The Stone Castle (12-13C)
The 12C keep overlooked a courtyard which was enclosed by a stone curtain wall, gradually reinforced by turrets and towers. In 13C, under the influence of the crusades and improvements in the art of attack, important innovations appeared. Castles were designed by experts to be even more compact with multiple defensive features. The curtain wall bristled with huge towers and the keep was neatly incorporated into the overall design.
HARDEGG (Austria) - frontier fortress, founded in the 12C, renovated at the end of the last century. Postmark: HARDEGG, 8 June 1990, First Day Cancellation. Card published by ALPINE LUFTBILD INNSBRUCK.
KRIVOKLAT (Tchechoslovakia) - built around 1100 in Gothic style, destroyed by fire in 1422, was renovated by Vladislav Jagello. Well-preserved dungeons and torture chambers. Postmark: KRIVOKLAT, 21.10.1965, regular. Card published by ORBIS, Praha.
Selected MCs from my exhibit 'FROM DEFENSE TO COMFORT AND DECORATION'.
Copyright 2004-2007 by Lucian Millis. Please do not use these images without permission.
