Wehrmacht army size. What is the Wehrmacht of the Third Reich? Security corps of the army rear areas of the Wehrmacht

Situated among the green hills of Baden-Württemberg and crowned by the old medieval city Heidelberg, Heidelberg medieval castle, is one of Germany's most wonderful romantic attractions. The first mention of the castle dates back to 1225. The ruins of the castle are one of the most important structures of the Renaissance tonorth of the Alps. Long years Heidelberg Castle wasresidence of the countsPalatine, who were answerable only to the emperor.

2. Hohensalzburg Castle (Austria)

One of the largest medieval castles in Europe, located on Mount Festung, at an altitude of 120 meters, near Salzburg. During its existence, Hohensalzburg Castle was repeatedly rebuilt and fortified, gradually turning into a powerful, impregnable fortress. In the 19th century, the castle was used as a warehouse, military barracks and prison. The first mentions of the castle date back to the 10th century.

3. Bran Castle (Romania)

Located almost in the center of Romania, this medieval castle gained its worldwide fame thanks to Hollywood, it is believed that Count Dracula lived in this castle. Lock is national monument and the main attractionRomania. The first mentions of the castle date back to the 13th century.

4. Segovia Castle (Spain)

This majestic stone fortress is located near the city of Segovia in Spain and is one of the most famous castles of the Iberian Peninsula. It was his special shape inspired Walt Disney to recreate Cinderella's castle in his cartoon. The Alcazar (castle) was originally built as a fortress, but served in as a royal palace, prison, royal artillery school and military academy. Currently used as museum and storage locations for Spanish military archives. The first mention of the castle dates back to 1120; it was built during the reign of the Berber dynasty.

5. Dunstanborough Castle (England)

The castle was built by the CountThomas Lancasterbetween 1313 and 1322 at a time when relations between King Edward II and his vassal, Baron Thomas of Lancaster, became openly hostile. In 1362 Dunstanborough took over John of Ghent , fourth son of the king Edward III , who significantly rebuilt the castle. During Wars of the Roses The Lancastrian stronghold came under fire, resulting in the castle being destroyed.

6. Cardiff Castle (Wales)

Situated in the heart of the city of Cardiff, this medieval castle is one of the Welsh capital's most defining monuments. The castle was built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century on the site of a former 3rd century Roman Empire fort.

This medieval castle dominates the skylineEdinburgh, capital of Scotland. The historical origins of the formidable Edinburgh Castle on the rock are shrouded in mystery, it is mentioned in 6th century epics, appearing in chronicles before finally coming to the fore in Scottish history when Edinburgh established itself as a place monarchical power in the 12th century.

One of the most visited places in southern Ireland, is also one of the most intact examples of medieval fortification in the world. Blarney Castle is the third fortress built on this site. The first building was wooden and dates back to the 10th century. Around 1210, a stone fortress was built instead. It was subsequently destroyed and in 1446 Dermot McCarthy, the ruler of Munster, built a third castle on this site, which has survived to this day.

The medieval castle of Castel Nuovo was built first king of Naples, Charles I of Anjou, Castel Nuovois one of the city's most famous landmarks.With its thick walls, majestic towers and impressive triumphal arch make it quintessential medieval castle.

10. Conwy Castle (England)

The castle is a magnificent example of 13th-century architecture and was built by order of King Edward I of England. Surrounded by a stone wall with eight round towers. Only the walls of the castle have survived to this day, but they look very impressive. Many huge fireplaces were used to heat the castle.

The Norman Conquest of England led to a boom in castle building, but the process of creating a fortress from scratch is far from simple. If you want to start building a fortress yourself, then you should familiarize yourself with the tips given.

It is extremely important to build your castle on high ground and at a strategic point.

Castles were usually built on natural elevations, and were usually equipped with a link connecting them with the external environment, such as a ford, bridge or passage.

Historians have rarely been able to find evidence from contemporaries regarding the choice of location for the construction of the castle, but they still exist. On September 30, 1223, 15-year-old King Henry III arrived in Montgomery with his army. The king who successfully carried out military campaign against the Welsh prince Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, was going to build in this area new castle to ensure security on the border of their possessions. The English carpenters had been given the task of preparing the wood a month earlier, but the king's advisers had only now determined the site for the construction of the castle.

