5 well-preserved medieval castles that can be visited today

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The castle is one of the most iconic features of European and Asian folklore. And as soon as it comes to the castle, images of princesses, knights, horses, dragons and other creatures living in them immediately pop up in my head. But few people know about why, in fact, castles were built, what they were like and why they were so important throughout history.

Internationally, castles were usually built for two main purposes: to defend and to impress: from spiral staircases built to facilitate descent and give an advantage in battle in the event of an attack, to battlements that allowed archers to fire from cover. as well as intricate and labyrinthine ditches, walls and passages designed to confuse the enemy. The architecture of each castle has been designed and built to withstand all kinds of attacks. Apart from defensive purposes, the castles served as home to the royal family, the military elite, and the aristocrats who lived in them. Both inside and out, the castle provided stunning aesthetic views to its powerful owners and impressed the guests who came to visit.

1. Marksburg Castle

Marksburg Castle, located in Braubach, Germany, is the best-preserved medieval castle in Germany. It stands on a hill next to the Rhine River, which flows through northwest Germany. This castle is one of dozens strategically built on this river. This was done for two reasons: to use natural water resources, and to control and distribute these resources politically among the laity through taxation. The castle was built at the end of the Romanesque period (1225-1250), with architectural additions back in the 18th century.

Marksburg contains a large hall, a kitchen, a chapel tower, defensive passages and walls, a dungeon, large and small batteries, a Hexsengarten (witch garden) and several bedrooms. The castle was occupied by a number of very wealthy lords and counts, from the Epsteins in the middle of the 13th century to the Counts of Katzenelnbogen in 1283-1479 and the Landgraves of Hesse in the late 15th century. It was later used as a prison and fell into disrepair for several centuries. However, despite numerous wars and attacks over the years, Marksburg never fell and to this day retains its medieval architectural qualities and features.

On a guided tour of the castle, visitors can see a large hall, set up as it might have been for the feast of those wealthy earls almost nine hundred years ago, as well as medicinal plants growing in the Garden of Witches on the side of the castle overlooking the Rhine. Medieval instruments such as the organ stand in the great hall, ready to play, while tapestries with millefleur patterns adorn the bedrooms.

2. Alhambra Castle

The Alhambra, or "Red Castle", is located in Granada, Spain. Its name may be inspired by the appearance of the castle, which was built from tabia, a type of clay with red tones. The Alhambra was built in the 13th century and was supposed to be the home of the nobility at the court of Granada. While it was first built for military purposes, this medieval castle complex became one of the most beautiful palaces in the Middle Ages. From the iconic red walls to Moorish architecture, to the palace gardens and the Darro River flowing alongside it all, the Alhambra was truly a feast for the eyes.

The Alhambra is not one single building, but rather a huge complex. It contains at least three palaces, mosques, gardens, pleasure houses, baths, barracks for the royal guard, places for courtesans, and shops to shop. All this is surrounded by walls. The first palace was built by Muhammad I of Granada, who founded the Nasrid dynasty. Muhammad's descendants will continue to expand his original palace, making the Alhambra what it is today. The castle was the home of the Nasrid family until 1492, when Granada was defeated by Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, converting what was then Islamic Spain to Catholic.

Perhaps the most exquisite visual element of the Alhambra is the Moorish architecture. Since the Nasrid family was Muslim, palaces, mosques and even bedrooms were built in the Islamic medieval style. Doors and corridors likely contain pointed arches at the top, and many rooms are covered with floor-to-ceiling stuccoes along the wall. In Islamic art, images of any kind are considered blasphemous, so in mosques the walls are instead covered with words from the Koran. In addition, intricate geometric and floral patterns created a kaleidoscope effect with its vibrant colors and repeating patterns.

3. Bran Castle

Perhaps the most iconic medieval castle on this list is Bran Castle. Although it was not the home of vampires and bloodthirsty counts (contrary to popular belief, Vlad the Impaler never lived in Bran Castle), it has centuries of stories that continue to this day. The first temporary fortress was built on the site of the present castle in 1211 by the Teutonic knights. More than a century later, the Saxons living in Transylvania began building the castle in 1377, and eleven years later the castle was fully completed and functional.

