served as the basis for the creation of a mass artistic image of a “medieval castle” as a whole.

Birth of a fortress

The Middle Ages in Europe were a turbulent time. The feudal lords, for any reason, organized small wars among themselves - or rather, not even wars, but, to put it modern language, armed “showdowns”. If a neighbor had money, it had to be taken away. Lots of land and peasants? This is simply indecent, because God ordered sharing. And if knightly honor was affected, then it was simply impossible to do without a small victorious war.

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

Initially, these fortifications were made of wood and did not resemble the castles we know in any way - except that a ditch was dug in front of the entrance and a wooden palisade was placed around the house.

The manorial courts of Hasterknaup and Elmendorv are the ancestors of the 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 European castle has its roots in antiquity. The earliest structures of this kind copied Roman military camps (tents surrounded by a palisade). It is generally accepted that the tradition of building gigantic (by the standards of that time) stone structures began with the Normans, and classic castles appeared in the 12th century.

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

The castle had very simple requirements - it must be inaccessible to the enemy, provide surveillance of the area (including the nearest villages belonging to the owner of the castle), have its own source of water (in case of a siege) and perform representative functions - that is, show the power and wealth of the feudal lord.

Beaumarie Castle, owned by Edward I.

Welcome

We are heading to the castle, which stands on a ledge of a mountain slope, at the edge of a fertile valley. The road goes through a small settlement - one of those that usually grew up near the fortress wall. Simple people live here - mostly artisans, and warriors guarding the outer perimeter of defense (in particular, guarding our road). These are the so-called “castle people”.

Scheme of castle structures. Note that there are two gate towers, the largest one standing separately.

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

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

Sometimes dividing ditches were dug inside the castle, making it difficult for the enemy to move through its territory.

The bottom shape of ditches could be V-shaped or 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, preventing only the advance of infantry (it is almost impossible to dig under the castle wall in the rock - therefore the depth of the ditch was not of decisive importance).

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

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

Scheme of the entrance to the castle: 2 - gallery on the wall, 3 - drawbridge, 4 - grate.

Counterweights on the gate lift.

Castle gate.

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

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

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

The gate is the most vulnerable part of the castle; it was usually not made directly into its wall, but was located in the so-called “gate towers”. Most often, the gates were double-leaf, and the doors were knocked together from two layers of boards. To protect against arson, they were lined with iron on the outside. At the same time, in one of the doors there was a small narrow door that could only be passed through 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 cross beam could also be inserted into hook-shaped slots on the walls. Its main purpose was to protect the goal from being attacked by attackers.

Behind the gate there was usually a lowering grate. Most often it was made of wood, with lower ends bound in iron. But there were also iron gratings made from steel tetrahedral rods. The lattice could descend from a gap in the arch of the gate portal, or be located behind them (on the inside of the gate tower), descending along grooves in the walls.

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

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

Tar noses.

All on the wall!

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

Often double walls were built in castles - a high external one and a small internal one. An empty space appeared between them, which received the German name “zwinger”. The attackers, when overcoming the outer wall, could not take with them additional assault devices (bulky ladders, poles and other things that cannot be moved inside the fortress). Once in the zwinger in front of another wall, they became an easy target (there were small loopholes in the walls of the zwinger for archers).

Zwinger at Lanek Castle.

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

In addition to the battlements, behind which it was convenient to hide, the castle walls were equipped with loopholes. The attackers fired through them. Due to the peculiarities of using throwing weapons (freedom of movement and a certain shooting position), the loopholes for archers were long and narrow, and for crossbowmen they were short, widening on the sides.

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

Pedestrian gallery on the wall.

Balconies (the so-called “machiculi”) were installed 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 be adapted for storage. The inner sides of such towers (facing the castle courtyard) were usually left open so that an enemy who broke into the wall could not gain a foothold inside them.

Flanking corner tower.

Castle 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 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, rooms for servants) and a central tower, also known as the “donjon”.

Donjon at Vincennes Castle.

