Ridge castle
Type of medieval fortification
A ridge castle (German: Kammburg) was a medieval fortification built on a ridge or the crest of mountain or hill chain.[1] It was one of several types of hill castle.
Ridge castles were not a common type of fortification. While castles of this type were relatively well protected, they had the disadvantage that they could be attacked from two sides.[1] The similar spur castle, located at the end of a ridge, is protected by drop offs on three sides.
For mutual protection, several such castles could be built within sight of one another.
- The Teutonic Knights' Montfort Castle, Israel, is a narrow ridge castle that relies for its defence on the steep rocky hillsides, lacking many of the innovations of the larger crusader castles and resembling smaller German baronial castles.[2]
Gallery
- Burghausen Castle, Bavaria, Germany
- Beckov Castle, Slovakia
- Klis Fortress near Split, Croatia
References
- ^ a b Friedrich-Wilhelm Krahe: Burgen des deutschen Mittelalters. Grundriss-Lexikon. Flechsig, Würzburg 2000, ISBN 3-88189-360-1, p. 18.
- ^ Nicolle, David (2008). Crusader Castles in the Holy Land. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-349-0.
Literature
- Michael Losse: Kleine Burgenkunde. Regionalia, Euskirchen 2011, ISBN 978-3-939722-39-7.
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Fortifications
- Abatis
- Acropolis
- Agger
- Broch
- Burgus
- Castellum
- Castra
- Castros
- Chengqiang
- Circular rampart
- City gate
- Crannog
- Ditch
- Defensive wall
- Dun
- Faussebraye
- Gatehouse
- Gord
- Hillfort
- Landwehr
- Limes
- Nuraghe
- Oppidum
- Palisade
- Pincer gate
- Promontory fort
- Rampart
- Ringfort (Rath)
- Refuge castle
- Schwedenschanze
- Stockade
- Sudis
- Trou de loup
- Vallum
- Wagon fort (Laager)
- Vitrified fort
- Advanced work
- Albarrana tower
- Alcazaba
- Alcázar
- Amba
- Arrowslit
- Barbican
- Bartizan
- Bastion
- Battery tower
- Battlement
- Bawn
- Bent entrance
- Bergfried
- Berm
- Boom
- Bretèche
- Bridge castle
- Bridge tower
- Burh
- Butter-churn tower
- Caer
- Caltrop
- Castle
- Chamber gate
- Chartaque
- Chashi
- Chemin de ronde
- Chemise
- Cheval de frise
- Citadel
- Coercion castle
- Concentric castle
- Corner tower
- Counter-castle
- Curtain
- Drawbridge
- Enceinte
- Embrasure
- Flanking tower
- Fortified buildings (church, house, Dzong)
- Fujian tulou
- Ganerbenburg
- Gate tower
- Gabion
- Glacis
- Guard tower
- Gulyay-gorod
- Gusuku
- Half tower
- Hoarding
- Inner bailey
- Kasbah
- Keep
- Kremlin (Detinets)
- Ksar
- Landesburg
- L-plan castle
- Machicolation
- Merlon
- Moat
- Motte-and-bailey
- Murder hole
- Neck ditch
- Outer bailey
- Outwork
- Peel tower
- Portcullis
- Postern
- Powder tower
- Qalat
- Reduit
- Ribat
- Ricetto
- Ringwork
- Roundel
- Quadrangular castle
- Shell keep
- Shield wall
- Shiro
- Toll castle
- Tower castle
- Tower house
- Turret
- Viking ring fortress
- Wall tower
- Bailey (or ward)
- Watchtower
- Witch tower
- Yagura
- Yett
- Zwinger
- Castle town
- Château
- Dungeon
- Festung
- Fortified gateway
- Loophole
- National redoubt
- Palas
- Picket
- Schloss
- Trench
- Vedette
- See also: Category