After a careful survey of the area, they chose a point on the very edge of a ledge overlooking the Severn valley. According to the chronicler Roger of Wendover, this position "looked unassailable to anyone." He also noted that the castle was created “for the security of the region from frequent attacks by the Welsh.”

Tip: Identify areas where the topography rises above traffic routes: these are natural spots for castles. Keep in mind that the design of the castle is determined by where it is built. For example, a castle will have a dry moat on a ledge of outcroppings.

2) Come up with a workable plan

You will need a master mason who can draw plans. An engineer knowledgeable in weapons will also come in handy.

Experienced soldiers may have their own ideas about the design of the castle, in terms of the shape of its buildings and their location. But it is unlikely that they will have the knowledge of specialists in design and construction.

To implement the idea, a master mason was required - an experienced builder whose distinctive feature I had the ability to draw a plan. Understanding practical geometry, he used such simple tools, like a ruler, square and compass, for creating architectural plans. Master masons submitted a drawing with a building plan for approval, and during construction they supervised its construction.

When Edward II began building a huge residential tower at Knaresborough Castle in Yorkshire in 1307 for his favorite Piers Gaveston, he not only personally approved the plans created by the London master mason Hugh of Titchmarsh - probably made as a drawing - but also demanded regular reports on the construction . WITH mid-16th century century a new group Professionals called engineers increasingly began to take on roles in developing plans and constructing fortifications. They had technical knowledge about the use and power of cannons, both for defense and attack on castles.

Tip: Plan loopholes to ensure wide angle attacks. Shape them according to the weapon you're using: longbow archers need larger slopes, crossbowmen need smaller ones.

You will need thousands of people. And not all of them will necessarily come of their own free will.

The construction of the castle required enormous efforts. Documentary evidence we have no record of the construction of the first castles in England from 1066, but from the scale of many castles of that period it is clear why some chronicles claim that the English population was under pressure to build castles for their Norman conquerors. But from the later Middle Ages, some estimates with detailed information have reached us.

During the invasion of Wales in 1277, King Edward I began building a castle at Flint, north-east Wales. It was erected quickly, thanks to the rich resources of the crown. A month after the start of work, in August, 2,300 people were involved in the construction, including 1,270 diggers, 320 woodcutters, 330 carpenters, 200 masons, 12 blacksmiths and 10 charcoal burners. All of them were driven from the surrounding lands under an armed escort, who made sure that they did not desert from the construction site.

From time to time, foreign specialists could be involved in construction. For example, millions of bricks for the reconstruction of Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire in the 1440s were supplied by a certain Baldwin “Docheman”, or Dutchman, that is, “Dutchman” - obviously a foreigner.

Tip: depending on size work force and the distance she had to travel, it may be necessary to provide them with accommodation at the construction site.

An unfinished castle on enemy territory is very vulnerable to attack.

To build a castle on enemy territory, you need to protect the construction site from attacks. For example, you can surround the construction site with wooden fortifications or a low stone wall. Such medieval defense systems sometimes remained after the construction of the building as an additional wall - as, for example, at Beaumaris Castle, the construction of which began in 1295.

Secure communication with outside world for the delivery of building materials and provisions. In 1277 Edward I dug a canal to the River Clwyd straight from the sea to the site of his new castle at Rydlan. The outer wall, built to protect the construction site, extended to the piers on the banks of the river.

Security problems can also arise when radically renovating an existing castle. When Henry II rebuilt Dover Castle in the 1180s, the work was carefully planned so that the fortifications would provide protection for the duration of the renovation. According to the surviving decrees, work on the inner wall of the castle began only when the tower was already sufficiently repaired so that guards could be on duty in it.

Tip: building materials for building a castle are large and voluminous. If possible, it is better to transport them by water, even if this means building a dock or canal.

When building a castle, you may have to move a significant amount of earth, which is not cheap.

