The first fortified buildings began to appear in Europe from the middle of the ninth century and can be considered as the progenitor of the true castle. During this period, because of the frequent incursions of the Normans along the coasts of northern Europe and in the interior of France, in order to improve their defence, local communities clustered around the houses of the lords, who therefore had to fortify their homes. These early castles consisted of a large wooden square tower protected by a palisade, built on a hill (artificial or natural) called "motte". A moat was dug around the motte, while, at some distance a lower fence was built (also protected by a moat and a palisade), inside which the vassals, peasants and servants found refuge in case of danger.

Fig. 1 - The "motte" (from GRAVETT 1999, page 9).

Castles from the tenth century onwards

Masonry castles began to be built from the tenth century changing their structure and transforming them from simple huts into fortified fighting tools and symbols of power. Thus, massive stone square or round fortified towers, surrounded by walls and towers, were built. The keep, that is the main tower, was at the same time a fortress and a dwelling. These fortresses were small and cramped, where priority was given to security rather than to luxury and comfort. The rooms were small and equipped with a few essential pieces of furniture such as benches, tables and beds; the windows had no glass and the family of the lord lived in one large "hall", where they ate, slept and received guests and vassals. The other rooms, always very basic, were intended as soldiers' and servants’ quarters as well as stables.

The construction technique of the concentric castle, characterised that is by a complex of defensive wall circles surrounding the keep, began spreading towards the middle of the thirteenth century. Generally, these castles are located in an elevated position, on hills or cliffs, in order to dominate and control the surrounding territory. There are also castles built in low-lying areas, usually at the crossroads of some important arteries or borders.

Fig. 2 - Complex castle with moat, drawbridge and defence towers (from VIOLLET LE DUC 2002, fig. 28, page 670).

Walls, towers, walkways and drawbridges

The fortress was surrounded by a wide moat, beyond which the walls rose up, generally consisting in sturdy battlements reaching to 10 metres or beyond, interrupted by reinforcement towers (crowned with battlements) more or less numerous according to the manor’s importance. The free space behind the battlements of the walls and towers served as a "wall-walk" and was travelled by guard soldiers. The walls of the towers had loopholes, i.e. vertical openings which were narrow on the outside and wide inside, behind which archers, in case of siege to the castle, could shoot arrows without fear of being hit by the attackers. Besides the walls, the towers and the walkway, the defence of the castle was also entrusted to the drawbridge which could be raised or lowered over the moat thanks to a device of chains and which protected the central door of the walls. This was closed by one or more wooden doors, and sometimes also by an iron gate.

Fig. 3 - Section of the fortified walls with guard soldier on the walkway, protected by battlements (from VIOLLET LE DUC 2002, fig. 49, page 684).

Fig. 4 - Drawbridge (from VIOLLET LE DUC 2002, fig. 33, page 673).