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Castle
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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. château of the dukes of Anjou
History of Hohenschwangau Castle
Tower of London 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. Dunguaire Castle Castillo de la Mota 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. Balmoral Castle, a large stone building with turrets and a central clock tower, stands amid manicured lawns and trees in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Warwick Castle stands in the background above the tree-lined River Avon, where several boats with people are paddling on the calm water in Warwickshire, England.
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Hagia Sophia. Istanbul, Turkey. Constantinople. Church of the Holy Wisdom. Church of the Divine Wisdom. Mosque.
Architecture: The Built World

Castle: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Contributors

  • Michael Tschischka

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Article title updated for style. Nov 07, 2026
Modified link of Web site: Famous Castles. Sep 26, 2026
Add new Web site: HistoryNet - Changing Conceptions of English Castles. Feb 20, 2026
Add new Web site: English Heritage - Medieval Castles. Sep 19, 2023
Add new Web site: Art in Context - Castle Architecture – Elements of Castle Structures. Jul 29, 2023
Add new Web site: Historic UK - The History of Castles. Jun 16, 2023
Add new Web site: Ancient Origins - The Fascinating History of Medieval Castles: From Emergence to Obsoletion. Mar 11, 2023
Add new Web site: World History Encyclopedia - Medieval Castle. Dec 19, 2022
Removed media. Aug 17, 2021
Corrected display issue. Jan 14, 2020
Add new Web site: Famous Castles. Mar 01, 2019
Add new Web site: History Learning Site - Castle. Jan 15, 2017
Add new Web site: Medieval Life and Times - Medieval Castle Architecture. Sep 04, 2016
Added video. Sep 03, 2015
Added video. Dec 05, 2014
Replaced two black-and-white photographs with color images. Jul 03, 2012
Add new Web site: Exploring Castles - Exploring Breathtaking Castles, All Around the World. May 14, 2012
Add new Web site: Exploring Castles - Exploring Breathtaking Castles, All Around the World. May 14, 2012
Media added. Aug 31, 2011
Diagram of a typical medieval castle added. Aug 25, 2010
Revised to include the information that castles also exist outside of Europe and to clarify that "castle" is the word under discussion. Sep 03, 2009
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - History - Castle History. Nov 04, 2008
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - History - Castle. Nov 04, 2008
Article revised and updated. Jul 23, 2008
Media added. Dec 18, 2007
Media added. Jun 14, 2007
Added new Web site: Castles and Fortifications of England and Wales.
  • Gaurav Shukla
 Nov 19, 2006
Added new Web site: PBS Online - Medieval Seige. Oct 20, 2006
Added new Web site: National Geographic for Kids - Ghosts in the Castle. Jun 13, 2006
Added new Web site: National Geographic for Kids - Ghosts in the Castle. Jun 13, 2006
Added new Web site: Castles of Britain. May 08, 2006
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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