It is often forgotten that the castle’s fortifications were built not only through architectural techniques, but also through landscape design. Huge resources were devoted to moving land. Scale earthworks The Normans can be considered outstanding. For example, according to some estimates, the mound built in 1100 around Pleshy Castle in Essex required 24,000 man-days.

Some aspects of landscaping required considerable skill, especially the creation of water ditches. When Edward I rebuilt the Tower of London in the 1270s, he hired a foreign specialist, Walter of Flanders, to create a huge tidal ditch. Digging the ditches under his direction cost £4,000, a staggering sum, almost a quarter of the cost of the entire project.

With the increasing role of cannons in siege art, the earth began to play an even more important role. important role as a cannon shot absorber. Interestingly, experience in moving large volumes of earth allowed some fortification engineers to find work as garden designers.

Tip: Reduce time and cost by excavating the stonework for your castle walls from the moats around it.

Carefully implement the mason's plan.

Using ropes of the required length and pegs, it was possible to mark the foundation of the building on the ground in full size. After the ditches for the foundation were dug, work began on the masonry. To save money, responsibility for construction was assigned to the senior mason instead of the master mason. In the Middle Ages, clutches were usually measured in births, one English gender= 5.03 m. At Warkworth in Northumberland, one of the complex towers stands on a grid of rods, perhaps for the purpose of calculating construction costs.

Often the construction of medieval castles was accompanied by detailed documentation. In 1441-42 the tower of Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire was destroyed and plans were drawn up for its successor on the ground. But for some reason the Prince of Stafford was dissatisfied. The king's master mason, Robert of Westerley, was sent to Tutbury, where he held a meeting with two senior masons to design new tower in a new place. Then Westerly left, and for the next eight years large group workers, including four junior masons, were building a new tower.

Senior masons could be called upon to certify the quality of the work, as was the case at Cooling Castle in Kent when the royal mason Heinrich Yewel assessed the work carried out from 1381 to 1384. He criticized deviations from original plan and rounded the estimate down.

Tip: Don't let the master mason fool you. Make him make a plan so that it is easy to make an estimate.

Complete the construction with complex fortifications and specialized wooden structures.

Until the 12th century, the fortifications of most castles consisted of earth and logs. And although later preference was given to stone buildings, wood remained a very important material in medieval wars and fortifications.

Stone castles were prepared for attacks by adding special battle galleries along the walls, as well as shutters that could be used to cover the gaps between the battlements to protect the castle defenders. All this was made of wood. Heavy weapons used to defend the castle, catapults and heavy crossbows, springalds, were also built from wood. Artillery was usually designed by a highly paid professional carpenter, sometimes with the title of engineer, from the Latin "ingeniator".

Such experts were not cheap, but could end up being worth their weight in gold. This, for example, happened in 1266, when the castle of Kenilworth in Warwickshire resisted Henry III for almost six months with the help of catapults and water defense.

There are records of marching castles made entirely of wood - they could be carried with you and erected as needed. One of these was built for the French invasion of England in 1386, but the garrison of Calais captured it along with the ship. It was described as consisting of a wall of logs 20 feet high and 3,000 steps long. There was a 30-foot tower every 12 paces, capable of housing up to 10 soldiers, and the castle also had unspecified defenses for archers.

Tip: Oak wood becomes stronger over the years, and it is easiest to work with when it is green. The upper branches of trees are easy to transport and shape.

8) Provide water and sewerage

The most important aspect the castle had efficient access to water. These could be wells that supplied water to certain buildings, for example, a kitchen or stable. Without a detailed knowledge of medieval well shafts, it is difficult to do them justice. For example, at Beeston Castle in Cheshire there is a well 100 m deep, the top 60 m of which is lined with cut stone.

There is some evidence of complex aqueducts that brought water to the apartments. The tower of Dover Castle has a system of lead pipes that delivers water to the rooms. It was fed from a well using a winch, and possibly from a rainwater collection system.

Effective disposal of human waste was another challenge for lock designers. Latrines were collected in one place in the buildings so that their shafts were emptied in one place. They were located in short corridors that trapped unpleasant odors, and were often equipped with wooden seats and removable covers.

