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Patrimonio de la Humanidad. Se encuentra situada entre los cauces de los ríos Eresma y Clamores. Además del famoso Acueducto, multitud de iglesias románicas, Catedral y Alcázar componen un majestuoso paisaje que domina estas tierras castellanas. . .
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a palace and a prison.
En el año 1060, el Rey Sancho II de Castilla envía a éste castillo al Cid Campeador, para que se entreviste con su hermana doña Urraca, y pacte con ella la entrega de la ciudad de Zamora, "la bien cercada", a cambio de las de Valladolid y Medina de Rioseco.... Un acuerdo que nunca se llevó a cabo
One of the most iconic elements of the vista of the Danube Bend is the castle rising out of the steep mountainside above Visegrád. From within its walls we can marvel at the breathtaking view of the city below and the serpentine of the Danube in front of the lush, mountainous landscape. As one of Hungary’s largest fortifications, its size and splendor were considered exceptional even at the time of its building, in 1250.
I wonder if the newer London buildings will last nearly 1000 years like the Tower of London has!? Wouldn't it be amazing to see in a 1000 years time?
The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is separated from the eastern edge of the square mile of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill. It was founded toward the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and was initially a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new Norman ruling class. The castle was also used as a prison from 1100 (Ranulf Flambard, Bishop of Durham) until 1952 (the Kray twins), although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. There were several phases of expansion, mainly under kings Richard I, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12th and 13th centuries. The general layout established by the late 13th century remains despite later activity on the site.
The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history. It was besieged several times, and controlling it has been important to controlling the country. The Tower has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public record office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of England. From the early 14th century until the reign of Charles II in the 17th century, the monarch would traditionally prepare for several nights at the Tower, and lead a procession from there to Westminster Abbey for their coronation. In the absence of the monarch, the Constable of the Tower was in charge of the castle. This was a powerful and trusted position in the medieval period. In the late 15th century, the Princes in the Tower were housed at the castle when they mysteriously disappeared, presumed murdered. Under the Tudors, the Tower became used less as a royal residence, and despite attempts to refortify and repair the castle, its defences lagged behind developments to deal with artillery.
The zenith of the castle's use as a prison was the 16th and 17th centuries, when many figures who had fallen into disgrace, such as Elizabeth I before she became queen, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Elizabeth Throckmorton, were held within its walls. This use has led to the phrase "sent to the Tower". Despite its enduring reputation as a place of torture and death, popularised by 16th-century religious propagandists and 19th-century writers, only seven people were executed within the Tower before the world wars of the 20th century. Executions were more commonly held on the notorious Tower Hill to the north of the castle, with 112 occurring there over a 400-year period. In the latter half of the 19th century, institutions such as the Royal Mint moved out of the castle to other locations, leaving many buildings empty. Anthony Salvin and John Taylor took the opportunity to restore the Tower to what was felt to be its medieval appearance, clearing out many of the vacant post-medieval structures.
In the First and Second World Wars, the Tower was again used as a prison and witnessed the executions of 12 men for espionage. After the Second World War, damage caused during the Blitz was repaired, and the castle reopened to the public. Today, the Tower of London is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. Under the ceremonial charge of the Constable of the Tower, operated by the Resident Governor of the Tower of London and Keeper of the Jewel House, and guarded by the Yeomen Warders, the property is cared for by the charity Historic Royal Palaces and is protected as a World Heritage Site.
Château-Gaillard is an ancient fortress built at the end of the 12th century, now in ruins, whose remains stand in the French commune of Les Andelys in the heart of the Norman Vexin, in the department of Eure, in the Normandy region.
Its construction by the King of England and Duke of Normandy, Richard the Lionheart, was part of the struggle between the Kings of France and the Kings of England, then Dukes of Normandy, since the 1060s. The place locked, with other castles and fortified works, the valley of the Seine. Its capture in 1204, announced the loss of Normandy and the end of the Plantagenet empire.
Powis Castle, Welshpool, Wales.
Powis Castle, Coordinates....: 52.650573°N 3.158281°W
Powis Castle (Welsh: Castell Powys) is a medieval castle, fortress and grand country mansion near Welshpool, in Powys, Wales.
The castle has also been known as Castell Coch, Castell Pool, Castell Pola, Castell Pole, Castell Trallwng, Red Castle, Redde Castle and Castel Cough.
