posted 09-19-2007 03:22 AM            

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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

posted 09-19-2007 10:30 AM           

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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.

posted 09-19-2007 11:07 AM            

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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

posted 09-19-2007 12:04 PM           

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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.

posted 09-21-2007 02:12 PM            

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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.
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"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).]

posted 09-22-2007 01:54 PM            

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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

posted 09-22-2007 06:09 PM            

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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.)

posted 09-23-2007 02:03 PM         

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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).]

posted 09-24-2007 02:36 AM            

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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).]

posted 09-24-2007 10:02 AM            

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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).]

posted 09-28-2007 05:03 PM            

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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...

posted 09-28-2007 05:29 PM            

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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).]

posted 09-28-2007 08:09 PM           

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"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).]

posted 09-29-2007 04:32 AM            

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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

posted 10-03-2007 09:46 AM         

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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.

posted 10-10-2007 11:40 AM         

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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.

posted 10-31-2007 04:12 PM            

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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).]

posted 10-31-2007 08:51 PM           

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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

posted 10-31-2007 09:00 PM           

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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).]

posted 11-01-2007 05:54 AM         

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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).]

posted 11-02-2007 05:47 AM            

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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...

posted 11-03-2007 08:33 AM            

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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).]

posted 11-04-2007 04:15 AM            

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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.

posted 11-04-2007 07:52 PM           

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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.