Today, it is widely believed that restrooms used to be called “wardrobes.” In fact, the vocabulary for toilets was extensive and colorful. They were called gongs or gangs (from the Anglo-Saxon word meaning "a place to go"), nooks and jakes ( French version"John")

Tip: Ask a master mason to plan comfortable and private spaces. latrines outside the bedroom, following the example of Henry II and Dover Castle.

The castle should not only be well guarded - its inhabitants, having high status, demanded a certain chic.

During war, the castle must be defended - but it also serves as a luxurious home. Noble gentlemen of the Middle Ages expected their homes to be both comfortable and richly furnished. In the Middle Ages, these citizens traveled together with servants, things and furniture from one residence to another. But home interiors often had fixed decorative features, such as stained glass windows.

Flavors Henry III in the setting are recorded very carefully, with interesting and attractive details. In 1235-36, for example, he ordered his hall at Winchester Castle to be decorated with images of the world map and the wheel of fortune. Since then, these decorations have not survived, but the well-known round table of King Arthur, created perhaps between 1250 and 1280, remains in the interior.

The large area of the castles played an important role in luxurious life. Parks were created for hunting, a jealously guarded privilege of aristocrats; gardens were also in demand. The extant description of the construction of Kirby Muxloe Castle in Leicestershire says that its owner, Lord Hastings, began laying out gardens at the very beginning of the construction of the castle in 1480.

The Middle Ages also loved rooms with beautiful views. One group of 13th-century rooms in the castles of Leeds in Kent, Corfe in Dorset and Chepstow in Monmotshire were called gloriettes (from the French gloriette - a diminutive of the word glory) for their magnificence.

Tip: The interior of the castle should be luxurious enough to attract visitors and friends. Entertainment can win battles without having to expose oneself to the dangers of combat.

Translation

The Norman Conquest of England led to a boom in castle building, but the process of creating a fortress from scratch is far from simple.

Bodiam Castle in East Sussex, founded in 1385

1) Choose your building site carefully

It is extremely important to build your castle on high ground and at a strategic point.

Castles were usually built on natural elevations, and were usually equipped with a link connecting them with the external environment, such as a ford, bridge or passage.

Historians have rarely been able to find evidence from contemporaries regarding the choice of location for the construction of the castle, but they still exist. On September 30, 1223, 15-year-old King Henry III arrived in Montgomery with his army. The king, having successfully carried out a military campaign against the Welsh prince Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, was planning to build a new castle in the area to ensure security on the border of his dominions. The English carpenters had been given the task of preparing the wood a month earlier, but the king's advisers had only now determined the site for the construction of the castle.

Montgomery Castle, when it began to be built in 1223, was located on a hill

Advice: Identify areas where the topography rises above traffic routes: these are natural locations for castles. Keep in mind that the design of the castle is determined by where it is built. For example, a castle will have a dry moat on a ledge of outcroppings.

2) Come up with a workable plan

You will need a master mason who can draw plans. An engineer knowledgeable in weapons will also come in handy.

To implement the idea, a master mason was required - an experienced builder, whose distinguishing feature was the ability to draw a plan. With an understanding of practical geometry, he used simple tools such as ruler, square and compass to create architectural plans. Master masons submitted a drawing with a building plan for approval, and during construction they supervised its construction.

When Edward II ordered the construction of the tower at Knaresborough, he personally approved the plans and demanded reports on the construction

When Edward II began building a huge residential tower at Knaresborough Castle in Yorkshire in 1307 for his favorite Piers Gaveston, he not only personally approved the plans created by the London master mason Hugh of Titchmarsh - probably made as a drawing - but also demanded regular reports on the construction . From the mid-16th century, a new group of professionals called engineers increasingly began to take on a role in drawing up plans and constructing fortifications. They had technical knowledge of the use and power of cannons, both for defense and attack on castles.

Advice: Plan loopholes to provide a wide angle of attack. Shape them according to the weapon you're using: longbow archers need larger slopes, crossbowmen need smaller ones.

3) Hire a large group of experienced workers

You will need thousands of people. And not all of them will necessarily come of their own free will.

