The Castle Builders (2015)

This brand new three-part series is the story of the blood, sweat and vision behind the architecture; of courts and rulers, power struggles, innovation and intrigue.

Castle Builders unearths the human story of those who laboured to build these massive fortresses - and the visions of the royals and aristocrats that invested stupendous sums to buttress their power and glorify their courts. The lifting and placing of great stone blocks required great ingenuity.

Across Europe, from Carcassonne to Caerphilly, from the Rhine to the Thames, masterpieces in stone draw visiting tourists in the millions.

With towering walls and rolling turrets, these long-standing survivors of military history provide us with some of the most breathtaking images of recent European civilisation.

But how were these medieval super-structures built? How were revolutionary machines alongside countless men and women organised to create such colossal fortifications built not only for defence but also for beauty?

Episode 1: Master and Masons
Absorbing three-part series highlighting the blood, sweat and vision behind Europe's iconic castles, from the nobles' plans to the craftsmen's practical know-how.

Episode 2: Siege and Storm
The history of our colossal fortresses. A look at how castles fared under the attacks that they were built to withstand, including one of England's bloodiest sieges.

Episode 3: Dreams and Decoration
The story of the castle. No longer siege-proof fortresses, castles became places of ceremony and fantasy - the rebuilt Windsor Castle being a notable example.