Les châteaux forts

The architecture of the fortified castle evolved throughout the Middle Ages. The earliest castles were called motte-and-bailey castles. Their defenses remained more passive than active. In the 11th and 12th centuries, castles underwent significant improvements: the use of stone made them much more resistant, the walls became high and thick, hoardings allowed for more effective close-quarters defense, flanking towers were square, and a moat surrounded the castle. This type of military structure is called a Romanesque castle. In the 13th century, the architects of King Philip Augustus developed a new type of castle: the Philippian castle. The beginning of the 16th century saw the construction of the last fortified castles. A six-century-old tradition was about to disappear. Building a fortress became a royal privilege. This marked the end of feudalism. Play with the educational website http://canope.dtnormandie.fr/chateaux...