Lowland castle
Encyclopedia
The term lowland castle or plains castle describes a type of castle based that is situated on a lowland
, plain
or valley
floor, as opposed to one built on higher ground
such as a hill spur. In Germany, about 34% of all castles (Burgen) are of the lowland type.
Because lowland castles do not have the defensive advantage of a site on higher ground, sites are chosen that are easy to defend, taking advantage, for example, of rivers, islands in lakes or marshes. Where such natural obstacles do not exist, artificially similar obstacles take on added significance. These include water-filled or dry moat
s, ramparts
, palisade
s and curtain wall
s. In order to increase the height of the castle above the surrounding terrain, artificial earth mounds may be built (such as mottes), and fortified tower
s also fulfil this purpose.
Castles of the Early Middle Ages
(including Slavic and Saxon castles) often had a narrow, deep ditch and high and steep earth ramparts.
Lowland castles are naturally found on plains
such as the North German Plain
or in the Netherlands
. But they may also be encountered occasionally in highlands, for example in a valley as a so-called island castle (Inselburg) on an island in a river (e.g. Pfalzgrafenstein Castle).
Sub-types according to function:
Lowland
In physical geography, a lowland is any broad expanse of land with a general low level. The term is thus applied to the landward portion of the upward slope from oceanic depths to continental highlands, to a region of depression in the interior of a mountainous region, to a plain of denudation, or...
, plain
Plain
In geography, a plain is land with relatively low relief, that is flat or gently rolling. Prairies and steppes are types of plains, and the archetype for a plain is often thought of as a grassland, but plains in their natural state may also be covered in shrublands, woodland and forest, or...
or valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
floor, as opposed to one built on higher ground
Hill castle
A hill castle is a castle built on a natural feature that stands above the surrounding terrain. It is a term derived from the German Höhenburg used in categorising castle sites by their topographical location...
such as a hill spur. In Germany, about 34% of all castles (Burgen) are of the lowland type.
Because lowland castles do not have the defensive advantage of a site on higher ground, sites are chosen that are easy to defend, taking advantage, for example, of rivers, islands in lakes or marshes. Where such natural obstacles do not exist, artificially similar obstacles take on added significance. These include water-filled or dry moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
s, ramparts
Defensive wall
A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
, palisade
Palisade
A palisade is a steel or wooden fence or wall of variable height, usually used as a defensive structure.- Typical construction :Typical construction consisted of small or mid sized tree trunks aligned vertically, with no spacing in between. The trunks were sharpened or pointed at the top, and were...
s and curtain wall
Curtain wall
A curtain wall is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural, but merely keep out the weather. As the curtain wall is non-structural it can be made of a lightweight material reducing construction costs. When glass is used as the curtain wall, a great advantage is...
s. In order to increase the height of the castle above the surrounding terrain, artificial earth mounds may be built (such as mottes), and fortified tower
Fortified tower
A fortified tower is one of the defensive structures used in fortifications, such as castles, along with curtain walls...
s also fulfil this purpose.
Castles of the Early Middle Ages
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
(including Slavic and Saxon castles) often had a narrow, deep ditch and high and steep earth ramparts.
Lowland castles are naturally found on plains
Plains
Plains is the plural of plain, a geographical feature. It is a big flat area of a land. Plains or The Plains may also refer to:-Locations:Canada*Three Mile Plains, Nova Scotia*Five Mile Plains, Nova ScotiaUnited States*Great Plains...
such as the North German Plain
North German plain
The North German Plain or Northern Lowland is one of the major geographical regions of Germany. It is the German part of the North European Plain...
or in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. But they may also be encountered occasionally in highlands, for example in a valley as a so-called island castle (Inselburg) on an island in a river (e.g. Pfalzgrafenstein Castle).
Types
- Water castleWater castleA water castle is a castle or stately home whose site is entirely surrounded by moats or natural waterbodies. Topographically water castles are a type of lowland castle.There is a further distinction between:...
(Wasserburg): Overarching term for all castle types that use water as a defensive obstacle. Depending on their topographic situation these castles may be subdivided into (original German terms in brackets): - River castles (Flussburg): a castle erected on a river bank. As a rule, they are also surrounded by moats filled with water supplied by the river.
