What is the best shape for a fortress?

In fact, the isoperimetric theorem states that “among all 2D shapes with the same perimeter, the circle has the largest area”. Choosing a circular shape for a fort is also a good idea for other reasons.

What is the outer wall of a castle called?

outer bailey
An outer bailey or outer ward is the defended outer enclosure of a castle. It protects the inner bailey and usually contains those ancillary buildings used for the management of the castle or the supply of its occupants.

What were castle walls made of?

During the early medieval times, wood and heavy timbers called Palisades were also used for the construction of medieval castle walls. Further, the stones chosen for the construction of medieval castle walls were selected for their ability to withstand heavy blows and shocks.

Why are castle walls round?

Round towers, also called drum towers, are more resistant to siege technology such as sappers and projectiles than square towers. The round front is more resistant than the straight side of a square tower, just as a load-bearing arch. This principle was already understood in antiquity.

How comfortable are castles?

Life in the early castles was far from comfortable. The wind whistled through the wooden shutters in the windows and most people slept on benches or on rough mattresses in the great hall. By 1200s, castles had well furnished bed chambers and living rooms, heated by large open fires and lit by candles.

Which castle has the highest walls?

The tallest medieval castle tower ever built is generally considered to be the Chateau de Coucy keep, or donjon, which measured 55 m high and 35 m wide. Located in Picardy, France, it was constructed in the 1220s by Enguerrand III, Lord of Coucy, and was destroyed in April 1917 during World War I.

What are the holes in castle walls called?

An arrowslit (often also referred to as an arrow loop, loophole or loop hole, and sometimes a balistraria) is a narrow vertical aperture in a fortification through which an archer can launch arrows or a crossbowman can launch bolts.

Are round walls stronger?

Yes, circular towers are better. They are more robust and harder to break by trebuchet or cannonball. And they are less likely to crumble if someone try to attack the foundations of the towers. The defenders can attack from every angle since there is no corner.

How thick are castle tower walls?

The height of walls varied widely by castle, but were often 2.5–6 m (8.2–19.7 ft) thick. They were usually topped with crenellation or parapets that offered protection to defenders.

Should castles have circular walls instead of square walls?

In many medieval portrayals, the walls of castles are always portrayed as square. But would the castle be better off if the walls were circular instead of square? Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Circular walls are more likely to deflect cannonballs with minimal damage, but the outermost point of a circular wall is hard to defend.

What are the walls in front of a castle called?

Fortifications, usually consisting of walls and small towers built in front of a gatehouse to provide additional protection to the gateway. Some barbicans were just towers or walls built at a right angle to the Gatehouse. Barbican. An inner courtyard of a castle, sometimes called a Bailey.

What are the advantages of a concentric castle?

At a glance: advantages of concentric castles. Many different layers created many different obstacles: attackers needed to penetrate at least two walls, and often pass through a heavily-defended gatehouse and barbican. A higher, inner wall was a vantage point for archers, firing at the enemy.

Why do castles have two rings of curtain walls?

Here, for the first time, the castle was designed to make the two rings of curtain walls into two separate obstacles for attackers to overcome. In castles built before 1270, a double-ring of castle walls was only used to ‘reinforce’ the outer curtain wall.