Castles and Fortifications

[Zzzptm]

Castles are fascinating to us when we are children and marvel at the towers and gates, but when we learn of their uses and construction, the fascination takes on a life-long hold.

When I was in grade school, David Macaulay came out with a series of books, Castle, Pyramid, City, and Cathedral. I loved those precisely because they showed how things were put together. They were more like blueprint books than picture books.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGbPShUpjpg

^ PBS animated version of Castle, loved it when it came out.

I haven't yet been in a European castle from Medieval times, but I *have* been to Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, a massive fortress complex that had a dual purpose. First was protecting the king of the region. Second was protecting the king's market, where there was a massive gem trade.

I loved the details in terms of sight lines and acoustic tricks that could be used for maintaining security and sounding warnings. One could stand at the gate and sound a horn that would be carried up a ravine to the citadel, way up at the top of the hill. Several rings of walls, servants' and soldiers' quarters, the place had it all.

[Tyr66]

We have a bunch of medieval castels all over the country , more or less restored.
Not very far from the Cathar place, the City of Carcassonne.


the Fougères' Castle :


and this one , The Suscinio's Castle near my hometown : the whole roof was restored few years ago.

[Zzzptm]

So I have a question - when did those pointed "caps" get added to the towers? I remember original castles didn't have those, but they obviously look like a necessity for troops stuck outside in the hot sun or pouring rain.

[Typhon]

Castles are fascinating to us when we are children and marvel at the towers and gates, but when we learn of their uses and construction, the fascination takes on a life-long hold.

When I was in grade school, David Macaulay came out with a series of books, Castle, Pyramid, City, and Cathedral. I loved those precisely because they showed how things were put together. They were more like blueprint books than picture books.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGbPShUpjpg

^ PBS animated version of Castle, loved it when it came out.

Believe it or not, I have a recording of this very show on an old VHS tape.  Many other television shows about castles I also recorded and saved.

[Typhon]

One of my favorites, Balmoral Castle in Scotland.


A ground view of Balmoral.

[Zzzptm]

The USA does not have much in the way of castles, but we still have some interesting forts. Fort Sumter in Charleston and Fort Pulaski near Savannah are two examples of coastal forts built after the War of 1812 which were then rendered obsolete by the advent of rifled cannons in the Civil War.



Of the two, I prefer Pulaski for three reasons:

1. It didn't get converted to a modern naval battery in the 20th Century, so it preserves as much of the original fortifications as possible and,

2. It's not where the Civil War hostilities started, so it's not overrun with tourists and,

3. It's accessible by car and foot - no costly ferry ride required!

I could also go on about how I like Savannah better than Charleston, but this is about castles and forts.

[Charger]

Damn Tyr! Those are some crazy beautiful castles!

I've seen pics of Balmoral before and my goodness yes...that's an awesome place Lord Typhon!

[Typhon]

Castle Usse, in France.

[Zzzptm]

Predjama Castle in Slovenia:



Only way in was through the gate on the right, after a long trail exposed to archer fire from the castle. There was also a back way in/out, through the cavern system behind the castle, in that mountain.

[Tyr66]

The Haut-Koenigsbourg , near the German border .

[Charger]

So awesome.

In Finland we don't really have any castles per say...

This is the closest one to where I live (about half an hour away)

Turun Linna (Turku Castle):


The main section is built in the 13th century.

Here's another famous one called Olavin Linna (Olavi's Castle)



This is somewhat newer built in the 15th century and is located in Savonlinna.

[Tyr66]

^^ Nice ! I love these old stones built in ramparts and surrounded by water .

[Tyr66]

talking about fortification : Cyclopean Fortress , Sacsayhuamán , Cuzco , Peru.
I think this incredible place is following by THE big question : Who How and Why did they do this ?

[Typhon]

Johnstown Castle, Ireland.

[Typhon]

Glamis Castle, Scotland.