Castle - Bastions Of Power

Castles were bastions of power. Yet, what was life like behind their walls? Part 1 of the documentary follows their development throughout the Middle Ages, from simple wooden fortifications to the most elaborate strongholds and residences of knights and emperors. It takes us into their bedchambers as well as into their latrines, into their kitchens and stables, and onto their building sites. Archaeologists and historians dispel many of the myths and legends that surround them even today.

Castles were bastions of power and the site of countless battles. Part 2 examines their military function from the 11th to the 16th century. When the enemy was at their gates, they had to withstand battering rams, catapults, and sapping, which called for ever-new solutions by their defenders until, finally, large-caliber cannons spelled their end. Our journey takes us throughout Europe, while historians and archaeologists guide us through a fascinating panorama of medieval warfare.