Famous English castles. UK castles. Eltz Castle, Germany

Deal Castle was built by order of Henry VIII in 1539-1540. This castle was an artillery fortress, which was designed to stop a possible invasion from the Catholics ... "

“Windsor Castle is the largest and oldest castle in the world and is one of the official residences of the Queen. The construction of the castle was laid on the orders of William the Conquerer (William the Conquerer ... "

Chillingham Castle (also called Chillingham) is a medieval castle in the village of Chillingham, Northumberland, the former residence of the Gray family and their descendants, the Earls of Tankerville (Tankervi...)

The 16th century Lindisfarne Castle is located on Holy Island, in northern England. This island is connected to the land by a dam that rises above the water at low tide. You can get to the island with ... "

Spencer House in London is the only surviving 18th century palace in the city. It was built between 1756 and 1766 for the first Earl Spencer in the center of St James's, overlooking Green Park. Per...»

"Hylton Castle is a picturesque ruined stone castle originally built of timber by the Hilton family shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066, and by the early 15th century..."

“Bamburgh Castle stands on basalt rock outcrops on the North Sea coast, in the city of Bamburgh, Northumberland. The first mention of the castle dates back to 547, when Bamburg was...”

« This historic castle, consisting of an earthen mound and a defensive tower with a moat, is located near the settlement of the same name on the Isle of Wight. There is an assumption that the territory, ... "

“Beaston Castle, also known as Rock Castle (from the English Rock - Rock), is located on a high sandstone cliff. It was erected in the 1220s by the Earl of Chester as a defense against rival aris...”

“Chester Castle is on a hill overlooking the River Dee. In the castle complex remains something of the ancient medieval castle, along with neoclassical buildings created by Thomas Ga... "

Skipton Castle is located in Yorkshire, UK. It was built as a castle of wood and earth in 1090 under the direction of Robert de Romille, a Norman baron. Later wood...»

Auckland Castle (also known as Bishop's Castle or Bishop's Palace) is located in County Durham, England. The castle, which was set up as a hunting lodge for the Bishops of Durham, belonged to the Diocese...”

“Newark Castle sits on the banks of the River Trent, in the center of the city of Newark in Nottinghamshire. The settlement on this place was founded in the time of the Saxons, but the castle itself was built in 1123 by Bishop Link ... "

Eidon Castle, in Northumberland, England, is a fortified manor built by Robert de Reymes, a wealthy Suffolk merchant, in 1296. It's two…”

Norwich Castle is a medieval royal fortification in the city of Norwich, founded after the Norman conquest of England. Construction began on the orders of William the Conqueror (1066-10...»

Restormel Castle is one of the four largest Norman castles in Cornwall, UK. The castle offers a beautiful view of the valley of the river Fowey (Fowey), and the ancient walls of the castle adorn the living...»

Below you can find a list of 10 castles in England that have largely remained the same as they were built in the Middle Ages. All these castles are open to tourists.

Berkeley Castle

The castle is located in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, UK. It was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. Traditionally believed to be the site of the assassination of King Edward II, who allegedly died on September 21, 1327.

St. Michaels Mount (St Michael's Mount)

The medieval castle of St. Michael's Mount is a small tidal island in Mounts Bay, in the city of Cornwall, UK. Almost the entire territory of the island is occupied by an impregnable fortress, which can be reached only at low tide along a special stone path laid along the bottom of the bay. The fortress was founded in the XII century.

Orford Castle

It is a castle built between 1165 and 1173 by Henry II Plantagenet in order to restore royal influence. From a well-fortified fortress, today there is only one donjon 90 meters high. It is located in Suffolk.

Stokesay Castle

English Stokes Castle is a fortified manor house located in Shropshire. It was built by the leading wool merchant in England - Lawrence Ludlow between 1285-1294.

It is considered one of the best preserved medieval fortified manors in England. The castle looks the same as it did in the 13th century when it was built.

Lincoln Castle

Lincoln Castle is an impressive Norman castle located in the center of the English city of Lincoln. Construction began in 1068 by order of William the Conqueror.

Between the 12th and 13th centuries it was the site of the largest battles and sieges in medieval English history, later serving as a prison until the 19th century.

Alnwick Castle

The medieval castle is located in the county of Northumberland near the borders of Scotland. Considered the principal residence of the Duke of Northumberland (title).

