Castles in medieval drawings and today

It's rare for a medieval castle to survive unchanged. Many wars between local lords and kings, peasant uprisings, revolutions, and enemy sieges have changed their appearance beyond recognition. Not only that, but architectural trends changed with time, and the castle owners tried to follow them. So, brutal and gloomy medieval fortresses gave way to light and luxurious Renaissance castles and residences.

Many of the castles that were built in the Middle Ages have made it into the ancient manuscripts that were written at that very time. Some of these old scripts are kept in museums, and we now have the privilege of looking at the drawings of these structures and studying the details.

This is Chateau de Saumur in the Loire Valley of France. This colorful antique image is from The Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry or The Very Rich Hours of the Duke of Berry in English. This illuminated manuscript dates from the early 15th century. It was created for the Duke of Berry, the brother of King Charles V of France, by the Limbourg brothers Paul, Johan and Herman. It is a kind of Christian devotional book, a collection of prayers that were said at canonical hours.

And now this is Chateau de Saumur! The resemblance is amazing! It is one of the oldest castles in France, dating back to the 10th century. Originally built as a fortress against the Normans, it was later transformed into a chateau-style residence. The castle changed hands many times and became a state prison under Napoleon.

It also housed army barracks and was an ammunition depot. Since 1912, the castle has been a municipal museum with a focus on horses and equestrian sports. In the late 1990s - early 2000s, extensive restoration work was carried out.

By the way, the Très Riches Heures has a dozen drawings of French castles. This one is Chateau de Vincennes, a former fortress and royal residence on the eastern outskirts of Paris. The castle is famous for its iconic keep. Built in the 14th century, it's the tallest in Europe.

Today, the castle that was so beloved by French kings from the 14th to the 16th century looks quite intact and if not identical to the 15th century drawing, then very similar to it.

But some of the French castles mentioned in this old book no longer exist, such as Chateau de Lusignan or Chateau de d'Etampes, of which only the 12th century keep or Tour de Guinette has survived.

Do you recognize this building? Right, this is the Tower of London, its oldest realistic view from the late 15th century! The drawing is from a collection of poems by Charles, Duke of Orléans, made in Bruges in the 1480s. The grandson of King Charles V of France and nephew of King Charles VI, Charles was a member of the French royal family who spent years in captivity in the Tower of London.

The White Tower and the Traitor's Gate are clearly visible in this picture, which shows the Tower of London as it would look today. Okay, the color and domes of the towers are slightly different.

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