Aussie, there were huge fireplaces in just about every room. Walls were hung with heavy tapestries to block the cold from the stone and also to stop drafts. Beds (for the wealthy, at any rate) were warmed with pans of coals, a tradition that carried on until the late 1800s. Some rooms were simply heated with braziers - again, open bowls of burning coals. It's no wonder people wore layers of clothing; it was a chilly place to live!
drawback
May 24, 2016
Plus winged chairs to keep draughts off'n your neck, and footstools to keep your feet above the draughts blowing along over the floor.
I agree - it's almost like a Keep, a fortified smaller structure used for defense, usually placed around the edges of a holding (country, estate, etc.) It was generally staffed with a small company of soldiers and not meant for large groups or gracious living.
retirenow14
May 6, 2016
I believe you are correct. However, the rich occupants of the castle must have valued the building and staffers highly, as they were their first line of defense in dangerous times.
My husband and I really enjoy castle tours. It is fun to imagine how people who lived in the castle used the spaces in days of old. Many of those open to the public have lovely gardens and expansive porches where tourists can sit a spell and experience outdoor castle living.
I wish I had visited more castles when I was able to travel to Europe. I did visit the Hohensalzburg in Salzburg and The Louvre in Paris, which was originally a castle.
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Mark Twain
"It's good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling." Mark Twain
Good one Mr Twain. Take care and God bless. Hugs.