Differentiating a castle from a manor, a daunting task?

Semantics of the terms ‘manor’ and ‘castle’

To understand the differences between a manor and a castle, it is important to first refer to the definitions proposed by the dictionary. According to the Larousse dictionary, a manor is "the dwelling of a fief owner who was not allowed to build a castle with towers and a dungeon", but also a "dwelling often old and with character, of some importance, surrounded by land”. These two definitions give us already significant clues of the differences that exist between the two types of properties.

Regarding the definition of castle, this same Larousse dictionary refers to it as a "seigniorial or royal residence" and a "fortified feudal residence". Here again, we can find the constituent elements of what a castle appears to be. Nevertheless, the semantics can be used more precisely to differentiate between these two types of houses.

Some architectural differences linked to history

The confusion today between the terms manor and castle is partially due to the disappearance of feudalism and the loss of the defensive use of castles over the centuries. Indeed, their architectural signature gradually faded and they lost what originally differentiated them from the manor. In fact, historically, the castle is a prestigious property of a feudal lord or king, from which he has authority over his fiefdom. This is why castles are normally located in the heart of a city or town, so that they could accommodate the population in case of trouble.

From this point of view, the singularity of a castle lies in the fact that it has visible defensive elements: moats, walls, towers, ditches, amongst other key clues. Nevertheless, for those who know the real estate heritage well, the presence of these elements can not alone certify that the property is effectively a castle. Indeed, with the end of the feudal era, the castles have lost their use of defense, and their owners have sometimes extensively renovated them, to enjoy a better level of comfort. This could result in architectural upheavals, including the loss of these defensive elements mentioned above.

The mansion, a prestigious property without fortification

If the term of manor very often reflects a dwelling located in a rural area, it is because, originally, it was indeed the centre of a rural territory administered within it. The manor was the home of a nobleman, from which he administered his estate of farmland. But, unlike the lords located in the cities, these nobles were denied the right to endow their homes with towers and a dungeon.

This partly explains the generally widespread image of the manor as a country house smaller than a castle. With the option of fortifying his home, the nobleman at the head of a manor couldn't indeed rise against his lord, to whom he had to ask for protection in case of adverse circumstances. It is therefore understandable that today, in the real estate sector, the manor has kept this perception of a prestige property, elegant, rural and of significant proportions without being totally oversized.

Thus, if over the centuries the difference between the terms castle and manor have faded, a trip into our feudal history can draw the real semantic differences between the two words. The only certainty is that both refer to luxurious homes, which are very popular in the real estate market.