The term lowland castle or plains castle (German: Niederungsburg, Flachlandburg, Tieflandburg) describes a type of castle that is situated on a lowland, plain or valley floor, as opposed to one built on higher ground such as a hill spur. The classification is extensively used in Germany where about 34 percent of all castles are of the lowland type.[1]
Because lowland castles do not have the defensive advantage of a site on higher ground, sites are chosen that are easy to defend, taking advantage, for example, of rivers, islands in lakes or marshes. Where such natural obstacles do not exist, artificially similar obstacles take on added significance. These include water-filled or dry moats, ramparts, palisades and curtain walls. In order to increase the height of the castle above the surrounding terrain, artificial earth mounds may be built (such as mottes), and fortified towers also fulfil this purpose.
Castles of the Early Middle Ages (including Slavic and Saxon castles) often had a narrow, deep ditch and high and steep earth ramparts.
Lowland castles are naturally found on plains such as the North German Plain or in the Netherlands, but they may also be encountered occasionally in highlands, for example in a valley as a so-called island castle (Inselburg) on an island in a river (e.g. Pfalzgrafenstein Castle).
The moat at Calvörde Castle was linked to the River Ohre via a canal system.
Water castle (Wasserburg): Overarching term for all castle types that use water as a defensive obstacle. Depending on their topographic situation these castles may be subdivided into (original German terms in brackets):
River castles (Flussburg): a castle erected on a river bank. As a rule, they are also surrounded by moats filled with water supplied by the river.
Shore castle (Uferburg): castle by a lake or the sea. Like river castles, shore castles usually have artificial ditches (moats) with a link to the waterbody.
Island castle (Inselburg): castle on a natural, more rarely on an artificial, island in a river or lake.
Marsh castle (Sumpfburg): castle in marshy or boggy terrain. It uses the natural inaccessibility of the terrain to its defensive advantage.
Valley castle (Talburg): Castle on a valley bottom. A special variation are so-called Talsperren ("valley barriers"), where fortifications in the valley are linked to a hillside or hilltop castle so that this type consists of a combination of a lowland castle and a hill castle. An example are the Castles of Bellinzona.
Sub-types according to function:
Bridge castle (Brückenburg): a castle built to watch over and protect a river crossing.
Harbour castle (Hafenburg): a castle that is built to protect a harbour.
Böhme, Horst Wolfgang; Friedrich, Reinhard and Schock-Werner, Barbara (ed.) (2004). Wörterbuch der Burgen, Schlösser und Festungen. Reclam, Stuttgart, p. 156, ISBN3-15-010547-1
Krahe, Friedrich-Wilhelm (2002). Burgen und Wohntürme des deutschen Mittelalters. Vol. 1, Thorbecke, Stuttgart, 2002, pp. 21–23, ISBN3-7995-0104-5,
January 01, 1970
lowland, castle, term, lowland, castle, plains, castle, german, niederungsburg, flachlandburg, tieflandburg, describes, type, castle, that, situated, lowland, plain, valley, floor, opposed, built, higher, ground, such, hill, spur, classification, extensively, . The term lowland castle or plains castle German Niederungsburg Flachlandburg Tieflandburg describes a type of castle that is situated on a lowland plain or valley floor as opposed to one built on higher ground such as a hill spur The classification is extensively used in Germany where about 34 percent of all castles are of the lowland type 1 Trakai Castle Lithuania an island castle Because lowland castles do not have the defensive advantage of a site on higher ground sites are chosen that are easy to defend taking advantage for example of rivers islands in lakes or marshes Where such natural obstacles do not exist artificially similar obstacles take on added significance These include water filled or dry moats ramparts palisades and curtain walls In order to increase the height of the castle above the surrounding terrain artificial earth mounds may be built such as mottes and fortified towers also fulfil this purpose Castles of the Early Middle Ages including Slavic and Saxon castles often had a narrow deep ditch and high and steep earth ramparts Lowland castles are naturally found on plains such as the North German Plain or in the Netherlands but they may also be encountered occasionally in highlands for example in a valley as a so called island castle Inselburg on an island in a river e g Pfalzgrafenstein Castle Contents 1 Types 2 Examples 3 References 4 SourcesTypes edit nbsp The moat at Calvorde Castle was linked to the River Ohre via a canal system Water castle Wasserburg Overarching term for all castle types that use water as a defensive obstacle Depending on their topographic situation these castles may be subdivided into original German terms in brackets River castles Flussburg a castle erected on a river bank As a rule they are also surrounded by moats filled with water supplied by the river Shore castle Uferburg castle by a lake or the sea Like river castles shore castles usually have artificial ditches moats with a link to the waterbody Island castle Inselburg castle on a natural more rarely on an artificial island in a river or lake Marsh castle Sumpfburg castle in marshy or boggy terrain It uses the natural inaccessibility of the terrain to its defensive advantage Valley castle Talburg Castle on a valley bottom A special variation are so called Talsperren valley barriers where fortifications in the valley are linked to a hillside or hilltop castle so that this type consists of a combination of a lowland castle and a hill castle An example are the Castles of Bellinzona Sub types according to function Bridge castle Bruckenburg a castle built to watch over and protect a river crossing Harbour castle Hafenburg a castle that is built to protect a harbour Examples edit nbsp Gross Raden castle from the Early Middle Ages Caerlaverock Castle water castle with triangular plan Scotland Eilean Donan Castle restored island castle Scotland Warwick Castle river castle England Chateau de Sully sur Loire water castle in the Loire Valley France Beersel Castle Late Middle Ages brick castle Belgium Nassenfels Castle castle on the site of a Roman castellum Germany Gross Raden Early Middle Ages Slavic island castle Germany Dankwarderode Castle state castle Landesburg of the Brunswick dukes Germany Malbork Castle seat of the Teutonic Knights and greatest brick building in Europe Poland Smederevo Fortress river castle largest plains fortress in Europe SerbiaReferences edit Krahe pp 21 23 2002 Sources editBohme Horst Wolfgang Friedrich Reinhard and Schock Werner Barbara ed 2004 Worterbuch der Burgen Schlosser und Festungen Reclam Stuttgart p 156 ISBN 3 15 010547 1 Krahe Friedrich Wilhelm 2002 Burgen und Wohnturme des deutschen Mittelalters Vol 1 Thorbecke Stuttgart 2002 pp 21 23 ISBN 3 7995 0104 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lowland castle amp oldid 1194790445, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
