Castles!- Large Photos

[DonaCatalina]

Lockenhaus

[DonaCatalina]

Carsluith in Scotland, a no-nonsense stone fortification.

[Tremayne]

I love all the odd-sized stones in its construction. Again, amazing to me these castles have lasted over the centuries.

[DonaCatalina]

Castillo de Clavijo in the wine producing region of La Rioja, dates back to the 10 century.
It's imposing walls still crown the rocky crest on which it was built. The only access is from the side facing the town. There is still a winery in the area named after Castillo de Clavijo

[DonaCatalina]

Harlech Castle
Harlech was begun during King Edward I's second campaign in north Wales. It was part of an "iron ring" of castles surrounding the coastal fringes of Snowdonia, eventually stretching from Flint around to Aberystwyth; a ring intended to prevent the region from ever again becoming a focal point of insurrection and a last bastion of resistance.

[DonaCatalina]

Château d'Auzers
Now an Inn in France.

[DonaCatalina]

Castillo de Turegano in Segovia, Spain.
Slowly falling into ruin, this was once a very ornate and beautiful fortification.
From satellite photos you can see the outline of surrounding walls that are mostly ruins.

[Tremayne]

This thread has got me wondering what country has the most castles. I've often assumed it was Great Britain but at least an equal number here seem to be from Spain, which comes as a bit of a surprise to me.

[DonaCatalina]

Kinlochaline Castle in Scotland.
This castle is on Morvern, on the west edge of Scotland, just across from the Isle of Mull.

[Tremayne]

Love the thistle standard! The first picture makes it look like a house built on top of a tower 

[DonaCatalina]

Bonshaw Tower in the Borders region of Scotland.
The original fortification has been much modernized starting in the 19th century.

[DonaCatalina]

Doornenburg Castle in the Netherlands.
This castle still has it's moat and wooden drawbridge.

[DonaCatalina]

Criccieth Castle in Wales.
This castle sits majesticaly on a hilltop commanding a view of the coastline.

[captmarga]

Criccieth Castle in Wales.
This castle sits majesticaly on a hilltop commanding a view of the coastline.

Some of these are just fabulous, even if they are now ruins.  Going to make for a busy tour of the Isles...

Capt. Marga

[DonaCatalina]

Staggia castle and town walls in Italy.