The construction of the castle required enormous efforts. We have no documentary evidence of the construction of the first castles in England from 1066, but from the scale of many castles of that period it is clear why some chronicles claim that the English were under pressure to build castles for their Norman conquerors. But from the later Middle Ages, some estimates with detailed information have reached us.

Advice: Depending on the size of the workforce and the distance they have to travel, they may need to be housed on site.

4) Ensure the safety of the construction site

An unfinished castle on enemy territory is very vulnerable to attack.

Beaumaris (English: Beaumaris, Welsh: Biwmares) is a town on the island of Anglesey, Wales.

Safe communication with the outside world for the delivery of building materials and provisions is also important. In 1277 Edward I dug a canal to the River Clwyd straight from the sea to the site of his new castle at Rydlan. The outer wall, built to protect the construction site, extended to the piers on the banks of the river.

Rydland Castle

Advice: building materials for building a castle are large and voluminous. If possible, it is better to transport them by water, even if this means building a dock or canal.

5) Prepare the landscape

When building a castle, you may have to move a significant amount of earth, which is not cheap.

It is often forgotten that the castle’s fortifications were built not only through architectural techniques, but also through landscape design. Huge resources were devoted to moving land. The scale of the Norman land work can be considered outstanding. For example, according to some estimates, the mound built in 1100 around Pleshy Castle in Essex required 24,000 man-days.

18th century engraving with plan Tower of London 1597 shows how much earth had to be moved to build ditches and ramparts.

With the increasing role of cannons in siege art, the earth began to play an even more important role as an absorber of cannon shots. Interestingly, experience in moving large volumes of earth allowed some fortification engineers to find work as garden designers.

Advice: Reduce time and cost by excavating the stonework for your castle walls from the moats around it.

6) Lay the foundation

Carefully implement the mason's plan.

Using ropes of the required length and pegs, it was possible to mark the foundation of the building on the ground in full size. After the ditches for the foundation were dug, work began on the masonry. To save money, responsibility for construction was assigned to the senior mason instead of the master mason. Masonry in the Middle Ages was usually measured in rods, one English rod = 5.03 m. At Warkworth in Northumberland, one of the complex towers stands on a grid of rods, perhaps for the purpose of calculating construction costs.

Warkworth Castle

Often the construction of medieval castles was accompanied by detailed documentation. In 1441-42 the tower of Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire was destroyed and plans were drawn up for its successor on the ground. But for some reason the Prince of Stafford was dissatisfied. The king's master mason, Robert of Westerley, was sent to Tutbury where he held a meeting with two senior masons to design a new tower on a new site. Westerly then left, and over the next eight years a small group of workers, including four junior masons, built a new tower.

Advice: Don't let the master mason fool you. Make him make a plan so that it is easy to make an estimate.

7) Strengthen your castle

Complete the construction with complex fortifications and specialized wooden structures.

Storming of the castle, drawing from the 15th century

Advice: Oak wood becomes stronger over the years, and it is easiest to work with when it is green. The upper branches of trees are easy to transport and shape.

8) Provide water and sewerage

Don't forget about the "conveniences". You will appreciate them in the event of a siege.

The most important aspect for the castle was efficient access to water. These could be wells that supplied water to certain buildings, for example, a kitchen or stable. Without a detailed knowledge of medieval well shafts, it is difficult to do them justice. For example, at Beeston Castle in Cheshire there is a well 100 m deep, the top 60 m of which is lined with cut stone.

Reflection room at Chipchase Castle

Today, it is widely believed that restrooms used to be called “wardrobes.” In fact, the vocabulary for toilets was extensive and colorful. They were called gongs or gangs (from the Anglo-Saxon word for "place to go"), nooks and jakes (the French version of "john").

Advice: Ask a master mason to design comfortable and private latrines outside the bedroom, following the example of Henry II and Dover Castle.

9) Decorate as needed

The castle not only had to be well guarded - its inhabitants, having a high status, demanded a certain chic.

