Nightbringer | The Arthurian Online Encyclopedia

Turning Castle

Forbidden Castle
Le Chastel Tomoiant, Le Chastel Tornoiant, Le Chastel Tournoyier, Castell Tornoyier, Chastel Tornoiant, Tornoyant, Tornoyer

Castles that rotate on an axis are a common theme in Celtic literature. Guinebal, Lancelot’s uncle, sets one spinning in the Perilous Forest in the Vulgate Merlin, and another is mentioned in the Livre d’Artus.

The Turning Castle is a tower in the land of the Knight of the Burning Dragon found in Perlesvaus. Supposedly designed by Vergil, it spun around on its axis. Copper archers fired bolts from its battlements. Perceval destroyed all its magic by attacking it, and its people were liberatred.


See also
Turnance | The Legend of King Arthur


Sources
Perlesvaus | Early 13th century
Vulgate Merlin | 1220-1235
Le Livre d’Artus | Early 13th century