Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
has added several creative buildings to its skyline: the City Hall (nicknamed “the Arma-
dillo”), 30 St. Mary Axe (“the Gherkin”), and the tallest building in the European Union,
the pointy Shard London Bridge (called...um, “the Shard”).
Typical Castle Architecture
Castles were fortified residences for medieval nobles. Castles come in all shapes
and sizes, but knowing a few general terms will help you understand them.
The Keep (or Donjon):
A high, strong stone tower in the center of the castle com-
plex that was the lord's home and refuge of last resort.
Great Hall:
The largest room in the castle, serving as throne room, conference cen-
ter, and dining hall.
The Yard (or Bailey or Ward):
An open courtyard inside the castle walls.
Loopholes:
Narrow slits in the walls (also called embrasures, arrow slits, or arrow
loops) through which soldiers could shoot arrows at the enemy.
Towers:
Tall structures serving as lookouts, chapels, living quarters, or dungeons.
Towers could be square or round, with either crenellated tops or conical roofs.
Turret:
A small lookout tower projecting up from the top of the wall.
Moat:
A ditch encircling the wall, often filled with water.
Motte-and-Bailey:
A traditional form for early English castles, with a small fort on
top of a hill (motte) next to an enclosed and fortified yard (bailey).
Wall Walk (or Allure):
A pathway atop the wall where guards could patrol and
where soldiers stood to fire at the enemy.
Parapet:
Outer railing of the wall walk.
Crenellation:
A gap-toothed pattern of stones atop the parapet.
Hoardings (or Gallery or Brattice):
Wooden huts built onto the upper parts of
the stone walls. They served as watch towers, living quarters, and fighting plat-
forms.