- Shore castle (Uferburg): castle by a lake or the sea. Like river castles, shore castles usually have artificial ditches (moats) with a link to the waterbody.
- Island castleIsland castleThe island castle is a variation of the water castle. It is distinguished by its location on an artificial or natural island. It is a typical lowland castle....
(Inselburg): castle on a natural, more rarely on an artificial, island in a river or lake. - Marsh castleMarsh castleA marsh or marshland castle is a type of lowland castle that is situated in marshy or boggy countryside. It uses the natural inaccessibility of the terrain to its defensive advantage.Examples of well-known marsh castles in Germany include:...
(Sumpfburg): castle in marshy or bogBogA bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
gy terrain. It uses the natural inaccessibility of the terrain to its defensive advantage. - Valley castle (Talburg): Castle on a valley bottom. A special variation are so-called Talsperren ("valley barriers"), where fortifications in the valley are linked to a hillside Hillside castleA hillside castle is a castle built on the side of a hill above much of the surrounding terrain but below the summit itself. It is thus a type of hill castle and emerged in Europe in the second half of the 11th century....
or hilltop castleHilltop castleA hilltop castle is a type of hill castle that was built on the summit of a hill or mountain. The chief advantage of such a strategically selected site was its inaccessibility. The steep flanks of the hill made assaults on the castle difficult or, depending on the terrain, even impossible...
so that this type consists of a combination of a lowland castle and a hill castleHill castleA hill castle is a castle built on a natural feature that stands above the surrounding terrain. It is a term derived from the German Höhenburg used in categorising castle sites by their topographical location...
. An example are the Castles of Bellinzona.
Sub-types according to function:
- Bridge castleBridge castleA bridge castle is a type of castle that was built to provide military observation and security for a river crossing. In the narrower sense it refers to castles that are built directly on or next to a bridge...
(Brückenburg): a castle built to watch over and protect a river crossing. - Harbour castle (Hafenburg): a castle that is built to protect a harbour.
Examples
- Caerlaverock CastleCaerlaverock CastleCaerlaverock Castle is a moated triangular castle, built in the 13th century, in the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve area at the Solway Firth, south of Dumfries in the southwest of Scotland. In the Middle Ages it was owned by the Maxwell family. Today, the castle is in the care of Historic...
, water castle (Wasserburg) with triangular plan, Scotland - Eilean Donan Castle, restored island castle (Inselburg), Scotland
- Warwick CastleWarwick CastleWarwick Castle is a medieval castle in Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire, England. It sits on a bend on the River Avon. The castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 within or adjacent to the Anglo-Saxon burh of Warwick. It was used as a fortification until the early 17th century,...
, river castle (Flussburg), England - Château de Sully-sur-LoireChâteau de Sully-sur-LoireThe Château de Sully-sur-Loire is a castle, converted to a palatial seigneurial residence, situated in the commune of Sully-sur-Loire, Loiret, France.-History:...
, water castle in the Loire Valley, France - Beersel Castle, Late Middle Ages brick castle, Belgium
- Nassenfels Castle, castle on the site of a Roman castell, Germany
- Groß Raden, Early Middle Ages Slavic island castle, Germany
- Dankwarderode CastleDankwarderode CastleDankwarderode Castle on the Burgplatz in Brunswick is a Saxon lowland castle. It was the residence of the Brunswick dukes for centuries and, today, is part of the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum....
, Landesburg der Braunschweiger Herzöge, Deutschland - Malbork CastleMalbork CastleThe Marienburg Castle in Malbork is by area the largest castle in the world. It was built in Prussia by the Teutonic Knights, a German Roman Catholic religious order of crusaders, in a form of an Ordensburg fortress. The Order named it Marienburg...
, seat of the Teutonic KnightsTeutonic KnightsThe Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
and greatest brick building in Europe, Poland
Sources
- Böhme, Horst Wolfgang; Friedrich, Reinhard and Schock-Werner, Barbara (ed.) (2004). Wörterbuch der Burgen, Schlösser und Festungen. Reclam, Stuttgart, p. 156, ISBN 3-15-010547-1
- Krahe, Friedrich-Wilhelm (2002). Burgen und Wohntürme des deutschen Mittelalters. Vol. 1, Thorbecke, Stuttgart, 2002, pp. 21–23, ISBN 3-7995-0104-5,