A ridge castle is a term derived from the German word Kammburg for a medieval fortification built on a ridge

Ridge

A ridge is a geological feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for some distance. Ridges are usually termed hills or mountains as well, depending on size. There are several main types of ridges:...

 or the crest of mountain or hill chain.

Ridge castle

Castle

A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...

s were not a common type of fortification. Whilst castles of this type were relatively well protected, they had the disadvantage that they could be attacked from 2 sides.

For better protection, several such castles could be built in close proximity to one another.

Literature

• Michael Losse: Kleine Burgenkunde. Regionalia, Euskirchen 2011, ISBN 978-3-939722-39-7.