Early Castles

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  The earliest castles were wooden strongholds built on a high earthwork mound, a motte, with an outer walled courtyard called the bailey. Comfort was secondary to security, and wind blew through wooden shutters into the great hall where everyone ate and slept. People slept on benches or mats, though the lord and lady might have a room. Furnishings such as the lord and lady's wooden beds were designed to be easily taken apart for traveling.
  
  

Castles after 1066

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  After the conquest in 1066, William of Normandy and his followers brought Norman ideas on castle architecture to England. Stone keeps encircled by walls and moats replaced flammable wooden structures. By 1200, bedrooms with large fireplaces, glass windows and colorful wall tapestries were among the comforts of castle life. Castle construction could take over ten years and cost millions in today's dollars. In 1295, nearly three thousand masons, blacksmiths and laborers were hired to build Beaumaris Castle in Wales.
  
  

Daily Life in the Castle

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  The lady of the manor, the chatelaine, took responsibility for daily routine, as the lord was often away. The household ate a midday meal of soup, chicken, fish, cheese and fruit, provided from the fields and livestock belonging to the castle. The lady supervised servants, kept accounts and sold crops to outfit the lord with horses and armor. Several times annually, the lord and lady moved out while the castle was thoroughly cleaned, returning to floors freshened by fragrant herbs.
  
  

Touring Castles Today

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  As society became more stable, castles were no longer needed to control territory. Older castles fell into ruins. For today's tourist or armchair traveler, there are many castles worth visiting. In Syria, the Krak de Chevalier rebuilt by Crusader knights welcomes visitors. Many English castles are open to guests and some even host weddings.The age of castles lives on in the popular imagination, even in today's world of high-tech computerized warfare.