Coca

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Shortened history of the castle:

The castle was built Built in 1453 by Don Alonso de Fonseca and formed, along with Cuellar, Arevalo and Olmedo, a strategical square of much importance to Spain. Coca Castle is one of the most important and beautiful castles in Spain.

The castle is built of brick and stone with a protective 560 meter-long moat surrounding it.

In 1505, after Alonso's death, his brother Antonio de Fonseca greatly increased the defensive elements of the castle.

In 1521, the castle was besieged but the attackers miserably failed to take it. In 1808, The French under Napoleon were able to successfully besiege it and took the castle for the first time in its long history.

In more recent years, the castle has been used as a school.

Opening times and additionnal information:

Aigle

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Shortened history of the castle:

The Castle of Aigle (eagle in french) was built in the late twelfth century by the family of Saillon. At the beginning, the castle consisted essentially of a square tower.

The castle served to stop troops from Italy via the Great St. Bernard, the armies then went north to Savoy. The new occupants will then give it its present appearance by rebuilding in 1489, they destroy a round tower and replace it with a square tower.

Surrounded by vineyards, the castle houses the cellars of confederate but also a prison, a role he held until 1972.In 1804, the town of Eagle acquires and converts it into an administrative building and health. He served as a hospital until 1832 but also the court.

The Museum of Vine and Wine was established in 1971 by the Brotherhood of Guillon in order to save the local winemaking heritage. A total of 17 rooms enhold thousands of items related to viticulture and wine making, for example a press of 1706, but also stills, bottles, corks, wine tasters, glasses and decanters.

Opening time and additionnal information:

The castle is opened from the 21st of March until the 31st of October, from Tuesday to Sunday and from 11am to 6pm (open on Easter Monday and Pentecôte)

Entrance price:
Adults - 11 CHF
Students - 9 CHF
Children (6-16): 5 CHF
Family - 18 CHF
Groups (from 10 visitors) - 7 CHF

Guided visit + Appetizer (3 wine tastings + 1 souvenir wine glass to take away) - 23 CHF per person + 80 CHF for the guide.

Email : info@chateauaigle.ch

Caernarfon

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Shortened history of the castle:

Caernarfon is the most famous of Wales's castles. It's construction begun in 1283 and it was constructed not only as a military stronghold but also as a seat of government and royal palace.

The castle's majestuosity is no architectural accident: it was designed to echo the walls of Constantinople and the imperial power of Rome. And after all these years Caernarfon's immense strength remains unchanged.

Standing at the mouth of the Seiont river, the fortress dominates the walled town founded by Edward I. Caernarfon's symbolic status was emphasized when Edward made sure that his son, the first English Prince of Wales, was born here in 1284.

In 1969, the castle gained worldwide fame as the setting for the Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales.

Opening times and additionnal information:

Opening Hours: (last admission half an hour before closing)
1st April to 30th June - 09.30 to 17.00 (daily)
1st July to 31st August - 09.30 to 18.00 (daily)
1st September to 31st October - 09.30 to 17.00 (daily)
1st November to 28th February - 10.00 to 16.00 (Monday to Saturday) and 11.00 to 16.00 (Sunday)
1st March to 31st March - 09.30 to 17.00 (daily)

Closed: 24th, 25th, 26th December and 1st January

Admission Charge:
Adults £4.95
Reduced rate £4.60.
Family Ticket: £14.50 - admits 2 adults and up to 3 children under 16 years.

Last WE of May : Military life exposition and Escafeld Medieval Society

Altamira (Elche)

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Shortened history of the castle:

The first human settlements in the municipality of Elche date back to the Neolithic period, but Iberian communities really set foot in the fourth century BC.

In 203 BC, Gaius Flaminius, commanding the Roman army, conquered the Iberian settlement.

With the Muslim invasion, the settlement was included within the territory of Teodomiro, enjoying some autonomy in exchange for allegiance to the Islamic power.

Altamira Palace The castle was built in the late fifteenth century by the noble Castilian Cardenas Gutierrez, first lord of the city, having returned to the Crown with the Catholic Kings, making their usual redidencia. However, it is likely to be built on an earlier work of the twelfth or thirteenth century, which form part of the defenses of the walled town Almohad.

In the early sixteenth century the castle suffered frequent Berber raids and the Muslims were expelled in large numbers, finally, in 1609.

During the War of Succession Elche was declared in favor of the Archduke Charles, being sacked by the troops of Philip V.

Opening times and additionnal information:

Summer Opening Times:
Tuesday to Saturday - 10.00 to 13.30 / 16.30 to 20.00 hours
Sunday - 10.30 to 13.30 hours

Winter Opening Times:
Tuesday to Saturday - 10.00 to 13.30 / 16.30 to 20.00 hours
Sunday - 10.30 to 13.30 hours

Anjony

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Shortened history of the castle:

The Anjony castle is composed of a high square building surrounded by four large towers topped with battlements. This fortress dominates the valley of the Doire.

Bernard Johanini obtained in 1351 some rural land in the fief of Tournemire and was knighted in 1360. Having fought alongside Joan of Arc, Charles VII allowed his son to build the medieval dungeon to defend the surrounding country in 1439 despite the refusal of Lord Tournemire. This building is the starting point of a long lasting conflict between the two families (The Tournemire had fought on the side of the Plantagenets...).

During more than two centuries, the families will undertake actions to disable the other in order to regain land and power.

In 1623, a duel between representatives of the two families in front of the castle led to the deaths of three members of each family and in 1643, a marriage occured between Michael II of Anjony and heiress of Tournemire Gabrielle Pesteils, signing the end of the rivalry between the two families.

In the eighteenth century Claude Anjony, not at ease with the discomfort of the dungeon, decides to build another building, backed up to the castle, in Louis XV style backed it (This building was made out of stones coming from the Tournemire's castle, destroyed a few decades earlier).

Opening times and additionnal information:

Guided tours :(length of visit - 1 hour)
- Winter (from the February Holidays to November 15) : from 2pm to 6.30pm (every day)
- Summer (July 1st to August 31st) : Morning at 11am and 11.30am and from 2pm to 6.30pm.

The visit is not free and reservation is mandatory.

Spesbourg

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Shortened history of the castle:

The castle was built in 1246 on the promontory granitic Rothmannsberg at 451m above sea level, overlooking the valley Spesbourg Andlau.

In 1383, the lords Andlau Spesbourg are announced as the new owners of the castle. But these lords transform the defensive medieval Spesourg castle into a palace and as a result, in 1431, Stephen of Bavaria invests Spesbourg who was without defenders. Anyway, a few months later, the castle was retaken by the Andlau head of 2000 men.

During the sixteenth century, the castle is attacked and burned by citizens of Barr because the Andlau lords had bribed one of their fellow citizens.

Certainly rebuilt, it is destroyed again and this time finally abandoned during the Thirty Years War.

After the revolution the castle was dismantled and its stones recovered by nearby residents.

In 1967 it is classified a historical monument.

Opening times and additionnal information:

The castle is open to public, free access.

E-mail : arc-spesbourg@neuf.fr