The Romanesque style marks the shift from earth-and-timber fortifications to stone. Thick walls, round arches, narrow openings and squat keeps characterise this above all defensive architecture, inherited from the religious building techniques of the period. Sparsely decorated, these castles prioritise solidity and military function over aesthetics — the art of châtelain living has not yet been born; only the protection of the territory against invasions and feudal rivalries matters.