The seat of the Earl of Powis, the castle is known for its extensive, attractive formal gardens, terraces, parkland, deerpark and landscaped Estate. The unusual spelling of Powis, with an 'i' instead of a 'y' as in the county spelling, derives from the Herbert family's title as Lord, and later Earl of Powis. Powis is a shortened version of the Latinised spelling of the Welsh Powys.
The castle is the ancestral home of the Herbert family, with connections to the Clive family, though contrary to popular misconception Robert Clive never owned or lived at the castle. The property is under the care of the National Trust having been bequeathed to the organisation in 1952.
Click the pic to explore!
Construido sobre una atalaya privilegiada, el castillo medieval de Miravet es uno de los mejores ejemplos de la arquitectura de la Orden de los Templarios en Europa. Edificio religioso y militar de origen árabe, sigue el estilo defensivo de los castillos de Tierra Santa, con unas majestuosas murallas que se alzan sobre el río Ebro.
El año 1.153 es conquistado por los cristianos y Ramón Berenguer IV lo cede a Pere de Rovira, maestro de los templarios en Hispania y Provenza, que lo reconstruye y convierte en uno de los principales centros de poder cristiano en la Península Ibérica.
La uniformidad de la construcción muestra que los templarios levantaron el edificio en relativamente poco tiempo. Los vestigios de la antigua fortaleza andalusí están presentes en los tramos bajos de la muralla y en parte de las construcciones del recinto superior. Incluso en la bodega hay restos de una prensa andalusí.
Además del castillo, Miravet es una ciudadela amurallada con construcciones a diferentes niveles. Sus formas son contundentes y austeras y, a modo de colmena medieval, dentro de las murallas la comunidad disponía de todo lo necesario para vivir.
The Isle of Skye, in Scottish An t-Eilean Sgitheanach, is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. Connected to the northwest coast of Scotland by bridge, is known for its wild landscapes, picturesque fishing villages and medieval castles.
L'île de Skye, en écossais An t-Eilean Sgitheanach, est l'île la plus vaste et la plus au nord de l'archipel des Hébrides intérieures en Écosse. Reliée à la côte nord-ouest de l'Écosse par un pont, est connue pour ses paysages sauvages, ses pittoresques villages de pêcheurs et ses châteaux médiévaux.
Watch Video Here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dTjfv0JkY4
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In November 2018 while visiting Switzerland we passed by nearby Liechtenstein, a small constitutional monarchy headed by the Prince of Liechtenstein. The castle of the prince is towering over the town of Vaduz, and is off-limits to mere mortals like us.
I processed a paintery and a balanced HDR photo from two RAW exposures, blended them (foreground and background), and carefully adjusted the color balance and curves. I welcome and appreciate constructive comments.
Thank you for visiting - ♡ with gratitude! Fave if you like it, add comments below, like the Facebook page, order beautiful HDR prints at qualityHDR.com.
-- ƒ/5.6, 16 mm, 13 sec, ISO 400, Sony A6000, SEL-P1650, HDR, 2 RAW exposures, _DSC3982_3_hdr2pai5bal1c.jpg
-- CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, © Peter Thoeny, Quality HDR Photography
bellinzona.arounder.com/bellinzona_castles/
A fortress since Roman times, Bellinzona is strategically situated on a valley-floor and a natural nexus to such great Alpine passes as the Gotthard, San Bernadino, Novena and Lucomagno.
Placed such, smack in the middle of the ancient road from Germany to Italy, sealed its geographic importance and factious future.
The 3 Castles and fortifications of the market town of Bellinzona, in the Swiss canton of Ticino, have been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Bellinzona, Switzerland
Thank you for visiting - ❤ with gratitude! Fave if you like it, add comments below, like the Facebook page, order beautiful HDR prints at qualityHDR.com.
In summer while visiting Switzerland we went to nearby Liechtenstein, a small constitutional monarchy headed by the Prince of Liechtenstein. The castle of the prince is towering over the town of Vaduz. This is as close you can get to the castle.
I processed an balanced and a paintery HDR photo from a RAW exposure, merged them selectively, and carefully adjusted the curves and color balance.
-- © Peter Thoeny, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, HDR, 1 RAW exposure, Sony A7 II, _DSC1480_hdr1bal1pai1g.jpg
Himeji Castle dates to 1333, when Akamatsu Norimura built a fort on top of Himeyama hill. The fort was dismantled and rebuilt as Himeyama Castle in 1346, and then remodeled into Himeji Castle two centuries later.
