Mathern Palace, Chepstow, United Kingdom

Mathern Palace is a Grade I listed building in the village of Mathern, located south-west of Chepstow close to the Severn Estuary. Between about 1408 and 1705 it was the main residence of the Bishops of Llandaff. After falling into ruin, it was restored and its gardens laid out between 1894 and 1899 by the architectural writer Henry Avray Tipping. In recent years it has been in private hands and used as a guest house.

The palace is approached through the remains of an early 15th-century gateway, on either side of which is a cottage designed by Tipping. The main building itself has an undemonstrative irregularity, suggesting that the bishops had relatively poor resources, and modified the building incrementally.

The gardens lie to the north-west, south-east and south-west of the house. Tipping laid out terraces on the south-west facing slope, and converted the remains of medieval fishponds into ornamental ponds. To the south-east he laid out formal lawns, a kitchen garden, and a sunken rose garden, with the various elements being linked by limestone and grass walks flanked by walls and hedges. He incorporated ruined walls into the overall design, and built a rock garden on the steeper slope to the north-west of the house. Tipping also planted many trees and bushes, including a large circular arbour of yew on the highest terrace.

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Palaces, manors and town halls in United Kingdom

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Palace was built in the period 1606-34 as Christian IV’s summerhouse just outside the ramparts of Copenhagen. Christian IV was very fond of the palace and often stayed at the castle when he resided in Copenhagen, and it was here that he died in 1648. After his death, the palace passed to his son King Frederik III, who together with his queen, Sophie Amalie, carried out several types of modernisation.

The last king who used the place as a residence was Frederik IV, and around 1720, Rosenborg was abandoned in favor of Frederiksborg Palace.Through the 1700s, considerable art treasures were collected at Rosenborg Castle, among other things items from the estates of deceased royalty and from Christiansborg after the fire there in 1794.

Soon the idea of a museum arose, and that was realised in 1833, which is The Royal Danish Collection’s official year of establishment.

Sed Edwards (3 years ago)
Beautiful building

Amanda Townsend (3 years ago)

Ian Martin-Thomas (5 years ago)
Fantastic wedding venue, just like going back in history. Rooms very spacious, clean. Staff very accommodating. To the rear are some fantastic gardens. It's huge. There is a large Marquee where the wedding guests are greeted. The food is fabulous, there are portable toilets, which are state-of-the-art. The venue is layed out neatly, the Disco was in the corner, so not too loud. Nice for a treat if your looking for a tranquil weekend away. Good prices.

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Rosenborg Castle