The castles of the British Isles have always been a fascination for travelers from the time they were being constructed to modern times. Castles bring to mind royalty, kings, queens, princes, princesses, and for some, even dragons. The stuff of fantasy and intrigue, roughly 5000 castles were built in the British Isles since the Norman Conquest. Many castles were originally built from wood and later reconstructed in stone. England, Wales, and Scotland are home to some of the most famous and highly visited castles in the world.
Castles exist as monuments to a time when kings had them built not only to serve as palace homes, and symbols of power, but also as fortresses to protect people and secure land from conflicts and warfare. Through the centuries, many castles have fallen into ruin. Others have been preserved and a few even remain inhabited to this day.
This article will focus on seven of the most famous castles travelers visiting the British Isles should consider as part of their itinerary when traveling to this part of the world.
Castles in Wales
Caernarfon Castle, North Wales
The grandest of the castles in northern Wales is Caernarfon Castle, commissioned by King Edward I to serve as the capital of the English-captured Wales. Construction began in 1283 and continued for over 50 years, with some parts of it never obtaining completion. Situated on the banks of the Rivert Seiont, the castle contains two huge enclosed courtyards that meet in the middle surrounded by a series of polygonal towers and walls of up to 20 feet thick that enclosed the new English town of Caernafon. The first Prince of Wales was born at this castle. Visitors to this magnificent and historically significant castle will find much to discover including wall walks, draw bridges, exhibitions and displays.
Caerphilly Castle, South Wales
Second in size only to Britain's Windsor Castle, the Caerphilly Castle was begun in 1268 to thwart Llywelyn the Last's attempts to retain southern Wales from the English. Llwelyn ap Gwynedd was the last independent prince of Wales. This immense castle, also associated with Edward I, stands as a true symbol of medieval castles, boasting a moat and standing as an impenetrable fortress against invasion. It was built by Gilbert de Clare, lord of Glamorgan whose wife, the beautiful Princess Alice of Angouleme, is thought to haunt the castle as a ghost wearing a green dress.
Conway Castle, North Wales
Similar to Caerarfon and Carphilly Castles, Conway Castle was part of the "iron ring" of castles commissioned by Edward I intended to protect the English colonies and confine the Welsh. Built almost entirely between 1283 and 1289 with up to 1,500 laborers and craftsmen at times, the great fortress is very well preserved. The castle, a World Heritage Site, sits on the River Conway which served both as a means of transportation and defense. Today, the walkable town walls of the castle span ¾ of a mile providing a stunning view of its grounds including 22 towers and three original gateways. The wall walks also give a panoramic view of the gorgeous surrounding town and countryside.
Castles in Scotland
Edinburgh Castle, South Eastern Scotland
The site of Edinburgh Castle has been a strategic location for settlements dating back long before the Roman Empire. Sitting atop an extinct volcano and protected on three sides by dramatically vertical drops, Edinburgh Castle was initially build in the 11th century. After years of battle between England and Scotland, King David II of Scotland commissioned the rebuilding of the castle and it has sustained several renovations over the years. Mary Queen of Scotts gave birth to James VI in the royal palace in the castle walls. James went on to become King of England, thereby uniting Scotland and England as one kingdom. Edinburgh Castle is the most popular paid tourist attraction in all of Scotland.
Castles in England
Warwick Castle, South Central England
The medieval Warwick Castle was begun in 1068 by William the Conqueror. It has a storied history, from serving as home to the Earl of Warwick to a place to hold prisoner, including King Edward IV. Warwick Castle sits on a bluff at the bend of the River Avon and was named as one of Britain's "top ten historic houses and monuments" by the British Tourist Agency. In 1978, the castle was sold to a media and entertainment group and is now run as both a tourist attraction and theme park with plenty of activities for the entire family.
Windsor Castle, Southern England
The magical Windsor Castle is the largest and longest occupied castle in the entire world. Originally built by William the Conqueror from roughly 1066 to 1076, the castle was entirely rebuilt in the 14th century by Edward III and today is roughly 483,000 square feet in size. One of the primary homes of the royal family, Windsor Castle has had many modifications and extensions over the years to bring it to modern standards as a monarchy residence. Surrounded by extraordinary gardens and landscape, various parts of the castle are open to the public
The Tower of London, Southern England
Dating back to 1066 following the Norman Conquest, the original fortress of the Royal Palace was built by William the Conqueror who added the famous White Tower in 1078. Also known as Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, this historic castle sits on the River Thames in central London. One of the world's most famous landmarks, the Tower of London houses not only the royal family but also the Crown Jewels. One of the richest sources of English history, the tower was the prison for two young princes, Edward V and Richard, Duke of York who were in line to become king when their father King Edward died. Unfortunately, their ambitious uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester wanted to be king and the boys were said to be murdered in the Garden Tower. Other famous prisoners were Ann Boleyn, second wife to King Henry the VIII, and the explorer Sir Walter Raleigh. Both were beheaded. Serving as a tourist attraction since Elizabethan times, the Tower of London is one of the most popular attractions in the country, boasting over 2.4 million visitors each year.
Jillynn Stevens, Ph.D. is a writer with a vast array of subject matter expertise. This article is written on behalf of Fun for Less Tours, a tour agency specializing in LDS or Mormon group travel, at http://www.funforlesstours.com//
Dr. Stevens works for Be Locally SEO at http://www.belocallyseo.com/
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