A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the castle fall to an adversary.

A castle’s Keep is the strongest portion of a medieval fortification and the last resort in case of a siege or attack. It was usually a fortified tower built within the walls and used as a last refuge in case of an attack. The name keep derives from the Middle English kype, meaning basket or cask.

keep, English term corresponding to the French donjon for the strongest portion of the fortification of a castle, the place of last resort in case of siege or attack. 1 of 3 Windsor Castle; keep Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England.

Feb 1, 2021 · Castle and fortress are the closest terms, though fortress tends to mean any large defensive structure intended to resist a siege. While castle usually refers to the medieval, stone (and infrequently wood) buildings that were rendered obsolete by advancement in cannons.

What's the difference between fortress and keep? (n.) A fortified place; a large and permanent fortification, sometimes including a town; a fort; a castle; a stronghold; a place of defense or security. (v. t.) To furnish with a fortress or with fortresses; to guard; to fortify.

Mar 5, 2025 · Explore 3 castle types: motte-and-bailey, stone keep, and concentric. See how these fortifications evolved from medieval strongholds to Renaissance palaces.

Apr 26, 2014 · The keep is the central building within the fortress. (Although the position of the keep would actually all come down to defensibility, if the terrain meant it was more defensible against one of the walls that is where you would find the keep)

What is a Castle Keep? A castle keep, also known as a donjon, is a fortified tower typically located at the heart of a castle complex. These robust structures served as the last line of defense during a siege and often doubled as a lord’s residence.

Feb 14, 2023 · The medieval keep is the fortified heart of the castle. It was usually designed in the shape of a tower, which would have three or more floors along with a basement. Since some of the most important rooms in the castle were located here, the keep was terrifically protected and located in the innermost part of the castle complex.

Sep 2, 2018 · Keeps are tall towers. They’re typically located on the opposite side of the bailey to the gatehouse, or in the centre of the castle. Early keeps, like the castles they stood in, were designed to intimidate the locals. They were also called donjons, from the Latin dominus – lord, or master. They were designed to be strong.