Overall Layout The castle sits at ...

Overall Layout The castle sits at the centre of a massive walled enclosure. Around it is a broad defensive courtyard enclosed by high curtain walls. Outside these walls lies a medieval town of timber-framed houses, showing that the castle dominates both the military and civilian areas. The composition naturally draws your eye from the town in the foreground, through the main gate, and finally to the towering keep in the centre. The Outer Defences The first line of defence consists of: Extremely tall stone curtain walls. Large circular corner towers. Thick battlements (crenellations) for defending archers. A monumental gatehouse placed directly in the centre. The walls are intentionally oversized compared to the surrounding buildings, reinforcing the feeling that this fortress was bui