Bürresheim Castle, now Schloss Bürresheim.
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 It is estimated that in the lands once under the rule of the German Empire there are over 20,000 historic buildings that date from the Middle Ages. This includes lands that are now separate nations such as Austria. One respected doctor of German history, Dr. Wilhelm Avenarius of the German Castle Association, at Marksburg Castle on the Rhine, suggested that most buildings that remain from that period were almost surely considered some sort of defensive structure at the beginning of their existence. That may well refer only to the thickness of the walls of some of the strong manors that were built throughout the empire. These walls were designed to stall aggression but were not seriously intended as castles, which, in addition to serving their defensive role, served offensive purposes as well.
Schloss Küps in Küps, Bavaria dates from as early as the 12th century, though not this particular room, which may date from the 15th or 16th century. But the windows clearly show the thickness of the walls. Indications are of a manor built to offer some protection, but not as a military stronghold or castle.

 Motte & Bailey Castle

1. Motte & Tower - some times with quarters
2. Outer Bailey
3. Moat - usually a dry moat
4. Draw Bridge or retractable bridge

Motte and Bailey castles were not known to be widespread in Germany, though variation of this style were used throughout , especially in border regions or marches.
Visual interpretation and rendering by E. G. Kane
Prior to the spread of the knights' castles that were built of stone the wood palisaded castle was the norm. These took many forms but shared one common weakness: the wood castle was relatively easy to reduce to ashes.
The wood castle served most often as the outpost for kings and emporers and as a place of defense for communities. Up until the end of the Middle Ages kings and emperors did not remain in a central or home base, but traveled constantly from castle to castle in order to hold together their wide spread lands and reign in the many ambitious barons and knights within and outside of their domains.
The evolution of the wood castle, which probably had its beginnings in the quickly constructed temporary outposts the Romans built on campaigns, saw several changes in layout but were centered on the motte. There are several interesting steps in this evolutionary process, most of which focus on the construction of the outer perimeter of defense. In some locations the outer defense was, at least in part, a berm which was sometimes crested with thorns. This berm underwent considerable modification and technical innovation to the point of being more complex than the rest of the site. But this was afterall the first line of defense.		  The motte was a hill, usually manmade and housing a tower, in a strategic location on the castle grounds. Often there was a more substantial structure at the peak of the motte, and served as a dwelling in addition to a watch tower. The motte was often built of the material acquired from the ditch (moat) frequently dug around the site as an additional defensive obstacle. There may have been more than one bailey (walled yard or court), which served as the primary line of defense and where the inhabitants of the community gathered with foodstuff and animals when attack was expected. These fortifications were used well into the 11th century, even though other nations were already building castles with stone. The wood castles were constructed rapidly and inexpensively by comparison and so continued to serve a vital need for a growing empire.
In addition, wood castles were easily (a relative term) and quickly constructed, at times in the dark of night, within battle range of a targeted castle or community. There the assaulting army could organize, supply their forces, and care for their wounded in relative safety while the siege continued, sometimes within view. There is at least one documented case where a castle was pre-built, shipped to England, and assembled on landing. It was a critical strategy that forever changed the destiny of that land.