For all the romantic imagery we associate with castles – soaring towers, grand feasts, and chivalrous knights – the day-to-day reality was something far less glamorous. Medieval castles were not built for comfort; they were designed to survive sieges, intimidate enemies, and project power. That meant cold stone walls, drafty corridors, and an overwhelming focus on defense rather than domestic comfort. While nobles lived in relative privilege, even their lives were far removed from modern luxury.
The Smell of Power
Perhaps the biggest surprise to modern readers is just how foul-smelling a medieval castle could be. With no plumbing to speak of, human waste collected in cesspools beneath the latrines. These rudimentary bathrooms often consisted of little more than a bench with holes carved into it, perched above a pit of waste. And privacy? That was a privilege reserved for the highest-ranking nobles. Servants and others often used communal facilities – side-by-side, in full view of one another.
Add to that the lack of regular bathing, especially among the lower classes, and the result was a pungent atmosphere that made daily life a sensory challenge. Hot baths were a rare indulgence, and for most people, washing up meant little more than a quick rinse with cold water – if any water was available at all.
Crammed Quarters and Constant Activity
Castles were not quiet retreats. They were bustling centers of activity, packed with not only the lord’s family but also scores of servants, soldiers, artisans, and hangers-on. Imagine sharing your home with dozens, possibly hundreds, of people – and you’ll start to understand how chaotic it could be.
Space was limited. Generations of noble families might share living quarters, while servants slept in cramped, cold rooms tucked into corners of the building. The air was always filled with noise: banging from the kitchens, echoes in the stone corridors, the clatter of weapons in the armory, and the general din of hundreds of people going about their daily tasks.
Disease, Rats, and the Great Unwashed
Sanitation in medieval times left much to be desired. With human waste festering beneath the floors and food scraps tossed out windows into moats or courtyards, rats were a constant problem. They weren’t just a nuisance – they were deadly. Rats were widely feared for good reason, especially after the Black Death tore through Europe, carried in part by fleas from these vermin.
People got sick often, and treatments were mostly spiritual or herbal. The rich might afford some basic care or imported remedies, but the poor relied on folk medicine, prayer, and luck. A single cold could easily spiral into a deadly infection in the cold, damp conditions of a stone castle.
Torture and Punishment: No Happy Dungeons Here
We might chuckle at the trope of the castle dungeon, but real medieval prisons were horrifying places. Lords could imprison and torture anyone who crossed them, and cruelty was often justified as a form of spiritual cleansing. One especially grisly method involved allowing rats to burrow into the bodies of prisoners.
These acts weren’t secret – they were public warnings. Castles were displays of authority, and their dungeons reinforced that power. Mercy was not a common virtue among the ruling elite, and for the average person, the castle dungeon was a symbol of fear, not justice.
Booze: The Only Way to Cope?
Given the conditions, it’s no surprise that alcohol was a daily fixture of castle life. Beer and wine were consumed in large quantities, not just for pleasure, but because clean drinking water was rare. The risk of waterborne illness made ale and wine the safer option, even for children.
Nobles could afford fine imported wines, while the working class drank weaker brews made on site. Being tipsy may have been the only way to endure the stench, the rats, and the exhaustion of endless chores in the gloom of the castle halls.
Servants at the Crack of Dawn
There was no sleeping in for servants. With no electric lights, daylight was precious, and workers had to rise with the sun to take advantage of every bit of it. Castles were notoriously dark, even during the day, with tiny windows and thick stone walls that trapped dampness and blocked warmth.
The staff handled everything – from lighting fires to hauling water, preparing meals, laundering clothes, and disposing of waste. Their work was relentless, and even the smallest mistake could bring harsh punishment.
The Rare Bath and Rolling Tubs
Although people in medieval times liked bathing just as much as we do, their opportunities were limited. Without plumbing or hot water on demand, bathing meant heating cauldrons over an open fire and pouring them into a large wooden tub.
The same tub might be used by multiple members of the household – possibly even multiple servants—one after another. Privacy was almost non-existent, and the idea of daily bathing was a fantasy for all but the wealthiest.
The Feasts Were Real – But Not for Everyone
Castle feasts were legendary for their abundance, but they were feasts only for a select few. Lords, ladies, and honored guests dined on roasted meats, exotic spices, and sweetened fruits. Cooks and kitchen staff worked all day to prepare these meals, yet they themselves often ate the scraps or plain stews in the back.
Seating at these meals was highly hierarchical. Your social rank determined where you sat – and what you were served. The further you were from the lord’s chair, the more meager your portion. Most of the population didn’t even get through the doors of the castle, let alone a place at the table.
Castles Were Cold, Always
Forget the roaring fireplaces of movie castles. Most rooms in a real castle didn’t have a hearth, and those that did were often insufficient against the cold. Stone retains chill, and insulation was nonexistent. Winter inside a medieval castle could be just as brutal as winter outside.
Servants, who lived in the lower levels of the castle, suffered the most. Their quarters were often damp, dark, and cold year-round. Sickness and respiratory illness were common. Even nobles, despite their heavy tapestries and woolen clothes, could only do so much to fight the chill.
Kitchens and Fire Hazards
In the early Middle Ages, castle kitchens were made largely of wood and placed near living quarters – a disaster waiting to happen. Fires were common. Cooking was done over open flames, and smoke would linger in the air. Later, stone kitchens with central hearths were added to prevent buildings from going up in smoke.
Still, there was no escaping the ever-present risk of fire. A single careless moment could turn a meal into a catastrophe.
Religion at the Center
Castles weren’t just military and domestic spaces – they were spiritual centers. Each castle had its own chapel, and attending mass was a daily part of noble life. These chapels were built with status in mind. Many had two levels, allowing nobles to sit in the upper galleries and literally look down on the commoners worshipping below.
This divide wasn’t just architectural – it was social and spiritual. Religion reinforced the hierarchy and reminded everyone, from the cook to the count, of their place in the cosmic order.
Floors Covered in Filth
Medieval castles were layered in filth. Floors were often strewn with rushes, herbs, and straw meant to soak up spills, absorb smells, and add some softness to the otherwise bare stone. Over time, these layers became matted with grease, food scraps, and human and animal waste. Cleaning them meant pulling up the whole layer of vegetation – a truly nasty job.
There’s a reason servants changed the rushes regularly, and why disease was such a constant companion in castle life. Walking across a great hall could be like walking through a compost pile.
Castles Were Tough, Not Magical
The myth of the fairytale castle is just that – a myth. Real castles were brutal places, built for survival, not splendor. The people who lived in them, both high and low, endured hard conditions that modern folks would find nearly unlivable. Whether you were trying to avoid frostbite, escape a swarm of rats, or just get a good night’s sleep, daily life in a castle was a constant battle.
But still, castles endure in our imaginations. Perhaps because they were symbols of power and resilience – reminders of a time when life was simpler in some ways, but so much harder in most. Strip away the stone walls and stained glass, and what you’re left with is a cold, dirty, overcrowded building that only looked like a dream from far away.
Mark grew up in the heart of Texas, where tornadoes and extreme weather were a part of life. His early experiences sparked a fascination with emergency preparedness and homesteading. A father of three, Mark is dedicated to teaching families how to be self-sufficient, with a focus on food storage, DIY projects, and energy independence. His writing empowers everyday people to take small steps toward greater self-reliance without feeling overwhelmed.