Inside a Square Keep Castle: A Floor-by-Floor Guide to Medieval Life

The square keep, or donjon, was the fortified heart of a medieval castle. While layouts varied, a typical vertical arrangement included:

Ground Floor

• Entrance gate with portcullis
• Guardroom
• Storage for weapons and supplies
• Prison cells

First Floor

• Great hall for dining and gatherings
• Kitchens and food storage
• Private chambers for the lord and family

Second Floor

• Additional private chambers
• Guest rooms
• Chapel or oratory

Third Floor

• Bedrooms for knights and retainers
• Storage for bedding and household goods
• Lookouts and battlement access

Roof

• Battlements and parapets
• Watchtowers and turrets
• Mounting points for catapults and other siege engines

This vertical zoning reflected both the defensive needs and the social hierarchy of medieval lordship.