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

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

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 a siege. If, due to the nature 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 into 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 purification - it was filtered through gravel.

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

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

Kitchen at Marksburg Castle.

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

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

Entrance to the donjon.

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

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

Of course, they were taken prisoner, first of all, to obtain a ransom or to use the prisoner in a political game. Therefore, VIPs were provided with the highest class - guarded chambers in the tower were allocated for their maintenance. This is exactly how Frederick the Handsome “spent his time” at the castle of Trausnitz on Pfeimde and Richard the Lionheart in Trifels.

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

At the very top of the tower there was an open (less often covered, but if necessary, the roof could be dropped) platform where a catapult or other throwing weapon could be installed to fire at the enemy. The standard (banner) of the owner of the castle was also erected there.

Sometimes the donjon did not serve as a living space. It could well have been used only for military-economic purposes (observation posts on the tower, dungeon, food 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 the living conditions in the castles were far from the most pleasant. Only the largest palaces had a large knightly hall for celebrations. It was very cold in the dungeons and palaces. Fireplace heating helped, but the walls were still covered with thick tapestries and carpets - not for decoration, but to preserve heat.

The windows let in very little sunlight (this was 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 a unique feeling.

Castle toilet.

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

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

ABOUT underground passages There are many tales told in castles. Of course, there were moves. But very few of them led from the castle somewhere into the neighboring forest and could be used as an escape route. As a rule, there were no long moves at all. Most often there were short tunnels between individual buildings, or from the dungeon to a complex of caves under the castle (an additional shelter, warehouse or treasury).

War on earth and underground

Contrary to popular misconceptions, the average size of the military garrison of an ordinary castle during active hostilities rarely exceeded 30 people. This was quite enough for defense, since the inhabitants of the fortress were in relative safety behind its walls and did not suffer such losses as the attackers.

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 a war of mediocre feudal lords).

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

The inhabitants of the castle rarely launched counterattacks. This simply did not make sense - there were fewer of them than the attackers, and they felt much calmer behind the walls. A special case is forays for food. The latter were carried out, as a rule, at night, in small groups that walked along poorly guarded paths to the nearest villages.

The attackers had no less problems. The siege of castles sometimes lasted for years (for example, the German Turant defended from 1245 to 1248), so the question of logistics for an army of several hundred people arose especially acutely.

In the case of the siege of Turant, chroniclers claim that during all this time the soldiers of the attacking army drank 300 fuders of wine (a fuder is a huge barrel). This amounts to about 2.8 million liters. Either the census taker made a mistake, or the constant number of besiegers was more than 1000 people.

The most preferred season for starving a castle was summer - there is less rain than in spring or autumn (in winter, the inhabitants of the castle could get water by melting snow), the crops were not yet ripe, and old supplies had already run out.

The attackers tried to deprive the castle of a source of water (for example, they built dams on the river). In the most extreme cases, “biological weapons” were used - corpses were thrown into the water, which could provoke outbreaks of epidemics throughout the area. Those inhabitants of the castle who were captured were mutilated by the attackers and released. They returned back and became unwitting parasites. They might not have been accepted at the castle, but if they were the wives or children of the besieged, then the voice of the heart outweighed considerations of tactical expediency.

The residents of the surrounding villages who tried to deliver supplies to the castle were treated no less cruelly. In 1161, during the siege of Milan, Frederick Barbarossa ordered the hands of 25 townspeople of Piacenza who were trying to supply food to their enemies to be cut off.

The besiegers set up a permanent camp near the castle. It also had some simple fortifications (palisades, earthen ramparts) in case of a sudden attack by the fortress’s defenders. For protracted sieges, a so-called “counter-castle” was built next to the castle. Usually it was located higher than the besieged one, which made it possible to conduct effective observation of the besieged from its walls and, if the distance allowed, to fire at them from throwing weapons.

View of Eltz Castle from Trutz-Eltz Counter-Castle.

