Medieval Palace

Medieval Arts

2008-01-28T23:39:00.000-08:00

The church was the main patron of artists and craftsmen throughout the Middle Ages, and in some backward areas this increased its importance. At the same time, however, some of the fringes of European civilization such as Scandinavia and Ireland played a less prominent cultural role after the 11th century than previously. Yet the church was by no means the only patron of art and music.

Scholars of the Italian Renaissance invented the name 'Medieval', meaning the 'age between' or 'middle age' to describe the period between Graeco-Roman 'classical' art and their own supposed rediscovering of classical art in the 14th and 15th centuries. In fact the name 'Medieval' was intended to suggest that the arts of this 'middle period' were inferior. To some extent such attitudes survive today, but a glance at medieval art shows just how wrong they were. In other parts of the world, the arts of what Europeans call the Middle Ages undoubtedly saw a golden age.

In most countries, artists were regarded as superior craftsmen to be hired as servants. However, by the end of the medieval period, some had earned wealth in their own right, although many were still prepared to wear the 'livery' or uniform of the household of their current patron. The picture above shows an example of an extremely luxurious fabrics which was used to decorate noble palaces. It shows a lady and her maidservant standing between the Lion and the Unicorn on a 15th century French or Flemish tapestry. This illustrates the late medieval aristocracy's fascination with everything concerned with tales of chivalry.

A late 12th century Byzantine enamelled gold icon of the Archangel Michael brought back to Venice as loot by the Fourth Crusade. The wealth and sophistication of Byzantium came as a shock to the rough western warriors of the Crusade. It also inspired their greed and envy.

Medieval arts show us the historical events and medieval life. They are traces of evidence of the past and masterpieces of many great medieval artists. They are valuable and if there are no proper art storage for your priced collection, they may end up be stolen or be mishandled. To prevent any valuable medieval arts from any damage and lost, they should always be protected and handle with care during moving.

El Escorial

2008-01-11T06:15:00.000-08:00

Monasterio de El Escorial (Madrid, Spain)

El Escorial

Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo El Real

El Escorial, the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo El Real (also known as the Monasterio de El Escorial or simply El Escorial) stands out against the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama to the northwest of Madrid. It was built between 1563 and 1584 in honour of St Lawrence, and its unornamented severity set a new architectural style which became one of the most influential in Spain. On November 2, 1984, UNESCO declared The Royal Site of San Lorenzo of El Escorial a World Heritage Site. It is an extremely popular tourist attraction, often visited by day-trippers from Madrid.

The Escorial is a treasure-house of art and learning. The interior was conceived as a mausoleum and contemplative retreat rather than a splendid residence. Its artistic wealth, which includes some of the most important works of art of the royal Habsburg collections, is concentrated in the museums, chapterhouses, church, royal pantheon and library. In contrast, the royal apartments are remarkably humble.

Though it is a modern European country, Spain still has an air of mystery, with its tiny white villages where life has remained unchanged since the days of the Catholic Kings; with a city like Barcelona, which offers the very latest in the arts; with a city like Sevilla, on which the eyes of the world were turned at the time of the World Fair(which left the city with nothing but financial problems) and which has now nodded off to sleep again; with its fanatic left-wing movement which has fought for abortion and the legal sale of cannabis; with its places of pilgrimage where crowds of ecstatic worshippers can always be found; with its completely renovated Prado museum, whose collection can compete with the most beautiful (and richest) in Europe.

Spain contains still more surprises. It is the most touristy country in the world. Every year, it is visited by some 50 million holidaymakers. Medieval castles turned into luxury hotels and mansions converted into youth hostels typify the variety of places to stay in Spain. Visitors can also stay on remote farms, or in villas and old housese let for self-catering. Villas in Spain and holiday flats let by the week are plentiful along the Spanish coasts. In scenic areas of the countryside, there are many casa rurales (farm and village houses) for rent by the day. Click here to Rent a villa in Galicia for a relaxing and rustic holiday or get some Great deals on apartment and villas in Barcelona!

Kensington Palace

2007-10-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England.

The year he became king, 1689, William and his wife Mary bought their mansion, perfectly positioned for London socializing and country living. They brought in Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor to remodel and enlarge the house, and moved in for Christmas.

Despite the small rooms, George I introduced palatial grandeur with Colen Campbell's staircase and state rooms, elegantly decorated by William Kent. Meanwhile, Queen Anne added the Orangery and annexed a chuck of royal Hyde Park, a trick repeated by George II's wife, Queen Caroline, who created the Round Pond and Long Water to complete the 110-ha (275 acre) Kensington Gardens. Today, a wide variety of trees are the backdrop for sculptures, monuments and contemporary exhibitions at the Serpentine Gallery.

On 24 May 1819, Queen Victoria was born here. She was baptized in the splendid Cupola Room, spent her childhood in rooms overlooking the gardens and on 20 June 1837, learned here she was to be queen. Later she opened her childhood home to the public. There is a permanent exhibition about Diana, Princess of Wales. London is a fascinating travel destination. Besides Kensington Palace, the Top Ten Royal London places to visit includes Regent's Park, Hampton Court, St James's Palace, Kew Palace and Queen Charlotte's Cottage, Queen's House, Royal Mews, Queen's Chapel, Clarence House and Banqueting House. For more travel ideas and even travel deals to London, visit the travel blog. There are many interesting places which travel blog talk about. Some examples includes winter ski vacations, various travel guides, and so many more. There are nice photographs in all their posts. The travel blog writes about so many different countries. Want more travel ideas and travel destinations inspiration, they got it for you.

Lambeth Palace

2007-10-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

Lambeth Palace has been the official residence of the Archbishops of Canterbury since 1207, when it was called Lambeth House and was the home of Stephen Langton (c. 1157-1228). The oldest surviving part of the palace is the crypt, which dates from the 13th century; the chapel was built soon afterwards. The palace has been extended and modernized on various occasions over the centuries, including in 1553 when Queen Mary ordered that it should be refurbished for Cardinal Pole (1500-58); strangely enough, they died within hours of each other in 1558.

Drama was played out in the Guard Room in 1543 when Thomas More was interrogated by Thomas Cromwell after he refused to sanction Henry VIII's decision to appoint himself head of the Church. When the English Civil War broke out in 1642, Lambeth House, as it was still called, was taken over for public service and became a prison during the Commonwealth, with the chapel being used for dances. Naturally, the building was greatly damaged, and after the Restoration in 1660 the Great Hall was rebuilt under Archbishop Juxon(1582-1663).

Today, the Great Hall is a library that contains the leather gloves that Charles I is alleged to have handed to Archbishop Juxon on the scaffold, shortly before his execution in January 1649. The library also houses the medical reports of George III, whose life was blighted so severely by what is believed to have been porphyria.

Few cities celebrated the new millennium with as much verve as London. Known for its pomp, pageantry and colourful history, the dawn of the year 2000 saw the British capital looking forward rather than back. The regeneration of the Thames' riverbanks and the completion of major public projects were then the settings for further celebrations during the Queen's Golden Jubilee throughout 2002.

Whole areas of the capital have been revitalized. London's new additions range from imaginatively transformed buildings to dramatic fresh architecture, epitomized by Tate Modern and the British Airways London Eye. The first is a brilliant example of renovation, the second a masterpiece of engineering technology, but both capture the public's imagination in very different ways.

London is a great destination for holidays. Search for London hotels and plan your holidays to London. London changes with the seasons, especially after dark. In the depths of winter, dusk falls at 4.30pm; in summer it stays light until 10pm. Come summer, London's outdoors comes into its own. Londoners enjoy concerts in settings such as Hampton Court Palace, Kenwood House, Hyde Park and Kew Gardens. In elegant Kensington, the Holland Park Theatre puts on first-class opera and ballet against a backdrop of the remains of the 17th century Holland House. Year round, the diversity of the club scene is legendary and with many changing themes weekly. Book for cheap hotels now and visit London!

