A castle (from Polish zamek via Czech zámek, calqued from Middle High German slōʒ — “castle” and “castle”, in turn calqued from Latin clusa “lock, fort, fortification”) is a building (or complex of buildings) that combines residential and defensive-fortification tasks. In the most common meaning of the word — a fortified dwelling of a feudal lord in medieval Europe. A large number of castles have survived to this day and are recognized monuments of history and culture.