architecture

the octagonal castle

by deputydog ⋅ 28 / 08 / 2007 ⋅ post a comment

this is castel del monte in puglia, italy and i personally think it’s aesthetically the greatest castle ever built.

due to the lack of a moat it certainly isn’t the best in terms of defenses but this perfectly designed octagonal castle looks incredible.

it was built in 1240 on the orders of emperor frederick II who used the castle as a hunting lodge. the emperor was fascinated by mathematics and astronomy, a result of which can be seen in the design.

there’s a video below of composer philip glass performing in the castle for some reason…

[youtube= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4DFGPxgWRI]

check out the sources below for more detailed info.

sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

discussion

8 comments for “the octagonal castle”

  1. Putting a castle on a hill is a pretty decent defense in itself. You can see an enemy approach a long way off, and it’s intimidating, too. But it makes moat-building much more difficult. If i had the choice, I’d take the hill.

    posted by Miss Cellania | 28th of August, 2007, 3:35 pm

  2. why don’t you activate the complete feed, like in the other host?

    regards

    posted by pechisbeque | 28th of August, 2007, 5:02 pm

  3. miss c - good point!

    pechisbeque - whoops, i’ve activated the full feed.

    posted by deputydog | 28th of August, 2007, 8:53 pm

  4. I love this site; I can’t get enough. DD, are you single? HA. Just kiddin’.

    Well, maybe not.

    posted by Kathleen | 29th of August, 2007, 2:35 am

  5. thanks a lot!

    posted by pechisbeque | 29th of August, 2007, 2:21 pm

  6. I bet the acoustsics are great in there. The castle doesn’t seem as interesting to me as other hilltop fortresses in Italy - I prefer some asymmetry - but it is awfully impressive!

    posted by Michele | 31st of August, 2007, 4:00 am

  7. This castle looks a lot like the monastery described in The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco.

    posted by Stewart | 3rd of September, 2007, 1:02 am

  8. Actually, the design is pretty damn good in terms of defenses. Soldiers in the eight smaller towers surrounding the main tower would have unobstructed view of every inch of the main exterior walls. Likewise, soldiers manning the main walls would have equal view of the smaller towers. If attacked, the castle’s defenders would pelt the attackers with arrows, bolts, and shot, safely shielded by stone walls. Any time the attackers tried to assault the main wall at any point they’d get it from three sides; main tower, small towers left and right. They’d also be unable to find a spot on any walls out of the view of the defenders where they could try to break through or otherwise undermine them. They’d be seen and stopped.

    It’s really not bad.

    posted by Steve T. | 9th of January, 2008, 10:51 pm


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