Posts for 'Fun Places to visit' Category

Swinton Park is a 30-bedroom luxury castle hotel in Masham, Ripon, on the outskirts of Yorkshire Dales National Park.  

Set amid lush surrounds of 200 acres of lush green parkland, moorland, dales, gardens, lakes, and rivers, this former stately home belongs to the current-day Baron and Baroness Masham.

The current owner, Baron Mark Cunliffe-Lister and his wife, Baroness Felicity, bought the castle back from the Lindley Educational Trust, who were running a management training centre here, some seven years ago and refurbished it into a grand, luxury hotel.  

Sir Abstrupus Danby initially constructed the house as a manor in 1695. His successors, later, added on the stable block and the gatehouse, as well as planting the huge parkland and creating the chain of five lakes in the 1760s.  

In the following year, the manor was further altered to include the two-storey west wing, which now is the drawing room and the master suite of the hotel, as well as the north wing. A museum was also added a few years later, which now serves as the bar in the hotel. Ironically, it once served as the chapel for the family in residence.  

It was during this period that manor was formally converted into a castle with the inclusion of a tower, turrets and battlements.  

The extensive parklands surrounding the castle was landscaped by William Danby, a descendent of Sir Danby, who also created the five lakes that dotes the horizon. A stone bridge was constructed later on, connecting the five lakes as well as a walking track surrounding them.  

The best part of visiting the Guttenberg Castle is that your host none other then the Baroness Gemmingen, 18the descendent of the first Baron Von Gemmingen who moved here in 1449, and the successive generations have called this majestic castle, home.  

Situated near the historic city of Heidelberg, Guttenberg Castle was originally called the Guttenberg Knight’s Castle and dates back to 1200s. It is one of the few castles in Europe that has occupation from the beginning and hence escaped destruction, both natural and man-made.  

Built on top of a hill that hugs two valleys from either side: Neckar valley and the Muhlback valley. With its imposing tower, walls and guard towers, the castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Neckar region.  

Visitors coming here can visit its various areas, including the kitchen, spinning rooms, library, guard towers as well as the torture chamber. Bird lovers will definitely love the German Falconry show at the castle, which includes the great wing-creatures as vultures, eagles, owls and falcons.  

The castle is opened to visitors from April to October. Those wish to visit it during the other months; they may have to make an advance request for visitation.

This red-granite, manor, built in the classic Victorian style stands amid 50 acres of lush green woodlands at the base of Ben Nevis mountains in Scottish Highlands.  

Dating back to 1863, it was constructed by first Lord Abinger, near its namesake, the original Inverlochy fortress of the 13^th century.  

One of its famous visitors was Queen Victoria who ten years later of its construction visited and stayed here and was really charmed by its scenic surroundings, so much so, that she wrote in her dairies of not seeing ‘a more lovelier or romantic spot’.  

The name of the castle derives from the word, ‘Inver’ which is a Gaelic term for ‘confluence’ or ‘at the mouth of’. This refers to the River Lochy, which flows nearby. And at the junction, where the river enters the Loch of the same name, stands the aptly named old ‘Inverlochy Castle’.  

Though, the castle is now a hotel, but it retains its ‘old’ charm. It also retains all its finer splendour in the form of fine fresco ceiling, crystal chandeliers and a beautiful staircase in the Great Hall.  

It in change from a stately home to one of the finest hotels of the new century, the Inverlochy Castle has seen much change and development, not to mention, has played hosts to a number of distinguished guests, but in doing so hasn’t lost her Victorian grandeur.

This impressive 16 century Tudor castle was once the residence of Henry VIII and his wife Anne Boleyn. Queen Mary I also lived here for many years.

The grand manor cum castle is literally steeped in history.  

Thornbury Castle, or rather its predecessor, the Thornbury Manor dates back to the days of King Athelstan, grandson of King Alfred the Great, circa 945 A.D, when the Count of Flanders, Brictric, owned it. Later on, William Conqueror seized the manor along with the Count’s properties in Thornbury.  

After William died, his successor, William Rufus, granted the castle and its adjoining properties to Robert Fitzhamon, in reward for this support, and henceforth, the building passed onto this successors till in came into the hands of Edward Stafford, the third Duke of Buckingham in the early 16 century.  

Edward Stafford then fortified it into a castle and redeveloped the surroundings including the hedge gardens. In year 1521, the development work on the castle came to a halt as the Duke was beheaded by the King on charges of treason. It then passed onto this son and later to his successors.  

In 1727, the 28the descendant of the first Duke of Buckingham, William Stafford Howard sold it to his cousin, Thomas Howard, 8 Duke of Norfolk. In 1959, the Thornbury Castle changed hands again, but this time it was as a private hotel into the von Essen collection of hotels and resorts.

Constructed on a hill, over looking the historic city, the fortress was first built in the 12 century, first with wood, then later on supplemented with stones. Though, the castle is currently in ruins, a part of it, which ironically, is also its tallest structure, survives to this day – some 8 centuries later.  

