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Author Topic:   Favorite Castles
Merlin
Senior Member
posted 09-19-2007 03:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Merlin   Click Here to Email Merlin     Edit/Delete Message
As it was too quiet here for a while, I'd like to discuss a topic that eyeryone can contribute. Describe one of the castles you like very much (maybe with a link to some pictures). And what it is that makes this one so special.

Regards,
Merlin

Edward
Member
posted 09-19-2007 10:03 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Edward     Edit/Delete Message
Phew!
Only one Merlin!?!
Must go away and put my thinking cap on.
Edward(Peter)

Paul
unregistered
posted 09-19-2007 10:30 AM           Edit/Delete Message
My favorite has to be Rochester castle in Kent.
Mostly due to the fact that I have lived just a mile or two away from it since I was a kid which has given me the opportunity to research its history in depth.
The whole place just has an atmosphere that I have never felt from any other castle or historic building.
The great siege of Rochester castle in 1215 is probably the best documented siege of the medieval period and is fascinating to research further as it was a pivotal event in the history of England.
How many castles can boast such importance in a turbulent time?

Paul.

Merlin
Senior Member
posted 09-19-2007 11:07 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Merlin   Click Here to Email Merlin     Edit/Delete Message
Peter, it doesn't have to be THE ONLY ONE you like. Just an example from your favorites...

One of mine is castle Jörgenberg (Crap Sogn Gieri in the local language rumantsch). There are many reasons:
- It's very old (going back at least to the 8th century, probably even to the 6th)
- It has a very interesting history.
- It's placed at the edge of a gorge and to reach it you have to walk through a wonderful forest.
- It's appearance changed many times over the centuries. The main tower overlooking the valley (with snowy mountains in the background) is a fantastic view.
- It's a peacefull place now and not overrun by visitors.
http://www.dickemauern.de/joergenberg/index.htm

Paul
unregistered
posted 09-19-2007 12:04 PM           Edit/Delete Message
But Merlin, what is its importance in history?
It might look pretty but a castle has to have some story to tell surely.
Oh boy, this is going to run, nice one Merlin.

Paul.

Merlin
Senior Member
posted 09-20-2007 03:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Merlin   Click Here to Email Merlin     Edit/Delete Message
Does it? Well, I think the most interesting castles are the ones you do not know too much about...
Sure, no royal army ever fought for this one - or then it was in carolingian times and no one wrote about it. But at least around 1340 it was subject of a feud between the then most powerful noble families in Reatia, Vaz and Rhaezuens.
And one thing I forgot: On a hill in the forest near the castle you can find three poles of the old gallow of Joergenberg. A place which has its own story to tell.

deborahknowles
Senior Member
posted 09-21-2007 02:12 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for deborahknowles   Click Here to Email deborahknowles     Edit/Delete Message
My favourite is Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland, partly because the area is little known (in Surrey, anyway!) and partly because the countryside is so beautiful. It was built in my favourite time in history the early 1300s, by Thomas of Lancaster, the second most powerful man, at that time, after the king.
------------------
"She was full more blissful on to see Than is the newe perejonette tree"

[This message has been edited by deborahknowles (edited 09-21-2007).]

Maria
Moderator
posted 09-22-2007 12:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Maria   Click Here to Email Maria     Edit/Delete Message
I was going to say The Corvinilor Castle (Corvins' Castle, aka Hunniad Castle, aka Huniazilor Castle) in Hunedoara. There are pictures posted on this one in the photo section. I think it's a beautiful castle, linked to Iancu of Hunedoara (John Hunyad - supposedly this is the English translation ...). The sad part is, the restorations aren't going so well over there... and the souvenir-jewellery-mineral stones shops kind of ruin the atmosphere.
So, on a second thought, I'll mention the Lazarea Castle - a small Hungarian castle in the center of Romania. It was the first castle I ever saw, and at the time I knew nothing of its existence - it was a surprise castle for me. There are pictures of it on the net, but of a rather poor quality. I'll try to dig some more information...

ipflo
Moderator
posted 09-22-2007 01:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ipflo   Click Here to Email ipflo     Edit/Delete Message
phew is the right word. choosing one, hmmm. Then I have to choose for Chillon on Lac Leman. This was the first great castle I ever saw, when I was a very small child. It is one of the most beautiful castles I know of.

