Castles!- Large Photos

[DonaCatalina]

Merry Christmas!
Today we visit the Scottish-English border to see Norham Castle
Commanding a vital ford over the River Tweed, Norham was one of the strongest of the border castles, and the most often attacked by the Scots. Besieged at least 13 times - once for nearly a year by Robert Bruce - it was called 'the most dangerous and adventurous place in the country'. But even its powerful 12th-century keep and massive towered bailey walls could not resist James IV's heavy cannon, and it fell to him in 1513, shortly before his defeat at Flodden. The extensive 16th-century rebuilding which followed, adapting the fortress for its own artillery, is still clearly traceable.

[DonaCatalina]

Happy Second Day of Christmas!
Today we visit Alloa Tower in Scotland. This 15th-century fortification is where Mary, Queen of Scots reconciled with Henry, Lord Darnley before his murder.

[brier patch charlie]

So, which windoe did she push him out of?

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

You know, Dona, that last castle looked so familiar.  Then I realized we took the kids there in 1998 when we went to England for Steve's parents' 50th anniversary and then 5 days in Scotland on vacation.  It really looked exactly like that, too, inside and out.  Thanks for bringing back great memories!

[DonaCatalina]

Kasteel Westhove is our destination today. In 1401 abbot Willem van der Doest was the tenant of Westhove; he had to keep the castle open to the count of Holland and Zealand.
Several abbots succeeded him as a tenant, Floris van Schoonhoven, Matthijs van Heeswijck en Nicolaas de Castro enlarged the castle.
In 1579 the castle, destroyed by the Protestants, was seized by the government, and sold to Hendrik Balfour. In 1587 Pieter de Loiseleur became Lord of Westhove. His daughter lived at the castle till 1607, then Jacob Boreel became owner, whose family kept the castle for 88 years. In 1697 the heirs sold the house to Johan van Reygersberg, whose son restored it.
Through heritage the castle came into the hands of Johan Adriaan van der Perre in 1784, who turned it into one of the most fashionable country-seats on Walcheren. In 1862 the house was bought by squire Jacques Phoenix Boddaert, who plastered the house to cover up the defects. His sister Pauline buys the house in 1880, after which it became empty. In 1889 they made a child's hospital of it, and nowadays it is in use as a hotel. The orangery is used as a museum.

[DonaCatalina]

Hay-On-Wye Castle in England, in a village of the same name, was originally a motte and bailey castle. It has been extensively rebuilt, but the artificial hill is still visible in aerial photos.

[DonaCatalina]

Happy Fifth Day of Christmas!
Today we are going to Fortezze delle Verrucole in Italy.
Like many castles in the Gargagnano and the adjacent Lunigiana, Verrucole is free to visit and poke around in, although a bit of a climb from the small village of the same name.
Of course the Fortress is reputed to be haunted.
The Verrucole castle you see here was the result of six years of restoration, transforming it into one of the most evocative castles in Tuscany.

[DonaCatalina]

Happy Sixth Day of Christmas!
Today we are going to Spain to see Castillo de Torrelobaton. This castle was built in the early fourteenth century and shares many architectural features with other castles in Valladolid. It has a three-level keep anchoring a square floor plan.

[LadyShadow]

Anybody know an architect who can build me one? 

[dbaldock]

Anybody know an architect who can build me one? 

There's a company in Idaho called Castle Magic that you might try contacting.

Take Care,
David Baldock

[LadyShadow]

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!  Thank you.  I wonder if they will come to TX to build a home 

[brier patch charlie]

I wonder how much it cost, when it was fist built?

[DonaCatalina]

Happy Seventh day of Christmas!
Also in the provice of Valladolid is Castillo de Iscar.
You can see the similarity to Torrelobaton. Iscar, in the village of the same name, is undergoing restoration.

[LadyShadow]

Anybody know an architect who can build me one? 

You would have to be really well financed unless you wanted a much smaller version. Castle Glamis was estimated at £250 million, for just the building.

That bites 

Crossing my fingers wishing to win the lottery 

[dbaldock]

Anybody know an architect who can build me one? 

You would have to be really well financed unless you wanted a much smaller version. Castle Glamis was estimated at £250 million, for just the building.

That bites 

Crossing my fingers wishing to win the lottery 

Well, if you looked at Castle Magic's web site, you'll see that they have a 5,000+ sq/ft castle at Schweitzer Ski Resort in Sandpoint, Idaho available for US$1,600,000.

Of course, Glamis Castle is much larger than 5,000 sq/ft ... 

Front view of Glamis Castle that I took in 2001

Take Care,
David Baldock