The war against castles had its own specifics. After all, any more or less high stone fortification presented a serious obstacle to conventional armies. Direct infantry attacks on the fortress could well be crowned with success, which, however, came at the cost of great casualties.

That is why, in order to successfully capture the castle, a whole complex of military measures was necessary (the siege and starvation have already been mentioned above). One of the most labor-intensive, but at the same time extremely successful ways to overcome the castle’s defenses was undermining.

Undermining was done for two purposes - to provide troops with direct access to the castle's courtyard or to destroy a section of its wall.

Thus, during the siege of the Altwindstein castle in Northern Alsace in 1332, a brigade of sappers of 80 (!) people took advantage of the diversionary maneuvers of their troops (periodic short attacks on the castle) and over the course of 10 weeks made a long passage through solid rock into the south-eastern part of the fortress .

If the castle wall was not too large and had an unreliable foundation, then a tunnel was dug under its base, the walls of which were strengthened with wooden struts. Next, the spacers were set on fire - just under the wall. The tunnel was collapsing, the base of the foundation was sagging, and the wall above this place was falling apart.

Storming of the castle (14th century miniature).

Later, with the advent of gunpowder weapons, bombs were planted in tunnels under castle walls. To neutralize the undermining, the besieged sometimes dug counter-undermining. Enemy sappers were poured with boiling water, bees were released into the tunnel, feces were poured into it (and in ancient times The Carthaginians launched live crocodiles into Roman mines.

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

But the main argument in attacking the castle were siege engines - catapults and rams. The first were not much different from those catapults that were used by the Romans. These devices were equipped with a counterweight, which imparted the greatest force to the throwing arm. With proper dexterity of the “gun crew,” catapults were quite accurate weapons. They threw large, smoothly hewn stones, and the combat range (on average, several hundred meters) was regulated by the weight of the projectiles.

A type of catapult is a trebuchet.

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

Storming a castle using a mobile tower.

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

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

Having overcome the rampart, broken the palisades and filled in the ditch, the attackers either stormed the castle using ladders or used tall wooden towers, the upper platform of which was flush with the wall (or even higher than it). These gigantic structures were doused with water to prevent the defenders from setting them on fire and were rolled up to the castle along a plank flooring. A heavy platform was thrown over the wall. The assault group climbed up the internal stairs, went out onto the platform and fought into the gallery of the fortress wall. Usually this meant that in a couple of minutes the castle would be taken.

Silent Sapa

Sapa (from the French sape, literally - hoe, saper - to dig) is a method of digging a ditch, trench or tunnel to approach its fortifications, used in the 16th-19th centuries. The switchback (quiet, secretive) and flying glanders are known. Work with a shift gland was carried out from the bottom of the original ditch without workers going to the surface, and with a flying gland - from the surface of the earth under the cover of a previously prepared protective embankment of barrels and bags of earth. In the 2nd 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: to sneak, slowly, unnoticed, to penetrate somewhere.

Fights on the castle stairs

From one floor of the tower it was possible to get 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 rely only on his own ability to fight, because the steepness of the turn was chosen in such a way that it was impossible to use a spear or long sword from behind the leader’s back. Therefore, the battles on the stairs were reduced to single combat between the defenders of the castle and one of the attackers. Namely the defenders, because they could easily replace each other, since there was a special extended area behind them.

In all castles, the stairs twist clockwise. There is only one castle with a reverse twist - the fortress of the Counts Wallenstein. When studying the history of this family, it was discovered that most of the men in it were left-handed. Thanks to this, historians realized that such a design of stairs greatly facilitates the work of the defenders. The most powerful blow with a sword can be delivered towards your left shoulder, and a shield in your left hand best covers your body from this direction. Only the defender has all these advantages. The attacker can only strike to the right side, but his striking hand will be pressed against the wall. If he puts his shield forward, he will almost lose the ability to use weapons.

Samurai castles

Himeji Castle.

We know the least about exotic castles - for example, Japanese ones.