It has a good history, a lot of towers, the best setting you can thunk of.
http://www.chillon.ch/de/promenade.html


Further I understand what Merlin is saying, it is beautiful to visit a castle, of which you almost do not know anything. The first time I visited Kreuzenstein in Austria, I did not know it existed, it just showed up on the horizon, and made a hell of an impression on me. Or the Montclair burg in Germany ( http://www.burg-montclair.de ), or the Frauenburg ( http://ceres.informatik.fh-kl.de/bsa/objekt.php?language=001&oid=00072 ), both hidden in the forests.

ipflo

Merlin
Senior Member
posted 09-22-2007 06:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Merlin   Click Here to Email Merlin     Edit/Delete Message
Castle Corvin, see also: www.dickemauern.de/corvin/index.htm

Castle Kreuzenstein, see also: www.dickemauern.de/kreuzenstein/index.htm

Castle Chillon, see also: www.dickemauern.de/chillon/index.htm

> I agree that Chillon is one of the most beautiful castles in the world and it is for sure among the very best my country has to offer. But for me it is way too famous and to crowded by tourists... (I like to have a castle all for my own when I go there.)

Maria
Moderator
posted 09-23-2007 10:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Maria   Click Here to Email Maria     Edit/Delete Message
You can see from the picture on dickemauern that the comunists haven't been kind to the Corvins'castel, from the urban-design point of view. In fact, if you want to reach the castle you have to pass by one huge steel factory - I mean one ugly factory, which blocks the view.

Maria
Moderator
posted 09-23-2007 10:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Maria   Click Here to Email Maria     Edit/Delete Message
I agree with Merlin - it's really nice to visit a castle which is not crowded by turists. It lets you travel in time more - and it somehow gives you the impression you have it all to yourself...

Aiken Drum
Senior Member
posted 09-23-2007 02:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Aiken Drum     Edit/Delete Message
Sorry folks, it has to be Bothwell, Scotland's very own version of Coucy. http://www.castleduncan.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=43

[This message has been edited by Aiken Drum (edited 09-23-2007).]

Maria
Moderator
posted 09-24-2007 02:36 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Maria   Click Here to Email Maria     Edit/Delete Message
Links to Lazarea Castle photos (in Hungarian, Lázár-kastély). The oldest tower dates from 1450, the gate has an inscriprion with the year 1532 on it and the final shape of the building was reached in 1632. Then it was partialy distroyed by austrians, in 1702, and fire, in 1748 and 1872.
I find the renaissance decorations nice, but strange - the castle is a fortified building, used for defence. The renaissance look was added in the 17 century (Transylvania being usually 200 years late on style. http://www.cchr.ro/ekhrkt/webphotos/website%20037.jpg http://www.geocities.com/czimbijr/Lazar_k.JPG http://www.visit-transylvania.us/romantic-holidays-for-couples-europe/heartbeats/6x.jpg

[This message has been edited by Maria (edited 09-24-2007).]

Merlin
Senior Member
posted 09-24-2007 10:02 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Merlin   Click Here to Email Merlin     Edit/Delete Message
Peter (Edward) - did you made up your mind? Would like to hear your opinion...

By the way: the dickemauern-links (which means www.burgenwelt.de) contain more than just one foto. Scroll down to the bottom of the pages and click on "Ansichten" for more views, on "Grundrißplan" for a groundfoor-plan, on "Historie" for the castles history (in german).

[This message has been edited by Merlin (edited 09-24-2007).]

