[4][5][6] When stately homes were built in such a location, or a Wasserburg was later rebuilt as a residential manor, the German term becomes Wasserschloss, lit.
[citation needed] There is a further distinction between: In many places in Central Europe castles that had formerly been fortified changed their role or were converted over the course of time so that they became largely representational and residential buildings.
The characteristic moats thus lost their original security function, but were retained in some cases as an element of landscaping.
Today, in monument conservation circles, they are often described as burdensome, cost-intensive "historic legacies" because of the water damage caused to their foundations.
[7][8] Please notice that in French "château d'eau [fr]", literally 'water castle', means water tower.