How were the medieval courtyards decorated?

Answer 1

First AnswerThey were not decorated. The castle was for protection and a courtyard was meant as part of defense. Second AnswerCourtyards have various names depending on the type of building they are in. In castles, a courtyard is referred to as bailey. In a monastery or church it is called the cloisters. In ancient Rome, it was an atrium, or if there was a garden, a peristyle, and the villa rustica of the French nobility of the Early Middle Ages retained this design. For schools and palaces, large square or rectangular courtyards were called quadrangle. Towns and cities had courtyards, which may or may not have been intentionally designed. Simple houses joined together could form a courtyard.

Clearly the decoration depended on the use. Some of those such as would be found in palaces or the villas of wealthy people were often paved with expensive decorative stones. The architectural decoration could on ornately carved columns of walkways going around them. They could have trees growing in them or gardens of decorative plants. For special purposes they could be decorated with brightly colored banners and lanterns or torches to brighten them at night.

At the other extreme, courtyards could be, well, plain, and probably too dirty and smelly to talk about in an answer on decoration.

Answer 2

a medieval courtyard is a a place where equipment for battle is stored

Answer 3

there are plants in a medieval courtyard