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In medieval castles, spiral staircases were not built randomly — they were designed as part of the fortress’s defense. Most of them twisted clockwise as you ascended, and this had a very practical reason rooted in warfare. Since the majority of soldiers were right-handed, attackers climbing up would have their sword arm cramped against the inner wall, making it hard to swing effectively.
Meanwhile, the defenders descending from above had their right arm free on the wider side of the steps. This gave them extra space to strike, combined with the natural advantage of fighting from a higher position. It meant one man defending the stairs could hold off several struggling attackers below.
To make things even worse for invaders, the steps themselves were often uneven, with different heights and poor lighting adding to the chaos. Tired and disoriented, an attacker had little chance against a steady defender. In short, these staircases weren’t just a way to move between floors — they were deadly traps in stone.
