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Castles!- Large Photos

Started by DonaCatalina, May 07, 2008, 08:26:57 AM

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DonaCatalina

Castelbuono is a castle and a frazione of the comune of Bevagna in Umbria, central Italy.
Castelbuono features the walled medieval structure of a castle, two churches and some other buildings. The city was originally an Etruscan civilization-Oscan settlement. Around 80-90 BC it became a Roman municipium. After the year 1000 it was a free commune. In 1152 Frederick Barbarossa set it on fire. In 1249 it was again destroyed by the Count of. In 1371-1439 it was ruled by the Trinci family. Later it was part of the Papal until the unification of Italy.













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DonaCatalina

Elizabeth Castle is a castle in Saint Helier, Jersey. Construction was started in the 16th century when the power of cannons meant that the existing stronghold at Mont Orgueil was insufficient to defend the Island and the port of St. Helier was vulnerable to attack by ships armed with cannon.
map coordinates 49.175833, -2.125833
The tidal island called L'Islet lying in St. Aubin's Bay became the site of the Abbey (later Priory) of Saint Helier. The monastic buildings were finally taken over by the Crown at the Reformation. Surviving buildings were used for military purposes.
Construction of the castle began in 1594, and continued in the first years of the 17th century under the then governor of Jersey, Sir Walter Raleigh, who named it "Fort Isabella Bellissima" (the most beautiful Elizabeth) after Queen Elizabeth the First.















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DonaCatalina

#617
Qasr Azraq (Arabic: Blue Fortress") is a large fortress located in present-day eastern Jordan. It is one of the desert castles, located on the outskirts of present-day Azraq, roughly 100 km (62 miles) east of Amman. Map coordinates 31.880278, 36.8275
The ancient Romans were the first to make military use of this site, and later an early mosque was built in the middle. It did not assume its present form until an extensive renovation and expansion by the Mamelukes in the 13th century, using locally quarried basalt which makes the castle darker than most other buildings in the area.














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#618
Aluksne Castle is a castle in the city of Aluksne in eastern Latvia. The old medieval Castle was built on the islet of Al?ksne Lake in 1342. That was fortified castle with foreparts. The structures were regularly modernized, the massive protection system with rave lines and ramparts was made in the end of the 17th century. At the time of the Northern War central part of the castle was worsted in 1702. Since that time the untouched castle ruins are a romantic part of the landscape. A newer manor house nearby dates from the 1800's.
Coordinates: 57°25'20"N   27°5'3"E







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Burg Moosham is Salzburg's third largest castle and for almost 400 years the seat of a District in Austria. The castle was in the 17th and 18th Century venue notorious witch trials. Looking in the history of Castle Moosham, there is a first mention in 1191 Approximately 100 years later, in 1285, Castle Moosham falls to the Archbishops of Salzburg and is the 14th Century the seat of the country judge. In 1520, the court landesherrliche care of Burg Mauterndorf is relocated to Moosham.
The castle is reputed to be very haunted.















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Beaufort or Belfort is a Crusader fortress in Nabatiye Governorate, southern Lebanon. The castle was named "bel fort" or "beau fort" (French for "beautiful fortress") by the Crusaders who occupied the castle in the 12th century. Its Arabic name Qala'at ash-Shqif means Castle of the High Rock. Little is known of the site prior to its capture by Crusader forces in 1139 AD, although historians assume that the castle's commanding position atop a 700 metre (2,100 ft) hill made it a strategic position even in Biblical and Roman times[1], and that there was already an existing structure at the time. Map coordinates 33.326111, 35.531944
After its capture by King Fulk, the castle was handed over to the lords of Sidon. In 1189, Saladin laid siege to it, while Reginald of Sidon was defending the stronghold. He could by ruse delay the capture, but the castle was finally taken by Saladin in 1190 AD.











