Gylen Castle, Argyll and Bute, United Kingdom

Gylen Castle was built in 1582 by the Clan MacDougall. Gylen was only occupied for a relatively short period of time. The castle was besieged then burned by the Covenanters under General Leslie in 1647 during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

In May 2006 a restoration of the castle was completed with a £300,000 grant by Historic Scotland and £200,000 raised by worldwide members of Clan MacDougall.

References:

Wikipedia

Castles and fortifications in United Kingdom

User Reviews

Timothy Motley (20 months ago)
Our fourth time visiting the bay and the castle here. A nice walk to get to the castle (we saw buzzards, a kestrel, and a pair of sea eagles on our way). The castle itself has an interesting history which you can read about on the information signs and the views from the castle are spectacular. In wet weather the path can be very muddy and slippery.

Howard Boothby (2 years ago)
Stunning castle on the isle of Kerrera the views out to Mull on a clear day are fantastic.

Saskia S. (2 years ago)
Gylen Castle is one of those ruins that, by itself, wouldn’t really be worth it. But to me it’s always about the experience. Taking that little ferry over to Kerrera, hiking through green hills with nothing but sheep around, and ending up at ruins that sit beautifully atop a cliff with its little hilly path leading up to it is 100% worth the journey. The hike is about 2-3 hours from where you get off the ferry, depending on how fast you are and on how often you stop to take photos. Make sure to catch the ferry back to mainland or your stuck on Kerrera. I would have loved to see more of the island, but we got there a bit too late and it is larger than expected. Oh and watch out for all the sheep poop. It is seriously everywhere!

Anil Chakravorty (2 years ago)
This stone structure is a historical piece, this 16th century constructed structure is well maintained, The walls are encrypted with the ancient language describing the heritage of ancient times. Nice place. Visitors come here to explore more from this place. Great place.

Stuart Spreadborough (2 years ago)
A very well maintained historical piece. Well signed and annotated. Not easily reached for those that are less able. Lovely views from all directions as you would expect from a castle.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Maciek Lulko

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Wroclaw Town Hall

The Old Town Hall of Wrocław is one of the main landmarks of the city. The Old Town Hall's long history reflects developments that have taken place in the city since its initial construction. The town hall serves the city of Wroclaw and is used for civic and cultural events such as concerts held in its Great Hall. In addition, it houses a museum and a basement restaurant.

The town hall was developed over a period of about 250 years, from the end of 13th century to the middle of 16th century. The structure and floor plan changed over this extended period in response to the changing needs of the city. The exact date of the initial construction is not known. However, between 1299 and 1301 a single-storey structure with cellars and a tower called the consistory was built. The oldest parts of the current building, the Burghers’ Hall and the lower floors of the tower, may date to this time. In these early days the primary purpose of the building was trade rather than civic administration activities.

Between 1328 and 1333 an upper storey was added to include the Council room and the Aldermen’s room. Expansion continued during the 14th century with the addition of extra rooms, most notably the Court room. The building became a key location for the city’s commercial and administrative functions.

The 15th and 16th centuries were times of prosperity for Wroclaw as was reflected in the rapid development of the building during that period. The construction program gathered momentum, particularly from 1470 to 1510, when several rooms were added. The Burghers’ Hall was re-vaulted to take on its current shape, and the upper story began to take shape with the development of the Great Hall and the addition of the Treasury and Little Treasury.

Further innovations during the 16th century included the addition of the city’s Coat of arms (1536), and the rebuilding of the upper part of the tower (1558–59). This was the final stage of the main building program. By 1560, the major features of today’s Stray Rates were established.

The second half of the 17th century was a period of decline for the city, and this decline was reflected in the Stray Rates. Perhaps by way of compensation, efforts were made to enrich the interior decorations of the hall. In 1741, Wroclaw became a part of Prussia, and the power of the City diminished. Much of the Stray Rates was allocated to administering justice.

During the 19th century there were two major changes. The courts moved to a separate building, and the Rates became the site of the city council and supporting functions. There was also a major program of renovation because the building had been neglected and was covered with creeping vines. The town hall now has several en-Gothic features including some sculptural decoration from this period.

In the early years of the 20th century improvements continued with various repair work and the addition of the Little Bear statue in 1902. During the 1930s, the official role of the Rates was reduced and it was converted into a museum. By the end of World War II Town Hall suffered minor damage, such as aerial bomb pierced the roof (but not exploded) and some sculptural elements were lost. Restoration work began in the 1950s following a period of research, and this conservation effort continued throughout the 20th century. It included refurbishment of the clock on the east facade.

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