Himeji Castle was then significantly remodeled in 1581 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who added a three-story castle keep. In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu awarded the castle to Ikeda Terumasa for his help in the Battle of Sekigahara, and Ikeda completely rebuilt the castle from 1601 to 1609, expanding it into a large castle complex.
Several buildings were later added to the castle complex by Honda Tadamasa from 1617 to 1618.[5] For over 400 years, Himeji Castle has remained intact, even throughout the extensive bombing of Himeji in World War II, and natural disasters such as the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake.
video Himeji Castle
Castle Rising Castle, Norfolk — Aerial View (2024)
Castle Rising is one of the most remarkable and best-preserved examples of a Norman great keep in England. Built around 1140 by William d’Aubigny, Earl of Arundel, it was intended both as a defensive fortress and as a statement of power and prestige. The massive stone keep stands within an elaborate series of earthwork ramparts and deep defensive ditches, covering an area of about 12 acres (5 hectares)—among the most impressive in the country.
The castle’s history is intertwined with royalty. In the 14th century, it became the residence of Queen Isabella of France, widow of Edward II and mother of Edward III, who lived here for more than 25 years after her husband’s deposition and death. The keep’s grand hall, chapel, and private apartments reflected her high status, while the surrounding bailey and gatehouse were protected by formidable earthworks.
Castle Rising later passed through noble families including the Mowbrays, Howards, and eventually the Earls of Suffolk, before coming under the care of the Howard family, who still own it today. It is now managed by English Heritage and open to visitors.
Archaeological excavations have revealed evidence of an earlier Saxon settlement beneath the site and extensive medieval occupation around the castle, making it a place of both military and domestic significance.
Today, the aerial perspective reveals the geometric perfection of the Norman design — the square keep dominating concentric banks and ditches, surrounded by the quiet village of Castle Rising. The scale of its earthworks is best appreciated from above, where the symmetry and strategic positioning become strikingly clear.
Location: Castle Rising, near King’s Lynn, Norfolk
Built: c.1140
Builder: William d’Aubigny, Earl of Arundel
Architecture: Norman Romanesque
Height of keep: approx. 12 metres (40 feet)
Status: Scheduled Ancient Monument, Grade I listed
Managed by: English Heritage
The medieval castle on a cliff rising on the eastern side of the valley of the Hernád River, in the immediate vicinity of Boldogkőváralja. The Miocene andesite tuff Bodókő Hill, on which the castle stands, is part of the Zemplén Landscape Protection Area. Due to the beauty of the landscape and the relatively good condition of the castle, it is a popular hiking destination, which is one of the stops of the National Blue Tour.
The earliest part of the castle (an old tower surrounded by a fortification) was probably built after the Tartar invasion and was erected either by Ispán Tyba, son of Jaak of the tribe of Tomaj, or by Judge Aba Amadé. When Károly Róbert Anjou chased the Aba, the castle came to the Drugeth family, which was loyal to him, and later to Péter Czudar. In the 15th century, it became the property of Serbian princes István and György, and then of the Szapolyai family. In Turkish times, he often changed hands as one of the venues for the intense battles between the emperor and the king. It was acquired by the conquering György Rákóczi in 1666, later it became important several times in the Kuruc times, but even before the Rákóczi War of Independence, in 1701, it was made uninhabitable by the emperors. The ruin was taken possession of by the Jesuits in the 18th century, who used it as a grain warehouse. Later it became the property of the Péchy and then the Zichy family, who, however, no longer lived in the uncomfortable fortress, instead using a baroque castle built in the area of the serf village. Despite the bombing of imperial soldiers and the devastating centuries that followed, it is one of our best-preserved medieval castles.
According to local legend, Helfštýn is named after the robber Helfried of Linva, who founded it. The castle was probably built in the last quarter of the 13th century. Around 1320 Vok of Kravař, a member of a prominent Moravian noble family, became the owner of the castle. Helfštýn remained in the possession of the Kravař family for more than a hundred years and underwent far-reaching structural changes during this period. Construction work began on a larger scale in the first half of the 14th century, but the main reconstruction of the castle into a Gothic fortress did not take place until the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th century. The Kravařs mainly improved the fortifications of Helfštýn. They replaced the makeshift fortification of the old parkland with a thick stone wall with four bastions, built a prismatic tower over the entrance to the castle itself and secured it with a drawbridge, built a fortified forecourt on the south side and cut the ridge of the hill with a moat carved into the rock.