Trim Castle

2007-09-09T21:55:00.000-07:00

Trim Castle

Trim Castle, Trim, County Meath, Ireland has an area of 30,000 m². It is the remains of the largest Norman castle in Europe. It was built primarily by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter.

It was England's King Henry II who encouraged Hugh de Lacy, his first Lord Lieutenant in Ireland, to construct castles. Henry perceived Richard de Clare, also known as "Strongbow", who led the Norman invasion of Ireland, as a threat to the throne, and wanted to keep his rival in check. Trim Castle became de Lacy's base. From here, he could guard movement along the River Boyne, receive supplies directly into the castle from the port of Drogheda and control the region as far west as Athlone, which overlooked the River Shannon.

After withstanding an assault on the castle by Connaught's High King, Rory O'Connor, in 1173, de Lacy recognized the weaknesses in the ringwork's timber defences. He swiftly embarked on a building programme that ultimately converted the simple stronghold into a formidable enclosure castle. In its final form, Trim Castle consisted of a triangular curtain wall, its southernside fitted at intervals with D-shaped towers. The blocky Dublin gateway and barbican also faced southwards, towards Ireland's capital city. The main gatehouse bisected the western curtain wall, and the now ruined eastern side, which commanded the river, supported the royal mint, three square towers, an impressive great hall and storage facilities. Two watergates opened to slipways and allowed access to the river below.

Planted inside the ringwork castle's earthen embankments, Trim's imposing Norman keep exacts attention. A variant of the classic rectangular keep, this massive cruciform building is the only one of its kind in Ireland. Centred by a 23m high square core that stretches 19.8m across, the remarkable structure featured four square towers, each of which projected outwards midway along each side. When completed, the great keep was three storeys high, contained living quarters with fireplaces, a chapel and a hall on the third floor which was accessed by a wooden stairway.

A deep ditch carved from the underlying bedrock provided a substantial obstacle to any enemy attempt to undermine the keep. Direct assault was possible only if attackers managed to breach the heavily defended main gateway, cross the drawbridge that spanned the ditch and then storm the forebuilding, which opened into the first storey of the keep.

Pictures of Trim Castle

2007-09-08T02:52:00.000-07:00

Situated on the southern bank of the River Boyne, Trim Castle in Country Meath casts a medieval shadow over its urban surroundings. Encompassing 3 acres of land, Ireland's largest Norman fortress attests to the strength of the invaders' grip on the kingdom of Meath. Aptly described as Ireland's "King of castles", King John's Castle symbolizes the dramatic changes imposed by the Normans as they expanded their kingdom across the Irish Sea.

Brief History of Trim Castle
1172 - Hugh de Lacy, first Lord of Meath, begins ringwork
1173 - Rory O'Connor, King of Connaught, burns castle
1210 - After king's visit, castle known as King John's Castle
1224 - Masonry castle withstands seven week siege
1250s - Ceoffrey de Geneville acquires castle upon marrying Maud de Lacy
1301 - Roger Mortimer, first Earl of March, gains castle by right of marriage to Joan, the de Geneville heiress
1399 - Prince Hal, the future Henry V, and his brother, Humphrey, stay at castle
1460 - Royal mint established
15th and 16th centuries - Construction of mantlet, well, corner tower, wash-house with drain and cobbled floors, forebuilding extended.
1534 - Thomas Fitzgerald('Silken Thomas'), 10th Earl of Kildare, besieges castle
17th century - Addition of gun emplacements, lead-smelting hearths and blacksmith's forge
1647 - Catholic Conference forces storm castle
1650 - Parliamentarians seize castle
1970s and 1990s - Archaeological excavations identify ringwork

Trim's great cruciform keep was probably built in two separate phases, beginning in about 1200. The powerful structure could function as a self-sufficient unit in wartime and as a comfortable home in peacetime.

Scotty's Castle

2007-08-29T17:46:00.000-07:00

Scotty's Castle is a two-story Spanish Villa located in northern Death Valley National Park, California, USA. It is also known as Death Valley Ranch. Scotty's Castle is not a real castle, and it did not belong to the "Scotty" from whom it got its name.

By far the single biggest visitor attraction in Death Valley is both manmade and totally incongruous. At the far northern end of the valeey, just off Highway 257 close to Ubehebe Crater, a flamboyant rogue and sometime prospector, nicknamed Death Valley Scotty, persuaded Chicago millionaire Albert Johnson to build an extravagant Spanish-style mansion in the desert. Scotty had orignially lured Johnson out here with bogus tales of a gold mine. Johnson, however, found that the climate suited his fragile health, forgave Scotty and the two became lifelong friends.

The 25-room house has a 15m high living room, a music room with a 1600 pipe organ, and even indoor waterfalls that acted as air-conditioners in the summer. The house is now administered by the National Park Service.

Death Valley holds many wonderful surprises for the visitor, from castles to craters, from beautiful sunsets to singing sands. In spite of its forbidding name, very few people have actually died here. It was Christmas Day 1849 when the first white man gazed down at Death Valley. What has become known as the Death Valley Party consisted of four families and a group of young men. They were on their way from Salt lake City looking for an easy way across the Sierra Nevada to the newly discovered gold fields in the San Joaquin Valley. Twenty-six wagons went into Death Valley but only one made it out. One person died and it is said that the valley was given its name when one of the party looked back as they were leaving and said,"Goodbye, death valley."

Today Death Valley is a national park with over 805km of well-maintained roads and nearly all the attractions only a short walk away. Death Valley is unique among desert valleys, not only because of its size and variety of scenery, but also because of its extremes. It has the lowest point in the western hemisphere at 86m below sea level, but Telescope Peak rises to over 3353m not far away. Only 97km to the west is Mount Whitney, at 2218m the highest peak in continental US outside Alaska. In 1913 a record high air temperature of 57 degree celsius was recorded and summer temperatures regularly exceed 49 degrees celsius, making it undoubtedly one of the hottest places on earth.

California is blessed with the most diverse scenic national parks in the USA. Towering coastal redwoods in the north, bubbling mud at volcanic Mount Lassen, giant rock faces at Yosemite, sand dunes of Death Valley, it would be a great destination for vacations. Goin2Travel is a worldwide vacation rentals websites where owners and managers can list their vacation rentals and travelers can inquire directly and book the rental with the owner or manager. Vacation rentals or vacation homes to various parts of the world can be found such as Europe, Asia, United States and so on can easily be explored with a click on their map. If you are going to Death Valley, you might want to book for San Diego vacation rentals otherwise there are more choices for you at Goin2Travel. If you love beaches, then Newport beach vacation rentals might be your choice!

Richmond Palace

2007-08-27T02:59:00.000-07:00

Richmond Palace was a royal residence from 1327 to 1649 on The Green, Richmond, United Kingdom. The first, pre-Tudor version of the palace was known as Sheen Palace. Once one of the great medieval royal palaces, all that remains now of Richmond Palace is the old gatehouse on the south side of Richmond Green, and a trio of houses in Old Palace Yard, which date from the reign of the Tudors. Old engravings of the palace show a sprawling building of several stories, with many turrets and chimneys, standing on the banks of the Thames.

Richmond Palace started life as a manor house in the 12th century. At the time, the area was known as Shene and was a popular hunting ground. Henry I acquired the manor house in 1125, although Edward III was the first king to spend a lot of time there and he also lavished plenty of money on the place. Edward died there in June 1377, dependent on his ambitious mistress, Alice Perrers, who had persuaded the servants to wrench the rings from his fingers. Edward's grandson, Richard II, inherited the throne and, with it, Shene Palace. It was his favourite summer residence, where he and his first wife, Anne of Bohemia (1366-1394), entertained with lavish generosity. However, medieval summers always brought the plague, and the disease killed Anne in June 1394. Richard experienced such intense grief that he ordered the destruction of Shene Palace. Nevertheless, some parts of it were left standing and were used by Henry V as the basis for a major programme of restoration.

