Visiting a castle is something that many travelers wish to do on their vacations, especially when it comes to European destinations. These monumental structures hold so much history within their walls and while it's not always uplifting, it is always fascinating. From medieval marks left on vast countrysides to Scottish fortresses built to protect land that its people were once so passionate about, there's much to learn from these places.
Over the centuries, castles have been transformed to evolve with the times and with their purposes. Not many people would believe that some of the earliest castles were nothing but mounds of earth, especially not in comparison to the towering stone fortresses that still stand today. Here's a brief history of how castles evolved so that every traveler will know exactly what they're visiting in the future.
Earliest: Motte & Bailey Castles
Early on during the 1000s, castles had not yet taken on the classic look of the Medieval Ages. The design was very primitive and while the intention was defense, it didn't necessarily always work out in the castle defender's favor. The construct of the castle consisted of earthworks, with the stone held together in a circular shape. The structures were almost always built on top of mounds of dirt or atop a hillside since this did give the castle dweller an edge over oncoming enemies.
- Purpose: The goal of these motte and bailey castles being built so high up was to force enemies to struggle up the hill on which they were built. Thus, giving inhabitants time to defend the castle.
Shell Keep Castles
About one century later, builders discovered ways to reinforce the traditional motte and bailey castle design so that it was sturdier. Whereas traditional fencing around the castles was wood and very easily torn down or burned, the new construction consisted of a thin stone wall. This helped alley enemies and give those inside some time to come up with defensive measures. Though it was a huge advancement for the time, there are few of these original castles which still exist throughout the U.K. today.
Concentric Castles
This type of castle is the iconic shape that many people recognize from video games. Any castle-defending game will showcase a castle that has four round posts with solid, straight walls connecting them in between.
The castle would feature thick walls and outer walls that needed to be breached before even reaching the actual castle walls. These castles were built during the 1200s, and two still exist today in North Wales.
Norman Stone Castles
Norman castles were built with both wood and stone. Stone construction came first and this is also when the advent of flaming arrows came into play - a common medieval weapon that did, indeed, exist. During a castle siege, those attacking would shoot flaming arrows at the top of the castle, which had a square opening at the top, and the wood construction would catch fire, thus torching the castle.
- Fact: When stone became the primary means of construction material used for the Norman castle, it would take years to complete in full.
Gothic Castles
Today, many of the gothic castles that were built during the mid-Medieval era are what most people are used to seeing. While some people might think that the revival of castle architecture was simply due to a change in design, it was actually due to the nature of castle life. Living in a Norman castle meant that most days were damp and cold with little reprieve from the darkness within the castle. With such structure walls built for defense, it was challenging to make a castle both aesthetically pleasing and practical.
- What Was Added: During the construction of gothic-style castles, larger windows, and decorative designs were added to the interior of the castle, and rooms were built higher up to allow for more light.
Castles Today
As time went on and the threat of a castle siege became less and less of immediate concern, the architecture of these dwellings changed. Rather than featuring solid walls of stone, they evolved to feature towers, huge glass windows, spindles, and drawbridges. These fairy tale-type of castles were quickly romanticized and became homes for royalty, growing to include gardens and cottages for guests. The structures that were once used as a form of defense slowly became homes that were featured prominently as a symbol of wealth and status. Today, these are the castles that most people consider visiting and they've held up better than any other.