The Dark Reality of Sleeping in a Medieval Castle (978 AD)

Sleeping in a medieval castle in 978 AD was far from comfortable despite the fortress's defensive strength; residents faced extreme cold from stone walls that trapped moisture, constant noise from guards, horses, and weather, poor sanitation with inadequate waste disposal, smoke from fireplaces, pest infestations including fleas and bedbugs, and the ever-present fear of attack that kept guards awake throughout the night, making restful sleep nearly impossible.