A
castle (from ) is a type of
fortified structure built in
Europe and the
Middle East during the
Middle Ages by
nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word
castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble. This is distinct from a
palace, which is not fortified; from a fortress, which was not always a residence for
nobility; and from a fortified settlement, which was a public defence – though there are many similarities among these types of construction. Usage of the term has varied over time and has been applied to structures as diverse as
hill forts and country houses. Over the approximately 900 years that castles were built, they took on a great many forms with many different features, although some, such as
curtain walls and
arrowslits, were commonplace.
