Wall Walk

We just learned about the Zwinger.

Another part of a castle is a Wall Walk.

On top of the castle wall sometimes there is a pathway, with a small wall next to it.
People could walk on the wall, but still be protected by the small wall.
They could also look out to see who was coming, or shoot arrows or throw things down on any attackers.


(from: wikipedia - chemin de ronde)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Neuschwanstein Castle

Zwinger

We just learned about the Enceinte.

Another part of a castle is a Zwinger.

Some castles would have an outside wall and then an inside wall.
The place in between the two walls is called the zwinger.

This was made so that if attackers broke through the outside wall, the people defending the castle would be able to attack them easily in a small space before they could break into the main castle space.



(from: wikipedia - zwinger)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Baja California Sur

Enceinte

We just learned about the Bailey.

Another part of a castle is the Enceinte.

This is wall and towers that go around a courtyard area to protect it from outside attackers.


(from: wikipedia - enceinte)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Colima

Bailey

We just learned about the Motte.

Another part of a castle is the Bailey.

A bailey is a big courtyard with a wall around it, that is next to the motte.

The motte was up higher, so people could be up on the bailey and look down into the bailey to make sure everything was going ok.


(from: wikipedia - motte and bailey)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Campeche

Motte

We just learned about Castles and Palaces.

Castles have all sorts of different things that they use for defense or attack.

One thing some castles have is called a Motte.

A motte is like a large hill made out of dirt, with the top part being flattened out.
Usually there was also a ditch around the bottom of the motte, and a castle was built on top of the flat hill.


(from: wikipedia - castle)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Nayarit

Castles and Palaces

We just learned about the Frankenstein Castle.

So far we've learned about a lot of castles and palaces, but what's the difference between a castle and a palace?

The word castle comes from the a word meaning "fortified place".
The word palace comes from the hill named "Palatine Hill" in Rome, where the Roman Emperor's lived.

A castle is a place that is fortified, which means it usually has big walls, or a moat, or other ways of protecting the people who live there form being attacked.
It's also the home of a royal person like a lord or noble.

A palace is a big fancy building, and usually the home of someone royal like a king, or bishop, but they are not usually fortified because people are always coming to visit.

Another building name was "fortress" which is kind of like a castle but usually not a home for a royal person.



(from: wikipedia - castle)

(from: wikipedia - palace)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Tlaxcala