Maria
Moderator
posted 09-24-2007 12:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Maria   Click Here to Email Maria     Edit/Delete Message
Kreuzenstein looks great!
And I find Dunstanburgh Castle pretty romantic.
Entschuldigung, Merlin, ich kan nicht sehr gut Deutsche sprechen, ich habe nur fur drei monate studiert - as you can undoubtly tell.

ipflo
Moderator
posted 09-24-2007 03:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ipflo   Click Here to Email ipflo     Edit/Delete Message
Lazarea castle looks really nice. It does remember me about a nice castle in Southern Tyrolia: Fischburg.
http://www.lukepower.com/photos/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=65&g2_serialNumber=2 http://www.bildagentur-walder.de/katalog/i/tre/st-christina.htm http://www.st-christina.it/S/content/siteSLdeSLZeitvertreib1.phpQMQcategory_idEQQ33.html

ipflo
Moderator
posted 09-28-2007 01:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ipflo   Click Here to Email ipflo     Edit/Delete Message
I also have to admit that I really like the Hoehkoenigsburg in the Alsace, although there too many tourists. It is on a beautiful hilltop, and there is a lot to admire.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_du_Haut-K%C5%93nigsbourg

Merlin
Senior Member
posted 09-28-2007 05:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Merlin   Click Here to Email Merlin     Edit/Delete Message
Hmm, the Hoh-Koenigsburg would deserve a discussion of its own. It sure is a nice visit (I was there too). But from a historians point of view, it is as problematic as Karlstejn in the Czech Republic. Only the lower parts of the castle are truly medieval. The upper half, esp. the main tower, was constructed in the early 20th century on the ruins of the old castle. And the architects of the german emperor Wilhelm II. had their own image of what a "true castle" had to look like.

But the Alsace has many more beautiful castles to offer. I especialy like the ones in the northern Vosges, built inside and on top of rocks of red sandstone in those wide forrests, looking like old shipwrecks on a green sea...

Queuxgropius
Senior Member
posted 09-28-2007 05:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Queuxgropius   Click Here to Email Queuxgropius     Edit/Delete Message
There are so many different types of "favourite".There is that !wow" factor that you get from the imposing hilltop castles (Riefenstein in South Tyrol and -above all-Hochosterwitz.) But some castles make me think "I'd like to live there".My favourites of that type would be the beautiful moated castles:Scotney,Gudenau, Mespelbrunn and St. Germain de Livet (I know,not strictly castles...more manors)and,although not moated,Fyvie in Scotland. And to these I'd add Korycos and Kiz Kalesi, lapped by the blue Mediterranean.

[This message has been edited by Queuxgropius (edited 10-28-2007).]

Paul
unregistered
posted 09-28-2007 08:09 PM           Edit/Delete Message
"I'd like to live there" could spawn a whole new topic Queuxgropius.
I'd go for Scotney in the winter, it looks cosy.
We all love castles for different reasons and I find it fascinating to learn about castles other than those in the UK.

Paul.

[This message has been edited by Paul (edited 09-28-2007).]

ipflo
Moderator
posted 09-29-2007 04:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ipflo   Click Here to Email ipflo     Edit/Delete Message
I have to fully agree that would span a whole new topic, from manor (Dumfries house, Cheverny or Menars, Sully) to castles like Karneid, Ferniehirst or maybe also Fyvie, or those other Austrian castles, built in the middle ages, and rebuilt and rebuilt and rebuilt thousand of times like Ernstbrunn and other ones, whose name can not remember on the moment,

@ the Höh Königsburg I agree with you Merlin, it is not really castle, but I find all those castles from that category (De Haar, Pierrefonds, Marienburg, Hohenzollern, Karlstein, etc) very interesting, except maybe that pinke white castle in the south of ... I am not sure what to think about that one, although it brings a lot of good entrance money for all the other castle of that state

Maria
Moderator
posted 09-29-2007 01:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Maria   Click Here to Email Maria     Edit/Delete Message
Hold it, hold it... castles in which you'd like to live now, or castles in which you would have liked to live when they were built(that way you get to chose history, not only geography)?