Henry III's tastes in furnishings are recorded very carefully, with interesting and attractive detail. In 1235-36, for example, he ordered his hall at Winchester Castle to be decorated with images of the world map and the wheel of fortune. Since then, these decorations have not survived, but the well-known round table of King Arthur, created perhaps between 1250 and 1280, remains in the interior.

Winchester Castle with hanging on the wall round table King Arthur

The Middle Ages also loved rooms with beautiful views. One of the groups of 13th-century rooms in the castles of Leeds in Kent, Corfe in Dorset and Chepstow in Monmothshire has been named

There are many medieval castles scattered across Europe, which many centuries ago were intended to house and protect the families of feudal lords. Today, castles are silent witnesses to royal dramas, the fall of great houses and historical events.

Now tourists visit ancient fortresses in winter and summer to see their splendor with their own eyes. What we've collected on this list is incredible. beautiful castles that are worth visiting!

1 Tintagel Castle, England

Tintagel is a medieval fort on the headland of the island of the same name. The castle borders the village of Tintagel in Cornwall. It was built by Richard, a member of the Plantagenet dynasty, in 1233. However, Tintagel is often associated with another famous character - King Arthur. Here he was conceived, born and taken away by the wizard Merlin in infancy.

The castle has been a tourist attraction since the 19th century and is under the ownership of Prince Charles. It is managed by English Heritage, a British state commission on historical buildings.

2 Corvin Castle, Romania

This Gothic-style castle with Renaissance elements is located in Transylvania, a Romanian town called Hunedoara, on a cliff near the Zlašte River. The castle was built in the mid-15th century by the father of the Hungarian king Matthew Corvinus and was inherited until 1508.

Since then, Korvinov has had 22 owners and has been open to the public as a museum. The castle is still one of the wonders of Romania. By the way, according to rumors, Vlad the Impaler himself, known as Count Dracula, spent seven years in captivity here.

3 Alcazar de Segovia, Spain

This fortress Spanish kings nowadays is an object World Heritage UNESCO. The castle is located in an incredibly beautiful location - a rock at the confluence of two rivers. Thanks to its location, it is one of the most recognizable castles in Spain.

In 1120, the Alcazar was used as an Arab fortress. Then there was a royal residence, an artillery academy and even a prison. Currently it houses a military archive and museum.

4 Eltz Castle, Germany

Eltz Castle is considered one of two medieval buildings in the Eifel highlands that have never been destroyed or captured. The castle has withstood all wars and shocks since its construction in the 12th century.

It is surprising that the castle has been owned by the same family for 33 generations - Eltz, whose descendants still take care of it to this day, keeping it in its original form. The owner opened it to tourists, who are especially attracted by the Eltz treasury with jewelry exhibits and other works of art from different centuries.

5 Windsor Castle, England

This castle has been closely associated with the monarchs of Great Britain for more than 900 years and is their symbol. The current ruling government is named in his honor. royal dynasty Windsor. The castle was built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, and has been used as a royal residence since the reign of Henry I. Over so many centuries, it has been rebuilt and expanded several times in accordance with the requests of the reigning monarchs.

Interestingly, during the Second World War the castle served as a refuge for royal family. Nowadays the castle is used for state receptions, visits by tourists, as well as the holidays of Queen Elizabeth II in the spring of each year.

6 Himeji Castle, Japan

This castle near the city of Himeji is one of the most ancient in Japan. Its construction as a fortress began in 1333, and in 1346 the fort was reconstructed into a castle. For a long time he wandered from one samurai clan to another and only found an owner in the 1600s. Then the main part of the 83 wooden buildings of the castle was built.

Movies are often filmed on the grounds of Himeji, as the castle is well preserved in its original form. In addition, the structure is a National Treasure of Japan and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

7 Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

This ancient castle is located on Castle Rock in the center of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. About 300-odd million years ago there was active volcano! The first mention of this building dates back to 1139, when royal castle the nobility and ministers of the church gathered. This continued until 1633, but from then on the castle began to be considered the heart of Scotland.

It is worth noting that this fortress survived 26 sieges, making it the most attacked on Earth. Edinburgh Castle has been frequently restored over the past 150 years and is now Edinburgh's main tourist attraction.