Shene was a particular favourite of Henry VII, and he had the palace rebuilt in grand style after it burnt down in 1499. It was at this point that its name was changed to Richmond, after Henry's earldom in Richmond, Yorkshire. Two of Henry VIII's children by Katherine of Aragon were born and died here, and in 1554 his daughter, Mary I, spent part of her honeymoon here after her marriage to Phillip of Spain. In March 1603, the dynasty of the Tudors ended with Elizabeth I died in Richmond Palace.

Richmond Palace passed to the Stuart kings and was therefore the inevitable casualty of the Civil War of the 1640s. Most of the palace was destroyed after the execution of Charles I in 1649, and although Charles II later had it restored for his mother, she found it too bleak. The palace gradually fell down, until more memories than stones remained.

London is an excellent city for walkers. Although it is much more spread out than most European capitals, many of the main tourist attractions are fairly close to each other. There several walk routes planned by the tourist board and local history societies too. These include footpaths along canals and the Thames, and the Silver Jubilee Walk. A about 90 minutes walk around Richmond and Kew begins in historic Richmond by the remains of Henry VII's once-splendid palace and ends at Kew. There are many cafes, pubs and tearooms in Richmond too. To find accommodation for your travels, click for online hotels booking at easytobook.com. There are several hotels at easytobook. All the hotels are rated and you get to enjoy special offers. Enter your destination, arrival and departure date and start looking for Rome Hotels or Prague Hotels and more. London has responded well to the demands of tourism. There are several festivals and shows from September to December. Some of the festivals include Mayor Thames Festival(in September), Pearly Harvest Festival(in October), Lord Mayor's Show (in November) and also Christmas Lighting (starting from November to January) and many more. Book early for Hotels now so that you can get the best hotels that you want.

Medieval London

2007-08-26T21:53:00.000-07:00

When the British Empire was at tits apogee during Queen Victoria's late nineteenth century reign, London was the largest city on Earth, as well as the entire world's financial, cultural and social leader. The Houses of Parliament, overlooking the River Thames and crowned by the tower containing Big Ben, were the world's focal point.

In its youth, London was a vital center for the Romans and later the Saxons, who founded St. Paul's Cathedral in 604 AD. Following the Norman conquest of 1066, William I the Conqueror built the imposing White Tower, the Tower of London's centerpiece, as the seat of his power. After fire swept through London in 1136, buildings of stone and tile appeared in the rebuilding. Henry VIII (1509-1566) oversaw the reconstruction of the five royal hospitals, established at dockyard at Deptford, converted the York Palace into Whitehall and built St. James' Palace. Meanwhile, Westminster's noblemen were building their homes on the Strand, but only after the great fire of 1666 was London united to its surrounding townships like Westminster.

Saint James's Palace, in Westminster, London, England, on St. James's Street and fronting on Pall Mall: St. James's Palace is one of London's oldest palaces, with a long history as a Royal residence. It is situated on Pall Mall in London, just north of St. James's Park. It is often in use for official functions and is not open to the public.

St. James's Palace: Built by Henry VIII in the late 1530s on the site of a former leper hospital, it was a primary royal residence only briefly, mainly during the reign of Elizabeth I and during the late 17th and early 18th century. In 1952 Queen Elizabeth II made her first speech as queen here, and foreign ambassadors are still officially accredited to the Court of St. James's. Its northern gatehouse, seen from St James's Street, si one of London's most evocative Tudor landmarks. Behind it the palace buildings are now occupied by privileged Crown servants. The beloved Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) ruled with London's "militia, its money and its love." Sir Christopher Wren, the great architect, is immortalized in the city's great buildings, including the flawless St. Paul's cathedral.

Westminster Abbey:The abbey is world-famous as the resting place of Britain's monarchs, and as the setting for coronations and other great pageants.

London's importance as a commercial centre grew as the British Empire expanded. The wealth from the British East India company (1599) as well as trade with much of the world, nourished London's cultural character. Theater, literature and music bloomed for centuries. London was also technologically in the lead. By 1812, gas lights illuminated London's streets, omnibuses began running in 1829, rail carriages followed within a decade, and the world's first underground railway, powered by electricity, was completed in 1890.

While the nineteenth century Victorian Age brought in social reforms that modernized the city and eased the pressures of London's increasing population, growth nevertheless continued unchecked, swelling the population to 4.2 million in 1890. Culturally, London was immortalized by its many brilliant scholars and writers, like Charles Dickens. London also hosted the Olympic Games in 1908 and again in 1948.

Today, although the British Empire is defunct, London remains the United Kingdom's capital, housing a population of 6.7 million. The royal family reigns from Buckingham Palace, which has housed England's monarchs ever since Queen Victoria took up residence in 1837.

London's Best: Museums and Galleries

Every coronation of an English monarch has taken place at Westminister Abbey since William the Conqueror was crowned there in 1066. Within its walls can be seen some of the most glorious examples of medieval architecture in London. It also contains one of the most impressive collections of tombs and monuments in the world. Half national church, half national museum, the abbey occupies a unique place in the British national consciousness. London's museums are filled with an astonishing diversities of treasures from all over the world. It is definitely a hot destination for family vacations or couples. If you need any travel resources, Blogline might have what you want to search for. Travel Ideas like the Ten Great Ideas for Perfect Dates can be found there. Other interesting category that you can find at the site includes fun and strange news like Mystery of Ghost Lights. When traveling is concerned, accommodation is a must and everybody wants the cheapest deal. Check out for cheap accommodation at Accomline when you visit Blogline!

Barcelona And Madrid

2007-08-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

Palacio de Linares

Spain, in southwestern Europe, covers the greater part of the Iberian Peninsula. The third largest country in Europe, it includes the Canary Islands in the Atlantic and the Balearics in the Mediterranean, and two small territories in North Africa. Its capital, Madrid, lies geographically in the centre of the country. Madrid boasts an exceptional number of world-class museums and galleries. Heading the list are the Prado, with the world's largest collection of Spanish art, the Thyssen-Bornemisza, which traces the development of Western art from the 14th century, and Reina Sofia, with its outstanding display of modern art. Other smaller museums includes the Museo Lazaro Galdiano.

Palacio Real

Within the autonomous region of Spain called Catalonia, Barcelona, the capital, acts as a living gallery of modernist and Art Nouveau architecture and decor. The temples and buildings of architect Antonio Gaudi, medieval churches, Roman wall remnants and well-loved promenades and plazas -- all produce a distinctive atmosphere. Called "the Paris of Spain" by Hans Christian Andersen for its soulful beauty and its rich cultural heritage, Barcelona has regained some of its youthful glory through recent autonomy and an acceptance of Catalonian culture within Spanish borders. Madrid's Top tourist attractions are Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, Parque del Retiro, Museo Lazaro Galdiano, Museo Thyssen-Boornemisza, Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Palacio Real and also Museo del Prado. Book for Hotels in Madrid in advance to get the best accomodation that you like. Visit Madrid to see the best museums and galleries in Madrid. See the many great diversity of great architectural style of the buildings in Madrid.

Montjuïc castle

Barcelona is more than the capital of Catalonia. It is the main city on the Spanish mainland from which to reach the Balearic Islands. In culture, commerce and sports it not rivals in Madrid, but also considers itself on a par with the greatest European cities. In Barcelona, there are many shops, cafes and hotels. Places of interests includes places like Casa Lleo Morera, Palau Guell, Montjuïc castle and Palau de la Musica Catalana. Flights are run by Iberia. It is wise to book your flights and Hotels in Barcelona in advance. If you choose to fly between Barcelona and Madrid, the duration is just 1 hour 15 minutes. Air Europa fly from Barcelona airport, terminal B. They now arrive in the new terminal 4 at Madrid Barajas. The check in for the Barcelona to Madrid flight is at desks Desks B44 to B58. The flights depart daily and food is available on board! Barcelona to Madrid flights are from 07:00 - 23.50, and they operate frequently throughout the day.

