What were castles like inside?
Inside the castle walls there might have been a magnificent hall, comfortable chambers and a beautiful chapel. Larger castles had their own fish ponds, orchards and vineyards, as well as gardens which supplied vegetables and herbs. Cattle sheep and pigs were kept on surrounding farm land.
Why did they put straw on castle floors?
The herbs were laid on the floor along with reeds, rushes, or straw, so that pleasant odours would be released when people walked on them. In a typical medieval English monastery, for instance, the floor of the dormitory would have been strewn with rushes that were swept and replaced once or twice a year.
How did castles stay cool?
Medieval Castles kept cool during the summer due to their thick walls and high ceilings. Most castles also had small windows (glass wasn’t used for windows until the 1300s, and then only the well-to-do could afford it), which could be easily covered with shutters or curtains.
What room does a castle have?
Bed chambers are now known as bedrooms. Latrines have become lavatories and bathrooms. Halls have morphed into entrance halls and dining rooms have taken over one of their main functions. Solars, Cabinets and Boudoirs have become sitting rooms, libraries and dressing rooms.
What is it like to live in a castle?
The castle life is NOT all luxury. It’s freezing during the winter months, often dusty, and inhabited by spiders, centipedes and all kinds of not so lovely creatures. Still it’s one of my favourite places in the world.
What is the significance of castles in medieval society?
The castle was symbol of the Lord’s power, and therefore cemented the entire Medieval social system firmly in place. Life in a Medieval castle – with its hierarchical structure, noise, festivity and stench- was a microcosm of life in the wider Medieval society.
How many people would have worked or lived in a castle?
How many people would have worked or lived within a castle? Well, it evidently depends on the size of the castle, but, for a site like Goodrich Castle in England, you could expect around 100-150 people to surround the Lord’s family.
Does your family own a castle in Burgundy?
My mom’s side of the family owns a castle in Burgundy. Technically, they own two, a medieval castle, that’s half in ruins next to an early renaissance château, where we always spent our summer months (and sometimes Christmas and Easter too). Both castles are historical monuments, and we have visitors coming up all the time to visit them.