Inveraray Castle, Argyll and Bute, United Kingdom

Inveraray Castle is a country house which has been the seat of the Duke of Argyll, chief of Clan Campbell, since the 17th century. Work on the castle began in the 1750s, in Gothic revival style. Later additions included a third floor with dormer windows and steep conical roofs. The village of Inveraray was moved in the 1770s to give the castle a more secluded setting.

Designers who worked on the house include William Adam and Roger Morris; the interior includes a number of neoclassical rooms created for the 5th Duke by Robert Mylne. These are among the rooms open to the public.

In 1975, a devastating fire struck Inveraray and for some time the 12th Duke and his family lived in the castle's basement, while restorations requiring a worldwide fund raising drive were carried out. Today the castle is open to visitors. Its collection includes more than 1,300 pikes, muskets, swords and other weapons.

The 13th Duke and his family live in private apartments occupying two floors and set between two of the castle's crenellated circular towers. Recent renovations included the installation of the house's first central heating.

References:

Wikipedia

Castles and fortifications in United Kingdom

User Reviews

Robert Clelland (Rab) (2 years ago)
My girlfriend went into hospital ? for an operation on her arm. So she was allowed back out the same day. So on waiting on her to come out.... I had the chance to do some travelling and got as far as Inveraray for a few hour before I had to return and collect her. It was a nice day for me too. So I had to make up and do more travelling a few days later. She can't drive for the next 2 week. Awe... The castle wasn't open today

Francis55 (2 years ago)
Bucket List when the world opens up! Watched tour on YouTube... rich history + very impressived by the innovation of the owners ! They are able to SAVE HISTORY, and open up that rich history for everyone to enjoy + make a living doing it! KUDOS

Joyful Dreams (3 years ago)
This castle is absolutely amazing! The staff is so kind and lovely. They welcomed us with a big smile and you can feel that they love their work. Also the castle is so beautiful! You feel like you're in à fairytale. You can have a little visit inside were you can learn more about the castle and who lived here. It was very interesting! At the end of the visit you can have a walk in the garden to take some nice pictures of the castle. We also stopped at the café to eat and drink something. It was nice too! And the surprise is you can see some Highland Cows. I was so happy to see some even though they were a bit away. But if you're lucky they can come closer!

Clem Dallaway (3 years ago)
Amazing, beautiful castle, steeped in history

Karyn Dickson (3 years ago)
Gorgeous place and the surroundings as well

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There are some other enclosures within the tower that create a small alcázar which is difficult to access.

In a lower area of the castle, protected with defensive remains of rammed earth and irregular masonry, is an old Muslim farmstead.

After a recent restoration, an open-air theater has been built on La Iruela castle enclosure. This theater is a tribute to the Greek and Classic Eras and holds various artistic and cultural shows throughout the year.

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The first traces of human activity in La Iruela area are dated from the Copper Age. An intense occupation continued until the Bronze Age.

Originally, La Iruela (like Cazorla) was a modest farmstead. From the 11th century, a wall and a small fortress were built on the hill to protect the farmers.

Around 1231, don Rodrigo Ximénez de Rada, Archbishop of Toledo, conquered La Iruela and made it part of the Adelantamiento de Cazorla. Over the Muslim fortress, the current fortress was built.

Once the military use of the fortress ended, it was used as cemetery.

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