Castle

A castle is a fortified residence built in medieval Europe and in other regions with similar traditions. Castles served as the power base of a lord or monarch, combining defense, administration, and symbolic display. They were often placed to control routes, borders, or water access and could house the ruler’s household, troops, and offices. The word comes from Latin castellum meaning small fortress, passed into Old French castell and English castle.

Architecture features include a keep (donjon), curtain walls, towers, battlements, a gatehouse, and a portcullis, often with a moat and drawbridge. Inside, wards or courtyards housed workshops, stables, chapels, and stores. Early castles used timber on mounds (motte-and-bailey); later they were built in stone, with more complex concentric defenses. Defensive design emphasized surveillance and controlled access, with arrow slits and fortified entrances; artillery later reduced its military role, while many castles remained as residences and administrative centers.

History and types: Castles arose in the early Middle Ages as rulers consolidated power; their construction peaked in the 11th–13th centuries across Europe. Over time, advances in siege technology and changing politics reduced fortress value, and many castles were adapted as palaces or administrative centers. Today, most survive as heritage sites, museums, or hotels, with conservation efforts aimed at preserving fabric, interiors, and surrounding landscapes.

Notable examples and regional variety: Notable castles include Windsor Castle (England), Carcassonne (France), Bodiam Castle (England), Edinburgh Castle (Scotland), and Caernarfon Castle (Wales). The form also includes motte-and-bailey structures and coastal or hilltop fortresses. In non-European contexts, similar fortified residences fulfilled comparable roles, and several castles are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.