To enjoy all the great destination to Barcelona and Madrid, CheaperthanHotels offer many hotels choices. For people with problems in English, they even have Spanish translation to assist you. You can find your Hotels to Barcelona and Madrid easily, all bookings can be done online. So if you would love to find Hotels using Spanish translation of the site, then click here for Hotels en Barcelona or Hotels en Madrid now!

Barcelona Cathedral

Medieval Berlin & Vienna Castle Tour

2007-08-16T04:45:00.000-07:00

Berlin, the former capital of the kingdom of Prussia, became the capital of the German Empire upon its creation in 18781. Ever since then, Berlin has been important to German political history. The city achieved international prominence under Frederick William the Great Elector and Frederick II the Great in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and exuded a magnetic force in the nineteenth, when East Berlin's Humboldt University attracted great minds like Georg Hegel and influential theorists like Karl Marx. In the same way that Berlin's architecture is punctuated by dazzling buildings and art collections, Berlin's history has been punctuated by intense and fully implemented movements.

From the time that the National Socialists(Nazis) came to power in 1933 until the end of World War II, Berlin was a focal point of German nationalism -- as interpreted by the Nazis. After Germany's defeat in 1945, Germany was divided into four occupation zones by the victorious powers. Berlin was also divided. In 1949, the three western zones became the Federal Republic of Germany(West Germany), with Bonn as its capital; the Soviet Zone became the German Democratic Republic(East Germany), with the eastern part of Berlin as its capital. In 1990, the Federal Republic took over the management of all of Germany and a reunited Berlin. Berlin became the capital of a reunited Germany, with Bonn remaining the administrative capital.

Schloss Charlottenburg

Berlin is one of the historic landmarks of our age. The city is the seat of the German Government and has regained its former political and cultural importance. At Berlin, Schloss Charlottenburg is one of finest buildings which is dedicated to Queen Sophie Charlotte. Berlin is endowed with an abundance of museums and many are centered on a man-made island between the Spree river and its canal. The Pergamon museum is perhaps the most interesting and it should not be missed. Book Hotels in Berlin to start your Berlin tour now!

The distance from Vienna to Berlin is about 525 kilometers or 326 miles or 283 nautical miles
Vienna is the capital of Austria and is by far the largest city in Austria as well as its cultural, economic and political centre. Holiday vacations flying between Vienna and Berlin can always begin with booking for accomodation in these two places. Book for Hotels in Vienna in order to enjoy your visit to Schoenbrunn Castle, which was the former summer residence of the imperial family.

Schoenbrunn Castle

Vienna is at the centre of Austria's wine-growing country and is surrounded by historic castles and churches, among which nestle picturesque wine-producing towns and villages. All the sights are accessible by bus or train and trips. At Vienna, another beautiful castle you can visit is Schonbuhel Castle which stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube. To enjoy great vacation, you need good accomodation like cheap hotels. Find Hotels in Vienna or Hotels in Berlin to start your castles tour! In addition to the above mentioned castles, Potsdam Castle and Sanssouci castle are always worth a visit!

Schonbuhel Castle

Hohenschwangau Castle

2007-08-15T01:16:00.000-07:00

Hohenschwangau Castle, a romantic living lock near Fussen in Bavaria

Schloss Hohenschwangau is located in the German village of Schwangau near the town of Füssen, part of the county of Ostallgäu in southwestern Bavaria, very close to the border with Austria.

Hohenschwangau is a village in the municipality of Schwangau, Ostallgäu district, Bavaria, Germany. Hohenschwangau is bordered by the Alpsee in the West. Every year, about 2 million people visited this place. There are hotels, shops and restaurants. Hohenschwangau Castle is a short walk up from the village of Hohenschwangau.

Hohenschwangau Castle (Castle of the High Swan County) was the childhood residence of King Ludwig II of Bavaria and was built by his father, King Maximilian II of Bavaria. Ludwig spent his childhood here, dreaming of building his own romantic castle nearby. It is the castle that King Ludwig II stayed in while watching over the building of Neuschwanstein. It has a clear view of Neuschwanstein.

Schloss Hohenschwangau is an impressive castle. Hohenschwangau castle means swan area on a hill,High altitude. It is a castle of the Neo-Gothic style which is close to the town Hohenschwangau. The castle has a beautiful and romantic environment. It looks out over the Alpsee, where there are lots of swans. The Castle grounds consists of fountains, rose gardens, and fabulous views.

Schloss Hohenschwangau is the most famous and most visited of King Ludwig II's three palaces. King Ludwig II was the King of Bavaria in the 19th century. He was born on August 25, 1845 in Munich. He became the King of Bavaria at the age of eighteen but died in the lake mysteriously at forty one.

The Hohenschwangau castle was reconstructed by Maximilian II spending 4 years of 1832-1836. He was the father of Ludwig II who built the Neuschwanstein castle. Originally, a king of Schwangau built it in the 12th century but because the heir of the king family stopped and it became ruins, and then afterwards Maximilian II bought it and rebuilt. It is said that Ludwig II spent most of his life in this castle. Ludwig II seemed to have looked up at the construction of the Neuschwanstein castle from this castle.

Hohenschwangau is where you get tickets to visit Newschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles. Hohenschwangau Castle is open all through the year (except for Christmas). Opening hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (April through September) and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (October through March). Guided tours are provided in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Czech, Slovene and Japanese.

Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle)

2007-07-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle) in Sintra, Portugal

One of The Places to visit in Sintra is the 8th-century Moorish Castle, The Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors). Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle) is a popular tourist attractions in Sintra, a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The Moorish Castle is of Moorish origin and little is known of the actual history of The Castle. It is located on a high hill overlooking the village. It is constructed by the Moors possibly between the 9th and 10th centuries. The Moorish Castle's dominant position over the bay of Gibraltar can be fully appreciated from this panoramic view of its surroundings. For more highlights of Sintra, travel blog shows you their one day in Sintra by Brian and Patty.

The decline of the castle began in the 15th century, when most of the population settled downhill, in today's Old Village of Sintra. The Moorish Castle has two walled segments with a total perimeter of 450 metres. The interior wall has a wall walk, battlements and is reinforced by five turrets. The walls at the north segment took advantage of the natural slope of the hill to prevent enemies from approaching the castle. Near the entrance of the castle is the romanesque Church of Saint Peter.

The area around the church was excavated and revealed the existence of a medieval cemetery with many tombs. For more pictures and travel ideas, visit RealTravel, the travel blog brings you interesting travel stories, photos and recommendations of various places in the world. They had a post on Sintra, Moorish Castle too. If you love to travel, travel blog is a place for you. Visit the travel blog for more travel news and links!

Medieval Australia II

2007-07-12T00:15:00.000-07:00

Sydney (Founded in 1788)
Sydney evolved from a penal colony that was populated by British convicts. Some offenses committed by Sydney's first citizens were very slight, such as stealing a handkerchief or borrowing a glove. Out of respect, throughout all of January Sydney still celebrates the January 26th, 1788 landing, when the first convicts were dropped off near the current downtown area.

Sydney, the capital of the New South Wales state, is Australia's oldest and largest city. Its vast metropolitan area covers 4790 square miles (12407 square kilometres), spanning from the Blue Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. Sydney is known to have one of the world's best ports, as Captain Arthur Phillip discovered in 1788 when he reached Port Jackson. After having first sailed to Botany Bay (located immediately south of Sydney's site), which had been discovered and settled by Captain John Cook in 1770, Phillip noted the Port Jackson's excellent natural harbour and moved the entire fleet.

Innumerable coves and bays are found on the Pacific coast near Sydney, along with exquisite beaches that are world renowned for surfing and boating. Australians are great lovers of the outdoors, and there are two magnificent national parks within 25 miles of the city centre.

