Best place to visit for castles?
Sep 7th, 2004, 07:24 AM
#21
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Here is a reasonbly good list of castles in Ireland:
http://www.ireland-now.com/castles.html
There are certainly others and lots and lots of deserted tower houses in various states of decay throughout the country.
Wales (as mentioned earlier) has a pretty serious collection of castles. Here is a site that lists most of them:
http://www.castlewales.com/home.html
Ireland is not by any means the cheapest country to visit, but for what you get, there are some pretty good deals. Restaurant prices are pretty high but you can still get reasonably good pub grub at fair prices. The one thing that I think is still a bargain are the B&Bs. Yes, the price has gone up, but compare that to what you would get in the States. For instance, you can get a room with a view of the ocean and a huge delicious breakfast for between $80-100 per night. The same thing, if you could find it, would be in the multiple $100s on our side of the pond.
There are a couple of options for deals to attractions in Ireland. Ireland At A Glimpse offers two for one entrance to attractions. Their website is http://www.take-a-glimpse.com/ireland/ and the cheapest place to get the deal is at:
http://www.ireland-withpatpreston.co..._a_glimpse.htm
Another major discount program is through Heritage Ireland. http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/HeritageCard/
They have a card that allows you free admission to their sites. You can take a look at the offerings and see which best handles what you would like to visit. I've used both and you can save a fair amount if you plan correctly.
Hope this helps.
Bill
http://www.ireland-now.com/castles.html
There are certainly others and lots and lots of deserted tower houses in various states of decay throughout the country.
Wales (as mentioned earlier) has a pretty serious collection of castles. Here is a site that lists most of them:
http://www.castlewales.com/home.html
Ireland is not by any means the cheapest country to visit, but for what you get, there are some pretty good deals. Restaurant prices are pretty high but you can still get reasonably good pub grub at fair prices. The one thing that I think is still a bargain are the B&Bs. Yes, the price has gone up, but compare that to what you would get in the States. For instance, you can get a room with a view of the ocean and a huge delicious breakfast for between $80-100 per night. The same thing, if you could find it, would be in the multiple $100s on our side of the pond.
There are a couple of options for deals to attractions in Ireland. Ireland At A Glimpse offers two for one entrance to attractions. Their website is http://www.take-a-glimpse.com/ireland/ and the cheapest place to get the deal is at:
http://www.ireland-withpatpreston.co..._a_glimpse.htm
Another major discount program is through Heritage Ireland. http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/HeritageCard/
They have a card that allows you free admission to their sites. You can take a look at the offerings and see which best handles what you would like to visit. I've used both and you can save a fair amount if you plan correctly.
Hope this helps.
Bill
Oct 17th, 2004, 07:45 PM
#23
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Just because a castle wasn't built 800 or 900 years ago does not mean it is not worth visiting.
A lot of people look down their noses at Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee just because they were built in the latter half of the 19th century. But the story of their building and Mad King Ludwig is wonderfully interesting history. And unless one lacks any appreciation for visual impact, Neuschwanstein--no matter its age--is certainly worth viewing.
Some really nice-looking medieval castles don't have a history near as interesing, but they are also worth a visit.
A lot of people look down their noses at Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee just because they were built in the latter half of the 19th century. But the story of their building and Mad King Ludwig is wonderfully interesting history. And unless one lacks any appreciation for visual impact, Neuschwanstein--no matter its age--is certainly worth viewing.
Some really nice-looking medieval castles don't have a history near as interesing, but they are also worth a visit.
Oct 23rd, 2004, 04:08 AM
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Wales would come near the top of my list. In 14 days you could start with Warwick Castle and Kenilworth Castle near to Shakespeare's Stratford upon Avon and easily accessible by train from London, then take a train to Chester and hire a car to tour the castles of N Wales such as Caernarvon, Harlech and Conway. Then train to North east England (Northumbria) which has fabulous castles such as Bamburgh,Lindisfarne and Alnwick.
May 26th, 2013, 04:03 PM
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For the best castle experience I vote Paris, hands down. The Conciergerie is a massive castle whose moat is the river. the keep is extant, the vast rooms and barn-sized chimneys made to echo little boys' voices and footsteps. My goodness, the very cells of Marie Antoinette are there and furnished with authentic period furniture. http://www.examiner.com/article/sear...e-conciergerie
Do a little reading earlier and you can tell them exactly how many soldiers ate how many roast boar washed down by how much wine.
Take the kids through the Paris sewers (begun in the Moddle Ages)- No smell - ride a boat through the echoing tunnels and imagine what mayhem the kids could produce down there. Hugo features them in Les Miserables, and the Phantom (of the Opera) considered them his kingdom.
The cellars of the Louvre are worth a visit and the kids would love the Egyptian Collection, the arms, etc. etc.
I know the kids want war and gore, but the also love flash and size. Versailles will certainly do that for them.
two hours from Paris is one of the most convincing castles in Europe - Chinon. it is jaw dropping in size, reconstruction and history. Henry II died there, and Richard the Lionhearted left from Chinon for the Crusades, returning as a prisoner to die there.
Paris is for everyone.
And if they want to step back into their own time, the Science Museum
Do a little reading earlier and you can tell them exactly how many soldiers ate how many roast boar washed down by how much wine.
Take the kids through the Paris sewers (begun in the Moddle Ages)- No smell - ride a boat through the echoing tunnels and imagine what mayhem the kids could produce down there. Hugo features them in Les Miserables, and the Phantom (of the Opera) considered them his kingdom.
The cellars of the Louvre are worth a visit and the kids would love the Egyptian Collection, the arms, etc. etc.
I know the kids want war and gore, but the also love flash and size. Versailles will certainly do that for them.
two hours from Paris is one of the most convincing castles in Europe - Chinon. it is jaw dropping in size, reconstruction and history. Henry II died there, and Richard the Lionhearted left from Chinon for the Crusades, returning as a prisoner to die there.
Paris is for everyone.
And if they want to step back into their own time, the Science Museum
May 27th, 2013, 02:37 AM
#29
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