Posts Tagged ‘castles’
- In: History | Travel
- 78 Comments
While visiting the Isle of Arran, I was determined to visit Brodick Castle, owned by the Hamilton family for 450 years. It turned out to be a forty-five-minute walk from the town of Brodick to Brodick Castle, but it was worth it.
I walked through a peaceful park
and over a bridge with a swan in the river!
I carefully trampled through a golf course with appropriate warnings,
along a busy road and through gorgeous gardens with fabulous views of the sea.
Convinced I was lost, I walked around a corner and saw…this!
I opened the front door and discovered an intriguing world from the past.
Someone took a picture of someone taking a picture of me!
The original castle was built in the late 1200s and was initially a fortification due to its strategic location overlooking a wide sheltered bay. Over the centuries it has been a defensive stronghold, a hunting lodge and a family home. It has gone through many transformations, but for five generations, the Hamilton family, used the castle as a place of relaxation and pleasure until it was donated to the National Trust in 1957.
I was very glad I made the trek to visit this amazing castle, filled with stories and treasures from around the world. It is also purported to be haunted!
- In: History | Travel
- 49 Comments
On our recent visit to Holland, we took a day trip to Germany to the charming town of Bad Bentheim, just across the border. Bad in German means bath, and this is a popular spa town. In the middle sits a fabulous medieval castle. You know how much I love castles, and this was a great one to explore. Castle Bentheim is the largest hilltop castle in northwest Germany with a recorded history from 1050. For the past five centuries, it has been owned by the Counts and Princes of Bentheim and Steinfurt.
Burg Bentheim
The castle keep called the Pulverturn or powder tower
As we approach the entrance to this massive fortified castle, we are greeted by sheep grazing on the grounds.
Kronenburg Castle
No one resides in Kronenburg Castle anymore, but it is now a museum depicting how the lords of the castle lived. Both Otto von Bismarck and KaiserWilhelmI once stayed here as guests.
The Hall of Knights
A guest bedchamber
My favourite part included the castle keep which holds the dungeon. One of the oldest buildings in the castle, it dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries.
In the interior of the tower is a small opening in the floor called “the hole of fear.” It is the only entry to the windowless dungeon 12 meters below. In the Middle Ages, this was the Castle jail. Entrance to the dungeon is only accessible by means of a rope winch installed above the “hole of fear”. A bit creepy!
At the top of the tower are panoramic views of the town and countryside.
The simple Gothic chapel features a two-sided Madonna, carved in 1503, hanging freely from the ceiling. Both sides depict the front of the Madonna.
In the courtyard is an early Romanesque stone cross of the Crucified Christ discovered in 1828. Called the “Herrgott of Bentheim,” it was created around 1000 A.D. and is considered one of the earliest portrayals of Christ in Central Europe.
The library holds copies of old books, Bibles, and music sheets. Fascinating.
Happily exploring a medieval German castle
Schlosspark
Schlosspark sits beneath the castle with well-manicured gardens and a lovely fountain in the middle. The entire setting is from a fairy tale.
We couldn’t leave Bad Bentheim, and Germany, without sampling the apple strudel. It was as good as it looks! A great day trip and a chance for me to practise the little German I know.
Santa Barbara Castle
Posted on: October 12, 2015
- In: Books | History | Spain | Travel
- 52 Comments
Our day trip to Villajoyosa ended with a stop at Santa Barbara Castle, overlooking the city of Alicante and the Mediterranean Sea. The very capable bus driver took us to the top of Mount Benecantil, 166 meters above the city, on a narrow, windy road. This was a large bus and we all held our breath as he barely made it through the castle entrance, built for horse and buggies.
The narrow entrance to the castle
Once there we had an hour to wander the castle and discover the history of Alicante on display in the museums throughout the castle. Archaeological remains from the Bronze Age, Iberian Age and Roman Times have been found on this site.
I enjoyed climbing around the many levels, checking out the dungeons, chapel, guardroom, bastions and turrets. I loved the wrought iron warriors and archers strategically placed around the castle.
The dungeons
The chapel ruins
Watch out for the archers!
Fascinating views of Alicante and the Mediterranean Sea
This was fun for me as I visited this site a number of years ago and set a scene in Amanda in Spain in this very castle
Kids posing with a warrior while dad takes a picture
Another person posing for the camera.
I can´t get enough of the rich history and fascinating castles around here.
A Few Pictures of The Trip
Posted on: September 30, 2012
- In: Dreams | Travel
- 27 Comments
Budapest, Hungary
Coffee in Budapest
Village along the Danube
More to come!
Darlene Foster's Blog 