Initially, samurai and their overlords lived on their estates, where, apart from the “yagura” watchtower and a small moat around the dwelling, there were no other defensive structures. In case of a protracted war, fortifications were erected in hard-to-reach areas of the mountains, where it was possible to defend against superior enemy forces.

Stone castles began to be built at the end of the 16th century, taking into account European achievements in fortification. An indispensable feature of a Japanese castle are wide and deep artificial ditches with steep slopes that surrounded it on all sides. Usually they were filled with water, but sometimes this function was performed by a natural water barrier - a river, lake, 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 Honmaru, on which the feudal lord's palace and the high central tenshukaku tower were erected. The latter consisted of several gradually decreasing rectangular tiers with protruding tiled roofs and pediments.

Japanese castles, as a rule, were 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.

Ancient charm

Castles are still being built today. Those that were state property are often returned to the descendants of ancient families. Castles are a symbol of the influence of their owners. They are an example of an ideal compositional solution, which combines unity (defense considerations did not allow the picturesque distribution of buildings throughout the territory), multi-level buildings (main and secondary) and the utmost functionality of all components. Elements of castle architecture have already become archetypes - for example, a castle tower with battlements: its image sits in the subconscious of any more or less educated person.

French castle of Saumur (14th century miniature).

And finally, we love castles because they are simply romantic. Knightly tournaments, ceremonial receptions, vile conspiracies, secret passages, ghosts, treasures - when applied to castles, all this ceases to be a legend and turns into history. The expression “the walls remember” fits perfectly here: it seems that every stone of the castle breathes and hides a secret. I would like to believe that medieval castles will continue to maintain an aura of mystery - because without it, sooner or later they will turn into an old pile of stones.

Many of us love to visit castles when traveling - beautiful ancient buildings that still awe with their grandeur. Of course, they all deserve our attention, but there are some that every person needs to see at least once in their life. By the way, the names of ancient castles are often very euphonious, making you want to admire the ancient strongholds of knights and kings. In order not to be unfounded, let's consider some as an example.

Austria. Mirabell Castle

In ancient times, almost everything was done out of love. Feats were accomplished, wars began, and castles were created - ancient and unusual today. Beautiful stone structures were often given to loved ones as a wedding gift or as a token of eternal love. And Mirabell Castle, which is located in Austria, is no exception. It was erected in 1606 by order of Archbishop Wolf Dietrich, who later gave the fortress to a lady for whom he had tender feelings. After the death of the archbishop, Mirabell Castle fell into a variety of hands. Its new owners changed and rebuilt the structure in every possible way, so to this day the fortress has practically not retained its original appearance. But even this did not stop Mirabell from becoming one of the most colorful and magnificent castles in Europe. And this is by no means an exaggeration. Despite the fact that castles - ancient, beautiful and unusual - are quite common throughout Austria, it was Mirabell that became the pearl of the beautiful Baroque in Salzburg.

Germany. Lion Castle

If you have visited Germany at least once, in particular the city of Kassel, then you have certainly visited one of the most popular routes here, which is called the “German Fairy Tale Road”. On it you can find the medieval Castle of the Lion, which could easily become a great place for the film adaptation of some fantastic story. For some time the fortress was even called the second “Disneyland”. Many believe that ancient castles were built back in the Middle Ages, and when looking at this building, it seems that it could become a pearl of that era. But the interesting thing is that the Lion Castle was built only in the 18th century. The architect who was involved in the design and construction traveled around England before starting work. There he studied the ruins of numerous fortresses with a romantic history, in order to later build a real masterpiece. During the Second World War, the Lion Castle was heavily destroyed, but despite this, tourists from all over the world love to visit it.

Germany: Neuschwanstein

Ancient and unusual castles are found all over the world, but perhaps the craziest embodiment of human fantasy can be called Neuschwanstein, which is located on the territory of the same Germany. It was built at the request of King Ludwig, who since childhood hated noisy and dusty Munich so much and only dreamed of leaving there as soon as possible to his own palace. As soon as he had such an opportunity, Ludwig immediately ordered the construction of a real work of art from stone. To build the fortress of his dreams, the king spared neither effort nor finances. The result was Neuschwanstein - the most beautiful and unusual castle in Europe. Today thousands of tourists from all over the world come here to get at least a glimpse of this masterpiece. Unfortunately, the king himself never saw his dream - he died long before construction was completed.

