Where are the loos?
Exploring the pressing needs of Medieval castle dwellers when nature calls
In today’s newsletter, I’m blending the castle visits I took part in during my Italy vacation with some historical reflections regarding hygiene, bodily functions and, you know, how Medieval people disposed of poop. 🙃
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The primitive castle Cly
Three castles were on the agenda during my recent trip to the Aosta Valley in Italy’s Piedmont region: A ruin called Castello di Cly which dates back to the 12th century, a military fortress called Forte di Bard with an adorable Medieval village below its massive military-focused main buildings, and a relatively contemporary castle called Château d’Aimavilles with more familiar (to us), modern features. But the focus of this newsletter is about the loos (bathrooms) of the early Middle Ages, in particular of those castle dwellers who inhabited Castello di Cly.
Fun fact: It is mentioned in several sources I came upon that chamber pots were quite common during the middle ages; the problem was more about what to do with the waste. (Check the list at the end of this article for further reading about this fascinating (to me) topic, if you dare.) I used both published written articles as well as videos to supplement my limited knowledge about this topic.
Early Medieval times
The Middle Ages, often referred to as the Medieval era, began with the fall of ancient Rome around 476 A.D. and lasted until approximately the 14th century. These dates are somewhat fluid but follow a consistent theme in my research.
The so-called Dark Ages, particularly in Europe and the UK, were branded as a time of war, ignorance, famine and pandemics (the Black Death). These seemingly awful times ended when the Italian Renaissance period began with a cultural movement called humanism, which promoted the idea that man was the center of his own universe, and people should embrace human achievements in education, classical arts, literature and science.
Meanwhile, as I stood looking at the immense walls of castles and fortresses during my vacation, I couldn’t help but imagine what life must have been like for the people who designed and built these massive structures. And, what state they must have been in in terms of their health and hygiene.
Which is why I began looking into the bathroom situation once I returned to Canada where a renewed appreciation of indoor plumbing became my latest obsession. 🚽
Castello di Cly
The oldest of the castles I visited twice in one week was within walking distance from the Airbnb house we rented in Saint Denis. Read the article about that house and look at the pictures here: The little stone house in the Italian alps
Additional pictures are available on Instagram here and here, or on YouTube here.
Castello di Cly is described as a primitive-style Medieval castle.
Despite its current state of ruin it seems relatively well-preserved given it’s age, at least the parts that still remain. (I mean, the fact that enough of it is still standing to give us a clear idea of what it used to look like at the height of its life is nothing short of amazing.) The castle was first mentioned in a document in 1207… that’s a lot of years to weather the elements on top of the alps. It is said to have undergone multiple renovations where portions of the castle were dismantled and the same stones re-used to rebuild it differently.
Experts dated the keep (tower) by analyzing the tree rings in the timber used to erect the tower.
The castle consists of a keep (fortified tower) with surrounding walls. The ruins rise from metamorphic rock and are built directly onto the cliff. (Keep reading to see the pictures.)
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A bit of history:
Built at an altitude of 780 meters, the castle was once the center of feudal power. It was occupied by counts and dukes until the 1550s when it was abandoned and subsequently fell to ruin. Eventually, nearby town Saint Denis purchased the castle and conducts private tours on request.
I took many pictures of the front of the castle which I will mention another time. For the purpose of this newsletter, I want to focus on a more delicate subject matter:
How did Medieval castle builders and owners deal with their bodily functions?
As I navigated the castle’s main entrance stairs and the front portion of the keep and surrounding walls, I wondered how the builders managed to get such a massive structure erected so close to the cliff.
The main entrance through the fortifying wall was partially open but chained with a sign to not enter. Just look at the structure of the walls. Remember, this castle was built sometime in the 1100s… and much of the fortifying parts of it still remain standing today.
I imagined, for instance, how people built these massive walls with those heavy stones, collected from the environment around them, without the type of modern equipment we are used to today. Additionally, the sheer size of this structure is quite mesmerizing; it must have taken a large group of peasants, probably including children of all ages, to participate in erecting this architectural wonder.
Here’s a 19 second video I took of the massive exterior wall construction. Just look at the detail and imagine how people must have coordinated the construction of this stunning castle:
Intrigued, I googled a little and discovered this book whose cover gives us a glimpse into how builders in Medieval times might have erected such massive structures.
The first time I visited this castle was a bright, sunny day with a light breeze. (The second time was cold and windy with overcast skies). I was by myself and experienced an adventure on the way there which I will share another day. When I arrived, I ascended the steps and found the entrance closed off with a flimsy chain which rattled in the wind and eventually fell off the hook.
I may or may not have entered
illegallyaccidentally to take more photos (which are not published here in this newsletter).
I descended the steps and marveled at the walls, knowing the interior buildings where people lived were constructed in similar fashion: one stone at a time.
Multi-purposes for building close to cliffs
I desired to see the other side of this building - get closer to the cliff side - so I wandered along the paved road until I discovered an almost obscure trail which gave me a beautiful view of the opposite side of the keep. That side, exposed to the elements, became windier and thereby less safe which meant I had to pay close attention to where I stepped. I imagined what it must have been like for the smaller workers (children) to remain safe while participating in the building of this castle. I’m sure many accidents occurred…
Clearly, castles built this close to cliffs protected inhabitants from invasions, of which there were many. Attacks from the cliff side was less likely. The panoramic views from these heights provided ample (enough) time to prepare for any advancing danger.
What about the bodily functions?
In earlier Medieval times, like the time of the primitive Castello di Cly, it didn’t appear that people necessarily kept their bodily discharges in a designated area all of the time. From what I’ve read, latrines were sometimes dug and waste was placed there directly or via buckets and other vessels, but they often overfilled and spilled onto the surrounding area, especially during heavy rains. People often suffered from dysentery and ‘went where they were’, leaving a trail of stench and disease. Additionally, animals inside the castles, from cats and dogs to cattle and donkeys, not to mention rats and other vermin, left their excrement all over the already dirty floors of these dwellings.
Eventually, people’s imagination took charge and castles began to feature protruding parts (shafts) on the exterior of the walls. These shafts often overlooked moats or rivers. Sometimes, the shafts were built over cliffs which allowed the waste to be washed away in rain.
Inside these protrusions were holes in the wall where people could sit and eliminate. The waste would then travel along the outside of the castle wall and drop to wherever it may land, often into the moat or river which then became a cesspool of unbearable stench, particularly in the summer.
How to become filthy rich in Medieval times
In some cases, buckets were placed at the bottom of these shafts for the purpose of collecting the waste to use as fertilizer on farm fields. There is one video which describes this practice and annotates this method of waste collection by farmers and later chemists as a possible source for the term ‘filthy rich’.
This is also why some castles were built so close to mountain cliffs (other than for protection).
As I sat on the edge of that windy cliff among the moss and wildflowers, I imagined what it must have been like to build this castle while feeling a pressing need to eliminate. I also wondered what the inhabitants of this castle - members of various nobility clans - might have done to deal with their bodily functions.
It occurred to me that I might be sitting on top of what once might have been covered with some unsightly, unhygienic biological matters. Which, incidentally, didn’t detract from the absolutely stunning views I experienced while up there all alone in the little community of Cly.
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Bibliography
The following links were used for research purposes.
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Great pictures and videos! Thanks for sharing this informative article.
Such a beautiful countryside lined with snow covered peaks, blue sky and castles.
Need to rethink the idea of becoming "filthy rich". 😝
Maybe just settle for rich. LOL