keep: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	donjon

Photos

The stone keep of Cardiff Castle stands atop a grassy mound surrounded by a moat, with a flag flying from the tower in South Glamorgan, Wales.

Illustration comparing three main castle types: a motte and bailey with a wooden fort on a mound and enclosed yard, a stone keep castle with a central stone tower and surrounding walls, and a concentric castle with multiple layers of defensive walls, towers, and inner and outer baileys.

Illustration of a typical medieval castle complex viewed from above, showing labeled features including the chapel, inner and outer baileys, kitchen, storehouse, stables, donjon or keep, postern gate, list or ward, moat, portcullis, and drawbridge within fortified walls.

Windsor Castle; keep

London, Tower of: White Tower

The stone keep of Cardiff Castle stands atop a grassy mound, with a Welsh flag flying from its tower, surrounded by stone walls in Cardiff, Wales.

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Topics

Castle moat 6 Stately Castles in Italy Château

Hagia Sophia. Istanbul, Turkey. Constantinople. Church of the Holy Wisdom. Church of the Divine Wisdom. Mosque.

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