Book series „History of water supply“ - Volume 7

With contributions from the International Frontinus Symposium on water supply in medieval castles on October 6-9, 2005 in Blankenheim/Eifel.

A functioning water supply in medieval castles was vital for humans and animals – in some periods, even essential for survival. However, constantly flowing springs were available only to a few castles. So, how did the water supply work? How could springs deep in the rock or even rainwater be harnessed?

This volume presents the complex techniques and systems used to supply water to castles in Central Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as to Crusader castles in the Near East.

An outstanding example is the water supply system of Blankenheim Castle in the Eifel region, with its components of a water catchment, tunnel, pressure pipeline, and reservoir – a technical masterpiece of its time. The completion of its research prompted the International Frontinus Symposium on “Water Supply in Medieval Castles,” which was held as a joint event of the Rhineland Regional Association / Rhineland Office for the Preservation of Archaeological Monuments and the Frontinus Society from October 6-9, 2005, in Blankenheim/Eifel.