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Author
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Topic: Favorite Castle
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Catz
Member
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posted 05-19-2000 11:13 AM
  
What is your favorite Castle?[This message has been edited by Catz (edited 05-19-2000).] |
Levan
Moderator
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posted 05-23-2000 11:43 AM
My favourite has got to be Castle Levan - but then I'm biased - I live there!Sorry for taking so long to reply to your posting. Unfortunately your question is rather too general to answer easily. Like many of the members of this site, for one reason or another I like virtually all castles and certainly have lots of favourites. The only way for me to select would be to list favourites from among various categories; that said, the categories alone would be too long to list conveniently: nationality, construction type, era, hidtorical or romantic association, resident ghosts, and so on... Levan
[This message has been edited by Levan (edited 05-23-2000).] |
wurdsmiff
unregistered
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posted 05-23-2000 02:05 PM
I agree with Levan's sentiments. Personally I don't have a favourite castle at the moment, though my interest can be caught by a particular site for a while, then I find another. I do have a favourite area for castles, and that is the straths (watersheds) of the Blane Water and River Kelvin which from the lands north of Glasgow, and south of the Campsie Fells (the hills to the north of the city). There are few remaining castles in the area, though it has a surprisingly high number of sites which once supported castles and fortified houses. It is the historic atmosphere and the hidden corners between and below the hills which attract, and I know the area very well since it was within easy reach of home, and I spent much of my childhood and teenage years touring the area by bicycle discovering both the history of each place and the occasional hidden fishing spot.
The Helensburgh and Dumbarton area holds a similar attraction for the same reasons, and going to either is a bit like going back to my roots.
Fortunately I can now tour both by car in a single day, and do so often.------------------
'Give me the groves that lofty brave,
The storms, by Castle Gordon'.
Visit my web-site at
www.castlesontheweb.com/members/wurdsmiff/castles.htm Gordon.
[This message has been edited by wurdsmiff (edited 05-23-2000).] |
Merlin
Senior Member
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posted 05-25-2000 06:07 AM
My favourite castles change every month. If I read about or see a picture of a realy interesting castle or ruin, it may become my personal favourite until I find the time to visit it. An example: Some weeks ago there was a COTW-forum about castle Fleckenstein in the Alsace (France). This is my actual favourite and I've long planned and will finally visit it this weekend.
As for long-time favourites: Like Gordon I often return to the castles I know since my childhood (around Zurich and in the swiss alps). There's a special relationship to such places one can't describe exactly. I just need to have an eye on them from time to time ....Merlin. |
duncan
Senior Member
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posted 05-25-2000 07:42 AM
I agree with the others and I could not have put it better, so I thought I'd add just a few,Favorite
Ours {still being built}
Most enjoyed
Bothwell
Best romantic
Blarney's grounds
Liked alot
Granagh
In question of
Bamburgh
Best work out
Tintagel's steps
Castle/farm house
Provanhall ------------------
Megan and Ralph
DUNCAN CASTLE [This message has been edited by duncan (edited 05-25-2000).] |
wurdsmiff
unregistered
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posted 05-25-2000 02:52 PM
Glad to see Bothwell and Provanhall in there Duncan!! Two very different sites which are both of special interest to me. If I'd known you wanted a work out I'd have sent you to Dunnottar!!!------------------
'Give me the groves that lofty brave,
The storms, by Castle Gordon'.
Visit my web-site at
www.castlesontheweb.com/members/wurdsmiff/castles.htm Gordon.
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duncan
Senior Member
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posted 05-26-2000 02:14 PM
I would not have minded seeing Dunnottar, but we did alot better climbeing those steps then the covey of teenagers. |
Philip Davis
unregistered
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posted 05-26-2000 02:44 PM
The climb to Dinas Bran is a fair one (no wonder it was fairly quickly abandoned). Much the same can be said for Carreg Cennen. Wigmore has a short but impressively sheer walk to the top of the motte (even the dog had to stop for breath, I had to stop for coronary artery bypass surgery). However, I didn't even attempt the climb to Carn Fadrum in the Lleyn penisular since I'm sure only gecko's could really manage it.------------------
And as I rode by Dalton-Hall Beneath the turrets high, A maiden on the castle-wall Was singing merrily: The Outlaw by Sir Walter Scott
http://www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html |
DEN
Member
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posted 05-29-2000 01:34 PM
Although it is only small, Llawhaden in Wales is one of my favourites in the UK. It is hard to explain.My real favourites are in France. I think that it is because they involve a long walk up a large hill (with views over the local vineyards), particularly in Alsace. And for dramatic situations it is difficult to beat Queribus and Peyrepertuse in the Languedoc region.
