Castles!- Large Photos

[brier patch charlie]

Oh, the thought of setting your bum down on those cold stones on a winters morn. Bur!

[DonaCatalina]

While we're relatively close, let's visit Farney Castle
in Tipperary. Farney Castle was built in 1495, with later work taking place in 1800. The original structure on the site dates back even later, as the present day round tower was built on the site of a timber structure dating back to 1185. Farney Castle is the only round tower in Ireland occupied as a family home.

[Raibeart OShea]

That does it.  When I hit the Lotto, I am SO going to build a castle for my own pleasure.    ...and a Renn Villiage for all the traveling players and merchants.

[DonaCatalina]

I'm feeling a little homesick this morning, so we'll make a stopover in Spain. In the village of Ucero, Soria, there are the evocative ruins of the Templar Castle. Around 1200 Castillo Templario de Ucero was inhabited by the Knights Templar, who apparently also built the nearby Ermita de San Bartolomé.

[DonaCatalina]

Let's stay in Spain another day. Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz) El Alcázar is located in the province of Cádiz. The true origins of the city of Jerez de la Frontera remain a mystery even today. For some researchers the city formed a part of the ancient Tartessic Empire. For others the origins of the city are to be found in its relationship with the primitive Phoenician settlement of Serit or Ceret, a name which was stamped upon coins and which in later years was changed to that of Seritium or Xeritium by the Latin speakers; becoming Sheres, Xerez, Xerez Sadunia in Arabic and from there through Xerez Sidonis, Sidonia or Seduña, down to the present day Jerez de la Frontera.
What is in no doubt is that some form of settlement existed in Jerez prior to the arrival of the Romans, a fact verified by the archaeological remains discovered in Asta Regia, nowadays known as Mesas de Asta, located just one kilometre from Jerez on the road leading to Trebujena. The restored fortress currently in the city center was originally built in the 11th or 12th centuries.

[DonaCatalina]

Now that Spring is finally here, I think we can go back to Scotland in comfort.
Kildrummy Castle is a ruined castle near Kildrummy, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. Though ruined, it is one of the most extensive castles of 12th century date to survive in eastern Scotland, and was the seat of the Earls of Mar.
Dating from as early as the 12th century,[1] the castle is believed to have been constructed during the lordships of Uilleam and Domhnall, Earls of Mar.

[DonaCatalina]

We're heading to Italy to visit Emperor's Castle of Prato.
Also known as Fortress of Santa Barbara, The Castello dell'Imperatore is the northernmost castle built or rebuilt by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in Italy.
The history of Prato itself begins from the 10th century, when two distinct villages, Borgo al Cornio and Castrum Prati (Prato's Castle), are known. In the following century the two settlements were united under the lords of the castle, the Alberti family, who received the imperial title of Counts of Prato.

[DonaCatalina]

On to Wales, the land of extreme sheep herding.
Carreg Cennen is the castle we are going to visit.
The dramatic ruins of Carreg Cennen Castle are perched on top of a 300ft limestone crag. Archaeological evidence shows that this naturally defensive site was in use at least as far back as the Roman period and probably earlier, but the first mention of a medieval castle is in 1248 when Rhys Fychan regained control after his mother had handed the castle over to the English out of hatred for her son.
Nothing remains of this earlier castle, the current buildings date back to the late 13th century.
For more information on the castle caves click here.





















-Cave Entrance-

[DonaCatalina]

Another castle in Spain is our destination for today.
Castillo de Chirel's origin is Islamic, probably 10th century. After the Reconquista the castle continued to be inhabited mainly by Moors.
The castle of Chirel is in the town of Cortes de Pallás, in the province of Valencia.

[captmarga]

Those are just some awe-inspiring views! 

Thanks for keeping this going!!!

Capt Marga

[DonaCatalina]

Today we're going to Orford Castle in England. Orford Castle was built between 1165 and 1173 by Henry II of England to consolidate royal power in the region. The well-preserved keep still stands among the earth-covered remains of the outer fortifications.













-garderobe outlets-

[DonaCatalina]

Egmond Castle is in the Dutch province of North Holland.
Locally known as Slot Egmond aan den Hoef, the castle was first built in the 11th century, and was destroyed around 1205. It was rebuilt and fortified, and was destroyed again in the 14th century. Again it was rebuilt. In 1573 at the order of William the Silent it was demolished by the Geuzen, led by Diederik Sonoy. The remnants were taken down at the end of the 18th century. During the 1830s the remains were dug up.










a drawing of how it might have looked based on descriptions and excavations

[DonaCatalina]

For Friday, how about a bit of the paranormal?
Castle Glamis
is probably one of the best known in Scotland merely for its legends of ghosts and beasties. Glamis Castle is situated beside the village of Glamis (pronounced Glämz (in IPA: /?l??mz/)) in Angus, Scotland. It is the home of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and is open to the public. The vicinity of Glamis Castle has prehistoric traces; for example, a noted intricately carved Pictish stone known as the Eassie Stone was found in a creek-bed at the nearby village of Eassie.[2] In 1034 AD Máel Coluim II was murdered at Glamis.[3] Since 1372 Glamis Castle itself was home to the Lords of Glamis (later the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne).[4]

[DonaCatalina]

Castillo de Almonacid de Toledo is our destination today.
History buffs won't want to miss the chance to rvisit the castle in Almonacid de Toledo – on a clear day you think that you'll be able to see forever! Of Arab origin prior to 840, in 1086 the castle was given by Alfonso VI to the cathedral of Toledo. It was reformed by the archbishop Tenorio, at the end of XIV century, and bought by the counts of Mora during XVIII century. In 1809, the troops of general Venegas refugeed there, during the War of the Independence. Nowadays it is still a private property.

[DonaCatalina]

Manorbier Castle is an 11th century Norman castle located five miles south-west of Tenby in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, in the village of Manorbier. The castle was originally built as a wooden hall with earthwork defences on land granted to Odo de Barri, a Norman knight, at the end of the 11th century. William de Barri, Odo's son, began work on a stone structure in the first half of the 12th century. Portions of this 12th century building remain today.