The history of early castle construction

Medieval castles are emblematic of an entire era and, even today – whether in ruins or remodelled in the early modern period – they remain a feature of our landscape. However, the structures we see today already represent the zenith and late flowering of an architectural form that has its origins in the Early Middle Ages. This lecture will explore the origins of this distinctive architectural form. Who began building castles, when and where, and with what intentions? What did these early castles look like? The lecture will examine early castles from across Central Europe, but with a particular focus on those in what is now Switzerland.