Hedingham Castle

Medieval English Castle Headingham is a Norman stone fortress located in Essex, England. It was supposedly built at the beginning of the 12th century. For four centuries it served as the principal residence for the de Vere family, Earl of Oxford. The castle is over 30 meters high.

Dover Castle

The largest castle in England, located in the city of Dover, Kent on the coast between Great Britain and France. Founded in the 1st century AD. e. It is considered the "Key to England" due to its important location. The history of the castle goes from the time of the Roman Empire until the Second World War. Currently - a museum.

Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle is located in Warwick, Warwickshire. It was built as a fortification in 1068 by order of William I the Conqueror. Since 1088 belonged to the Earls of Warwick.

Tower of London

Ever since William I the Conqueror built the first tower (the Tower) in 1078, the Tower of London has been an important site in English history. At one time it was considered one of the most impregnable fortresses in Europe.

Great Britain is one of the most interesting and elegant countries in all of Europe. Located in the British Isles. For many, Great Britain and England are one and the same. But this is not so at all.

The UK was founded in 1801 and is made up of four countries. Each of the four countries that make up the United State owns a certain territory.

As for England, the largest area departs to it - the island of Great Britain, some small islands, archipelagos and the northeastern part. In addition, she has the beautiful Shetland Islands.

Throughout the UK there are countless attractions, in this article we will tell you about the castles in the UK, because this is what the country is so famous for.

Many rich people from different cities like to settle not in simple private houses, but in royal castles, as this is very traditional in English.

This is one of the most popular and largest castles. It is located in the small town of Windsor and bears the same name. The castle in the UK is the official residence of the English monarchs.

This ancient palace has a very long and interesting history. It was built during the time of the conquest of England, when William the Conqueror ruled.

Most of the Norman rulers liked to spend the night in the nearby castle, which was located on the territory of Old Windsor, which is a few kilometers from Windsor.

The palace reached its heyday under Queen Victoria, when it became a kind of symbol of the monarchy in Britain. Since he bore this title, almost every next ruler tried to finish building something in him inside or outside.

Later, the castle began to perform a defensive function, and this happened until the middle of the seventeenth century. In those years, the kings completely forgot about him. Only in the nineteenth century did the revival of Windsor Castle begin.

This fortress is located in the heart of Edinburgh on Castle Hill. The palace is considered the main attraction of the capital of Scotland, and annually it is visited by more than a million travelers and citizens.

As for history, it is believed that people lived in this place already in the ninth century BC. The temple also houses the Crown of Scotland and the Scone Stone. This stone is considered legendary because almost all Scottish kings were crowned on it.

It is known from the history of the Skoon Stone that at the end of the thirteenth century it was taken to England and inserted into the throne on which the coronation of rulers took place, then it was taken to Britain until the reign of Elizabeth II. Later, she decided to issue a decree that the stone be returned to its homeland - Edinburgh Castle.

The estate is quite large, located in Scotland. English rulers usually rest here in the summer. The castle is not public, as it belongs to Elizabeth II. Many sights are owned by the English crown.

A lot of animals live here. Among them are partridges, a large number of deer and ponies.

This place is known to all true Englishmen, because it is historical and has served as a residence since the middle of the nineteenth century. Initially, it was bought by Queen Victoria, but before her, King Robert II had some possessions here. It can be said that there were a sufficient number of owners of the estate.

Queen Victoria died at the beginning of the twentieth century, and the monarchs continued to visit here for some time. Usually in summer and autumn. This tradition has been preserved to this day. Officials like to visit the castle of Great Britain, but only the Ballroom is open for this. The gardens open in the spring when the queen is away from the estate.

This castle is located in the heart of the small city of Cardiff (the capital of Wales), which is home to about three hundred thousand people. It is believed that on the hill on which the castle is located, even the ancient Romans began to build their structures. Even now you can see some of the architectural style of those years.

When William the Conqueror came to this land, the construction of a castle in the Norman style began here. Since the estate has a long history, it had many owners and each managed to bring something extremely new to the architecture. Thanks to this, we can admire it in modern times.

It is believed that the Marquis of Bute put the most effort into this building. He hired an architect named William Burges to do some remodeling of the premises. It turned out that the marquis radically changed the interior decoration of the rooms. Moreover, each part of the palace became different from the other. Everything was done in a special way. By right, this palace can be called one of the most interesting castles in Great Britain.