Czech Republic, Trosky Fortress

When visiting the Czech Republic, you should definitely see the castle-fortress, which is called Trosky. It is located on the territory of the Bohemian Paradise nature reserve. This name is not at all accidental, because landscapes such as here can be seen in few places. Today, no one knows for certain who exactly built the fortress. But most believe that it was the military leader Chenek of Wartenberg, who built it in the 14th century. The view from the castle is so stunning that you will not be able to forget it for the rest of your life.

Portugal: Pena Castle

Despite the fact that there are practically no fortifications on the territory of Portugal that have remained intact and unharmed to this day, one fortress still excites the imagination of hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. Pena's doors are not decorated with ancient ones; they do not greet guests with the cold of stone; this castle is special. Its history begins with a chapel that was built here in the Middle Ages. Time passed, and a monastery began to be built around the chapel. Unfortunately, it has not survived to this day, as it was completely destroyed in the 18th century by a strong earthquake. Until 1838, no one remembered these ruins, until the place caught the eye of Ferdinand II. It was here that he decided to build his country residence.

Pena Fortress is made in two styles: Islamic Gothic, eclecticism and neo-Renaissance. There were exotic trees and flowers all around. The castle is distinguished by its unusual coloring and architectural details. At first glance, it is difficult to realize that you see in front of you a fortification that could withstand the onslaught of enemies. The walls of Pena rise above the city. From here you have an unforgettable view of the streets of Sintra.

Castles are a symbol of the Middle Ages; they have fascinated not only history and architecture buffs for centuries. On no other continent except Europe can you find so many beautiful monumental castles that are evidence of bygone eras. We have prepared a rating of the ten largest castles in Europe that have been delighting, captivating and surprising for centuries.

1. Castle in Malbork

The castle in Malbork is considered by many to be the largest castle not only in Europe, but also in the world. Built of brick, the Gothic castle is located on the right bank of the Nogat, erected in the 13th - 15th centuries, it was the capital of the Teutonic Order and the residence of its masters. Recognized as a historical monument and listed world heritage UNESCO in 1997.

2. Prague Castle in Prague

The impressive size of the castle complex (about 70,000 m2), which since time immemorial has been the residence of the kings of the Czech Republic, and since 1918 the president Czech Republic. The castle includes many objects, including St. Vitus Cathedral, where the Czech coronation jewels are kept.

3. Burghausen Castle

Burghausen Castle is a powerful castle that lies above the old town of Burghausen and is the longest structure of its type in Europe. Its length is 1043 m. It owes its modern appearance to the Wittelsbach family, who lived on its territory in 1393-1505. In subsequent years, it was the property of the city of Burghausen and was used as a military garrison, which entailed significant reconstruction of the castle's fortifications.

4. Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle has been the residence of English kings since 1100. Currently, along with the Palace in Edinburgh, it is one of the main official residences of Queen Elizabeth II. It is one of the largest castles in Europe, with a length of 800 m, 19 towers and a total area of ​​45,000 m2. Interestingly, it is the largest permanently inhabited castle in the world. It has very rich collections of paintings and decorative arts.

5. Hohensalzburg Castle

The incredibly majestic Hohensalzburg Castle is located on the Festung hill above the city of Salzburg. The fortress is 150 m wide and 250 m long, making it one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe. After Viennese landmarks (such as St. Stephen's Cathedral), the castle in Salzburg is the most visited tourist destination in Austria. Built around the 11th-12th centuries. It was used as a residence for aristocratic families, and often as a prison for political opponents.

