Alarcon

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Shortened history of the castle:

This 8th Century medieval castle, perfectly preserved, is located on a promontory looking down over the fertile plain of the river Jucar.

Steeped in history, this medieval castle has seen many sieges and revolts. It was founded by the Muslims in the 8th century and was then captured by King Alfonso VIII in the 12th century. It has been home to the Marquises de Villena and later, the home of the famous writer Don Juan Manuel.

From the battlements, the keep and the main tower "Torre del Homenaje" there is an interesting view of the triple defensive walls echoing back to the past. However, the main defence of the castle was its location. It was protected from assault because it is perched on the edge of a ravine with the river Jucar forming a natural moat on three sides as it flows down the ravine.

Opening times and additional information:

The castle is today a 4 star hotel and visits aren't allowed if you're not a customer. Such a pity !

Bonifacio

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Shortened history of the castle:

It is built on a strategic site to effecticiently protect the city from sea attacks. The castle was built with four major construction campaigns. The castle was erected in 1492 under the authority of the Genoa. In 1553, the arrival of Sampiero and French troops led by Marshal de Thermes, work is being done to expand the citadel. Several buildings are destroyed in order to increase the defensive aspect of the city, including the church of Sainte-Croix, the first cathedral of the city of Genoa. In 1559, "The Great", Jacopo di Palearo Morco, an Italian engineer, strengthened the fortifications and separated the citadel from the rest of the city. Hexagonal, it will be given six massive bastions. Finally, in 1789, after the annexation of Corsica to France, the ditches are flushed to clean the premises.

Two other aspects a re remarkable on this site. First-of-all, the man-carved stairway of 187 steps, built according to the legend by the soldiers of the King of Aragon in just one night for the siege of Bonifacio in 1420. And second-of-all, the parapets, immense medieval fortifications of the city, which remain as they were several centuries ago, offering a splendid view on the sea.

Opening hours and additionnal information:

The citadel is open to public, without any fee.

Combourg

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Shortened history of the castle:

The castle stands on a small hill next to Lac Tranquille (Lake Tranquil) and archives show that a first castle was built exactly on this spot around 1025 by Archbishop Guinguené.

The castle consists of four large, powerful buildings of dressed granite, with crenellations and machicolations, enclosing a rectangular courtyard. In each corner of this massive fortress is a round tower, also with crenellations and machicolations, with conical roofs.

In 1761, the Chateaubriand family acquired the property and it was the childhood home of François-René de Chateaubriand (1768–1848).

The writer François-René de Chateaubriand spoke in his diarys of the ghosts which apparently haunt the castle of Combourg. He said local residents suggested "that a count of Combourg with a wooden leg dead since tree centuries came back at some times" . It is reported haunting the stairs of the castle and sometimes accompanied by a black cat. And indeed, during the restoration of the castle in 1876, workers discovered walled up in a room ... a momified cat (a rural tradition in the Middle Ages was to wall cats in the foundation of all new construction, to avert bad luck).

Privately-owned, the Combourg castle is listed as a historical monument since 1966.


Opening times and additionnal information:

April, May, June, September and October :
from 10am to 12pm & from 2pm to 6pm
Visits of 45min at 2pm and 5pm

July and August:
from 9.30am to 12.30pm & from 2pm to 6pm
Visits of 45min at 10.30am, 11.15am, 2pm and 5.30pm

Castle is open everyday except saturdays.

Telephone number for reservations : +33 2 99 73 22 95

Lutsk

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Shortened history of the castle:

According to historical chronicles, there were two castles in medieval Lutsk. Unfortunately, the second one, the Okolnyi Castle, was completely destroyed in the 14th century.

The 28 meter-high Entrance Tower of Lutsk Castle was where the idea of a united Europe was voiced for the first time, as incredible as it may seem. And it happened in 1429: European monarchs from 15 states were invited to Lutsk. The Holy Roman (and German) Emperor Sigismund, Danish King Eric IV, Polish monarch Władysław II Jagiełło, the Grand Masters of the Teutonic and Livonian orders, a legate of Pope Martin V, Vasili II, Grand Prince of Moscow, an ambassador of the Byzantine Emperor Palaeologus and other high and mighty leaders responded to this invitation. In total more than 15,000 guests came, while the population of Lutsk itself was only about 5,000 residents! A series of very important questions were raised at this “summit”, such as forming a coalition against the growing power of the Ottoman Empire (groundwork of the modern European Union!) or even equal rights for Catholic and Orthodox churches.

Imagine the cost to organize such a summit: records show that seven hundred barrels of beer and honey drinks were consumed daily! It seems that in the Middle Ages the term ‘diet’ was completely unknown.

And a last anecdote: it is the only castle in Ukraine seen by nearly every Ukrainian, thanks to the fact that they hold its picture in their hand with every 200 hryvnas bill.

Opening times and additionnal information:

The castle is open daily from 10am to 7pm.

Entrance ticket:
- adults 4 hryvnas
- children and students 2 hryvnas

Sigmundskron

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Shortened history of the castle:

The first time the castle was mentionned dates back to 945, which makes it one of the oldest castles of southern Europe.

In the end of the fifteenth century, the Prince of Tyrol, Duke Sigismund the Rich, bought the castle, renamed it Sigmundskron Castle and developed it to withstand firearms. The castle stood for several decades as a major defensive point of Tyrol before falling suddenly into disrepair, due to financial difficulties.

At the end of the 18th century the castle belonged to the Count Wolkenstein, then in the 19th to the counts of Sarnthein and from then until 1994 to the counts of Toggenburg. In 1996 the castle passed into the possession of the Province of Bolzano. In the spring of 2003, after much controversy, Reinhold Messner was given a licence for his long-planned mountain museum.

Opening times and additionnal information:

Museum and castle open from Tuesday to Sunday (10 am – 6pm)
Open from the 1st sunday in March until the last sunday in November

Châteaugay

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Shortened history of the castle :

The castle of Chateaugay stands above the village of the same name. It was erected in 1381 by Pierre de Giac, chancellor of the King of France Charles VII, on the ruins of the castle Vigosche. It was enlarged in the sixteenth century by Laqueuille before being sold as national property during the Revolution.

The keep is the only remaining building of the fourteenth century castle, and has never been restored since then.

On the ground floor of the keep, the Chateaugay Wine (a typical product from Auvergne which was loved by Henri IV) can be tasted and bought.

Opening hours and additionnal information:

Open from mid-June to mid-September everyday from 2pm to 7pm.
Open on reservations the rest of the year.
Free entrance (tip only)

E-mail : mairie@chateaugay.fr