It refers to a well lighted parlour or chamber facing south no matter the floor level.
What is a solar room in a castle.
The solar served as a kind of parlour to which the family of the owner of the manor house or castle could retire from the bustling communal living of the hall below.
It may derive from the latin word solaris meaning sun often a room with.
There might be tapestries on the walls.
And a keep or donjon at their heart.
The solar was a room in many english and french medieval manor houses great houses and castles mostly on an upper storey designed as the family s private living and sleeping quarters.
The room would be furnished luxuriously in accordance with the lord s status and wealth.
It became a private sitting room favoured by the family.
A medieval castle layout of the old castle in york england.
Solar in architecture private room located on the floor above the great hall in a late medieval english manor house.
These private chambers were used as a bedroom at night and a private family sitting room by day unless important guests were present.
I ve had a quick look at my copy of life in a medieval castle and the first mention of a solar is a bit misleading.
The solar was a room in many english and french medieval manor houses great houses and castles.
The solar was later extended to include a wardrobe.
Later stannis baratheon demonstrates the fiery glow of lightbringer to samwell tarly and maester aemon in that solar radiance filling the room.
Petyr baelish meets with nestor royce and the lords declarant in the eyrie s solar.
The floor might be tiled rather than wooden.
Later castles were built with private chambers on the upper levels for the lord s family.
This is a plan of york castle which shows many of the key elements.
The room in the castle called the solar was intended for sleeping and private quarters and used by the lord s family.
Originally the word solar or soller was used to describe any room above the ground level of a building.
The word solar has two possible origins.
A feast for crows.
However many medieval castles shared similar features defensive barbicans and deep moats with a kitchen and a great hall.
The solar suite of rooms was extended to include a wardrobe.
Within castles they are often called the lords and ladies chamber or the great chamber.
Garderobe derives from the french word for wardrobe a lockable place where clothes and other items are stored according to medieval architecture scholar frank bottomley garderobes were properly not a latrine or privy but a small room or large cupboard usually adjoining the chamber bedroom or solar living room and providing safe keeping for valuable clothes and other.