The era of the Pernštejn family
In 1474, William of Pernštejn took over the castle estate and proceeded to its further reconstruction. In the last quarter of the 15th century,
Helfštýn Castle was enlarged with a thoroughly fortified, extensive farm forecourt (completed in 1480) and another forecourt, which formed a new outpost defending the entire enlarged building. At the same time, the fortifications of the old Kravaře castle were improved with bastions and a new system of towers and gates. The castle's ground plan was definitively given an elongated shape, and in its external form the perfect fortification system significantly overlapped all the other architectural elements.
Renaissance reconstruction
At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, the inner core of the castle was rebuilt into a Renaissance residence. The old castle palace was demolished, along with part of its original Gothic fortifications, and a magnificent Renaissance palace was built on the vacant space, in sharp contrast to the extensive system of late Gothic fortifications that surrounded it.
The destruction of the castle
In 1656, quite extensive demolition work was carried out, which, although it did not damage the fortifications of Helfštýn too much, definitively deprived it of the character of a manor house. And thus began the long-term destruction of the castle. The destruction was accelerated in the second half of the 18th century by the Ditrichstein family with demolition works. These attempts culminated in 1817, when part of the inner castle was destroyed by artillery fire.
Present day
The present-day character of the castle is that of a fortress with six gates and a series of 18th-century buildings and ramparts. Since the 19th century, the castle has been presented as a tourist and heritage site. Nowadays it has become a natural cultural centre of the region, with various cultural events taking place here throughout the season
1788-9 The Green Bridge (called because it crosses over the river to the Richmond Green) was built. Dates and names of the Mayors of the time are carved on the centre of the bridge. Opposite on the other side is a milestone showing the distances to Askrigg and Lancaster. (This was the start of the Richmond - Lancaster turnpike road.) John Carr the renowned Yorkshire Georgian Architect designed the bridge.
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All rights reserved. No part of this picture may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means (on websites, blogs) without prior permission. Use without permission is illegal
The Burghausen castle above the old town Burghausen is 1051 meters, the longest castle in Europe and apply for a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the "longest castle in the world."
The castle hill was already settled in the Bronze Age. The castle (which was founded before 1025) was transferred to the Wittelsbachs after the death of the last count of Burghausen Gebhard II in 1168. In 1180 they were appointed duke of Bavaria and the castle was extended under duke Otto I of Wittelsbach.
With the first partition of Bavaria in 1255 Burghausen Castle became the second residence of the dukes of Lower Bavaria, the main residence was Landshut. In 1255 under Duke Henry XIII (1253–1290) the work for the main castle commenced. In 1331 Burghausen and its castle passed to Otto IV, Duke of Lower Bavaria.
Under the dukes of Bavaria-Landshut (1392-1503), the fortifications were extended around the complete castle hill. Starting with Margarete of Austria, the deported wife of the despotic Duke Henry XVI (1393–1450), the castle became the residence of the Duke's consorts and widows, and also a stronghold for the ducal treasures. In 1447 Louis VII, Duke of Bavaria died in the castle as Henry's prisoner. Under Duke Georg of Bavaria (1479–1503) the work was completed and Burghausen Castle became the strongest fortress of the region.
De origen íbero, ha sufrido diversas reformas a lo largo de la Historia, primero por los romanos, después por los musulmanes en el 760, y durante todo el medievo. Pero la mayor de todas, fué la restauración llevada a cabo en 1902 por el Conde de Torralva....
El Castillo de Almodóvar del Río
The Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork build in 13th-century located near the town of Malbork, Poland. It is the largest castle in the world measured by land area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
I will be back on the 3rd week of April. Happy spring everyone!
Pfalzgrafenstein Castle is a toll castle known also as 'the Pfalz'. This former stronghold is famous for its picturesque and unique setting. The keep of this island castle, a pentagonal tower with its point upstream, was erected 1326 to 1327 by King Ludwig the Bavarian. Around the tower, a defensive hexagonal wall was built between 1338 to 1340. In 1477 Pfalzgrafenstein was passed as deposit to the Count of Katzenelnbogen. Later additions were made in 1607 and 1755, consisting of corner turrets, the gun bastion pointing upstream, and the characteristic baroque tower cap.