8 Hever Castle, England

The castle was built in the 13th century in the southeast of England in Kent, as an ordinary Vacation home. It became famous because the Boleyn family lived here from 1462 to 1539. In 1505 it was inherited by Thomas Boleyn, father of Anne, the king's wife. Henry VIII, whose wedding caused the break between England and Rome. True, after the king got bored new wife, he executed her in the Tower.

Since then, Hever has passed from one owner to another, but has retained its unique Tudor interiors. The castle is now used as a conference venue, but is also open to the public.

9 Bojnice Castle, Slovakia

It is considered one of the most romantic castles in Europe. Its first mention dates back to 1113 - an ordinary wooden castle in Bojnice, which was gradually strengthened. The fortress was officially handed over to the ruler of Slovakia, Matus Csak, by King Wenceslas III of Hungary in 1302.

Since then, each new owner has reconstructed the castle, and the result is the most visited place in Slovakia. Many science fiction and fairy tale films were filmed here. The castle also houses the Slovak folk museum.

10 Bran Castle, Romania

Bran Fortress is a national landmark of Romania. It was originally a wooden structure, which was founded in 1212 by knights Teutonic Order, and later on own funds completed by local residents. In those days, the building served as a defensive fortress.

Bran has had many owners, but most often it is called "Dracula's Castle." According to legend, Prince Vlad Chepesh, nicknamed Count Dracula, often stayed here and hunted near the castle. In the 20th century, the castle was donated by local residents to Queen Maria of Romania, whose grandson currently owns it. The castle now houses a museum of furniture and art from Queen Mary's collection.

11 Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

This beautiful castle, which is recognized as one of the most romantic in Scotland, is located on Donan Island - at the meeting point of three lakes. In the 7th century, a hermit monk lived on the island, after whom the castle was named. In the 13th century, the first fortress was built, and Eilean Donan itself was handed over by the king to the ancestor of the Scottish Mackenzie clan.

The structure was destroyed in 1719, and only at the beginning of the 20th century the MacRae clan acquired the castle and began its restoration. By the way, this fortress can be seen in the TV series “Outlander”.

12 Bodiam Castle, England

The lands on which the castle is now located went to Edward Dalingridge after his marriage. In 1385, during the 100 Years' War, he fortified the estate to protect the surrounding area from the French. For several decades the castle was passed down from generation to generation. When the family died at the end of the 15th century, the castle came into the possession of the Leuknor family.

Bodiam later had several owners, each of whom contributed to its restoration, for example after the siege during the Wars of the Roses. In 1925, after the death of the then owner, the castle was donated national fund, which supports him even now. Now anyone can visit this fortress near the village of Robertsbridge.

13 Hohensalzburg Castle, Austria

This structure is considered one of the largest of all surviving medieval castles in Europe and is located at an altitude of 120 meters on the top of Mount Festung near the Austrian city of Salzburg. The castle was built in 1077 under the leadership of the Archbishop of Salzburg, but now only the foundation remains from that building.

Hohensalzburg was fortified, rebuilt and reconstructed many times. Only in the 16th century did it acquire the appearance it has now. The fortress was used as a warehouse, barracks, fort and even a prison during the First World War. Now this castle is a favorite tourist attraction, accessible by cable car or on foot.

14 Arundell Castle, England

This castle was founded at Christmas 1067 by Roger de Montgomery (Earl of Arundel), one of William the Conqueror's subjects. It later became the main residence of the Howard Dukes of Norfolk, who have owned it for over 400 years.

The castle was rebuilt after damage during the English War civil war in the 17th century, and also updated with the return of fashion for medieval interiors. Although Arundel is privately owned, most of the castle is open to tourists.

15 Mont Saint Michel, France

It is not for nothing that this castle is called an architectural miracle of France. It is a rocky island in northwestern France that was converted into an island fortress in the 8th century. Monks lived here for a long time, and even an abbey was built.

During the 100 Years' War, the British tried unsuccessfully to conquer this island, and during french revolution When there were no monks on the island, a prison was built here. It was closed in 1863, and in 1874 the island was recognized as a historical monument. About 3 million tourists come here every year, while local residents only a few dozen people!