6. Spis Fortress

Spis Fortress, located on the territory of the Slovak village of Žegra, is a historical castle complex at the turn of the 11th - 12th centuries. It is one of the largest fortresses in central Europe and the largest in Slovakia. Occupying about 4 hectares, the castle was mostly destroyed; only part of the fortress walls has been restored in our time. On the castle grounds there is a small museum with exhibits related to the history of the castle. In 1993 it was included in the UNESCO list.

7. Pierrefonds Castle

Pierrefonds Castle is a medieval castle-fortress located in French region Pierrefonds, built around the 12th century. The building was in a deplorable state for many years, which was caused by religious wars in the 17th century. In later times it was owned, among others, by Napoleon Bonaparte and the House of Bourbon. However, it was only in 1857 that the reconstruction of the castle began, led by Viollet-le-Duc. Unfortunately, the restoration erased the medieval character of the building.

8. Caerphilly Castle

Caerphilly Castle, the largest in Wales and the second largest (after Windsor Castle) in the UK. Built by the English Count Gilbert de Clare in the 13th century over artificial lake. Famous for its half-destroyed tower, the angle of inclination of which is greater than that of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Pisa. The building fell into disrepair during civil war, and its current appearance is the result of reconstruction carried out in the 19th and 20th centuries.

9. Royal Palace in Budapest

Royal Palace in Budapest, a majestic and huge royal castle located on the southern tip of Castle Hill in the center of the Hungarian capital. Already from the 13th century, royal residences were located on Castle Hill, but only the Habsburgs, who ruled Hungary, created the luxury known today. Its interiors, which were not reconstructed after World War II, house modern public institutions and museums.

10. Chateau de Chambord

Chateau de Chambord, the largest and most famous castle in the Loire Valley. It represents one of the greatest architectural works of the Renaissance, and its silhouette is one of the most recognizable. Built in the 16th century as a royal residence. The size of the building can be evidenced by the fact that it has 440 rooms, 84 staircases and 6 large towers.

It probably seems to everyone that the most luxurious castles are in Europe. Or where? So know that castles exist everywhere. From South Africa to Louisiana, and even to New Zealand and Iran, any curious traveler can find a castle in almost every corner of the world.

Just to prove this theory for you, the most impressive castles from around the world have been collected for study. This selection reflects some of the most intriguing castles in Europe and the Middle East. The most old fortress currently being rebuilt in Iran after the earthquake, eighty percent of the buildings there were destroyed. The last castle was built in this century on private land on the Sinai coast. Regardless of when these castles were built, most of them can be booked for special events or as a tourist places. So you can always visit to see a piece of royal life.
This list of locks is not a list and does not serve any specific purpose. Thus, the numbering does not mean that one castle is better than another, or that they are listed in order of their quality, size, or historical value.
Europe