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Levan
Moderator
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posted 05-31-2000 02:19 AM
I suppose if I were to come off the fence and pick a handful of castles, I'd have to go for Stokesay Castle, Kennilworth Castle, Harlech Castle, Conwy Castle and Craigmillar Castle. Not because they are particularly my favourites, but because they are amongst the first castles I ever visited and thus are responsible for kindling my love for castles in general.Of these, the pride of place must go to Stokesay Castle in that it was the first castle to stir the hope that one day I would be able to live in a castle. OK, I was only five or six years old at the time, but Stokesay was small enough and complete enough for me to consider the prospect of its restoration realsitic! If I had the funds (I don't) and were it possible to wressle the castle from state ownership (most unlikely) I'd still like to take on Stokesay. However, at the risk of sounding greedy, I most certainly do not want to sacrifice Castle Levan in the process; Stokesay could be my 'English' home! Dreams, eh? Levan |
Merlin
Senior Member
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posted 05-31-2000 03:50 AM
I just came back after touring the region of northern alsace/pfalz (germany) with my bycycle. There I visited 10 different castles and they're all realy impressive. Built on high rocks of red sandstone, placed in the middle of endless woodlands, they look like ships on the sea. A big part of the halls, cellars, caverns and stairs are hewn out of solid rock. So the ruins of these once impregnable castles look like if they've grown out of the wood.
I most liked the very large ruins of Falkenstein, Fleckenstein and Alt Dahn.
I haven't seen such castles anywhere else.Merlin. |
Erik Schmidt
Senior Member
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posted 08-07-2000 01:26 AM
It's sad to see there are so few castles outside Britain mentioned. Good on you Merlin. I live in Australia, but have travelled a fair bit in Europe(Haven't been to Britain yet) as well as the Middle East looking at castles, amongst other things.
My favorite castles I have visited would have to be the following(not in order);
Karlstejn - Chech Republic
Nimrod Fortress - Golan Heights, Israel
Ajloun - Jordan
Anavarza - Turkey
Yilankale - Turkey
Toprakkale - Turkey
Korykos- Turkey
Mamure - Turkey
Acrocorinth - Greece
Avio - Italy
Lucera - Italy
Chillon - Switzerland
Aigle - Switzerland
Neuchatel - Switzerland
Montebello - Switzerland
(Neu)-Falkenstein - Switzerland
Gryeres - Switzerland
Vufflens Le Chateau - Switzerland
2 castles(Sion)- Switzerland
Morat/Murten(Town) - Switzerland
Rocca Majore - Italy
Carcassone(Town) - France
Cathar Castles(Lastours) - France
Alburquerque - Spain
Alhambra - Spain
Almonacid - Spain
Avila(Town) - Spain
Banos De La Encina - Spain
Castello De Pambre - Spain
Penafiel - Spain
Loarre - Spain
OK I think that will do. I have too many favorites.
Erik
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AJR
Senior Member
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posted 12-13-2000 06:52 AM
Personally, my favorite Scottish castle is Fourmerkland Tower, in Dumfries and Galloway. Situated in a clearing within woods, overlooking a clear pool, and well away from the road. Ahh, bliss.
My favourite Welsh Castle is Crickhowell Castle in Powys. Consists only of ruins, but very atmospheric in the early morning mists.
My favourite English Castle is Cromwell's Castle on Tresco in the Isles of Scilly. The background scenery is tremendous. |
Peter
Member
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posted 12-15-2000 12:51 PM
Go on, the topic still seems to be open.
Although I have a few local ones here in North Wales, I think I'd go for little Ewloe. Where I can sit and ponder why the hell they have a bank overlooking the tower ?
In Italy I have many favourites, just see my pictures, says all. |
A Knight
Senior Member
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posted 12-23-2000 06:36 AM
Favourite Castles - I have a few:
Irish Castles - has to be Barryscourt in Cork - I have only visited it when in ruins but it was superb, especially the first time a wet day in September 1987 - when all I knew of it was the word Castle on an O.S. map.
Wales - probably Caerphilly - first Castle I visited in Wales.
England - Kingswear - worth renting off The Landmark Trust - we've done it three times.
Scotland - Stirling. ------------------
Andy Knight
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