In 1220, Alexander II of Scotland gave some marshy land to Sir John De Maccuswell so that Clan Maccuswell—whose family name ultimately evolved into Maxwell—could build a castle. Maxwell’s first attempt to build a castle resulted in a structure that sank into the soggy land on which it was built. Maxwell found a slightly more…
The Spanish island of Mallorca, which is situated in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea, is celebrated for its pristine sandy beaches, towering mountains, and lovely forests. Mallorca is also home to a stately 14th-century castle with a unique circular design whose name—Bellver Castle—means “castle with a beautiful view” in Catalan. For a small…
Approximately 30 miles north of Prague, a mysterious castle known as Houska Castle in the Czech countryside has been the subject of spooky local lore since it was first constructed in 1278. Houska Castle’s unusual floor plan and remote location, far removed from major water sources, trade routes, or strategically important areas, caused many locals…
Approximately 17 miles outside of Vilnius—which is the capital city of Lithuania—stately Trakai Island Castle is situated in the middle of placid Lake Galvė. The castle was first constructed in the 13th century and has undergone several striking transformations throughout the centuries. It is home to an expansive museum that showcases artifacts from Lithuanian history…
Dunluce Castle in County Antrim, Northern Ireland has been in the spotlight a great deal more than most medieval castles. Since its construction in the 1500s, Dunluce Castle has been featured on the inner sleeve of a Led Zeppelin album and on the wildly popular HBO show Game of Thrones. Dunluce Castle’s windswept clifftop location…
Much like San Francisco, California, the coastal city of Marseille in southern France is celebrated for its mild weather, rich history, and natural beauty. Similarly, Marseille has an infamous prison located on a small island just off its coast. Commonly known as the ‘Alcatraz of France,’ Chateau d’If is best known as the prison where…
If Hatley Castle’s grand exterior looks familiar, it’s probably because you saw it in a film or television show. Several X-Men movies, the hit series Smallville, and the legendary 80s TV show MacGyver all used Hatley Castle as a backdrop. In 1906, the Canadian Lieutenant Governor, James Dunsmuir, hired architect Samuel Maclure to build a…
If you’re kayaking on the Hudson River about 50 miles north of New York City and you spot the ruins of an opulent castle in the distance, your eyes are not deceiving you. In the early 1900s, an affluent Brooklyn-based military surplus dealer of Scottish descent named Francis Bannerman decided to purchase a small island…