It seems like you can't turn around in Europe without a castle tour guide. Europe is the heart of palace culture, and every country has amazing stories about its palaces and fortresses. But, if you can only visit Europe once, the following castles should definitely be included in your travel plans and on your bucket list, because they are the heart of Europe. After you see them, you will understand that it is impossible to convey all the magnificence that comes from them in any photograph.
Windsor castle: If youplanning to visit England, you will find that you could spend months visiting all the castles on this island. However, Windsor Castle is perhaps the most famous castle in the world, as it is - along with Buckingham Palace in London and Holyrod Palace in Edinburgh - this is one of the official residences of the Queen of England and the largest residential castle in the world. This building and its complex have been home to royalty for over 900 years. Originally made of wood, the castle was built for William the Conqueror to guard his approach to London. The castle is located above the River Thames, on the edge of the Saxon hunting grounds and one day's drive from the Tower of London. Visitors can walk around the huge castle, which has extensive apartments in the center of the working palace. Once you've experienced medieval life through this castle, you can visit some of the other best castles in the UK listed in Travel. These castles are all highly recommended, but be sure to visit some of the smaller castles, such as the one located in Dolwyddelan, Wales. This castle is a great place to visit on the way from Betws-Y-Coed to west coast, and provides the opportunity to view Mount Snowden, the high mountain in Wales.
Castello di Strassoldo di Sopra: Although there are more magnificent famous Italian castles, this choice is far from the tourist maddening crowds. This castle is the "upper" fortress, which is located next to the Castello di Strassoldo Sotto ("lower" castle) and, like castles, is located in the northeast of Italy. Both castles are also privately owned by the Strassoldo family and have been in this family for almost a thousand years. Because they are already privately owned, they are not open to the public; however, the owners open their halls to two fascinating exhibits in the spring and fall of each year. In addition, it is important to have wedding banquets and other memorable events personally organized by the owners. The castle's magnificent and fully equipped rooms can accommodate several hundred people, while the park can be used for open-air buffets and wonderful photography. The owners of Castello di Sopra have recently restored a fifteenth century cottage called "LA Vicinia", which they rent out overnight. This building and castle is located in the heart of a wonderful medieval village, surrounded by a centuries-old park that is fed by spring waters.
Frankenstein's Castle: Darmstadt, Germany is the setting for Mary Shelley's gothic horror novel, Frankenstein. This 18th-century castle is the home of Lord Conrad von Dippel Frankenstein. There are many theories about Dippel, including one that he sold his soul for eternal life. In fact, Dippel is a highly controversial alchemist in which the Prussian blue color laboratory was discovered. Perhaps his opponents were trying to destroy his reputation by creating a legend about a monster created in his laboratory. Visit Frankenstein's Castle during Halloween to get the maximum scare factor as you design a monster theme theater show performed in conjunction with the subjects who lurk in the shadows of the fortress. If this castle isn't enough for you, you can visit several other German castles that may tickle your luxurious bones.
Bran Castle: This is another onelock,that the weak of heart could have avoided! Widely known as Dracula's castle, Bran Castle was originally built as a fortress by the Knights of the Teutonic Order in 1212. The first documentary evidence for Bran Castle is the Law of November 19, 1377, giving the Saxons of Kronstadt (Brasov) the privilege to build the Citadel. Construction began in 1378 as a defense from the Turks, and then became a customs post on the passage between Transylvania and Wallachia. Since 1920, the castle has become royal residence until his expulsion from the royal family in 1948. Today it operates as a very attractive museum of medieval art. The official Romanian website will provide you with a lowdown on this country of castles, so make sure to check out this website if you are planning to visit Romania.
Chateau de Versailles: This complexLouis XIV's castle is a masterpiece, a structure so magnificent that the state treasury was almost depleted during its construction. Also known as the Palace of Versailles, and now located on the outskirts of Paris, this palace became home to the French nobility in the seventeenth century. As the complex grew through four "building campaigns," Versailles became the center of the French government. Louis XIV lived at Versailles, as well as government offices, the houses of thousands of courtiers and their retinues were built there, and nobles of the same rank and position worked time every year in the court complex. Louis XIV's attempt to centralize the French government succeeded because few could match the ostentatious glamor presented at Versailles. Visitors can now visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site and feature luxuries such as the Hall of Mirrors (photo here), as well as magnificent gardens among other features. The official website also contains a gallery and podcasts where people can learn about the castle before they actually visit. If a castle isn't enough for you, then visit this list of French castle sites.
Near East

