Medieval castles weren't really just large fortresses with massive stone walls. These were ingeniously designed fortifications that used a variety of ingenious and creative ways to protect the castle's inhabitants from enemy attacks. Everything from the outer walls to the shape and position of the stairs has been carefully planned to provide maximum protection for the castle's inhabitants. In this review, about little-known secrets, hidden in the construction of medieval castles.
Moat
Almost every castle was surrounded by a moat filled with water. It is generally accepted that this was an obstacle for the assault forces, but in fact it was not the main function of the moat.
Vischering castle in Germany. The castle consists of an external defensive courtyard, security locks, a drawbridge over the moat, the main building and a chapel
One of the biggest problems for the inhabitants of a medieval castle or fortress was that the invading army could dig tunnels under the fortifications. Not only could the enemy get inside the castle underground, but the tunnels could also lead to the collapse of the castle walls. The ditch prevented this, since the tunnel dug under the ditch inevitably flooded with water and it collapsed.
Nesvizh Castle. Belarus
This was a very effective deterrent against tunneling. Often the moat was laid not around the outer wall of the castle, but between the outer and inner walls.
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Concentric circles of defense
It was an extremely effective method of defense for the inhabitants of the medieval castle, which looked like a series of obstacles surrounding the castle.
Hochosterwitz Castle. Austria
As a rule, such obstacles were (according to the distance from the castle) a burnt and dug field, an outer wall, a moat, an inner wall, and a keep. The attacking army had to overcome each of these obstacles in turn. And it took a lot of time and effort.
Main gate
The main gate of the castle was often the most dangerous place in the entire structure, since if necessary, they could turn into a deadly trap.
Eltz Castle in Germany
They often led to a small courtyard, at the other end of which there was also another gate, equipped with an iron lowering lattice. If the attackers broke through the first gate and ended up in the courtyard, then the grill fell, after which the aggressors were trapped.
Svirzh castle in the village of Svirzh Lviv region. Main gate
At the same time, there were small holes in the walls of the courtyard through which the defenders could shoot from bows and crossbows at the trapped enemy soldiers.
Hidden secrets of the stairs
The stairwells in medieval castles were actually very elaborate. First, they were almost always helical, very narrow, and built in a clockwise direction.
A spiral staircase in the Mir Castle. Belarus
This meant that the attacking opponents who climbed up the stairs (and one at a time, because the stairs were narrow), it was very difficult to fight, because they had a sword in their right hand. And since there was always a wall on the right hand, they did not have the opportunity to swing. The defenders, on the other hand, had the wall of the spiral staircase on their left hand, so they had more opportunities to swing.
Reverse spiral staircase with uneven steps in the Wallenstein castle in Germany
Another original feature of the stairs was that they had uneven steps: some were very high and others were low. The defenders of the castle, being familiar with the local stairs, could quickly climb and descend along them, and the attackers often stumbled and fell, substituting themselves under attack.
Secret passages
Many castles had secret passages that served various purposes. Some of them were made so that the inhabitants of the castle could flee in case of defeat, and also so that during the siege the defenders were not cut off from the supply of food.
Koretsky castle in Ukraine
Secret passages also led to secret chambers where people could be hiding, food was stored and (which was quite common) an additional water well was dug.
Predjama Castle in Slovenia
Therefore, the medieval castle was much more than just a large glamorous palace with massive stone walls around it. It was a structure designed down to the smallest detail to protect the inhabitants. And each castle was full of its own little secrets.