Barbican
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A barbican (from mediæval Latin barbecana) is a fortified outpost or gateway, such as an outer defence to a city or castle, or any tower situated over a gate or bridge which was used for defensive purposes. Usually barbicans were situated outside the main line of defences and connected to the city walls with a walled road called the neck.
In the 15th century, with the improvement in siege tactics and artillery, barbicans lost their significance. However, several barbicans were built even in the 16th century.
There are barbicans still preserved in:
- Czech Republic
- Germany
- Hungary
- Lithuania
- Vilnius Barbican
- Ireland
- Poland
- Kraków (Barbican of Kraków)
- Warsaw (Barbican of Warsaw)
- Gdańsk
- Bolczów Castle
- Slovakia
- Switzerland
- Hardturm, Zurich
- United Kingdom