Though the city's architecture is modern and fairly unremarkable, Sydney is dominated by two exceptional landmarks. The first is the Sydney Harbour Bridge (1933), which arcs high behind the Opera House and links the north shore to the city. The second is the Opera House (1973), designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, which houses a concert hall for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as well as a large theater for opera and ballet and a smaller theater for plays. The Opera House is linked to Hyde Park by Macquarie Street, which is lined magnificently with nineteeth century government buildings. Like its rival Melbourne, which once bested this city in population and importance, Sydney has a few delicate, lacy iron balconies that add florid decoration to the city's buildings.

Like all Australians, many of Sydney's citizens have become great historical researchers, collecting all evidence of its early settlement and tracing their roots through the generations of the city's short life. Though founded by convicts and peopled by women who were badly abused at their arrival, Sydney also attracted citizens who came because the British government was providing free land, convict labour and free capital works. The city still remembers the adventurous spirit of its early settlers.

Australia can seem to be a long way from anywhere in particular, an isolation that made it the last great landmass to be 'discovered' by Europeans. But before Sydney Harbour saw its first billow of British sail, indigenous people inhabited the continent for more than 40000 years, the world's longest continuous cultural history. Hosting the 2000 Olympic Games thrust Sydney into the global limelight, and the city was not shy about stepping onto the stage. The coup of securing the Olympics gripped the city in a late 90s sweat of building activity, the flawless success of the Games infusing confidence and pride. An expansive metropolis of four million folks, Sydney's streets buzz with business conducted in dozens of accents and tongues. Confidence remains, but there's a sense of post-Olympic reflection and cultural re-definition in the air. The ebullient 80s are ancient history and Sydney has surfed the Olympic wave right into the beach -- everyone's catching their breath and waiting to see what will happen next.

Late spring (October to November) and early autumn (March to April) are the best times to visit Sydney. The days are warm and the evenings are mild. Sydney's winters are cool to mild, but summer can be hot and unbearably humid with occasional downpour. Getting around in Sydney is generally convenient and reliable. There are trains, buses and ferries. In Sydney, you will have no problem finding a place to sleep. There are many Hotels In Sydney. Staying at the beach means a refreshing dip is only moments away. Hotels on the fringe of the CBD, especially those with harbour views, are a relaxing option for business travellers. At CheaperthanHotels.com.au, you can search for Sydney Hotels of your choice. Visit Sydney, Australia, experience the awe-inspiring Sydney Harbour Bridge New Years Firework display on 2007 Sydney New Year's Eve (31 December 2007 1:00 PM – 12:00 AM ). Don't miss out this great event. Plan ahead for your holidays, book for your Sydney Hotel now!

Medieval Australia I

2007-07-11T00:13:00.000-07:00

Melbourne (Founded in 1835)
Melbourne, the capital of the Australian state of Victoria, is located on Australia's southern coast, where it is the nation's largest general cargo port. In Australia, Melbourne is second in area only to its rival, Sydney, the capital of New South Wales. Melbourne is the only one of Australia's six capitals to have been established unofficially by enterprise. A fairly young city, Melbourne was founded by pioneer settler John Batman in 1835, soon after he signed a treaty with the aboriginal natives. Another pioneer, John Fawkner, settled on the Yarra Rivers' banks. There he acquired a large amount of land and established a book-selling business, hotels and a newspaper. Batman died early, ending an active debate over who was the legitimate founder.

Melbourne saw its first immigration wave after gold was discovered nearby in the 1850s. The second wave was stimulated by government programs that supported European immigrants in their attempts to find jobs and learn English. Acting as a haven for people fleeing World War II, the city limits strained eastward. Surrounding Melbourne's service-oriented core, a ring of outers suburbs developed. By the end of World War II, the population had reached 100000. Metal processing, transportation equipment and computer manufacturing greatly boosted the importance of Melbourne's industries, and by 1990, the metropolitan population had grown to 3.1 million.

The city was laid out in a rectangular pattern. Nineteenth century architecture is still evident in the core city, where the Houses of Parliament share space with Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals. Some of the best ornate ironwork has been preserved.

Melbourne's population includes a healthy ethnic mix of culturally conscious, politically active intellectuals. With its National Gallery of Victoria, its Victorian Arts Center and the Melbourne Concert Hall, the city is a great supporter of traditional arts. Its extensive parks and grand balconies have preserved an impression of gentility, despite the experimental theater of the 1970s and the proliferation of discos, rock music clubs and a great many pubs.

Caerphily Castle

2007-06-26T02:51:00.000-07:00

Caerphilly is a Welsh town seven miles north of Cardiff, which is on the Southern coast of Wales. Stretching over an area of 30 acres in the centre of Caerphilly, Caerphilly Castle (Welsh: Castell Caerfili) is one of the largest fortresses in Europe. Caerphilly Castle is the largest castle in Wales, the second largest in Britain (second to Windsor castle). It is built in 1268-1271 by the Anglo-Norman lord, Gilbert de Clare(1243-1295), a powerful, redheaded nobleman of Norman descent.

Flooding a valley to create a third acre lake, Gilbert de Clare set his castle on three artificial islands, the easternmost becoming a great fortified dam while the westernmost became a walled redoubt. Both also defended the central island, the core of the stronghold. There stands a castle complete in itself, with a double "concentric" circuit of walls and four gatehouses, one, the East Inner Gatehouse, large and powerful enough to serve as an independent final refuge. Nearby is the elegant banqueting hall with its fine stone carving.

Often threatened but never taken, this astonishing multiple fortress has been restored after centuries of neglect by the fourth marquees of Bute from 1928 to 1939. When the castle was taken into State care in 1950 it only remained to complete the reflooding of the lakes and the restoration and glazing of the windows of the Great Hall, aided by private donors in 1960. The south dam platform, once a tournament field, now displays full sized working replica medieval siege engine, and the fascinating exhibitions that can be seen in the main outer gatehouse and in the "Lady's Tower" are others interesting features of the castle.

Caerphilly Castle is concentric (castle within a castle) in architecture, with a double moat, surrounded by large but fairly shallow artificial lakes to slow attackers and prevent the undermining of its walls. The castle's most distinguishing feature is the leaning tower. Want to visit this massive and impressive Caerphily Castle? Visit cheaperthanhotels.co.uk to book for Cheap London Hotels or search for various Hotels in United Kingdom. Edinburgh is a beautiful place. If you wish to visit Edinburgh castle, you can book for Edinburgh Hotels. They have lots of hotels for you, all rated and you can read hotel reviews and view photographs. If you want to stay in Castle, there is Airth Castle Hotel and Spa Resort too.

Beautiful Pictures of Malbork Castle

2007-06-04T23:22:00.000-07:00

Malbork is the mightiest ot the Teutonic Knights' fortresses and the capital of their independent state until returned to Poland at the end of the 15thC.

It consists of the Upper Castle, the Middle Castle and the Palace of the Grand Master surrounded by common walls and a moat. The main gate has been reconstructed with its portcullis.

Malbork Castle is enormous and has everything a castle should--a moat (dry), drawbridge, portculis, and more.

Despite being almost completely leveled in WWII, the castle has been almost entire restored to its original design.

Malbork Castle, said to be impenetrable, a castle built for defense. In fact it's never been taken over. Only after the Teutons were driven out of Poland and the castle was abandoned, did it ever fall into enemy hands.

See More Pictures of Malbork Castle

History of Malbork Castle

2007-06-03T20:50:00.000-07:00

Malbork Castle is the largest medieval castle in Europe. It was built between the XIII and XIV centuries to serve as the home of the Grand Master of the Knights of the Teutonic Order.

The construction of Castle in Malbork began in 1275. Malbork has been since 1309 the capital of The Teutonic Order Of Holy Mary in Jerusalem. Malbork was taken by the Polish army in 1475 and became one of the residences of Kings of Poland until 1772, when it was taken by the Kingdom of Prussia, to be devastated in the years after.

At the beginning of XIX century, after protests of the German society the castle’s demolition has been stopped in 1803 and since 1817 until ca.1940, the Malbork castle has been constantly reconstructed, under the guidance of several important German architects, with the best work done by the team of the historian Konrad Steibrecht in the years 1882-1921.

