Medieval Castle Architecture

Medieval Castles Castles were a vital part of medieval life. The architecture of these large dwellings was designed for military purposes. Life inside of a castle was extremely busy and smelly, as well as crowded. Famous medieval castles include Dover castle, the Tower of London, and Windsor castle. The architecture of a medieval castle was based on the need for military protection, rather than comfort and style. A “motte and bailey” style was commonly used as a layout for the grounds. This consisted of a raised mound made of earth that was typically unnatural, or man made and the bailey was the courtyard below the motte, which was enclosed by a ditch, or a moat, and a palisade (James). Many castles were also built in strategic locations
Castles commonly were built of stone, wood, and mortar, and had walls that reached great heights. These materials allowed easy repairs and the towering walls provided effective defenses (Castles of Medieval Europe). The interior design of a castle was, for the most part, plain and uncomfortable. The majority of the rooms were made of stone with tiny windows, if they even had windows at all. The rooms were often very cold because the use of fireplaces to heat a room did not develop until the end of the middle ages. The one exception to this stereotype was the great hall. The great hall was the most important room in the castle, mostly because it is where all of the celebrations and feasts were held. This would be the most decorated room in the castle with tapestries and large windows lining the walls. The great hall was, overall, the most enjoyable room to be in (Castle Architecture). The kitchen was usually attached to, or in close proximity to, the great hall. They were typically very large because they needed to be able to prepare gluttonous amounts of food for large feasts. This was one of the busiest rooms in the castle. The dungeon fits the stereotype of a