Castles served two purposes:
1) a place to live (for the lord, his lady, & family)
2) a fort or safe place during attack
The first castles were made of wood, but often burned down. Therefore, they began to make them of stone. Stone was sturdy and lasted a long time. However, stone did not allow heat to circulate. Castles were very cold, dark, damp places. A castle was built with defense in mind. It was usually placed on a hill so attackers could be easily spotted. Many castles are still standing in Europe and have become tourist attractions. A tourist attraction is a place for people to visit while on vacation.
It had a moat, or deep ditch filled with water, around it. The moat had spikes and sharp objects in it to discourage swimming across. A drawbridge was built over the moat. This bridge could be raised and lowered for add protection. Beyond the drawbridge was a portcullis. A portcullis was a gate made of iron or wood that could be lowered quickly to stop intruders.
Some attackers would try to wait out those hiding in the castle until they ran out of supplies. Inside the castle walls was the Keep. It was one of the largest areas of the castle. The Keep was a huge, secure building. It was the safest place inside the castle walls. It also had a storage area and a huge tower at the top. Items like food, grain, water, and weapons were kept here.
The tower at the top of the castle had slotted windows so arrows could be shot at people below. These holes and others in the roof of the castle were called murder holes. Murder holes allowed the defenders to use trash, hot tar, burning oil, and arrows against the attackers.
The Great Hall was also located near the Keep. The Great Hall connected the living area and bedrooms to the Keep. When the castle was under attack, everyone ran to the Keep.
During the Middle Ages, dinner was a lot different from today. There was no tableware, only knives and fingers were used. Soup was slurped right out of a bowl. As you can imagine, it was a pretty messy scene. Most did not wash their hands before eating and since baths were a luxury, the meal time could be a little stinky with everyone at the same table.
Food was plentiful for rich and the poor. Obviously the rich or those living in the castle had people to serve them, but the serfs had always had enough to eat too. It was important to keep them healthy so they could work hard.
There was always some form of entertainment with the meal of the Lord or King. Singing, music, juggling, were all performed during this time. A feast was a big occasion and having many guests was very common. The rich had elaborate meals with many different courses. It often included wild game, fish, vegetables, fruit, and dessert.
Festivals were another important part of life on the manor. Festivals were religious celebrations of a Christian holy day. There was usually one festival each month. Serfs did not work on these days except to feed and take care of the animals.
The festivals were organized by the church and always involved how important the church was and how important it was to follow the rules of the church. It was also a time of relaxation so everyone could have fun. There was music, dancing, games, jousting, and food. The lord or the king paid the church to plan everything.