Druyes

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Shortened history of the castle:

Built in the twelfth century by the Counts of Nevers, the castle of Druyes is part of the first generation of the so-called Philippians castles, built during the reign of Philip Augustus with a simple plan, circular towers that offered a better defense at lower cost.

It became in the 1750's the fortress Peter II of Courtenay, emperor of Constantinople, and then of his daughter Matilda, countess of Nevers, Auxerre and Tonnerre.

The castle was then abandoned by the Counts of Nevers, and completely lost its military use, while slowly falling apart.

He escaped from demolition during the French Revolution but it was not until the second half of the twentieth century that the inhabitants of Druyes and local associations started to care about this monument of regional history.

Opening times and additionnal information:

- Individual visits

April, May, June & September : all Weekends from 3pm to 6pm
Julet and August : everyday from 3pm to 6pm

Prices: Adults = 4 euros, Children = 2.50 Euros (8 to 16 years), Free up to 8 years

- Group visits

The Castle of Druyes is open to groups every day all year round by reservation.

Guided tour of Castle and Village (duration 2 hours). Prices : Adults = 5 Euros,

Guided tour of the Castle (duration 1 hour). Prices : Adults = 4 euros, Scholars = 2.50 Euros

Phone : +33 (0) 3 86 41 51 71
E-mail : les-amis-du-chateau@wanadoo.fr

Peñafiel

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Shortened history of the castle:

Peñafiel Castle, which is 210 meters long and 33 meters wide, stands on a hill from which you can see the Duraton and Botijas valleys. The keep, which is over 30 meters high, is crowned by eight towers and flanked by two courtyards.

The first known reference on a fortress dates back to 943. It is then mentioned as falling within the possessions of the Count of Castile 944 to 945.

In 983, the castle was seized by the caliph hadjib Cordovan Hisham II.

In the thirteenth century the king of Castile and Leon, Ferdinand III, establishes the señorío of Peñafiel, to be bequeathed to his son, Alphonse X.

In 1456, Henry IV of Castile took the fortress which was falling appart and built the fortress that you can see today.

Classified to the status of national monument in 1917, now owned by the mayor of Peñafiel, the Penafiel Castle houses the headquarters of the Foundation-Provincial Wine Museum Valladolid.


Opening times and additional information:

October to March : from Tuesday to Sunday (from 11.30am to 2pm & from 4pm to 7pm)
April to September : from Tuesday to Sunday (from 11am to 2.30pm & from 4.30pm to 8.30pm)

Closed: Mondays, 1st and 6th of January 6 & 24, 25th and 31st of December.

Prices:
Museum and Castle: 6 €
Palace tour: € 3
Tasting: € 9
Admission free for children under 12 years

Email : museodelvino@dip-valladolid.es
Tel. : +34 983881199

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