The basic layout of medieval villages in Europe typically revolved around a few key elements that facilitated both communal living and agricultural life. Most villages were organized around a central open space known as the ‘village green,’ which often served as a communal meeting place and was sometimes used for livestock grazing.
Homes were generally clustered close together for safety against external threats, with a mixture of one- or two-story cottages made from local materials such as timber, stone, or wattle and daub. These houses were often built with thatched roofs and had limited windows, creating a cozy yet functional living space.
A prominent feature of many villages was the church, which not only served as a place of worship but also acted as a social and cultural hub. It was usually located near the village center to be accessible to all residents. Around the church, one could often find the village’s well or fountain, essential for daily water needs.
Villagers engaged predominantly in agriculture, so fields and farmland typically surrounded the village. These areas were usually divided among the households and managed through a system of crop rotation to maintain soil fertility. Additionally, many villages included common lands where residents could graze animals or gather resources.
Over time, the layout of these villages might evolve, but the overarching structure remained somewhat consistent across regions, adapting to local landscapes and resources while maintaining that vital sense of community.