Castles

Mystery surrounds why the owners of a North Wales castle would build a reservoir underneath the lawn. The reservoir at Penrhyn Castle at Llandygai near Bangor could hold 200,000 gallons of water and was fed from overflow pipes from the keep tanks that held water used for domestic purposes in the building. One suggestion is … Continue reading »

Even on a bright, warm day with the promise of summer in the air, Tintagel Castle is a wild and weather-battered spot. The Atlantic breakers pound the rocky headland as the wind whistles in and it is easy to understand why the spot has inspired poets, artists and dreamers. But a bitter row is swirling … Continue reading »

Photo: Alkan Chipperfield/Creative Commons Atlas Obscura on Slate is a blog about the world’s hidden wonders. Like us on Facebook, Tumblr, or follow us on Twitter @atlasobscura. When the French Revolution heated up, the politically active Liedekerke-Beaufort family were forced to abandon their castle in the Walloon region of southern Belgium. After a few decades … Continue reading »

Unfortunately many wonderful abandoned places do not have any respect or attention. But maybe it makes them even more enchanting. Podgoretsky castle is often called the “Ukrainian Versailles”. It is unique because of its architecture – Renaissance style and heavy bastilles. The complex of the castle consists of a three-storey castle itself, Italian park, inn … Continue reading »

Though there’s been debate in the past on whether or not the famed Bran Castle is in fact the actual castle that Dracula was based around, one thing is for certain: If we were Romanian royalty with a sweet tooth for blood of the innocent, we’d definitely be choosing to live here. In fact, we’d … Continue reading »

WASHINGTON — It was a 19th Century dream home, a speak-easy, a bachelor pad and a then an empty house filled with termites and critters. But now, Baltzley Castle is a 21st restoration dream and it’s for sale. According to Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, the historic mansion was listed Friday for $4.4 million. Situated on Mohican Drive … Continue reading »

CONTINUING our series about great Yorkshire Houses through the eyes of the people who work in them. Sarah Todd reports. Pictures by Gerard Binks. “I’ve never even eaten one but as soon as I bake a batch they disappear. Can’t fill the stands up fast enough…” Mandy first donned a pinny at the North Yorkshire … Continue reading »

“It was in a horrible state of decay,” said Prof Pozzi, a descendant of the Cesarini and Colonna dynasties who teaches at La Sapienza University in Rome. “The frescoes had not been cleaned for 60 or 70 years. There was a lot of damp.” The castle dates to the 10th century but was enlarged in … Continue reading »

After prices plummeted in the recession, country estates are back in demand among both domestic and overseas buyers On the west coast of Ireland, nestled on the shore of Clew Bay in Mayo, is the kind of stately home that buyers will pay a premium for: a waterside property with architectural provenance and a rich … Continue reading »

A REVAMP of Hedingham Castle has left architects hopeful it will make the perfect party venue. The castle has had new electricity and heating installed, which means the Keep can be used as a venue for weddings and functions. Demetra Lindsay, the architect and owner of the castle, said: “It’s somewhere that will be more … Continue reading »