During the Nazi era, a scene of the official ceremonies of the Hitler’s regime. In 1945, at the end of the WWII, the castle was defended by the Germans against advancing Red Army and during these fights seriously damaged. Additionally, its newly constructed roof burnt in 1959. In the years after, the serious reconstruction work continued to restore the Malbork castle to its previous glory.

One of many castles build in northern Poland by the Teutonic Order of Holy Mary in Jerusalem, a knight’s order limited to the German aristocracy, which was sent there in 1225 by the Pope to convert the local pagan population into Christianity. Today the Theutonic Order capital Malbork (Marienburg) is certainly one of the biggest gothic castles remaining in the world.

Castel Sant'Angelo

2007-05-30T21:33:00.000-07:00

Castel Sant'Angelo is also known as The Mausoleum of Hadrian. Castel Sant'Angelo is one of the town's most famous landmarks. It is a towering cylindrical building in Rome. The cylindrical structure built over a square base was built by the Emperor Hadrian to house his remains and those of his family, the future emperors of Rome. It was renamed as Castel Sant'Angelo after the huge bronze angel at its top. The building, located in the rione of Borgo, spent over a thousand years as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum.

In the past, Castel Sant'Angelo was sadly notorious for functions of a much more grave nature. Its courtyards were the scene of executions by decapitation and the heads of the condemned were then hung for days along the bridge as a terrible warning.

Today Castel Sant'Angelo is visited by tourists from all over the world. The Castel Sant'Angelo appeared in Dan Brown's 2000 novel Angels and Demons and also in the film Roman Holiday. The castle has five floors and houses a national Museum. At the bottom there are the winding ramps dating back to Roman times; on the second floor you can still see the prison cells, as well as the storerooms for oil and grain. The third is the military floor with two large courtyards. On the fourth, the papal floor, there are the loggia of Julius II by papal architect Bramante, the papal apartments frescoed by Giulio Romano and painters of Raphael's school, the treasure room, and the room of Cagliostro the famous magician and alchemist who was imprisoned and tortured there in the 18th century. At the very top, right under the huge bronze angel, there is a terrace, where there is also a charming al fresco bar, where you can enjoy a stupendous panorama of the city.

The building of Castel Sant'Angelo consisted of an enormous quadrangular basement, 89 m. per side and 15 m. high. On top was a cylindrical drum (diam. 64 m., height 21 m.) flanked by radial walls. A tumulus of earth planted with trees rose up over the drum. Along the edges were decorative marble statues and at the centre, raised even higher up, was a podium with columns on top of which was a bronze quadriga with the statue of Hadrian.

Rome is a magnificent capital city of Italy. Visit Roman Castles, stay in one of the numerous Rome Hotels, enjoy the artistic culture of rome -- see great paintings and sculptures by famous artists. Easytobook.com is your Rome hotels and accommodation guide. Find all sorts of Rome Hotels such as small family hotels, low budget hotels or luxury hotels and more. You can book for your choice of Rome Hotels at Easytobook.com.

If you would like to visit numerous destination, such as Amsterdam or Barcelona, booking for Amsterdam hotels and Barcelona Hotels are also available at Easytobook.com. Easytobook.com is the your one vacation destination companion for searching your ideal accommodation. There are no booking fee and searching for your hotels are easy. The hotels are rated and reviewed to help you make your hotel choice easier. Visit Easytobook.com, read their destination guide and choose your hotels for your vacation.

Iolani Palace

2007-05-14T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hawaii's Royal Palace - Official residence of King Kalakaua and Queen Liliu'okalani,
the last monarchs of Hawaii, 1881-1893. Located on South King Street between Richards Street and Punchbowl Street in downtown Honolulu, Iolani Palace is the only royal palace in the United States. It was built by King David Kalakaua in 1883 out of coral block.

Iolani Palace is situated in the capitol district of downtown Honolulu in the State of Hawaii. It was built by King Kalakaua in 1879-1882 and it is one of the most significant historical sites in the Hawaiian Islands. Iolani Palace was thus declared a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Two monarchs governed from 'Iolani Palace, King David Kalakaua and Queen Lili'uokalani. The grounds surrounding the palace were originally the site of an ancient Hawaiian temple and former burial site for Hawaiian royalty. Evidence of the sites is still visible and considered sacred by locals. ‘Iolani means “Bird of Heaven”. 'Iolani Palace is the only true royal palace in the United States and the last official residence of the kings and queens who ruled Hawaii. King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani completed the palace in 1882. Greatly influenced by King Kalakaua's travels around the world, the palace was the first in the world to be equipped with telephones and electric lights. He commissioned the construction a new 'Iolani Palace, directly across the street from Ali'iolani Hale, to become the official palace of the Hawaiian monarchy. The building was completed in 1882 and served as the official residence of the Hawaiian monarch until the monarchy was overthrown in 1893.

Iolani Palace was opened to the public in 1978 for tours and special events. The palace grounds include: the Coronation Pavilion, 'Iolani Barracks, Royal Tomb, and a gift shop. Today, Iolani Palace is used for only the most formal of state functions and it is still a centerpiece in the hearts and minds of the Hawaiian people.

Planning for Hawaii vacations? A visit to these Hawaii history museums and historical sites will allow you to soak up some local history and culture while you are there. Honolulu is Hawaii's largest and most bustling city and is packed with sights, activities, tourist attractions and a fair amount of history. The beaches around Honolulu are exquisite and include the world famous Waikiki Beach. There are also plenty of other tourist attractions to explore, such as historical Chinatown, with its numerous restaurants and medicine shops. Shopping is also a pastime in Honolulu.

Villas have become the new vacation trend and are quickly replacing larger, more commercialized hotels as the choice place to stay for many savvy travelers. Such accommodations are perfect for those people seeking a truly relaxing, tropical vacation that provides the enjoyment, privacy and comfort of a vacation home over the impersonal environment of a traditional hotel. An out-of-the-way oasis is just a click away when you check out a site like hawaiianbeachrentals.com that specializes in Hawaii vacations. The availability of vacation accommodations through online resources such as HawaiianBeachRentals.com affords tourists the opportunity to plan customized, environmentally-friendly Hawaii vacations.

Castle Ruthin

2007-05-09T00:03:00.000-07:00

Location: Glwyd Country: Wales
Ruthin Castle is built on a red sandstone ridge 100 feet above the Clwyd valley, overlooking a strategic river crossing.

The name 'Ruthin' comes from 'rudd' or red and 'din', the Welsh word for fort, and refers to the colour of the old red sandstone which forms the geologic basis of the area, and from which the castle was constructed in 1277-1284.

Ruthin Castle, a baronial castle, stands on a sandstone ridge near the head of the Vale of Clwyd (Dyffryn Clwyd), 100 feet above the great marsh (Y Gwernfor). Ruthin Castle consisted of two wards and five round towers originally guarding the inner ward. All that remains are three towers and the ruined double-towered gatehouse. The overgrown walls of the upper and lower bailey can be seen to the left of the photo and the former marshy ground on the floor of the valley can be seen in the background.

Little is known of the history of the town before construction of Ruthin Castle started in 1277. The construction of the castle started around 1277, under the orders of Edward I, who was notable for waging wars in both Wales and Scotland. The castle would have been a strategic advantage to quell uprising in Wales, and originally consisted of 5 round towers, of which only three remain, along with its ruined gatehouse

According to local history, the lordship of Dyffryn Clwyd was given to the Grey family in 1282 after the defeat of Llywelyn effectively ending the principality of North Wales. Up to 1400 the history of the castle had little to note. It was Reginald, now first Baron of Ruthin, who was responsible for re-fortifying the castle, building the Chapel of St Peter and erecting a wall around Ruthin, which was surrounded by Welsh tribes.

