What were some landscape defenses for medieval castles?

Question

Besides moats and water borders, hilltops and rocky outcrops, do you know how castles were defended by the landscape? Answers might include terrain (especially modified terrain), crops, etc... Sources would be very much appreciated.

Answer 1

The margin around the castle was almost always kept as grazing land for the castle animals. They kept the grass short so it wouldn't conceal anyone. Goatherds and cowherds watched the animals. Width of the marge was usually determined by the length of a bowshot plus a few yards. This was in addition to defenses like moats and hilltops.

Answer 2

I actually live in a town which is named for the medieval castle which gives the town ins name. Ours is built on a high rocky bluff above a river, the cliffs of which were probably very difficult to scale in medieval times. There was no other landscape defences - in fact, on the land side the town came right up to the castle walls. Many castles were, in fact, built in urban situations - think Windsor, the Tower of London, the Welsh castles like Caernarfon, Conwy etc. By medieval times, in fact, most castles had towns around them - it is difficult th think of many which stand in isolation (although I'm sure somebody is going to give me a list!). In this way they were very like Roman forts, at least those in Britain, where very quickly townships grew up - called the 'vicus' right outside the fort. If you think about it, this was economically necessary. Both castles and forts housed 100s of soldiers, servants etc. All these people needed food, their weapons making and repairing, and not forgetting in the case of lusty licentious soldiers, ladies. The castle was there to cause awe and to subject the peoples round about. Many were, in fact, besieged, which shows that they were not really capable of being destroyed by frontal attack - they were designed to prevent that - and therefore elaborate external defences were not really required.

Answer 3

Generally there was an open slope cleared of vegetation so that there could be nothing to hide behind. The slope went up towards the castle because pushing things uphill is hard and makes you an easy target.

Answer 4

Some castles were protected by being surrounded by briar thickets.

Answer 5

I've got a couple of books about this theme. By tomorrow I hope i can share information with you. I do not have the with me right now.