How to Build Medieval European Castles
- 1). Locate an appropriate site. Look for a site that offers a natural defense such as a hill or mound. Consider the proximity of natural resources. Transportation costs in the medieval era were quite high, so finding raw building materials nearby is helpful.
- 2). Consult an architect. In 12th and 13th century France, King Phillip II Augustus standardized the military architecture of castles within his kingdom. Common characteristics included a dry moat, high curtain walls, corner towers with staggered arrow loops on every floor of the tower, drum towers to protect the gate and a large tower keep. The Louvre in Paris and Yévre-le-Châtel castle in Loiret are examples of this layout.
- 3). Quarry the stones. Look for natural fissure lines on the face of the rock where it is likely to fracture. Drive a line of holes along the fissure line. Hammer an iron wedge into the line of holes until the stone splits. Haul stones via horse-drawn wagons to the building site.
- 4). Create a mortar by mixing lime, soil and water. Place mortar between the stones as you fit them together.
- 5). Construct tiles to form the roof and floor. Extract clay from a nearby forest and place in wooden tile-shaped molds. After air drying the tiles, bake in a kiln for about 12 hours at 1000 degrees.
- 6). Fell oak trees in the forest. Build galleries, walkways and bridges. Very little wood is used in the exterior of a castle due to the potential for rot and the fire hazard.
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