i haven't answered your poll, but i would articulate the difference in these terms: a castle is demarcated by its military nature a palace is demarcated by its nature as a residence for prominent personages (generally royalty)
I agree with jeltzz. There is a medial category, however, the "fortified house." Many Italian noble palaces share the defensive character of a castle, but are placed in an urban setting as the center of a noble court.
Further muddying the waters . . . Some chateaux are basically castles with the curtain walls removed.
The Tower of London is officially "Her Majesty's Fortress and Palace of the Tower of London." This is because it combined both military and courtly functions.
Osaka Castle looks to Westerners more like a palace, but is entirely consistent with Japanese notions of military architecture.
There is a medial category, however, the "fortified house." Many Italian noble palaces share the defensive character of a castle, but are placed in an urban setting as the center of a noble court. Correct.
The French also have the château, which is meant to look like a castle but without any military use, to be distinguished from the châteaux-fort, a true castle.
Yes, the Japanese castles are not at all like Western castles. The large amount of wood in them adds to the confusion.
Then there's Neuschwannstein, which is probably what most people think of as a typical castle. And a castle it is, but of the Snow White/Cinderella/Sleeping Beauty variety. Ludwig of Bavaria wanted a "fairy-tale castle" on a mountaintop, so he built one. It's militarily totally unnecessary, it's overbuilt, it bankrupted his kingdom, but hey -- it's groovy. Und sehr operatisch, nicht wahr, Herr Wagner?
It is possible that some of the castles are also palaces. Without seeing the inside of them it is hard to tell if they are entirely built for military purposes.
PS: I accidentally selected castle for the third picture; I really think it is a palace (it has glass windows; not a good thing to have on the outer wall of a castle).
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a castle is demarcated by its military nature
a palace is demarcated by its nature as a residence for prominent personages (generally royalty)
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Further muddying the waters . . .
Some chateaux are basically castles with the curtain walls removed.
The Tower of London is officially "Her Majesty's Fortress and Palace of the Tower of London." This is because it combined both military and courtly functions.
Osaka Castle looks to Westerners more like a palace, but is entirely consistent with Japanese notions of military architecture.
Reply
Correct.
The French also have the château, which is meant to look like a castle but without any military use, to be distinguished from the châteaux-fort, a true castle.
Yes, the Japanese castles are not at all like Western castles. The large amount of wood in them adds to the confusion.
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Reply
PS: I accidentally selected castle for the third picture; I really think it is a palace (it has glass windows; not a good thing to have on the outer wall of a castle).
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