Maria
Moderator
posted 09-29-2007 01:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Maria   Click Here to Email Maria     Edit/Delete Message
Speaking about manor houses, my university, that being Art and Design, has the oldest stone building in Cluj (The Corvin House -1450) and we have the theoretical classes there. Don't imagine a big manor house, picture a rather small university with only few theoreticals. Still, it's a surprising confortable place - cool in summer and, well, ok in wintertime (gas heating, they either under do it or they over do it). It's nicely preserved, with some gothic ceilings and doorways, but at the end of the day it tends to be more of a house than of a romatic medieval manor. I suppose it has something to do with your state of mind...

Merlin
Senior Member
posted 10-01-2007 03:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Merlin   Click Here to Email Merlin     Edit/Delete Message
Maria, that reminds me of my high-school years. Our main building in Küsnacht (at lake Zurich) was an old, but unfortified house of the knights of Malta (Johanniterorden), built in the 14th century. At that time I didn't know this, although I noticed the very thick outer walls of the building.

AJR
Senior Member
posted 10-03-2007 09:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for AJR     Edit/Delete Message
Cromwell's Castle on Tresco in the Isles of Scilly.

And why?

Because it is in the Isles of Scilly, and I could sit there and enjoy the peace and beauty of the surroundings every single day.

Merlin
Senior Member
posted 10-05-2007 04:45 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Merlin   Click Here to Email Merlin     Edit/Delete Message
Here are some pictures of Cromwell's Castle: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.001001001013001006002

Ricky
Member
posted 10-10-2007 11:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ricky     Edit/Delete Message
Mileham Castle, Norfolk.

It is nothing very special (aside from being the largest motte & bailey castle in the county) except I spent a happy week surveying it as a project when I was at Uni.

It kickstarted my love of castles.

Edward
Member
posted 10-11-2007 12:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Edward     Edit/Delete Message
Sorry not to join in this discussion for a few weeks. Life has been a bit hectic since we came back off hol's.
Whilst there are many grand castles I admire. I still love little Ewloe, just down the road from me. It's a quiet, little, mysterious castle that I can get my arms around.
Likewise little Stogursey, in Somerset. This is under the protection of the Landmark trust. With a cottage built into the remains of the gatehouse. And Anita & I are going to stay there one year soon. Plenty of web-sites with pictures. If you don't know it, have a look. Get my arms around this one as well.
Ciao Edward.

Queuxgropius
Senior Member
posted 10-31-2007 04:12 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Queuxgropius   Click Here to Email Queuxgropius     Edit/Delete Message
Another thinmg that always inclines one to like a a castle is the feeling that it's your secret. If it's off the beaten track or has'nt been publicized for whatever reason ,you'll often find yourself alone there.A good example is Lea Castle in Ireland.
But you often have to run the gauntlet of hedges,fences,briars, nettles and cowpats...

[This message has been edited by Queuxgropius (edited 10-31-2007).]

Paul
unregistered
posted 10-31-2007 08:51 PM           Edit/Delete Message
To Quote Queuxgropius
"But you often have to run the gauntlet of hedges,fences,briars, nettles and cowpats..."
The first four where employed as defences but I must admit that I find the last one most likely to get me running.
We all know that dead and diseased cattle were shot by trebuchet and other means into a castle during a siege situation but I have a long held opinion that "Murder holes" in a castle were actually Merde holes.

Sorry to lower the tone,

Paul

Paul
unregistered
posted 10-31-2007 09:00 PM           Edit/Delete Message
Ricky raised an interesting question too.

What kicked off our interest in castles?

Paul.

[This message has been edited by Paul (edited 11-01-2007).]

