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Founded: 15th centuryCategory: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Valois Dynasty and Hundred Year's War (France)
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Located between the city of Le Mans and that of Chartres, at the border of the Departments of Eure- et-Loir, Loir et Cher and Sarthe, Montmirail stands as a picturesque village which is home to its eponymous castle, a quite rightly exceptional site in many respects. This 15th century castle stands out indeed for its unobstructed view over the Sarthe Perche country which it overlooks from an altitude of more than 200 m. Its outstanding architecture reflects many periods, from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance period, the 17th and 18th centuries.
Dated as a roman site in the antiquity, then built as a simple wooden tower in the 5th century. The wooden structure edifice evolved over the years to eventually disappear and make place to the famous U shaped castle which struts over a central courtyard.
This medieval fortress now stands in contrast with the 18th century castle, the latter being a fully fledged dwelling where major historical figures resided.
References:Towering 52 meters above the sea, Bengtskär lighthouse is the tallest one in Scandinavia. The building started in in 1905 after the shipwreck of S/S Helsingfors and was completed in 1906. The lighthouse was designed by architect Florentin Granholm. On December a special petrol lantern, designed and built in Paris, was brought to Bengtskär and installed atop the tower.
German fleet bombarded Bengstkär in the First World War in 1914. Since the Gulf of Finland was heavily mined, it was not until 1919 that the surrounding seas were declared safe for shipping, that the light was lit again.
After the war the military value of Bengtskär increased as part of the defence system of independent Finland. In Second World War (1941) Soviet Union made a suprise attack to island. After a bloody battle, the small Finnish garrison emerged victorious. Intermittent repairs to the facility continued during the post-war period.