What do we call the large open area inside castle walls?

The story behind the answer

Inside medieval castle walls, the large open space served as the community’s hub—where soldiers trained, craftsmen worked, livestock were kept, and daily chores like cooking and laundry took place. It often contained a well or cistern, vital during sieges. Because interior rooms were cramped and dim, much of castle life unfolded outdoors here.

By contrast, the keep was the heavily fortified tower and last refuge, the great hall was the main ceremonial and dining room, and the gatehouse guarded the entrance with portcullises and murder holes. Early motte-and-bailey castles centered life in the “bailey,” and later stone fortresses used multiple “wards” (inner and outer) serving the same purpose—open yards for mustering troops, storage, and the practical rhythms of a fortified community.