The castle functioned as a toll-collecting station that was not to be ignored, as it worked in concert with Gutenfels Castle and the fortified town of Kaub on the right side of the river. A chain across the river forced ships to submit, and uncooperative traders could be kept in the dungeon until a ransom was delivered. The dungeon was a wooden float in the well.
Unlike the vast majority of Rhine castles, 'the Pfalz' was never conquered or destroyed, withstanding not only wars, but also the natural onslaughts of ice and floods by the river. Its Spartan quarters held about twenty men.
The island of the castle was used for the Rhine crossing by 60,000 Prussian troops under Blücher in the winter of 1814 in his pursuit of Napoleon.
The castle was acquired by Prussia in 1866, and toll collections ceased in 1867. It continued to be used as a signal station for the river boat traffic for about another century. In 1946, the castle became property of the State of Rheinland–Pfalz.
The State eventually turned 'the Pfalz' into a museum and restored the color scheme of the baroque period. The museum reflects the conditions of the 14th century, and the visitor will not find modern amenities such as electricity or a lavatory. It is accessible to the public via a ferry service from nearby Kaub as long as river conditions permit.
The area is part of the Rhine Gorge, a World Heritage site.
References:
Wikipedia
Raby Castle is a medieval castle located near Staindrop in County Durham, England, among 200 acres of deer park. It was built by John Neville, 3rd Baron Neville de Raby, between approximately 1367 and 1390. Cecily Neville, the mother of the Kings Edward IV and Richard III, was born here. Wikipedia
Do alto do Castelo de Penela, no distrito de Coimbra, descortina-se uma panorâmica que ilustra a transição paisagística do centro de Portugal. O vale revela um minifúndio diversificado com campos de cultivo, olivais e habitações dispersas, característico da agricultura tradicional. As encostas exibem extensas áreas florestais de eucalipto e pinho, marcando a predominância da silvicultura na região. Ao fundo, o viaduto da A13 cruza a orografia, simbolizando a integração de infraestruturas modernas numa paisagem histórica. Esta convivência entre o património edificado, as práticas agrícolas seculares e as novas vias de comunicação, reflete a evolução do território penelense. A vista comprova a importância estratégica do castelo no controlo do vale, enquanto revela a resiliência das comunidades locais e a transformação da paisagem ao longo dos séculos, moldada tanto pelas atividades humanas quanto pelas características geológicas da região, desde os maciços calcários até às encostas xistosas que anunciam a Serra da Lousã.
From the top of Penela Castle, in the district of Coimbra, there is a panoramic view that illustrates the transition of the landscape in central Portugal. The valley reveals a diverse smallholding with cultivated fields, olive groves, and scattered dwellings, characteristic of traditional agriculture. The slopes display extensive areas of eucalyptus and pine forests, marking the predominance of forestry in the region. In the background, the A13 viaduct crosses the terrain, symbolizing the integration of modern infrastructure into a historic landscape. This coexistence between built heritage, centuries-old agricultural practices, and new communication routes reflects the evolution of the Penela region. The view confirms the strategic importance of the castle in controlling the valley, while revealing the resilience of local communities and the transformation of the landscape over the centuries, shaped both by human activities and by the geological characteristics of the region, from the limestone massifs to the schist slopes that herald the Serra da Lousã.
Normalmente busco puntos de vista inusuales que le den a mi foto un toque singular.
En este caso no me fué posible. Hice muchas fotos, muy distintas a las convencionales. Pero cuando ví esto al atardecer, después de todo el día haciendo fotos, no sólo no me resistí a hacerla, me sentí recompensado.
Me gustó tanto estar allí haciendo esta foto...
Canal de Castilla (Ramal Norte)
Cuádruple Exclusa (Esclusas 17, 18, 19, 20)
Frómista - Palencia - Spain
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Stokesay Castle, a late 13th century fortified manor house near Craven Arms in Shropshire. Visible from both the main Shrewsbury to Hereford rail and road routes, it is exceptionally well preserved, with restorations over the centuries very sympathetic to the original.
govisity.com/best-castles-in-england/
spaceshipsrentals.co.uk/blog/england-roadtrips/top-10-cas...