The most significant castles in this area include those created by the European Crusaders who arrived in the Middle East in the Middle Ages to defend the Holy Hypocrite Jerusalem. All in all, eight crusades were carried out between 1096 and 1270, and an entire network of castles was built during this era, which stretched from the desert of southern Jordan to the northern Asia Minor mountains. You can access the map showing that sites with Crusader castles are located in the Levant.
What this map doesn't show is that a large percentage of castles are built on Byzantine architecture and with a strong influence of Armenian art. Such castles are often influenced by European architecture, which also borrows from Greco-Armenian influence. On the other hand, an adventurous traveler can use this guide to endure more than a handful of locks during a short trip. We've selected five of the best castles in the region that we think you shouldn't miss - including one that was recently built.
Krak des Chevaliers: TE Lawrenceonce described this fortress, located in Syria, as "the best preserved and most remarkable complete castle in the world." It is the easternmost in a chain of five castles designed to secure the Homs gap, on top of a 650 meter high hill along the only route from Antioch to Beirut and the Mediterranean. This castle and Beaufort, located in Lebanon, are the most important linked castles in the Middle East, and they were planned to play an important role in coastal defense for the Crusaders. In 1142 the castle was given to Raymond, Count of Tripoli, by the Knights Hospitallers, and it was they who, in the course of the fifty years that followed, renovated it and designed it as the most respected work of military architecture of its time. The castle remains one of the most complete units of military architecture from this period, and it has some of the best preserved crusader frescoes in the world. The complex consists of two concentric sandwich ditch walls. The outer wall is an impressive three meters wide, and originally featured a dry ditch and bridge, and was designed to be able to withstand a siege lasting up to five years. Three of the eight round towers were built after the Crusades. Additionally, the chapel inside this complex was later converted into a mosque.
Zaman Castle: Zaman Castleislocated on top of a cliff in the desert halfway between Nuweiba and Taba on Sinai Peninsula. The simple architecture gives amazing views of the Gulf of Aqaba as well as Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The exact site marks a milestone on the ancient road that connected St. Catherine's Monastery with Jerusalem. But, while in the distant future the eye might be fooled into thinking it was an ancient ruin, the castle was built by Zaman along a local theme to house a modern tourist market. Used for honeymooners, parties, cinema and fashion shoots, the castle and its room can be rented weekly or daily depending on availability. Zaman private beach, with its untouched sand and crystal clean water This is the only virgin beach left in Taba and Nuweiba area.
Arg-th Bame castle: This is hugefortress, located on the famous Silk Road, was built some time before 500 BC, and remained in use until 1850 CE. It is not known for some why it was forgotten. Located in the city of Bam, Iran, this castle is the largest adobe building in the world. All the buildings had a large fortress in the center of which the citadel itself is located, but due to the impressive appearance of the citadel, which is the highest point, the entire fortress is called Bame Citadel. Listed by UNESCO as part of a World Heritage Site, but an earthquake in 2003 destroyed more than 80 percent of the buildings. However, because it is a World Heritage Site, a number of countries - including Japan, Italy and France - have joined forces to renovate the buildings. The World Bank also provided large sums of money for the restoration of the project.
Rhodes Castle: Island of Roses orRhodes, is famous for its historical Medieval town, great shopping center and site of the COLOSSUS of Rhodes. This "fortress" was built within the walls of the Old City in the early 13th century by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. The building consists of 205 rooms and a conference area that hosts the highest level of European and world leaders. Today it attracts visitors from all over the world as it houses the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes. Rhodes is located between Crete and the Middle East in the Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and popular even among the Greeks as a holiday retreat. Rhodes has about sixty thousand permanent residents, and it is a financial and cultural center in the southeast Aegean region. Excellent tourist infrastructure, including a wide range of entertainment, makes Rhodes popular.
Kolossi Castle: At Kolossi castleis a fortress located a few kilometers outside the city of Limassol on the island of Cyprus. It held great strategic importance, and contained the production of sugar, one of Cyprus's main exports in the Middle Ages. The fortress was originally built around 1210 by the Frankish military when the land of Kolossi was given by King Hugh I to the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Hospitallers). This stone fortress and baseground were probably used as a store with two underground cisterns. You will need to enter on the first floor using suspension bridge and on the south wall of one of the two lower rooms there is a mural representing the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the Blason Magnac, which is evidence of the royal prayer use of this room. The next room with a fireplace will most likely be the main dining room and reception area. On the second floor there are two more rooms that were used for living. On the roof of the monument, a scorching bowl and loopholes lead the visitor's thoughts to a medieval siege, and with thoughts of boiling oil. Former residents of this castle include Richard the Lionheart and the Knights Templar.