#medieval fort

[rugnar-stengo]

More progress with Blender, more miniatures for a fictitious tabletop game! After the tower, I've created a little medieval fort. It took me something like 20 hours in total to create it, but for most of it I did it without looking up for any tutorial or using reference. With the exception of the texture painting, the shading and the walls around the four towers, it was all done without any kind of help.

I could've done something better for sure, but I'm happy with the final result nonetheless!

[boschintegral-photo]

Fort De La Conchée Saint-Malo, France

[blueiscoool]

Early Medieval Ring With Intricate Design Discovered in Scotland

A kite-shaped ring with a piece of garnet in its center was uncovered at the site of Burghead Fort, which is located on the coast of northeastern Scotland, by researchers from the University of Aberdeen. Burghead Fort was a seat of power used by the Picts between the sixth and tenth centuries A.D. “There are very few Pictish rings which have ever been discovered and those that we do know about usually come from hoards which were placed in the ground deliberately for safekeeping in some way,” said archaeologist Gordon Noble of the University of Aberdeen. “We certainly weren’t expecting to find something like this lying around the floor of what was once a house,” he added. Some evidence of metalworking has been uncovered at the fort, so the ring may have been made on site. The researchers plan to look for clues as to who may have worn the ring.

[liorlen]

Some illustrations I made for a module as interpretations of some passages from the Welsh poem 'Preiddeu Annwn'

[pellinni-photo]

castle with stone wall. urban scenery on a foggy morning in autumn. popular travel destination

[silvaris]

Schloss Werenwag by Waldemar Fotler

[acrossthewavesoftime]

[...] wæs se grimma gaést Grendel háten maére mearcstapa sé þe móras héold, Tumblr ond þe ynternet, brego botas [...] [...] This ghastly demon was Grendel, infamous stalker in the marches, he who held the moors, Tumblr and the Internet, Lord of Bots [...]

[created on the basis of, and partially quoting from, this online-edition of Beowulf]

I surely do hope being blocked won't provoke Provocative Grendel to send his mum after me...

[itsagrimm]

Writing Castles and Palaces

Every once in a while I see reverences of castles in writing with stories set there and characters frolicking through castle gardens. As someone growing up in a region with a castle on basically every bigger hill and at every corner, I would like to offer my support how to write stories in Castles and castle-like buildings:

Pick a place

Depending on the region and time the story is set in, the castle and its conditions will look very different. Castles or fortified buildings with some military or representative value are a near global phenomenon. So it's important to think of a place to set the castle in: is it a castle from Europe like the Tower of London? Is it a Castle like the one in Osaka, Japan? Maybe a fort in Africa like the Cairo Citadel or Chapultepec Castle in Latin America?

2. Pick a time

Castles changed a lot in their appearance depending on the time frame they are set it. In Europe the early medieval castles had a high military value and were an expression of feudal power. That meant those castles were not build to be comfortable but primarily military bases. Later post-medieval castles function more as representative palaces yet often get called Castles in English as well. Those types of Palace-castles tend to be more liveable but also often lack the militaristic purpose. Outside of Europe the time of the castle build also matters a lot. Is it a castle build by Locals? Is it Europeans with an imperial intend? Or is it some rich guy replicating a castle on his private island?

3. Pick a function

As aforementioned Castles changed a lot during time and space they are set in. But they also look very differently depending on their function. If it's a prison or holding a vault the Castle will look more intimidating and there will be very little regard for its living conditions except for possible guards or high value prisoners. If it's a military installation it will hold more comfortable living quarters for personnel as well as more workers to maintain the fighting force. And if it's a representative building like a kings castle then there will be a lot of pomp and splendor like elaborate decorative gardens, various buildings with entertainment purpose, plenty of nice living space for the higher class, and living quaters for the personnel. Obviously functions can overlap - a military castle can also serve as a prison, a representative Palace can also include military installations. If those functions are combined they affect the appearance and liveability of the castle so that needs to be kept in mind when writing those.

Medieval European Castles

To show you how time, space and function impact a castles conditions, I'll stick to European Castles bc that's what I know most about and bc I know those castles and can describe their feel.

