The word castle comes from the Latin word for "city master".


Castles are a product of the Middle Ages in Europe. From 1066 AD to 1400 AD was the peak of castle building. European aristocrats built more and more and bigger castles to guard their territory.


In the course of development, the art of castle architecture mainly forms two representative styles. Romanesque and Gothic.


Romanesque means "shadow of Rome" and was popular in Western Europe in the 11th and 12th centuries. The main features of Romanesque architecture are its semicircular shape and the tubular vault inherited from the ancient Romans.


The tubular arch is typical of the architecture of this period and is often used in cross-over pilasters and enclosed arcades, both strong and artistic. There are also round turrets, which make them less vulnerable.


Other architectural features include the use of narrow Windows, semicircular arches, low domes, and door frames raised level by level for decoration.


Due to the extensive use of columns and vaults of various shapes, the whole building achieves an aesthetic effect of thick, solid, balanced and stable, and saturation of strength.


The narrow Windows form a strong contrast with the vast internal space, making the interior of the castle dim, and extremely deep, giving people a sense of mystery and darkness.


Gothic architecture has few walls. Between the main sides of the skeleton is a tall, large window. The beauty of Gothic castles also lies in their luxurious interior decoration, which is mainly reflected in these two points -- glass inlaid Windows and sculptures.


Glass Mosaic Windows are a defining feature of Gothic architecture. When the sun shines through the Mosaic window, the colorful light creates a strange beauty on the mottled walls.


In recent years, castles have become more ornamental and commemorative in addition to residential purposes.


The Potala Palace is a citadel complex. Because of the long history of its architecture, the national aesthetic characteristics displayed by the architecture are of special value to the study of national culture and history. Known as world-famous historical sites.


Pradyamsky Castle is the only castle in the world built in a cave. According to records, the construction of the castle began in the mid-12th century and was not completed until around 1570. The whole project took four centuries. It was discovered in 1823.


At the end of the 18th century, William the Ninth Duke built Lion's Keep in Highland Park. It is the romantic ruins of a neo-Gothic knightly castle. With basic medieval features such as moats and drawbridges. The furniture in the castle is all medieval antiques.


Brown Castle is better known as Dracula's Castle. At the end of the 19th century, the Irish writer Bram Stoker wrote a very famous novel called Dracula. The castle is the setting for the story of Dracula, the vampire.


The novel has been adapted to the screen many times. Because the story is so popular, people have come to define Castle Brown as a vampire castle.