It is believed that Scottish castles are the most mysterious and beautiful in the UK. This is the brightest representative of the architecture of the Middle Ages.

The palace is located among the most picturesque mountains of Scotland - in the western part of the country. It is considered quite young, as it was built in the nineteenth century.

This place is very popular for walking. Every day many townspeople and tourists come here to enjoy the mountain atmosphere and feel the spirit of the Middle Ages.

Now the building belongs to one of the most influential and wealthy clans in Scotland - the Campbell clan. And so it is almost impossible to go inside. This is only available to officials and a small circle of people. Visitors have always been struck by the sophistication of the eighteenth century furniture, as well as the luxury of the interior of the palace.

This palace is located in a very picturesque place in the United Kingdom in the south-eastern part of England, in the famous town of Dover. It was once nicknamed the "Key of England". It is believed that the first steps towards the construction were made during the time of the ancient Romans. They installed two lighthouses here, which later became part of Dover Castle.

Throughout its existence, this castle in the UK performed defensive and strategic functions. He was an "active participant" in World War II. The inner part was a kind of bomb shelter, as well as an infirmary. By the way, it was from here that the famous Dunker operation was commanded. Part of the information about the rooms of the castle in the UK is classified.

Elton Hall Castle

This castle is located in the small village of Elton, belonging to the county of Cambridgeshire. It used to be inherited in the Prodi family. It is made as a whole complex, and it includes buildings of different centuries, starting from the fifteenth.

In addition, a sufficient number of gardens are located on a large territory of the palace. There are many greenhouses and hedges.

The building has impressive stained-glass windows, as well as rich interior decoration. There is an impressive library inside this castle.

duffield palace

The beautiful Duffield Castle is located on the territory of Derbyshere. Included in the number of ancient monuments. It was built by the ancient Romans. It is located within the city and in modern times is considered a city park.

Rochester Castle is located in the eastern part and still performs strategic and defensive functions. It protects the southeast of England.

The castle was rebuilt many times and was originally made by the Norman conquerors.

Conclusion

There are quite a lot of interesting castles in the UK that we did not mention in the text, however, all of the listed ones are the most popular. If you are in the United Kingdom, be sure to visit at least one of them.

I greet you, dear friends, girls and boys, as well as their parents, dear visitors of the site Entertaining English!

As I promised in my last article, I continue to introduce you to the most ancient castles of Great Britain. And today I want to focus your attention on four more of them in more detail, because each of them is a kind of national legend for all the English!

For 900 years, Leeds Castle has stood 30 miles from London. King Henry VIII once lived here temporarily. Despite the fact that the castle is located on British territory, it is connected in some way with the United States of America. The two families that owned the castle are Americans. And in general, this building was of interest to American buyers. For example, William Randolph Hearst wanted to purchase leeds castle, but abandoned this venture, as he discovered that the castle had no bathrooms and electricity.

But another American, Olive Bailey, did not stop, and he bought the castle in 1926. After that, the new owner began to reconstruct the structure and did a lot in this regard. To date, Leeds Castle is a private property, but tourists have the opportunity to see it.

It was erected in honor of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It is located in Cornwall, in the northwest of England. Tintagel was built 800 years ago by the Earl of Cornwall, brother of the King of England. The Earl was intrigued and fascinated by the tales of King Arthur, and therefore built a castle to remind everyone of the legendary king and his reign. And today, every year, hundreds of tourists visit the castle to feel the atmosphere of the time when King Arthur and his knights lived, despite the fact that the castle was almost destroyed...

Located less than 100 miles from London, Warwick Castle known for its beautiful medieval interior. The castle has been home to many generations of the Earls of Warwick and one member of this family, Frances, Countess of Warwick, also known as Daisy, became famous for her generosity and charity. During the residence of the Countess in the castle, such famous guests as Winston Churchill, Prince Edward of Wales and the future King Edward VII came to visit her. Every year, the castle hosts knightly competitions, which attract thousands of tourists to see.

For more than 1000 years it has been the main attraction of the city. It houses the royal jewels, which are sometimes on public display, and over 2 million people visit the tower every year. The Tower of London has a dark past.