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#621
Kaunas Castle is located in Kaunas, Lithuania. Archeological evidence suggests that it was originally built during the mid-14th century, in the Gothic style. Its site is strategic – a rise on the banks of the Nemunas River near its confluence with the Neris River. At the beginning of the 21st century, about one-third of the castle was still standing. The precise construction date of the first Kaunas Castle is unknown. Archeological data suggests that a stone castle was built on the site during the middle of the 14th century. Situated on an elevated bank near the river junction about 100 kilometers (66 miles) from the capital city of Vilnius, it served as a strategic outpost and guarded nearby cities as well as trade routes. A written account states that in 1361, the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights issued an order to gather information about the castle, specifically the thickness of its walls, as preparation for an assault on the castle. During 1362, Kaunas Castle underwent a siege by the Teutonic Order. The siege of the castle lasted three weeks.
Map coordinates 54.899, 23.885















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Beaufort (Luxembourgish: Beefort, German: Befort) is in eastern Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Echternach, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher. The castle of Beaufort was built in the 12th century and was restored by the governor of Luxembourg, Jean de Beck, in the 16th century.
Map coordinates 49.833333, 6.283333
It is possible that there already stood not only a 9th century fortification here, which protected the large estates of the abbey of Echternach, but even a Roman fort. Around 1150 the castle was strengthened. In 1192 Walter von Wiltz was mentioned as the first Lord of Befort.












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Markovi Kuli or Marko's Towers are situated to the north-west of Prilep, Macedonia just above the suburb Varoš. The towers of medieval Prince Marko are located on a 120-180 m high hill, surrounded by steep slopes covered with minute granite stones. The upper part of the former settlement can be reached from its north and south side.
During the four-decade archaeological research, remnants indicating the existence of an early antique settlement — Keramija, were found. In the Roman period, this small village expanded into the southwest, a fact suggested by the several marble ornaments of an early Christian basilica.
The rampart on this terrain dates from the 13th and 14th centuries and is in good condition. The walls are about one meter thick and were built of limestone mortar and rest upon the large limestone rocks.















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Soroca Castle has its origin in the medieval Genoese trade post of Olchionia, or Alchona. It is known for its well-preserved stronghold, established by the Moldavian Prince Stephen the Great (?tefan cel Mare in Romanian) in 1499.
Map coordinates 48.161232, 28.305305
Between 1543 and 1546 under the rule of Petru Rare?, the fortress was rebuilt in stone as a perfect circle with five bastions situated at equal distances.














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#625
I hope you have been enjoying our tour of castles around the world. I have tried to focus most recently on those that are not as well known. For the next few days Capt Marga has graciously consented to be our gues castellan while Don Juan and I go visit relatives, including our newest nephew. On to today's castle!
Kasteel Amerongen was first established in 1286. Several times it was attacked, destroyed and rebuilt. In 1672 it was attacked by the French army and burned down. Shortly afterwards the castle was rebuilt in the classicist form it has hold until now. The double moat arrangement that was popular in the Netherlands has not been altered very much, and makes quite a view from the air. Kasteel Amerongen is in a village in the central Netherlands (province Utrecht) on the border of the Utrecht Hill Ridge. It lies about 7 km south west of Veenendaal (10.5 km by road).
Map coordinates 51.995255 5.458488
The former emperor of Germany, Wilhelm II, who had been exiled to the Netherlands, lived in the Amerongen castle from November 1918 until May 1920.














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captmarga

 Good Morrow All!  I hope that I won't repeat any of the castles - Dona Catalina has done such a marvelous job of bringing you such diverse structures!

Looking at something a little more unusual, we have Thornbury Castle in England. (South Gloucestershire)
It was built during the reign of Henry VIII and was visited by him and Anne Bolelyn just months before her untimely demise.  The tower room is reached by a narrow winding stone staircase.  While it is in use as a hotel, it also has an outer wall that apparently is in ruins.

