| Medieval castles were mysterious places and | | | | into the floor or wall. These mazes were used as |
| often times they had a maze or a labyrinth. This | | | | a way to meditate, undertake spiritual |
| article looks at the uses of these structures and | | | | contemplation, or to simulate a pilgrimage. This |
| takes a look at some of the more famous ones. | | | | type of maze or labyrinth was very popular in |
| Labyrinths and mazes have a long and interesting | | | | twelfth century Italy and France. The earliest |
| history and everybody is familiar with the story | | | | surviving maze of this type is the labyrinth at |
| of the Minotaur in the Labyrinth at Knossos. This | | | | Chatres Cathedral in France which was built into |
| is the famous myth of the labyrinth that people | | | | the stone floor of the cathedral around the |
| would be sacrificed into. The hero Theseus killed | | | | twelfth century. |
| the Minotaur and found his way back out by | | | | In Great Britain the style of religious maze never |
| following a line of string that he unwound on his | | | | was very popular but they did develop their own |
| way into it. | | | | form and style of outdoor maze that used |
| Regardless of how true this myth is or whether | | | | hedges, trees, or grass. These served a variety |
| the labyrinth of Knossos actually existed mazes | | | | of functions including recreation and the testing of |
| and labyrinths hold a place of mystery and have | | | | horseback riding skills. This tradition of hedge |
| often been integrated into the building of castles | | | | mazes continues today and there are many |
| and cathedrals both indoor and outdoor. And there | | | | castles that still have them that are open to the |
| is a lot of speculation as to their purpose. There | | | | public. Some of the more famous ones include the |
| are actually several different theories and it is | | | | Hampton Court Palace Maze and the Leeds Castle |
| probable their purpose changed over the | | | | Maze. |
| centuries. | | | | Turf mazes are another style of outdoor maze |
| One of the most important aspects of a medieval | | | | that was very popular in Great Britain. These |
| castle was security. They were built with the | | | | were mazes or labyrinths that were created by |
| utmost in security and safety in mind and this is | | | | using grass or turf and being only a few inches tall |
| where a labyrinth or maze can further this need. | | | | it wasn’t possible to get lost in them. They |
| It is theorized, and it makes sense, that mazes | | | | are much like a cross between hedge mazes and |
| were often a way to confuse attacking forces. | | | | painted mazes. One of the more famous turf |
| Soldiers entering a labyrinth could easily get | | | | mazes that still exists today is the Saffron |
| disoriented and lost. | | | | Walden maze located on the grounds of the ruins |
| Another use of the labyrinth is shown by the | | | | of Walden castle in England. |
| labyrinth under Buda Castle in Budapest Hungary. | | | | Medieval castles have a long history of being |
| It consists of a network of caves and tunnels | | | | places of safety, security, and mystery and it is |
| that total over six miles in length. An extensive | | | | only natural that this mystery is furthered by the |
| network like this served as a good hiding place in | | | | use of mazes and labyrinths. And these interesting |
| times of attack and a good place to meet in | | | | structures had a wide variety of purposes from |
| secrecy. | | | | military to spiritual; and while not a whole lot is |
| In the twelfth century the purpose and building of | | | | really known about the why of these structures it |
| mazes changed and many churches and castles | | | | is rather fitting because mystery and secret is, |
| were designed with mazes that were built right | | | | after all, at the heart of every labyrinth. |