Torture, murder and executions were carried out in this gloomy place. Among those executed were three queens of England, including Anne Boleyn, wife of Henry VIII. These are the legends ancient castles of Great Britain!

It's hard to pick favorite castles after spending so many fun days exploring them. Instead, I will try to show you the most diverse and interesting castles in England.

There are majestic fortresses there, such as Dover, which stands like a guard over the Channel. He protects England from Europe.

The country also has romantic ruins, such as the remains of Dunstenburg Castle on the windswept north coast of the island.

Especially beautiful is the red-stone silhouette of Goodrich Castle, which is nestled in the county of Herefordshire.

There are many castles in England, here is an overview of my favorites.

Tower of London: history, legends of ghosts and murdered princes

The history of the Tower is full of plots with gloomy events and bloodshed.

Read only at least some of the history of the Tower, for example, stories about the gates of traitors, the execution of Anne Boleyn, the truth about noisy ravens. If you are interested in solving the mysteries of medieval stories, try to put together the legends about the princes killed in the Tower.

If you're looking for scary stories, there are tales of headless ghosts, diabolical spirits, suffocating ghosts - the Tower of London's entire collection of ghost stories.

Framlingham Castle - where Mary Tudor was proclaimed queen

Mary Tudor was proclaimed the first Queen of England at Framlingham Castle, Suffolk.

Framlingham is a spectacular castle. This is a small ring-shaped fortress with 13 high towers, hidden, as if behind a curtain, behind significant walls.

Framlingham was built in 1190 and is still spectacular.

Rochester Castle. Get me 40 fat pigs!

Rochester Castle is a small but imposing fortress located near London.
Rochester survived two significant sieges and was almost blown up with the fat from 40 pigs.

The city of Rochester is closely associated with the name of Charles Dickens and is depicted in some of his novels.

Bodiam Castle - the work of a genius

Sunset over Bodiam Castle, Sussex is one of the most majestic sights. Bodiam Castle is one of the castles in the world that has been most spectacularly surrounded by water.

The castle looks like an illustration that has fallen out of an art book. Its evocative beauty hides the work of an architectural genius: visual tricks and planning twists were designed to enhance the ideal appearance of the castle.

Dover Castle - Defender of England

Dover Castle has a special strategic importance in the history of England.

The location of the castle next to the Pas de Calais looks menacing, as it is the shortest distance between England and France.

But the protective qualities of Dover were useful not only in the Middle Ages.

During World Wars I and II, the castle was used as an active base, and in the event of World War III, it is to become a control center for atomic bombs.

Lewes Castle: Beautiful barrow-polisade castle

Lewes Castle is a beautiful mound-police-type fortress in Sussex.

It was built in 1067 after the Normans conquered England and was thus one of the first castles in the country.

The castle has a spectacular hinged tower with a cool awesome weapon - a hinged loophole.

Tintagel Castle and the Legend of King Arthur

The ruins of Tintagel Castle lie on the rough coast of Cornwall. Old legends say that King Arthur was born here, but you have to be wiser and believe these legends with a grain of salt.

Medieval ruins can now be found scattered along the coast next to the mysterious settlements of this dark age. And don't forget about Merlin's cave.

Kenilworth Castle and Queen Elizabeth

Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire is the largest ruined castle in England. The stories of this castle are varied, one of them is the greatest siege in the Middle Ages - in 1266. In addition, this castle played a prominent role during Tudor times.

Robert Leicester, the owner of the castle, sought the love and hand of the queen, and, in an attempt to impress, decorated and reconstructed the castle.

Goodrich Castle - majestic redstone ruins

Goodrich Castle is located in one of the most beautiful places in Britain. Surrounded by the lush greenery of the Herefordshire countryside, these medieval red sandstone ruins are reflected in the River Wye.

Tamworth Castle - a masterpiece of medieval architecture

Surrounded by delightful Staffordshire parkland and the cold River Tame, Tamworth Castle is an excellent example of castle mound architecture.

This small castle is known for the frequent appearances of ghosts. The castle courtyard is filled with magnificent old residential buildings.

Beeston Castle - great view and buried treasure

Beeston Castle is located on a huge limestone cliff, and its amazing image is visible in eight counties.

Rumor has it that the buried treasure of Richard II is still located in these beautiful ruins.