For about a century, the castle served as border control on the eastern border of Transylvania. Those who wanted to trade between neighboring countries had to first pass through the castle, where he would receive three percent of the traded goods. It also acted as a defensive fortress, holding back the Ottomans and their attempts to expand into Transylvanian territory. The lord who was chosen to be in charge of all these affairs, as well as his family, servants and guards, lived in the castle.

Bran Castle has been used as a place of commercial and political power for over seven hundred years. During this period, the appearance of the medieval castle changed dramatically in accordance with the needs of the current inhabitants. The location of the Gothic castle on the top of the cliff creates not only striking images, but also a strategic military position. The castle rises even higher, with a total of four floors, a dungeon and several towers. Inside the castle there are bedrooms, a kitchen, a garden with a fifty-seven meter deep well, a dining room, a living room, a music room and much more. Due to the fact that the castle was used as a residence until the middle of the twentieth century, most of the interiors are semi-modern. However, many of the items and furniture on display can be dated centuries ago, and the medieval foundations and skeleton of the castle remain below the surface.

4. Himeji Castle

Operating during a period of Japanese history that was rife with civil wars, samurai clans, and general unrest, Himeji Castle in Himeji, Japan was built to withstand many attacks. Indeed, the White Heron Castle, as it is sometimes called for its wing-like roofs and white walls, still stands with its medieval foundations, still completely intact. He survived the civil strife of the Muromachi period, the bombing of Himeji during World War II, and even catastrophic earthquakes. The medieval castle itself, built of wood and plaster, rises over four floors on a solid stone foundation, which itself is taller than a floor.

Although Himeji Castle was originally built for defense and defense, it also served as a symbol of political power for those who lived there. The first structure on this site was built in 1333 by the samurai Akamatsu Norima, who was appointed governor of the province of Harima by Shogun Ashikaga Takauji. This first fort was destroyed by Norima's son, who then built a new castle in 1346. The current castle, which we see today, was built in 1580 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and in the 17th century Ikeda Terumasa made major repairs in it.

Although Himeji Castle never became the site of a historical battle for which it was so well equipped, if attacked or sieged, it would be extremely difficult to capture. The medieval castle complex was built with labyrinths of passages that were well known only to the inhabitants, and any foreign invader would immediately get lost or be trapped within its walls. There were also several traps and secret places where the guards could suddenly attack.

During this period of time, for such a castle, not only proper defense was needed, but also its aesthetics. The samurai and shogunate valued class and refinement as much as military prowess. This quality is evident in the complex wooden architecture of the castle, which is an example of the Japanese technique of joining and supporting. In addition, those who lived in the castle displayed their collection of hanging scrolls, calligraphy, folding screens and elaborate armor and weapons to highlight power, wealth and exquisite taste.

5. Banratty Castle

Located in Shannon, Ireland, Banratty Castle rises high above the wetlands and surrounding countryside. The function of this medieval castle has changed many times, but it mainly served as a symbol of imperialism in Ireland, first by the Vikings and then by the British. However, from 1425 until the reign of Henry VIII in the late 15th and early 16th century, Banratty Castle was home to two of the most powerful Irish clans in Munster: the McNamara family and the O'Brien family. The current castle that we see today was built by the McNamara family in 1425, and the O'Briens laid out large and beautiful gardens around the castle.

The three-story Banratty Castle has bedrooms, an office, a kitchen and basements. Some of the current furniture belongs to the Counts Thomond (descendants of the O'Briens who swore allegiance to the British) of the 16th century. Perhaps the most stunning room in the castle is the Great Hall. Long tables and benches stand vertically along the hall, while the main table is positioned horizontally at the back of the room. The table is lined with high-backed wooden chairs, and several huge deer heads adorn the walls, as well as tapestries and weapons. Important banquets, council meetings and festive feasts were held in this room.

Today the Irish flag flies at the top of the medieval castle, and anyone can climb the spiral staircase to see the view from above. Banratty Castle also hosts reenactment events such as feasts in the Great Hall. The town of Banratty is full of people dressed in antique clothes who will tell tourists about centuries of history by baking bread, playing the violin or walking their wolfhounds through the medieval village.

Read also about where you can meet the soul of a Japanese prince and what are the oldest wooden buildings in the world.