During the Civil War period the castle was attacked by Cromwell's troops but managed to hold out against the battery. In 1646 the castle was once again attacked and besieged, the royalist forces surrendering to Major General Mytton in the same year. The castle was then destroyed, possibly on the orders of parliament. The old castle's atmospheric remains are still accessible to guests of the castle. The ruins include the battlements, the whipping pit, drowning pit and the dungeons.

A late 13th century castle on the site of a Welsh fort. Much of the structure of what was once a strong castle has been removed, but the remains were rebuilt in the 19th century as part of a hotel. Ruthin Castle is now an elegant Hotel set in beautiful and extensive gardens. Visit Last Minute Hotel Blog for Latest Hotel News.

The castle is reputed to be haunted by a 'Grey Lady' who is seen roaming the exterior of the castle, the battlements, the old Chapel and the Medieval Banqueting Hall. The lady is said to be a murderess and the wife of the castle's second in command, when it was occupied by Reginald de Grey, appointed by Edward I. According to the legend her husband had an affair, and she murdered her love rival with an axe. She was executed for her crime and buried in the area around the battlements, as no local clergymen would allow her to be buried on consecrated ground. Her grave can still be seen today.

The historical town of Ruthin is one of North Wales's most affluent towns. Ruthin is a very pretty market town, unique in North Wales for its number of timberframed buildings. It is located around a hill in the southern part of the Vale of Clwyd - the older part of the town, the Castle and Saint Peter's Square are located on top of the hill, while many newer parts of the town are on the floodplain of the River Clwyd.

Ruthin Castle is set in 35 acres of gardens and grounds, including ruins and dungeons. The hotel offers an atmospheric setting, fine dining and the merriment of the original medieval banquet. Click here for more Hotel Updates!

Hawarden Castle

2007-04-18T18:54:00.000-07:00

Hawarden Castle is an impressive stone motte and bailey fortress, founded by Roger de Clifford. Supported by a large motte are the remains of a round keep, with a hall and a large square tower in the walled bailey.

The name Hawarden Castle is probably better known as the grand stately home of W.E. Gladstone, former British Prime Minister, which is not open to the public. The castle was an important structure during the Welsh struggle for independence in the 13th century. At Easter 1282, Dafydd ap Gruffudd attacked Hawarden Castle, thereby starting the final conflict with Norman England, in the course of which Welsh independence was lost. King Edward I's sense of outrage was such that he designed a punishment for Dafydd harsher than any previous form of capital punishment. Dafydd was hanged, drawn, and quartered.

Hawarden's most significant role in the struggle for Welsh independence came in 1282 when it was attacked by Llywelyn's brother Dafydd ap Gruffydd. Angered by King Edward's seeming lack of respect, Dafydd staged a night siege on the stronghold in the month of March. Although he succeeded in capturing the castle and its constable, Roger Clifford, Dafydd's actions forced his brother Llywelyn to become involved in another rebellion against the crown. By the end of the year Llywelyn had been killed, and Dafydd was on the run, only to be captured and executed the following year. Hawarden Castle was retaken by the English king, never again to be the target of a Welsh uprising.

The stone keep remains of the first Norman motte & bailey castle which was destroyed in 1265. It was rebuilt at the end of the 13th century as one of the new North Wales defences. It was slighted in 1647 during the Civil War, but the keep and part of the walls remain.

Hawarden Castle's history continued to be impacted by warfare and devastation into the mid-1600s, when it saw its final action during the Civil War. At first, it was garrisoned by Royalist troops who maintained control of the structure except for a brief time in 1643, and then until March 1646, when the castle was surrendered to Parliamentary forces. After that time, the castle was slighted and never restored, fated to remain in ruin and later to become part of the estates of nearby Hawarden House, erected in 1752.

Although not as well known as other castles in north Wales, Hawarden, along with the nearby castles of Caergwrle and Ewloe, have their own important stories to tell. Such castles are everlasting symbols of Welsh perseverance and Welsh individuality, and reinforce the fact that Wales is indeed a separate entity, despite it's union with Britain.

Hawarden is rich in history. It contains two castles; one built again by King Edward I, the other the home of William Gladstone, four times British Prime Minister. Another town, Caerwys, claims to be one of the smallest towns in Britain with a Royal Charter. Other notable attractions in Flintshire worth visiting are Ewloe Castle, Bailey Hill in Mold, Point of Ayr lighthouse Leeswood Hall’s ‘White Gates’. Travel to Hawarden. Visit Eurobookings, make hotel reservations and start planning for your vacation trip -- search for your destination hotels now!

Eurobookings.com provides users with easy-to-book European hotel reservations. Visitors can sort by hotels near landmarks, hotel popularity, proximity to airports, and hotel reviews. People do not pay a reservation fee or pay for the hotel in advance but rather pay when they check out of the hotel - a concept that puts more travelers at ease when they book a hotel because they can always negotiate their rate if their stay isn't satisfactory. Eurobookings.com also has a unique hotel guide section that describes museums, landmarks, and unique attractions to visit in different parts of Europe. The hotel guide section is located at http://www.eurobookings.com/hotel-guide/.

Ewloe Castle

2007-04-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

Ewloe, Hawarden, Flintshire
Type: motte
Ewloe Castle Converted to stone by Llywelyn the Great. A D-shaped great tower sat in the upper bailey.

Ewloe Castle lies hidden in woodland. It is an extraordinary Welsh stone keep and bailey castle, founded by Prince Llewelyn ap Gruffydd. It may have been built around 1150 by Owain Gwynedd, Prince of all Wales, but was converted to stone in about 1210 by Llywelyn the Great. The upper bailey has part of its curtain wall and the remains of a D-shaped two-storey keep and the steps of a forebuilding. The lower bailey again has part of its curtain wall, the well and the remains of a two-storey round tower at the far end. Extensive earthworks and rock-cut ditches complete its defence but this sloping site, is tactically a puzzle.

No gate connects the courtyards, both were entered from the north side outside the castle. The communication was only at parapet level. Also the two curtains are not bonded together, they are the result of successive building campaigns. Nothing stands of the inside buildings, which were of timber.

A Welsh castle dating from 1146. The tower was added in 1210 and the curtain wall in 1257. It was abandoned at the end of the 13th century. 6 miles north-west is Flint Castle and 3 miles south-east is Hawarden Castle.

Great part of the keep is collapsed, but the south front still stands to full height. The tower contained a single apartment above a storage chamber, reachable only through a trapdoor. The outer walls rose higher than the two storeys to protect the roof from burning projectiles. On the parapet slots for a hoarding are still visible.

All of us carry within us an image of a castle. Without doubt the fairy-tale image of castle takes root in our imagination early; it is a myth that has been created in the past, over a long period of time. The creation of an image of the classic feudal castle in art began long before these castles became redundant during the period in which the nobility moved down to the plains and when political, social, and economic activity became concentrated in the towns. With this change, hilltop castles became part of the landscape backgrounds in prints and paintings.

The castle, perched on vertiginous crags of impossible heights, became a decorative feature. Only the nineteenth-century Bavarian castles of Ludwig II have more towers and pinnacles. The architectural forms of a castle were already exaggerated in the late medieval period, which revelled in a desire to reach ever higher, using increasingly slender and pointed elements.

From the seventeenth century, depictions of ruins become increasingly common. The castle comes to be resonant with symbolism and fairy-tale attributes. Castles and towers came to be represented in drawings, paintings and prints. Tableware, porcelain, and fabrics were decorated with images of romantic ruins -- which themselves became models for architecture.

After the Baroque period, neo-Gothic aristocratic residences were constructed in the form of castles. Moreover, starting from existing small ruins in their grounds, entire new ruined castles came to be built, becoming ever greater in scale. Thus in the nineteenth century an insignificant artistic phenomenon --- representation of castles, developed into a trend that was to become a dominant architectural style.

Castles in Europe evolved from the first wooden forts made to lodge a garrison to spectacular stone structures able to support a small army for extended times. Each country in Europe developed its own architectural designs copying from that of the castles in other countries.
The race to build castles as the best military defenses, turned into a competition for the most magnificent architectural designs in the world.

