Castles!- Large Photos

[DonaCatalina]

Barnard Castle was founded by the Normans shortly after the conquest, but enjoyed its heyday under Bernard de Bailleul during the latter half of the 12th century. The castle passed into the hands of the Balliol family (of which the Scottish king, John Balliol, was the most important member), and then into the possession of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. King Richard III inherited it through his wife, Anne Neville, but it fell into ruins in the century after his death. The remains are now in the care of English Heritage.

[DonaCatalina]

Castello di Montalcino rises above the town of the same name in Tuscany's southern wine region. The hill upon which Castello di Montalcino sits has been settled probably since Etruscan times. Its first mention in historical documents in 814 AD suggests there was a church here in the 9th century, most likely built by monks who were associated with the nearby Abbey of Sant'Antimo. The current fortress was built at the highest point of the town in 1361, on a pentagonal plan designed by the Sienese architects, Mino Foresi and Domenico di Feo. The fortress incorporates some of the pre-existing southern walls.

[DonaCatalina]

Edzell Castle is a ruined 16th century castle, with an early 17th century walled garden. It is located close to Edzell, and is around 5 miles (8 km) north of Brechin, in Angus, Scotland. Edzell Castle was begun around 1520 by David Lindsay, 9th Earl of Crawford, and expanded by his son, Sir David Lindsay, Lord Edzell, who also laid out the garden in 1604. The castle saw little military action, and was, in its design, construction and use, more of a country house than a defensive structure.

[Richard de Graeme]

Aye Lady! I trod this path whilst serving in a past life. The paths and roads crossed by hares and pheasants. A place named the Blue Door lays near, when entered, the path leads to River and a pedestal bridge operated by man and horse to allow sailors passage. This is my memory. Thank thee for jogging it.

[DonaCatalina]

Château La Tour-Chervix is the remaining donjon of the twelfth century castle that was destroyed by fire in 1553. It is probably the best example from its time period in Limousin, France. Château-Chervix was built by the Viscounts of Limoges early in the twelfth century.

[DonaCatalina]

Castillo de Anguix is our destination today. The castle is located in the province of Guadalajara, east of a village of the same name. Located on the river Tajo, Castillo de Anguix was built in the reign of Alfonso VII. Martín Ordóñez, who came to own large estates in the bottom of the Alcarria, took over this spot in 1136, and then built the original castle.

[majikboxman]

'To me'... This is a very inspiring post / topic DC.  Thanks for sharing this.

[DonaCatalina]

Today we're going to Wales. Cardiff Castle is a medieval castle and Victorian architecture Gothic revival mansion, transformed from a Norman keep erected over a Roman fort in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. There may have been at least two previous Roman forts on the site. The first was probably built about AD 55 during the conquest of the Silures tribe. From the late 2nd to the mid-3rd century, civilian buildings associated with iron working occupied the site of the Roman Fort. The Norman keep was built on a high motte on the site of the Roman castra.

[DonaCatalina]

Schönburg Castle on the Rhein is a 12th century castles built by the Lords of Schönburg. Friedrich von Schonburg, the last male descendant of this line, who lived in the 18th century, bore the proud title of Marshal of France.

[DonaCatalina]

Kasteel Teylingen is the next stop on our whirlwind tour of castles.
The castle is a ruin of a round water stronghold dating from the early 13th century. The castle, which was the original residence of the Lords of Teylingen, served as protection for the Rhine dike and the road to the city of Haarlem . In 1282 the fief fell to the Counts of Holland because the Lords of Teylingen had no direct heirs. The keep, which is part of the round defence wall, dates from this period. In 1975 the Castle Teylingen Foundation was founded. One of the aims of this foundation is to make the ruins a living element in the Bulb Area in The Netherlands once again. At the initiative of this foundation the partially filled in moat was dug out and the entrance bridge was reconstructed.

[DonaCatalina]

Bolton Castle in North Yorkshire, is located in Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales (grid reference SE03379183). The nearby settlement Castle Bolton takes its name from the castle. The castle is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[1][2]
It was built between 1378 and 1399 by Richard le Scrope, Lord Chancellor, and is an example of a quadrangular castle. The castle is still owned by the descendants of the Scrope family and is a tourist attraction. Part of the castle has been restored and the rest is in ruin.

[DonaCatalina]

Now on to Italy where we will not visit Castello di Torrione Torrione Castle is a key historical medieval example of a North Italy private fortress surviving from the Middle Ages, with a dungeon built before 1147 by a great grandson of the founder of the Vialardi family. A Museum and Center for History and Humanities is housed in the castle and includes important sections of European art and antiques. It was created by the Vialardi di Sandigliano Foundation, a private non-governmental operating organization founded by Tomaso Vialardi, last Count di Sandigliano, originally located in Geneva (CH). The castle cannot be visited because the castle deals with sensitive subject matters and has a Security/Defense-related profile which requires special security.

So we will head back to Germany to visit Burg Altenburg. Altenburg) Altenburg was first mentioned in a deed to the Bishop of Zeitz in 976. Remains of a Slavic castle on the Schloßberg demonstrate that the town was probably a Slavic foundation, the capital of the shire of Plisni, taken over during the conquest of Meißen by Henry I. As shown by place names, the surrounding area (Osterland) was mainly settled by Slavs.
The town's location on the imperial road between Halle and Cheb in Bohemia gave Altenburg economic importance in the salt trade.
The first castle, located under the present day church St. Bartholomäi, was destroyed after the Battle of Hohenmölsen between Henry IV and Rudolph of Swabia. It was rebuilt on the Schloßberg outside of the town. The 11th century Mantelturm tower is still preserved in the restored castle. The castle later became an imperial palatinate and played an important part in the German takeover and settlement of the area between the Harz-mountains and the Elbe.

[DonaCatalina]

Off to a late start, but we're going to Wales to visit Wigmore.
Wigmore Castle was founded after the Norman Conquest, probably c.1070, by William fitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford and a close associate of William the Conqueror. It was built on waste ground at a place called Merestun, the settlement by the mere or lake. The land was held at the time of the Conquest by Gunnfrothr or Gunnvarthr, who also held land at Lingen and Brampton Bryan. The associated town of Wigmore below the castle was probably also founded by fitzOsbern, perhaps around the earlier settlement.

[Lady Catherine]

yesterday castle looks a little like Rose Red, especially the aerials!

[DonaCatalina]

We have an eye-popper for you today. Duart Castle or Caisteal Dhubhairt in Scottish Gaelic is a castle on the west coast of Scotland, on the Isle of Mull, within the council area of Argyll and Bute. The castle dates back to the 13th century and was the seat of Clan MacLean. In 1350 Lachlan Lubanach Maclean of Duart, the 5th Clan Chief, married Mary, daughter of the John of Islay, Lord of the Isles and she was given Duart as her dowry.