AJR
Senior Member
posted 11-01-2007 05:54 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for AJR     Edit/Delete Message
For me, it was a visit to Scotland, where I stayed on the shores of Loch Awe, and visited Kilchurn Castle.
From then on, it was a slippery slope.

Barbed wire (ripped clothing), electric fences (shocking), rabid dogs (chased and bitten), copious amount of mud (slipped, slid, fallen and rolled in it), pouring rain (got soaking wet), and disgruntled owners (been escorted off the property) have not deterred me in my search.

I've also met some very interesting castle owners, been given personal tours, and come home with some lovely photos.

[This message has been edited by AJR (edited 11-01-2007).]

Paul
unregistered
posted 11-01-2007 08:52 PM           Edit/Delete Message
My first proper visit to a castle was on a school trip to Rochester in the 60's.
It was then that my interest really started and has now become somewhat more of an obsession.
If I try to put my finger on why I was fascinated by such a beautiful building I suppose that I was curious as to why it was built and what purpose it served.
I now know these things but still I am drawn back there at least a dozen times each year.
I'm pretty sure that AJR shares my love of Rochester even though he sees the castle everyday, sometimes through tired eyes.

Paul.

Merlin
Senior Member
posted 11-02-2007 05:47 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Merlin   Click Here to Email Merlin     Edit/Delete Message
I remember visting the three castles of Bellinzona with my parents when I was a small boy, on our way to beach-holydays in Italy. I was (and still am) very impressed by this very large medieval structure, dominating the valley and blocking it to northern invaders.

But the "hunt" started when I got the 9 volumes of W. Meyers "Burgen der Schweiz" on my 8th birthday. It was then when I realized what kind of fascinating places and buildings are out there and I decided that I need to see them all...

Queuxgropius
Senior Member
posted 11-03-2007 08:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Queuxgropius   Click Here to Email Queuxgropius     Edit/Delete Message
My interest was not sparked by seeing a castle in my youth;in fact, I didn't see a real one until I was in my early teens. It was started off by illustrations in childrens books. The earliest one I can remember was a castle in 'Rupert the Bear' (how I'd love to find that again) and I remember with great pleasure the castles I saw in "Look and Learn"..if anybody remembers that publication. I remember being delighted reading a series on famous castles in L&L which included Chillon,Crac des Chevaliers,Durnstein and Chateau Galliard.

[This message has been edited by Queuxgropius (edited 11-03-2007).]

ipflo
Moderator
posted 11-04-2007 04:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ipflo   Click Here to Email ipflo     Edit/Delete Message
well the first great castle for me was Chillon on Lac Leman. And there after it were the great castles in the books that draw my attention: Haut Koenigsbourg, Warwick castle, Dover, Hohensalzburg, Beaufort, Runkel, Greifenstein, and so on. But also the great ruins of Brederode nearby, or the Loevestein Castle or the Doornenburg.

Later on I developed also an interest for mansions, manor houses, schlösser; and ofcourse the lost ones of them.

Paul
unregistered
posted 11-04-2007 07:52 PM           Edit/Delete Message
Hi Queuxgropius, maybe the "Rupert" book you are looking for is "Rupert and the Enchanted Princess".

Maybe we've stepped into an odd little zone called childhood here.

I loved reading about Rupert and his pals when I was younger but I never thought that it could ever inspire an interest in castles.

We live and learn I guess.

Paul.

Queuxgropius
Senior Member
posted 11-05-2007 08:47 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Queuxgropius   Click Here to Email Queuxgropius     Edit/Delete Message
Thanks, Paul. That was great to know. It could well have been the "..Enchanted Princess" Now, I wonder if I can find it somewhere...

Ricky
Member
posted 11-06-2007 06:39 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ricky     Edit/Delete Message
When driving around now my wife & I will keep an eye out for any 'castle' symbols on the road map, and stop off for visit. You can end up all all sorts of places, from a lump in the ground to a complete Great Keep with guided tours.

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