Castles were bastions of power and the site of countless battles. Our documentary examines their military function from the 11th to the 16th century. When the enemy was at their gates, they had to withstand battering rams, catapults and sapping which called for ever new solutions by their defenders until, finally, large-calibre cannons spelt their end. Our journey takes us all through Europe, while historians and archaeologists will guide us through a fascinating panorama of medieval warfare.

Castles were bastions of power. Yet, what was life like behind their walls? Part 1 of our documentary follows their development all through the Middle Ages, from simple wooden fortifications to the most elaborate strongholds and residences of knights and emperors. It takes us into their bed chambers as well as into their latrines, into their kitchens and their stables and onto their building sites. Archaeologists and historians dispel many of the myths and legends, that surround them even today.