Last November while visiting Switzerland we passed by nearby Liechtenstein, a small constitutional monarchy headed by the Prince of Liechtenstein. The castle of the prince is towering over the town of Vaduz, and is off-limits to mere mortals like us.
I processed a paintery and a balanced HDR photo from two RAW exposures, merged them (foreground and background), and carefully adjusted the color balance and curves. I welcome and appreciate constructive feedback.
Thank you for visiting - ♡ with gratitude! Fave if you like it, add comments below, like the Facebook page, order beautiful HDR prints at qualityHDR.com.
-- ƒ/5.6, 16 mm, 13 sec, ISO 400, Sony A6000, Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye, HDR, 2 RAW exposures, _DSC3982_3_hdr2pai5bal1b.jpg
-- CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, © Peter Thoeny, Quality HDR Photography
According to local legend, Helfštýn is named after the robber Helfried of Linva, who founded it. The castle was probably built in the last quarter of the 13th century. Around 1320 Vok of Kravař, a member of a prominent Moravian noble family, became the owner of the castle. Helfštýn remained in the possession of the Kravař family for more than a hundred years and underwent far-reaching structural changes during this period. Construction work began on a larger scale in the first half of the 14th century, but the main reconstruction of the castle into a Gothic fortress did not take place until the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th century. The Kravařs mainly improved the fortifications of Helfštýn. They replaced the makeshift fortification of the old parkland with a thick stone wall with four bastions, built a prismatic tower over the entrance to the castle itself and secured it with a drawbridge, built a fortified forecourt on the south side and cut the ridge of the hill with a moat carved into the rock.
The era of the Pernštejn family
In 1474, William of Pernštejn took over the castle estate and proceeded to its further reconstruction. In the last quarter of the 15th century,
Helfštýn Castle was enlarged with a thoroughly fortified, extensive farm forecourt (completed in 1480) and another forecourt, which formed a new outpost defending the entire enlarged building. At the same time, the fortifications of the old Kravaře castle were improved with bastions and a new system of towers and gates. The castle's ground plan was definitively given an elongated shape, and in its external form the perfect fortification system significantly overlapped all the other architectural elements.
Renaissance reconstruction
At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, the inner core of the castle was rebuilt into a Renaissance residence. The old castle palace was demolished, along with part of its original Gothic fortifications, and a magnificent Renaissance palace was built on the vacant space, in sharp contrast to the extensive system of late Gothic fortifications that surrounded it.
The destruction of the castle
In 1656, quite extensive demolition work was carried out, which, although it did not damage the fortifications of Helfštýn too much, definitively deprived it of the character of a manor house. And thus began the long-term destruction of the castle. The destruction was accelerated in the second half of the 18th century by the Ditrichstein family with demolition works. These attempts culminated in 1817, when part of the inner castle was destroyed by artillery fire.
Present day
The present-day character of the castle is that of a fortress with six gates and a series of 18th-century buildings and ramparts. Since the 19th century, the castle has been presented as a tourist and heritage site. Nowadays it has become a natural cultural centre of the region, with various cultural events taking place here throughout the season
Em Vila Nova de Foz Côa, caminhantes exploram a Rota das Amendoeiras, trilho que serpenteia pelas muralhas medievais de Castelo Melhor, um exemplar notável de fortaleza do século XIII, classificado como Imóvel de Interesse Público. Inicialmente erguido pelo Reino de Leão numa época de disputas territoriais, o castelo passou para a posse de Portugal com o Tratado de Alcanices. A estrutura, construída em xisto e de planta quase circular, adapta-se à topografia do terreno e oferece vistas panorâmicas sobre os vales do Côa e Douro, onde amendoeiras e oliveiras dominam a paisagem. A rota, particularmente atrativa durante a floração das amendoeiras entre o final de fevereiro e o início de março, integra-se no planalto granítico do Alto Douro, uma paisagem moldada pela atividade humana através de terraços e muros de pedra seca. Castelo Melhor serve também como ponto de acesso ao Parque Arqueológico do Vale do Côa, Património Mundial da UNESCO, enriquecendo a experiência com a sua história e património.
