What was the castles most important defensive feature?

The top of the castle walls were the battlements, a protective, tooth shaped parapet often with a wall walk behind it for the soldiers to stand on. The defenders could fire missiles through gaps (crenels). The raised sections between, called merlons, helped to shelter the defenders during an enemy attack.

What elements of medieval castles helped with defense?

How to defend a castle

• Building up high. Building a castle up high made it difficult for enemies to get to the castle.
• Tall towers. Strong towers were added to curtain walls to watch out for enemies.
• Battlements. Battlements were walls on the roof of a castle.
• Arrow slits.
• Moat.
• Drawbridge.
• Portcullis.
• Dungeons.

What is the most defensive castle?

Bourtange, Netherlands.

How did a moat defend a castle?

The purpose of a moat was primarily to protect the castle from attack. As a defense mechanism, moats were very effective. Moats filled with water were usually supplied by a nearby source of water, such as a spring, lake, or river. Dams could be built that would control the level of water in the moat.

What was in a castle moat?

Are Castles good for defense?

But more importantly, castles were defensive in nature, being skillfully designed to resist attacks by armies many times larger than those manning its parapets. As such, great efforts were made by builders to ensure that their castles could withstand an enemy onslaught.