Overview
Real estate ads for castles, such as these, did not exist in the 1400's, of course. Castles generally were not sold. Most often, they were bequeathed by an owner to his heirs or acquired in marriage. Sometimes, they were taken by force. In addition, kings and queens sometimes seized the castles of rebels or other subjects who had fallen from favor and gave them as gifts to more worthy followers.
Castles are fascinating places to visit, but they were not very comfortable places to live by modern standards. Europeans of the 1400's had no running water, electricity, central heat, or air conditioning. The lord of a castle, however, commanded tremendous power and prestige, and his castle helped him maintain his power.
By 1500, castles had begun to lose their appeal. The introduction of gunpowder and cannon into warfare in the 1400's lessened the military value of castles. Most significant, the monarchs of France, England, and other western European countries began to discourage castle-building as a way of reducing the power of regional lords. In addition, nobles began to seek more comfortable dwellings that reflected their high place in society. As a result, mighty castles gradually gave way to elegant manors emphasizing luxury and beauty instead of security.