These are amazing historical monuments reached descendants almost in their original form. They keep a centuries-old history different nations, which cannot always be read on the pages of textbooks.

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Not every castle is actually a castle. Today, the word “castle” is used to describe almost any significant building of the Middle Ages, be it a palace, a large estate or a fortress - in general, the home of a feudal lord medieval Europe. This everyday use of the word “castle” is at odds with its original meaning, because a castle is primarily a fortification. There could be buildings inside the castle grounds for various purposes: residential, religious, and cultural. But still, first of all, the main function of the castle is defensive. From this point of view, for example, the famous romantic palace of Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein, is not a castle.

Location, and not the structural features of the castle are the key to its defensive power. Of course, the layout of the fortification is important for the defense of the castle, but what makes it truly impregnable is not the thickness of the walls and the location of the loopholes, but the correctly chosen construction site. A steep and high hill, which is almost impossible to get close to, a sheer rock, a winding road to the castle, which is perfectly clear from the fortress, determine the outcome of the battle in a much more significant way. to a greater extent than all other equipment.

Gates- the most vulnerable spot in the castle. Of course, the fortress had to have a central entrance (in peaceful moments, sometimes you want to enter beautifully and solemnly; the castle is not defended all the time). When captured, it is always easier to break through the entrance that already exists than to create a new one by destroying massive walls. Therefore, the gates were designed in a special way - they had to be wide enough for the carts and narrow enough for the enemy army. Cinematography often makes the mistake of depicting a castle entrance with a large wooden gate that can be locked: such would be extremely impractical for defense.

The interior walls of the castle were colored. The interiors of medieval castles are often depicted in gray-brown tones, without any cladding, just like inner side bare cold stone walls. But residents of medieval palaces loved bright colors and lavishly decorated the interior of their living quarters. The inhabitants of the castles were rich and, of course, wanted to live in luxury. Our ideas stem from the fact that in most cases the paint has not stood the test of time.

Large windows are a rarity for a medieval castle. As a rule, they were absent altogether, giving way to multiple small window “slots” in the castle walls. In addition to their defensive purpose, narrow window openings protected the privacy of the castle's inhabitants. If you come across a castle building with luxurious panoramic windows, most likely they appeared in more late time, as, for example, in the castle of Roctailade in the south of France.

Secret passages secret doors and dungeons. When walking around the castle, know that somewhere underneath you lie corridors hidden from the eyes of the average person (perhaps someone still wanders through them today?). Poterns - underground corridors between the buildings of the fortress - made it possible to move around the fortress or leave it unnoticed. But it’s a disaster if the traitor opened the secret door to the enemy, as happened during the siege of Corfe Castle in 1645.

Storming the castle was not such a fleeting and easy process as it is portrayed in the movies. A massive attack was a rather extreme decision in an attempt to capture the castle, exposing the main military force. Castle sieges were carefully thought out and took a long time to implement. The most important thing was the ratio of the trebuchet, the throwing machine, to the thickness of the walls. To make a hole in the castle wall, a trebuchet needed from several days to several weeks, especially since just a hole in the wall did not guarantee the capture of the fortress. For example, the siege of Harlech Castle by the future king Henry V lasted about a year, and the castle fell only because the city ran out of provisions. So the rapid attacks of medieval castles are an element of film fantasies, not historical realities.

Hunger- the most powerful weapon when taking the castle. Most castles had tanks that collected rainwater, or wells. The chances of the castle residents to survive during the siege depended on the supplies of water and food: the option of “waiting it out” was the least risky for both sides.

For castle defense it didn't require as many people as it seems. Castles were built in such a way as to allow those inside to calmly fight off the enemy, making do with small forces. Compare: the garrison of Harlech Castle, which held out almost whole year, consisted of 36 people, while the castle was surrounded by an army numbering hundreds, or even thousands of warriors. Besides, extra person on the territory of the castle during a siege - this is an extra mouth, and as we remember, the issue of provisions could be decisive.