Visit different castles of the world and experience real castles. HotelReservations.com has hotels, motels, resorts, vacations rentals etc. The site is user friendly. Anyone can easily search for their nearest hotels to their destination. Vacation Rentals and Vacation Packages are available as well! Different languages are available. In addition, Hotel Reservations are guaranteed the lowest rates, together with great Hotel Discounts on world wide destinations.
Have a pleasant vacation, book your hotel and car rentals at HotelReservations.com. Click on the banner below to visit the website.

Windsor Castle

2007-04-10T04:24:00.000-07:00

Windsor Castle, at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. The castle's floor area is approximately 45,000 square metres (about 484,000 square feet). Built for William the Conqueror over 900 years ago to guard the western side of London, Windsor Castle is still a working royal palace. Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and one of the Queens favourite residences.

Originally, Windsor was a simple motte and fortification built for defense purposes by William the Conqueror in 1066. Since then it has been inhabited, restored, or redesigned by Henry II, Henry III, Edward III, the Parliamentarians (used as a prison, mid 17th Century), King Charles I (1649 buried under the Chapel of St George), Charles II (1660), George III (1789), George IV (1828), Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Elizabeth II today.

During medieval times, Windsor castle came under siege several times, once was in 1194 when Price John attempted to take control of the throne when his brother Richard I (known as Richard the Lion Heart) was away during the crusades. Later when John was crowned King the castle came under hostilities from the nobles which lead to the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215.

Henry VIII built the great entry gate which bears his name and the last major building work took place when the tower was raised by George VI to make it the tallest in England. The grounds at Windsor Castle contain one of the best examples of medieval churches in England - St. George's Chapel. The chapel took 50 years to construct and was started in 1475 by Edward IV and is the official home of the Order of the Garter. The Order was founded by Edward III in 1348 and the Garter Knights are selected by the Queen.

The castle did suffer a major fire in 1992. The fire evidently began in the northeast section of the Upper Ward as a spotlight ignited a curtain. The fire spread at roof level to surrounding areas of the castle despite frantic efforts of castle staff and the fire brigade to control the flames. The fire consumed the ceilings of George IV's St. George's Hall and Grand Reception Room and gutted the Private Chapel, the State Dining Room, the Crimson Drawing Room and other smaller rooms. Fortunately, the rooms most affected by the fire were mostly empty of their treasures as they were being rewired. A few priceless artifacts were destroyed, consequently, because they were too large to move and had been left in place. The restoration of Windsor Castle began immediately following the devastating fire. The goal was to create modern Gothic, oiginal in detail and tradition. It was completed 5 years later at a total cost of 37,000,000 English Pounds.

Windsor has stood for nearly a millennium. Windsor remained much the same throughout the 20th century as it had from the time of George IV. It is the only royal castle that has been in continuous occupation since the Middle Ages and is the largest inhabited castle in the world. Almost every century from the 12th to the 19th left its mark on this great fortress. Windsor was on of the first sites chosen by William the Conqueror for the series of fortifications built to protect his new conquest after 1066. It was one of a ring of nine castles built by him around London. William picked a superb site, a chalk outcrop rising to 30 meters (100feet) above the Thames River and commanding splendid views over the countryside for miles around.

Last Minute Hotel News provide Last minute hotel news and special offers for quick hotel bookings. Find Hotel Sites and hotels at your favourite destination. Besides providing a range of hotels information, there are many attractions such as Leaning Tower of Pisa(Italy), Eiffel Tower(Paris) you can find at the site. Last Minute Hotel News is your holidays companion indeed!

Pictures of Boldt Castle

2007-03-22T18:51:00.000-07:00

Boldt Castle was constructed by George C. Boldt, who was a Prussian immigrant who made his fortune in the hotel industry, managing luxurious hotels like the New York Waldorf-Astoria. (He invented many modern hotel concepts, and his chef originated the Thousand Islands salad dressing.) He was building the castle for his wife, but when she died suddenly, he halted all work on the castle and never returned to the island. The 120-room castle was derelict from 1904 to 1977, when it was acquired by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority and opened to tourists.

At the time, the Thousand Islands was a popular summer retreat for the wealthy of New York and Philadelphia. In 1895, Louise Boldt purchased Hart Island in the Thousand Islands. The Boldt's made a number of changes to the island. They reshaped the island into a heart shape, and renamed it Heart Island. Their summer home on the island was one of the largest and most beautiful in the area.

But having the largest and most beautiful home in the region wasn't good enough, and their home was demolished in 1900 to make way for something more grandiose. Their new summer home was to be an immense four story structure with 127 rooms, including 30 bathrooms. Construction proceeded using steel and concrete, with an exterior of light granite quarried 16km away on Oak Island. The overall appearance was that of a French chateau.

The construction of Boldt Castle ceased abruptly in early 1904 after the death of Boldt's wife, Louise Kehrer Boldt. For 73 years, the castle and other stone structures were left exposed to the harsh winter weather and occasional vandals. The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired Heart Island and the nearby yacht house in 1977, for one dollar, under the agreement that all revenues obtained from the castle operation would be applied towards restoration, so that the island would be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

In the two decades after acquiring the property, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority spent some fifteen million dollars for restoration and improvements here, and work continues annually. The initial goal of the restoration of Heart Island was not to finish what hadn't been completed, but to restore the island to the state it was in when construction was halted. Improvements have gone beyond that stage, however; A stained glass dome, marble floor, and grand staircase woodword, for instance, now seen in the main hall, were not original but are modern innovations.

Today, Boldt Castle is accessible by ferry from Alexandria Bay; Gananoque, Ontario; Rockport, Ontario; and Ivy Lea, Ontario; and most of the grounds and buildings can be explored by the public for a fee. The boat-owning public may also dock on Heart Island for free and there is a US Customs and Immigration office on Heart Island. International visitors coming from Canada should have appropriate identification.

Most of the rooms on the first floor of Boldt Castle are now (2006) furnished, but mostly with modern pieces. The basement is mostly poorly lit tunnels that accumulate to a fountain/swimming pool built deep in the ground, which is not accessible to guests.

Most of the rooms from the second floor to the top floor have been left unfurnished, but there are exhibits in some of these rooms and hallways showing pictures and artifacts of the Thousand Islands region during the era in which the Boldts lived. These rooms are also left unfurnished to give the visitor an opportunity to imagine what the castle may have looked like if it had been completed.

Since the restoration, an archway that was originally intended by George Boldt to be the entranceway for boats, has been fully restored, but has a bridge connecting the two sides. Recently opened after renovations is a balcony which overlooks the southern half of the island and Alexandria Bay, NY. There are numerous fountains located around the castle, including one that was originally to be used as a swimming pool in the basement, most of which have statues of lions spitting a continuous stream of water from their mouths.

Two other buildings on the island are the Power House and the Children's Tower; both are open to the public. The Power House was built to hold a generator to supply the island with power, and now is more of a museum of how electric power was obtained in the early 1900s, as well as a few stories of getting tools and equipment to Heart Island during the castle's construction.

The Child's Tower was built as a playhouse for the children of Boldt. It is purposely constructed with slanting and uneven walls, ceilings, and roofs. The public who enter the Children's Tower are able to climb out a doorway and walk on some of the roofs, which are more of balconies and outside portions of the tower, but are slightly slanted and miscolored to seem like the roof.

The island where Boldt Castle stands was named Heart Island by Mr. Boldt, perhaps because of the romantic significance of the name, and in recognition of the physical shape of the island after his modifications. Before then, however, the island was named Hart Island, after the previous owners. The original home which stood on the castle site when George Boldt purchased the island was slid across the ice to Wellesley Island during the winter of 1899, being made a part of the exclusive Thousand Island Club frequented by the very wealthy of the period. That home is now being renovated as a Bed & Breakfast, and has been renamed Hart House in honor of the original owners.