Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/292

 2IO General History of Europe 336. General Arrangement of a Castle. When the castle was not on a steep rocky hill, which made it very hard to ap- proach, a deep ditch was constructed outside the walls, called the moat. This was filled with water and crossed by a bridge, which could be drawn up when the castle was attacked, cutting off the A MEDIEVAL CASTLE NEAR KLAGENFURT, AUSTRIA It was not uncommon in mountainous regions to have fortresses perched so high on rocky eminences that it was practically impossible to capture them means of approach. The doorway was further protected by a grat- ing of heavy planks, called the portcullis, which could be quickly dropped down to close the entrance. Inside the castle walls was the great donjon, or chief tower. From the tiny windows in the towers the occupants were able to shoot arrows or pour melted pitch or lead on those attacking them. There was sometimes also a fine hall, as at Coucy (see cut facing page 212), and handsome rooms for the use of the lord and his family, although they sometimes lived in the donjon. There were buildings for storing supplies and arms, and usually a chapel.