Though, the castle has changed hands, many a times, but during most times, it was further rebuilt.  

During the reign of Casimir the Great, a 14 century ruler, the castle was strenghtened with stone and mortar. It was in the same period that the castle’s church, was also constructed to serve as the ruling family’s chapel.  

Later on, the fortress was further modified under the watchful eyes of Italian masters, who were brought in to decorate the halls and the main areas. This was done as the castle became a favourite residence of the then current-day royal family - members of the Jagiellon Dynasty.  

In the 17 century, the castle was felled out of favour with the royals and they moved out. It then fell into disrepair and only certain areas, including the chapel remained intact.  

During the occupation of Russian imperial forces, it serves as a prison. Later on during the WWII, Nazis also coverted into a prison, holding amongst the many prisoners, the underground resistance fighters.   Currently, the neglected castle has returned to its former glory. It now houses the Lublin Museum.

One of the 13 administrative regions of Greece, the island of Crete is also its nation’s largest island.  

Apart from being one of the major tourists attraction, the elongated shaped island, which is the second largest of all islands in East Mediterranean Sea area is home to Europe’s oldest civilization, Minoan Civilization.  

This civilization which existed from 2600 – 1400 BC, was one of the major civilizations that existed during the Bronze Age, and is literally, credited as being the ‘parent’ culture of various current-day national cultures of the Mediterranean region.  

Geographically, the island is situated some 160 kms south of the mainland, at the end of the Greek archipelago. Various seas on all sides surround it: Sea of Crete is to the north, while at the south, it is bordered by the Libyan Sea. To the east is the Karpathion Sea, and Myrtoon Sea joins it from the west.   

Apart from being the home to the oldest European civilization, Crete is also a very popular tourist destination. So much so, that fifteen percent of all arrivals to Greece comes from the islands’ main port city of Heraklion and that includes both the airport and the seaport.  

One of the grandest palaces of the historical city of St. Petersburg is the Sheremetev Palace.  

Situated on the banks of River Neva, is a pure example of Russian architecture of the eighteenth century. Though, it is not confirmed as who built this palace nor much is known about its financier, but according to records, its first aristocratic owner was Count Alexander Dmitriyevich Sheremetev of St. Petersburg, who purchased it in 1883.  

Count Sheremetev, a direct descendant of the long-established noble family of Sheremetev, who by nature of their heritage, had extensive business concerns and was one of the main aristocratic families of the region.  

The count’s family owned this palace till 1917, when it was forcibly taken by the state to housed state institutions.  

Since its construction, the palace has changed many hands. It is now back in private hands, though, now as a hotel than a private residence.

One of the best art museums in Europe is the Louisiana Art Museum, in the Dutch capital city of Copenhagen.  

Situated some 22 miles north of the city, Louisiana Art Museum sits among some of the prettiest natural settings on the island of Zealand, overlooking the Sound towards Sweden.  

Harbouring some of the great works of modern-day artists like Calder, Kiefer, Francis Bacon, Rausshenberg, Warhol and Picasso, the museum holds some six to eight major exhibitions every year, highlighting the great artists’ work as well as promoting the upcoming talent.  

The museum also boasts a children’s wing, a café, a museum shop.  

The peaceful environs of the museum, not just provide a place for exhibiting the artworks but also a fun and relaxing place for families, especially for the children to enjoy a day out.  

It is highly recommended that while visiting Copenhagen, a visit to this exquisite place should be a must.

Famed for its Art Nouveau architecture, and with a city centre that is protected as the world’s heritage site, Riga, the capital city of former USSR’s satellite region, Latvia, is truly an architect’s marvel.  

For those, not inclined much towards building formations, Art Nouveau, is building design that incorporates curvilinear designs, floral motifs and flowing patterns. It usually peaked during the beginning of the twentieth century in Europe. Many famous buildings in around the world, though, many are in Europe, are fine examples of this exquisite architectural style.  

Lined with finer examples of this style of building that includes both houses as well as public buildings; serve as a highly cultural and liberal port and commercial centre during the last days of Imperial Russia.  

Though, like many of its counterparts in Eastern Europe, Riga too suffered under the cloak of communism, but now, as a capital city of an independent state, which has also been incorporated into the EU, Latvia has seen its former glory emerging. And with it, its architectural wonders too are getting a face-lift. One best example is Riga’s Graduate School of Law, which was recently restored.

One of the best-kept secrets of Poland is its eastern city of Lublin. Capital of Poland’s administrative region of the same name, it is its nation’s ninth largest metropolitan area.  

Though, it doesn’t emerge on the normal, international tourists radar as its bigger counterparts like Warsaw and Krakow does, but it certainly posses as much charm as them.  

With landmarks like the Lublin Castle, Lublin Cathedral, Lublin Holocaust Memorial and The Trinitarian Tower there is much to do for a casual visitor. Then there is the range of fantastic eateries, great pubs and wonderful road-side cafes.