Few Windows, Better Protection

If we climb the square tower, we only see a small window with the shape of the tip of an arrow; this is the loophole for darts, always at the service of protection. We should not forget that this is a border castle from a time of conquests and reconquests.

In the same tower, there is another small opening. Now, there is the door that leads to the weapons hall.

The Castle, as implied by the holes on the beams that the best observers will see on the walls, has two floors. On the upper floor, there are two rooms divided by an impressive semi-circular arch. One of them was the bedroom of the count of Pallars. The luxury of being the lord is pointed out by the latrine inside of the same bedroom.

The other room, a great dinning room, with containers to wash one's hands and seat at the table with the hands very clean and enjoy the food; food served, obviously, by the service staff of the lord.

The hall, of big dimensions, was completely multifunctional; this is proved by the fact that there are not too many furniture and, the pieces of furniture we find are detachable and multifunctional. Besides of being a dinning room, a ballroom and a living room, it became a space assigned to official events like for example the administration of justice. In the older castles it was the only space reserved for lodging, and therefore, all the retinue, that is, the household servants, the closest servants and collaborators of the lords, and the guests, would sleep there. They would sleep on folding carpets that during the day were kept in chests next to the walls, and during the nights were unfolded once the tables were set aside. It was also the space to show the wealth and position of the lord, and that is the reason why it was decorated with all the luxury his economical capacity was able to afford and his social position demanded. The walls were covered with tapestry, and the floor with carpets.

The location of the castles on hills, and over elevated zones, prevented in many occasions having springs of water in the near proximity of them; it was even more difficult to have the source of water inside the fortified area. Therefore the constructor of the castles designed various procedures to obtain the maximum possible amount of water, in order to use it in the everyday life, but also to be prepared to bear a siege.

In the Castle of Mur, there is a bit peculiar cistern, because it is high. Strange curiosity, since it is really more difficult to store the water in a high tank, that to make a hole and introduce the water there.

In this zone, the visitors will also be able to observe a semicircular covered place to have fire and the latrine to be used by the soldiers. In the case of the Castle of Mur, it has been possible to verify that dirty waters - used to clean and maintain the hygiene - were expelled to the outside by drainages where, through channels excavated on the rock, they were directed possibly towards a cistern, which has not been located until now. These waters could be recycled and drunk by the animals.

In the weapons courtyard we find another curiosity: an invention to be used for protection; speaking in modern terms, a system to reduce costs. A soldier alone defended the courtyard from a small door; the entrance in zigzag prevented the enemies reaching enough impulse to demolish it.

The last room before leaving the Castle is the "Taborda", the prison that every castle has to have.

Agree on your visit to the Castell de Mur and discover an authentic rock castle.

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