Pontefract Castle - once the most formidable castle in England

Now it's hard to believe, but once Pontefract Castle was one of the largest, most powerful and formidable castles in England.

Now, once a ferocious-looking fortress, it has turned into ruins, a shadow of its former strength.

Pontefract Castle was described by Shakespeare and was notorious in early modern England.

Two castles in York - Bailey Hill Castle and Clifford's Tower

York is undoubtedly the prettiest and historically most important city in northern England.

It is hard to imagine now that there were once two castles in York. Bailey Hill Castle is long gone, but the remains of York Castle - now Clifford's Tower - are well worth a visit.

The shell-shaped remains of Clifford's Tower are in fact one of the finest views in all of York.

Dunstenburg Castle - Windscattered Ruins and the Legend of Sir Guy the Seeker

The windswept ruins of Dunstenburg Castle are spectacular.

The remote castle was built as a safe house for a misguided duke, Sir Thomas of Lancaster. He had ideas, the implementation of which went far beyond his authority.

There are many old legends about Dunstenburg Castle, one of which is about Sir Guy, the seeker, according to the curse of the king, he had to roam the castle all his life.

History of the castles of England: 1066

In 1066, the Battle of Hastings took place - the Norman invasion forever changed the landscape of England.

Until 1066, the fortresses were not real "castles", military buildings looked completely different.

Forts were scattered over the green and beautiful lands of England, and on all the highlands there were old Roman fortresses and their remnants.

Usually these fortifications had nothing to do with "castles", these buildings were powerful from a military point of view and at the same time were residential; in addition, from this place the lord exercised leadership over the entire territory.

The magnificent Goodrich Castle was the home of the de Valance family, who controlled much of Herefordshire.

The Normans changed all that. They understood that such castles were an excellent defense and a place to exercise control.

After the battle of Hastings, the Normans improved, and soon most of the country was under their control.

Why did the Normans build so many castles in England?

Why did the Normans build so many castles in England? They learned from experience. Their castle-building technique served them to achieve their goals, as a result, they were subject to most of the lands of the Middle Ages, including northern France and even Sicily.

The castle was the center of power, and its influence extended throughout the territory. It was the home of the lord and his way of controlling his territory.

Although castles were something of an import, England accepted them.

Over the next six hundred years, thousands of castles were built across England, transforming from barrow-style castles to wooden structures and then to fantastic stone buildings after the 13th century. It should be noted one formidable king of England - Edward I, who ruled from 1272 to 1307, and was obsessed with the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bsubordinating Scotland and Wales to England.

Edward I - the most formidable king of England

Among the monarchs of the Middle Ages, no one was more feared than Edward I.

Edward I, his nickname "long-legged" because of his huge growth, the warrior king, conquered Wales and kept an eye on Scotland.

Thanks to Edward, many huge castles were built in the British Isles, all designed to maintain Edward's steely grip on power.

Of course, centuries passed, and castles were no longer needed to protect and maintain power by military forces.

English castles became more important for maintaining power through prestige, rank and class.

The aristocracy made castles their homes, and kings increased their importance by building new castles.

For example, the reluctant Henry VIII adopted a lavish castle-building program during the 1500s.

The end of the seventeenth century was a dark time in history for English castles.

During the English Civil War they served as defense and were used as outposts.

Many castles were again needed during the bitter war between royalists and parliamentarians to repel sieges, protect lands and wealthy families. But a new enemy appeared - gunpowder. Stone castles were not built to withstand fire and artillery fire from powerful cannons.

Goodrich Castle was hit by cannonballs during the Civil War.

As a result, many castles were destroyed or seriously damaged. And in the end, the victorious parliamentarians deliberately destroyed many objects. This was done to protect their own power - so that the opposition forces could not use these castles in the confrontation.

How many castles are there in England? It is impossible to answer this question, many castles are in ruins, many are “lost castles”, destroyed, disappeared over time.

Along with this question, the experts are debating about which buildings can be considered castles. Why? It turns out that in the 18th and 19th centuries, wealthy people turned their estates into castles.

Can they be counted among the total number of castles? Or consider them fake?

The National Trust for England looks after 13 castles, and English Heritage manages about 100 more. I estimate that 900 castles are in a state of repair and thousands more are in ruins or lost.

(if you are not registered there yet, follow the link and get a $25 bonus for your first booking).

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