Ballygally Castle, Ballygally, United Kingdom

Ballygally Castle overlooks the sea at the head of Ballygally Bay. Now run as a hotel, it is the only 17th century building still used as a residence in Northern Ireland, and is reputed to be one of the most haunted places in all of Ulster.

The castle was built in 1625 by James Shaw, of Scotland, who had come to the area and rented the land from the Earl of Antrim. Over the main entrance door to the castle, leading to the tower, is the Middle Scots inscription 'Godis Providens is my Inheritans'. The castle did come under attack, from the Irish garrison at Glenarm, several times during the rebellion of 1641 but each assault was unsuccessful. The castle was owned by the Shaw family until it passed into the hands of William Shaw in 1799. In the 1950s the castle was bought by the carpet tycoon Cyril Lord and was extended and renovated. It is now owned and run by the Hastings Hotels Group.

References:

Wikipedia

Castles and fortifications in United Kingdom

User Reviews

Elizabeth Galloway (2 years ago)
Fabulous place beautiful food excellent staff. I did get married here 28 years ago and it just gets better with every visit.

Jan Blunt (2 years ago)
What a beautiful, comfortable place to stay! We loved the seaside room with full ocean view, and walking through the lovely gardens behind the hotel. The bed was extra comfortable, and the bath with heated floor luxurious. Dinner and breakfast were excellent!! Be sure to check out the Ghost Room, but be careful climbing up the narrow tower stairs!

Christine Watson (2 years ago)
I’ve delivered training in this picturesque location twice now & dined on at least 4 different locations. Facing the sea this historic castle that I’ve been lucky to stay overnight in has rooms with views of the sea, a small beach opposite and a free car park right in front of the hotel. Full of history including stories of a ghost the hotel is managed by gentleman Norman the service is friendly and the training room was ideal for my needs. Also check out the game of thrones carved door. Found on the causeway coastal route.

natasha lafferty (2 years ago)
My husband and I have had an amazing Honeymoon experience.. The food was amazing.. Service was the best we have had in a long time.. The rooms are very warm the bed was very comfy.. we would highly recommend it.

Chef Luigi (2 years ago)
I ordered pasta and meatballs with no sauce. I told them twice not to put sauce on it and a few minutes later, they came back with sauce on it. They got it cooked again without sauce which was good. Dessert was delicious and I loved the paper straws which gave a sign that it was a eco friendly hotel and restaurant. Could go again but the staff need to improve their listening skills.

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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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