| |
|
|
|
|
Although there are innumerable variations of the Arthurian legend, the
basic story has remained the same. Arthur was the illegitimate son of
Uther Pendragon, king of Britain, and Igraine, the wife of Gorlois of
Cornwall.
After the death of Uther, Arthur, who had been reared in secrecy, won
acknowledgment as king of Britain by successfully withdrawing a sword
from a stone. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Merlin, the court
magician, then revealed the new king's parentage. Arthur, reigning in
his court at Camelot, proved to be a noble king and a mighty warrior. He
was the possessor of the miraculous sword Excalibur, given to him by the
mysterious Lady of the Lake.
At Arthur's death Sir Bedivere threw Excalibur into the lake; a hand
rose from the water, caught the sword, and disappeared.
Another sword, sometimes mistakenly identified with Excalibur, was drawn
from a stone by Arthur to prove his royalty.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Of
Arthur's several enemies, the most treacherous were his sister Morgan le
Fay and his nephew Mordred. Morgan le Fay was usually represented as an
evil sorceress, scheming to win Arthur's throne for herself and her
lover. Mordred (or Modred) was variously Arthur's nephew or his son by
his sister Morgawse. He seized Arthur's throne during the king's
absence. Later he was slain in battle by Arthur, but not before he had
fatally wounded the king. Arthur was borne away to the isle of Avalon,
where it was expected that he would be healed of his wounds and that he
would someday return to his people. |
| |
|
...and the real castle |
| |
|
Note: this castle is not related to the mythical Avalon of Arthurian
legends in any ways. At least, this Avalon castle, like ours did
actually exist!
Avalon castle played a key role during all Middle Ages as the first line
of defense of the Dauphiné province against Savoye (the border is just 3
kilometers (2 miles) away).
Built on the site of an 11th century motte, the castle has kept its
circular aspect and is extremely small. The fortified village built next
to it was the home of several noblemen who possessed their own manors.
The castle will go down to ruins from the middle of the 14th century,
after the end of the war between Dauphiné and Savoye
|
| |
|
Compact Defense
The castle curtain wall is only 112 meters (about 350 feet) long,
which makes Avalon one of the smallest castle of the Dauphiné
province.
Its southern front is protected by a "barbican" in which stables
were built (as usual, it was impossible to access the castle on
horse).
The keep is 26-meter high (about 80 feet) and is toped by a small
watch turret. It is the main defensive element of the castle.
The small bailey is packed with various buildings: the "aula" (the
Lord's great hall), the bakery, the wardrobe, the cellar, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
