Menzies Castle, Aberfeldy, United Kingdom

Castle Menzies in Scotland is the ancestral seat of the Clan Menzies and the Menzies Baronets for over 500 years. Strategically situated, the sixteenth-century castle was involved in the turbulent history of the highlands.

In 1840 an entirely new wing was added, designed by William Burn using stone from the same quarry on south side of Loch Tay.

Duleep Singh, last maharajah of the Sikh Empire, lived at Castle Menzies between 1855 and 1858, following his exile from the Punjab in 1854. He was officially the ward of Sir John Spencer Login and Lady Login, who leased the castle for him.

The castle, restored by the Menzies Clan Society after 1957, is an example of architectural transition between an earlier tradition of rugged fortresses and a later one of lightly defensible châteaux. The walls are of random rubble, originally harled (roughcast), but the quoins, turrets and door and window surrounds are of finely carved blue freestone. This attractive and extremely hard-weathering stone was also used for the architectural details and monuments at the nearby Old Kirk of Weem, which was built by the Menzies family and contains their monuments and funeral hatchments.

References:

Wikipedia

Castles and fortifications in United Kingdom

User Reviews

Beverley Gormley (6 months ago)
A wonderful first visit to this castle that is being restored by a charitable trust. Friendly, welcoming staff and free roam of the many, many rooms. Great to see the older part of the castle taken back to basics and I do hope they raise enough funds to get the rising damp sorted soon. A very short walk takes you to the walled garden which is a great spot for a picnic and the perfect place to take photos of the castle in its landscape. Would love to do the haunted castle tour sometime!

peter hodgson (7 months ago)
This is our second trip to Castle Menzies (previous one being 5 years ago). This is my favourite Castle to visit so far, mainly because of the free roam nature of the visit, combined with the ongoing renovation/ preservation work within the house. Can fully explore with very interesting information boards positioned around the Castle. Staff were also lovely and welcoming!

Pedro Mandim (7 months ago)
Lovely and beautiful place, full of history. Thought that 11£ for an adult to visit was a bit too much. Staff was very welcoming, but next time, I will go on Wednesday evening for the haunted tour .

Katie Coleman (7 months ago)
Beautiful, well-preaerved castle. Volunteers were extremely knowledgeable and helpful. It was clear they love the castle and it's history.

Maria Wozniak (7 months ago)
What a great place to visit. We really enjoyed it. Queit interesting it has some Polish history to it, who knew. I would say visit if you around, a lot to see in the castle. Plus lots to see in the area. Lovely and frednly staff.

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Sigmaringen Castle

Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.

The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.

These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.

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