castle fortifications
Medieval stronghold defenses
Castle fortifications are the defensive structures built into or around a castle—walls, towers, moats, battlements, gatehouses, and the like.
The term covers both the physical features and the system they form: The castle fortifications had withstood three sieges.
Fortifications evolved alongside siege technology, with features like arrow slits, murder holes, and concentric walls designed to repel attackers.
- barbicansFortified outwork defending entrance
- murder holesFortification ceiling openings for attack
- boiling oilHeated fat for warfare
- rampartsProtective fortress walls
- bastionsFortified defensive positions
defensive towers · glacis · hoardings · battlements · crenellations · keep · enceinte · embrasures · merlon · siege warfare · talus · loopholes · stone keep · curtain walls · moat · turret · guard tower · corbel
castle fortificationssiege engines
Weapons for attacking fortifications
siege towers · battering rams · trebuchets · catapults · mining tunnels
castle fortificationsbreach
Breaking of agreement
vulnerability · weak points · structural weakness · exposed flank · blind spots