A manor house occupied the site in 930.  It was built to be a large Tudor style home in 1511 for Edward Stafford, and some therefore consider it not to be a true castle.(But of course those of us who live in today's time would call it a castle and most would call it home in a moment if offered! )   It does have the "distinction" of being the only Tudor castle to operate as a hotel and restaurant in England.  Therefore you can stay in a room occupied by the King himself. But brace yourself - if you want to stay, the cost ranges from  346 pounds a night for a "classic double" to over 850 pounds for the tower... for a night....


http://www.thornburycastle.co.uk/

http://www.celticcastles.com/castles/thornbury/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgm8383/2532640990/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgm8383/2531855577/in/set-72157605104726392/













Until tomorrow,

Capt. Marga

Corp Capt Marga, Dame Den Mother, Scarborough Royal Guard.  Keeper of the Costume Closet.  Artist, Rennie, Etc, etc, etc

LadyElizabeth

WOW, lovin' that castle!!!  Thanks for the info on it.... maybe one day when I'm independently wealthy I can afford a room there... and if I marry a prince maybe I could buy it?  hehe
Queen Elizabeth the 1st
Champagne the Bubbly
Bubbles the Fairy
Frost the Arctic Barbarian
Red the pirate

captmarga

Sorry for the late start - the rheumatism wouldn't hold up to drafty castles....


Off to Finnland and Raseborg Castle. 

The Raseborg Castle (Finnish: Raaseporin linna, Swedish: Raseborgs slott), is a medieval castle in Ekenäs, Finland. The castle was founded by Bo Jonsson Grip and it is thought that the castle's first phase was completed sometime between 1373 and 1378. The first written data about the castle is from 1378. Its main purpose was to protect Sweden's interests in southern Finland against the Hanseatic city of Tallinn. The castle was originally built on a small island in the north end of a sea bay. The historians think that the castle was built in 3 different stages over time from the 14th to the 16th century.  It is very much a big, Keep type structure.  Just look at the heavy round tower that is part of the main structure.

The inner walkway shown in one photo is awesome, but again shows that it is very much a fortification.   It has previously been in a project for restoring it.  The restoration work was started in the late 19th century and was continued until the late 1980s.

Raseborg Castle Ruins are protected under the Antiquities Act.

Open to the public every day 1.5-31.5 2005 from 10 am to 5 pm, 1.6-14.8 10 am-8 pm, 15.8-31.8 and weekends in September 10 am-5 pm. 
   

The Raseborg castle ruins are found in the village of Snappertuna, nowadays part of the city of Raseborg (Raasepori) in the region of Western Nyland (Uusimaa) in the southernmost part of Finland.

http://www.finnguide.fi/sightguide/attractions.asp?a=2&t=4&p=326

http://www.nba.fi/en/raseborg_castle












This engraving shows the castle in the 1550s







Until tomorrow,

Capt. Marga
Corp Capt Marga, Dame Den Mother, Scarborough Royal Guard.  Keeper of the Costume Closet.  Artist, Rennie, Etc, etc, etc

captmarga

St Tropez anyone? Well, it's Port Grimaud, in France, but very near Saint Tropez.

Here the remains of an 11th C castle stand on the hillside.  As the name implies, there are ties to the Grimaldi family.  The town itself is relatively new, being rebuilt in the 1960s.  It is likened very much to Venice, with docks at most doors.  You can also see Italian influence in the remains of the Tower wall. 

http://www.hickerphoto.com/port-grimaud-castle-ruins-france-13146-pictures.htm

http://www.a-taste-of-france.com/images/grimaud-castle.jpg

http://www.bay-of-saint-tropez.com/grimaud-port-grimaud-bay-of-saint-tropez-french-riviera.htm









The village, still keeping those lovely arches in the designs.













Until tomorrow... think sunny thoughts on warm beaches (instead of Texas Roasting...)

Capt Marga
Corp Capt Marga, Dame Den Mother, Scarborough Royal Guard.  Keeper of the Costume Closet.  Artist, Rennie, Etc, etc, etc