A military Castle

Altdahn: build in the 13th century in Palatina-Rhine as part of the defense for the Diosese of Speyer. It is part of a group of castles surrounding the town of Dahn. The castle saw military action several times, got burned, rebuild and adapted a lot during its time of use. It also served as a family manor for the von Dahn family line however they relocated in the 15th century into a more liveable palace. Like most military Castles Altdahn had 2 courtyards and a belfry tower. Also it's always very cool up there in the rooms with wind and the massive stones making it very unpleasant to be in for a longer period. Since glass was expensive, it's likely than not all rooms had proper windows so in plenty of rooms it would have been cold or dark from closed window shutters. Living there must have been hell, especially in winter. So those who had the misfortune to be there all the time must have dressed up very warmly and likely picked every chance to get down into the town or were able to invest in the expensive logistics of constantly carrying up firewood up there as well as opting for expensive carpets and tapestry to add warmth. (picture below)

A prison Castle

Fort Königsstein: Most of its time in service the fort was used as a garrison, prison and vault due to being situated on a plateau high above the surrounding area. The fort is far away from bigger cities like Dresden and used to be somewhat isolated in the mountains before the building of modern infrastructure. It went through several changes over time to make it more palace like and nicer to live in. However, even the cultivated forest on the fort plateau served as a reserve in case of siege; the bleak stone walls and the massive entrance complex make the forts purpose as a militaristic and isolating prison abundantly clear. Königstein was known as an infamous prison during the reign of the Saxon kings and even after the end of the kingdom of Saxony in 1922 the fort held prisoners of war up until the end of WW2 in 1945. Depending of the part of the castle the feeling is pleasant to isolating and cold due to the wind and the thick stone walls. Also walking there from the next bigger settlement takes a while. (picture of Königsstein below)

A Palace-Castle

Castle Schwerin: While some form of fortification existed on this spot since the the 9th century as part of a Sorbian settlement, the castle in its now existing form hardly passes as a pragmatic military fortification. Remodelled from 1844 to 1857 it served as the main residence and representative Palace for the Mecklenburgian dukes and Grand-dukes. The Castle is in the middle of the town Schwerin and surrounded by grand gardens. Its previous fortified outer walls have been mostly removed. The Castle still has a courtyard and towers. Yet those do not serve any primary logistical or military purpose. The castle rooms were regularly lived in by the duke's family and serve now as the local parliament halls. It's very pleasant and warm inside with the castle being a more modern build and not as exposed to the elements. The throne room and ministerial offices were within the castle. The building includes enough space to house not just the family and its servants but also higher guests, their entourage and castle guard. The castle feels fairytale-eske because it's supposed to as a rich and pleasant representative residence for the feudal family right in the middle of the city. (picture Castle Schwerin below)

Honourable mentions of European Castle types and similar buildings:

Hunting castles - serve no purpose except to house hunting parties.

Fortified Churches - a Church that doubles as a military sanctuary in times of (medieval) need.

Monasteries - were sometimes fortified.

Villas and Manors - depending on the build they serve similar functions as castles. Often excluded when using the label of castle.

[mushroomsie224]

Was looking at Medieval castles and found a page that inaccurately labeled a picture of Bran Castle as being Corvin Castle. Sheesh.

But to the main point of the post: Corvin Castle reminds me a bit of Enchancia Castle.

[kristo-flowers]

Ruins of medieval Tettye castle, Pecs, Hungary

[stereo-91]

WIP - Gibbs Hill Tower, Britechester. (Based on the Tower of London) 

Just figuring out the interior. Once completed I will upload it to the gallery.

Stone Wall Recolour in Link below. 

https://simfileshare.net/folder/181898/

[boschintegral-photo]

Fort National Saint-Malo, France

[kvetch19]

x

[no7er]

Fort of Ser Roundragon Digital artwork by me 2024

[6ghassan]

Cahir Castle, County Tipperary, Ireland. by Philip Wood Photography Via Flickr:

[dia-oro]

Somewhere in Spain