Caldicot Castle, Caldicot, United Kingdom

Caldicot Castle is an extensive stone medieval castle, built near the site of Harold Godwinson's former Saxon castle by the Norman earls of Hereford from about 1100. Humphrey III de Bohun was the probable builder, in about 1170, of the stone keep and curtain walls of the present-day castle. The Bohun family held the manor and castle of Caldicot for more than two centuries, over eight generations.

In 1381, Essex was convulsed by the Peasants' Revolt. This may be why Thomas decided to spend part of that year in Caldicot. During his stay he gave orders for major new work to be done on the castle. A new gatehouse and drawbridge were constructed. At the rear of the castle a dovecote was replaced by a new tower with private chambers, now known as the Woodstock tower. At the foot of the Woodstock tower two carved stones were to be placed, one marked 'Thomas' the other 'Alianore'.

In the 16th-17th centuries Caldicot Castle was evidently neglected, fell into ruin and became little more than a farmyard. In 1964, Chepstow Rural District Council bought the castle. The building, including a small museum, was opened to the public in 1965.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Rose Gilbert (7 months ago)
Lovely day out with the kids. It has a small shop where you can buy souvenirs/drinks/ice creams et . They've created lots of shade within the castle grounds to stop and eat. Don't forget to wander down to the lake to feed the ducks. One of my favourite places to go with the kids. Cheap day out ?(parking is free)

sue wingett (7 months ago)
We loved it! We only came across it by accident on a quick day trip into Wales from Dorset! If it wasn't for the 20mph speed limit on all the roads we took to find it, we would go again, but those speed limits were excruciating for trying to get around, but the Castle itself, and the country park were wonderful. Lots of space, great for dog walking, and what looked like a good kids playing area too.

clint w (17 months ago)
First day on holiday. first time on holiday in wales.visited caldicot castle. droned it. staff were very considerate. well, once I proved evidence of competency and public liability insurance. Staff were superb actually. Well done guys, you are a perfect example of how staff should react when mater's like drone work transpires. hats off to you.

chris penn (18 months ago)
Small but pleasant country park. When we last visited, (June 2021) the Castle itself was closed, but there is a small coffee kiosk near the car park and there are also public toilets. The park itself is a mix of fields and woodland, with a small lake/pond. Easy to spend an hour or so here. My dog loves it.

Emily van der Heijden (18 months ago)
An amazing public park! The playground is great for small kids. We love visiting the pond to see the ducks, running around the dry moat and playing hide and seek within the castle walls. There are public toilets near the playground, and more near the small cafe inside the castle. Everything you need for a pleasant day outside in the fresh air.

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Les Invalides

Les Invalides is a complex of buildings containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building"s original purpose. The buildings house the Musée de l"Armée, the military museum of the Army of France, the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, and the Musée d"Histoire Contemporaine, as well as the burial site for some of France"s war heroes, notably Napoleon Bonaparte.

Louis XIV initiated the project in 1670, as a home and hospital for aged and unwell soldiers: the name is a shortened form of hôpital des invalides. The architect of Les Invalides was Libéral Bruant. The enlarged project was completed in 1676, the river front measured 196 metres and the complex had fifteen courtyards. Jules Hardouin Mansart assisted the aged Bruant, and the chapel was finished in 1679 to Bruant"s designs after the elder architect"s death.

Shortly after the veterans" chapel was completed, Louis XIV commissioned Mansart to construct a separate private royal chapel referred to as the Église du Dôme from its most striking feature. Inspired by St. Peter"s Basilica in Rome, the original for all Baroque domes, it is one of the triumphs of French Baroque architecture. The domed chapel is centrally placed to dominate the court of honour. It was finished in 1708.

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The building retained its primary function of a retirement home and hospital for military veterans until the early twentieth century. In 1872 the musée d"artillerie (Artillery Museum) was located within the building to be joined by the Historical Museum of the Armies in 1896. The two institutions were merged to form the present musée de l"armée in 1905. At the same time the veterans in residence were dispersed to smaller centres outside Paris. The reason was that the adoption of a mainly conscript army, after 1872, meant a substantial reduction in the numbers of veterans having the twenty or more years of military service formerly required to enter the Hôpital des Invalides. The building accordingly became too large for its original purpose. The modern complex does however still include the facilities detailed below for about a hundred elderly or incapacitated former soldiers.

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