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Posts from the ‘Medieval Castles’ Category

Nov 12

Medieval Rowing Boat from Vordingborg in Denmark

Medieval Rowing Boat

Moat at Vordingborg Castle “coughed up” a medieval rowing Boat

Around 1160 the Castle at Vordingborg in Denmark was built on top of a manor dating from the 11th century. This castle was circular and surrounded by a moat. All in all it covered an area 30 x 40 meters. The next 200 years the castle was continuously expanded until a total renovation took place during the reign of Valdemar Atterdag (1320 – 1375). This radical remodelling resulted in a layout measuring app. 185 x 240 meters. It consisted of a castle with a bailey surrounded by a 740 meter long curtain wall, encircled by a 35 meter broad moat at the front. It played an important role in the constant warring between the Danish Crown and the North German Hanseatic League

The castle, though ruined, is still an impressive edifice. 2011 the Castle was endowed with more than $13/€10/£8 mill in order to renovate the castle and build a new visitor-centre. Part of this project is a reconstruction of the moat; naturally extensive archaeological excavations accompany this. The other day the archaeologists struck – if not gold – then something much more rare: a medieval rowing boat. Approximately 6 meters long it dates to the late 14th century and must have been used as a small fishing vessel in the moat. It carries signs of extensive use.

Read the article in

Medieval Histories 2012 11:2

Aug 28

Middleham-Castle-1
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Middleham Castle

Once called the Windsor of the North Middleham Castle was home to Richard III

Middleham Castle lies in the Northern part of Yorkshire in Wensleydale. Originally it was a motte and bailey castle built app. 400 metres from the current location. However, in the 13th century it came into the hands of the Nevilles, who rebuilt it at the present site, probably in order to secure access to a couple of wells located in the now heavily fortified castle. In 1460 the Richard Neville, the16th earl of Warwick, became the ward of George and Richard sons of the late Duke of York. Both lived at Middleham as children and witnessed the captivity of their brother Edward IV there. Following Warwick’s death and the kings restoration, Richard married Anne Neville and made Middleham their main home. After 1483, when Richard III ascended the throne and until his death a Bosworth in 1885 the castle remained in royal hands until the reign of James I. It is now in the care of English heritage.

middleham cover special 213x300 Middleham CastleAs it stands today it is nothing but an impressive ruin. As such it demands quite some fantasy to envision the layout, the looks and the uses of the different buildings. However, a company called “Lost in Castles” have made it their prime object to use computer graphics to show in detail the layout, the construction techniques and the overall plan for the castle.

The concept is very neat. John Fox, who is the founder of the company, simply goes for a rather slow walk around the castle and its premises  pointing out the many details and explaining their role in the overall scheme. Alternating with this are 3D reconstructions, showing the different rooms, staircases, and general layout. All this gives a very interesting tour of the castle, as it must have looked like according amongst other sources a survey, which was done in 1538. Other DVD’s may be had, which complement the one on Middleham. Overall a general idea about medieval castles may be had form the series.

Apart from this, the Middleham DVD gives a very interesting introduction to the practicalities of life in a royal castle in the reign of Richard III.

Middleham. A Castle Made for Kings. Written and presented by John L. Fox. Produced by Lost in Castles 2011.

Read more about Richard III by following the links here

More about Middleham Castle at English Heritage.

 

Jul 18

Patio-de-los-Leones-300x200

Lions at Alhambra

The “coolest” place in heat-waved Spain is Alhambra, where the Fountain of Lions newly opened after ten years of restoration

For more than ten years visitors to Alhambra has had to muster all their fantasy in order to visualise the water flowing in the great Court of the Lions. However, these days the head of restoration, Carmen Tienza, and her 278 workers are finalising the reinstallation of the twelve great lions and new hydraulic waterworks. Soon water will again splash quietly seducing the more than 3 mil visitors, which each year climb the citadel in order to experience this magic place.

The fountain of the lion is probably one of the most beautiful pieces of Islamic art ever conceived. Placed in the inner courtyard of the Nasrid dynasty palace, its construction is dated around 1370. The Patio de los Leones – Court of the Lions – is oblong and measures 35 m in length by 20 m in width. It is surrounded by a low gallery supported on 124 white marble columns. A pavilion projects into the court at each extremity, with filigree walls. Up from the ground the walls are covered with blue and yellow tiles bordered above and below with enamelled blue and gold. In the centre of the court is the Fountain of Lions, an alabaster basin supported by the figures of twelve lions in white marble symbolising strength, power, and sovereignty.

restoration patio leone 300x199 Lions at Alhambra

Restoring the Fountain of Lions

The palace is situated on a hilltop covering more than 400 acres and managed by the “Patronato de la Alhambra y el Generalife”, which apart from the beautiful palaces showcases more than 400 plants and a number of wild animals as badgers and a wild boar plus a huge concentration of bird-life. Into this paradise no more than 8400 persons are allowed daily, carefully limiting access in order to preserve the place. Nevertheless budget this year is €25 mil, 11 % more than 2011. Income is not only created through the sale of tickets, but also shopping at the museum etc.

During the restoration – which has cost € 2.2 mil – the courtyard has been repaved with new slabs of marble, replacing the gravel, which has covered the place up until now. Archaeological investigations have shown that at a later point the courtyard was covered with a garden. Originally, however, the floor was covered with a marble pavement made of Macael. This enables visitors to get close to the fountain and thus admire all the details of the carefully cleaned and restored lions; complete with their new ears made of a mixture of lime and marble and happily again sprouting 5000 litres of cool and carefully monitored water from their mouths.

Read more about the restoration at Archaeologia Terrae Antiquae

Link to the official homepage of Alhambra de Granada

In need of luxury? Spend the night at the fabulous Parador de Granada located in a former 15th century convent on the site of the Alhambra