In Vila Nova de Foz Côa, hikers explore the Rota das Amendoeiras, a trail that winds through the medieval walls of Castelo Melhor, a remarkable example of a 13th century fortress, classified as a Property of Public Interest. Initially built by the Kingdom of León in a time of territorial disputes, the castle passed into the possession of Portugal with the Treaty of Alcanices. The structure, built in shale and with an almost circular layout, adapts to the topography of the land and offers panoramic views over the Côa and Douro valleys, where almond and olive trees dominate the landscape. The route, particularly attractive during the flowering of the almond trees between the end of February and the beginning of March, is part of the granite plateau of the Alto Douro, a landscape shaped by human activity through terraces and dry stone walls. Castelo Melhor also serves as an access point to the Côa Valley Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enriching the experience with its history and heritage.
A medieval stronghold from the 13th century, located in Hämeenlinna, Finland.
The colors of this photo have not been edited in post.
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I scouted this location two days before I took this photo. I was walking around the castle with my camera but didn't have my tripod with me.
As the sun went down, I saw how nice the castle looked with the lights on and the blue moment that occurs after the sun starts going further below the horizon. I wanted to take photos of it so badly but couldn't get a sharp picture without a tripod.
I went there 2 days later, prepared with a tripod. Waited around an hour until the light was perfect, took about 90 shots in that time until I got this one. It was a chilly spring weather, about -6C with wind.
I was ready to head back home but as I approached my car I found that the doors wouldn't unlock because the battery in my key was dead. And the keyhole on the door is jammed, so I couldn't get in that way either.
I was lucky that there was a small restaurant nearby. The owner gave me a ride to a nearby gas station to buy some lock oil, but that didn't help at all. Afterwards he gave me a lift home. A few days later I broke into my own car and will surely forever remember the experience taking this photo.
What a hassle.
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Plaza de Chinchón ("Chinchón, anis, plaza y mesón")
Chinchón - Madrid - Spain
Video "Plaza de CHINCHON": youtu.be/5xMnNoFrevk
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The golden light of early autumn gently bathes the hills of South Moravia, where Letovice Castle rises proudly above the Czech countryside. In this photograph, the warm tones of the season highlight the castle’s timeless architecture, blending history and nature into a harmonious landscape.
Letovice Castle, with its roots tracing back to medieval times, overlooks the surrounding valleys and forests like a silent witness to centuries of change. On this particular day, the sunlight painted the scene with rich amber and gold, transforming the entire landscape into a living painting.
The Grade I Listed Pembroke Castle, the original family seat of the Earldom of Pembroke. It is a medieval Linear castle as it is a castle designed to confront its attackers with a series of barriers/impediments in a line. In Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, South Wales.
In 1093 Arnulf of Montgomery built the first castle at the site when he fortified the promontory beside the Pembroke River during the Norman invasion of Wales. A century later, the castle was given by Richard I to William Marshal, who became one of the most powerful men in 12th-century Britain. He rebuilt Pembroke in stone creating most of the structure that remains today.
It 1648 during the Second English Civil War it was the centre of the Siege of Pembroke. Colonel Horton marched his 3,000 troops west to Tenby and laid siege to Tenby Castle which was held by about 500 Royalists under command of Colonel Rice Powell. Oliver Cromwell later arrived with further troops, leaving Horton with enough men to deal with Powel, Cromwell marched the rest of the army to lay siege to Pembroke.
When Tenby Castle was stormed Powel was taken prisoner, but Pembroke Castle, under command of General Rowland Laugharne and John Poyer, was a strong medieval fortress which could not be taken as quickly. It stood on a rocky promontory surrounded on three sides by the sea, and on the landward side its defences consisted of a deep ditch and walls up to 20 feet (6.1 m) thick.
Ships carrying siege artillery to Cromwell were forced back up the Bristol Channel to Gloucester by storms, so Cromwell tried a frontal assault. It failed because the ladders used to escalade the walls were too short. The defenders managed to surprise the besiegers in a sudden sortie, killing thirty of the besiegers and damaging the circumvallation. The siege guns arrived in mid-June but over the next month they made little impact on the thick curtain walls.
Eventually, the siege ended when Cromwell's forces discovered the conduit pipe which delivered water to the castle and cut off the defenders' water supply. Poyer and Laugharne were forced to surrender on 11 July.
Cromwell then ordered the castle slighted so that it could never again be used as a military fortress. Laugharne, Poyer and Powell were taken to London, tried and sentenced to death, but Poyer alone was executed on 25 April 1649, being the victim selected by lot.
Major restoration took place during the early 20th century, the castle it is open to the public and is the largest privately-owned castle in Wales.
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