The Danish research network Magt, Borg & Landskab (Power, Castle & Landscape) and Lund University warmly invites scholars to submit papers for the fourth symposium in the Castles of the North series. This year's conference, titled 'Castle and Comfort: Everyday Life in Scandinavian Castles, 1050–1550', will take place from 27 to 29 April 2026 at Lund University, Sweden. 

The symposium will focus on the concept of comfort within medieval castles, considering aspects such as heating, interior furnishings, water management, hygiene and spatial arrangement. While castles are often studied through the lens of defence or political power, this symposium will turn attention to their roles as homes, workplaces and lived environments.

We welcome interdisciplinary contributions addressing aspects of daily life and material culture in Scandinavian castles between 1050 and 1550. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

- Heating systems, light sources, and domestic technologies 

- Water supply, sanitation, and infrastructure Interior design, furniture, and textiles

- Household organisation and routines 

- Gender roles and the management of domestic life 

- Diet, food preparation, and feasting culture 

- Social hierarchies and the distribution of comfort - Entertainment, leisure, and cultural practices 

- The castle as a workplace for servants, craftsmen, and administrators 

- Temporal changes in domestic ideals and comforts