Strangford Castle, Strangford, United Kingdom

Strangford Castle appears to be a small tower house from the late 16th century, but a blocked door of 15th century type at first floor level, seems to indicate the remodelling of an earlier tower. The current entrance, in the north-east wall, is a reconstruction, positioned by the surviving corbelled machicolation above and a socket from a draw-bar to secure the original door. The original entrance may have been on the first floor. It is a small, rectangular, three-storey tower house with no vault or stone stairway. The first floor fireplace has an oven. The ground floor chamber is lit only by small gun-loops. The roof has very fine crenellations, again with pistol-loops. The original floors, like their modern replacements, were made of wood.

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User Reviews

Andy Smith (3 years ago)
Great place to visit, especially if you are a Game of Thrones fan; though it is hard to relate the ruins to the series. Enjoyed the day walking around here and the main house is also nice to visit.

Steven Mullan (3 years ago)
If you enjoy walking this is a beautiful setting. We stayed in our motor home and on site the staff were so helpful. Facilities are clean.

Rebecca Noonan (3 years ago)
Fantastic experience with lovely staff, fabulous scenery and of course the grounds of Winterfell. Couldnt fault it at all. The guides are lovely. The grounds are beautifully kept. Well worth a visit. We had a great day. So much to see and do for all the family. I will return...but not too soon because Winter is Coming

Laura Mccartney (3 years ago)
This is the loveliest campsite. It's small, only 28 pitches, and extremely well placed- immediate access to Castleward estate and an easy 15 minute walk to the village of Strangford with its pubs and restaurants. It has a lovely welcoming atmosphere, down to the excellent warden and his attention to detail. Love it.

Gwen Patterson (3 years ago)
Met a very friendly girl on the gate on the way into the car park who was very helpful. Beautiful walks and wonderful views. Impressive grounds and very well kept. Would definitely recommend this as a place to explore.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright caminanteK

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Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians. The county became a privileged refuge for persecuted Cathars.

The castle, often besieged (notably by Simon de Montfort in 1211 and 1212), resisted assault and was only taken once, in 1486, thanks to treachery during the war between two branches of the Foix family.

From the 14th century, the Counts of Foix spent less and less time in the uncomfortable castle, preferring the Governors' Palace. From 1479, the Counts of Foix became Kings of Navarre and the last of them, made Henri IV of France, annexed his Pyrrenean lands to France.

As seat of the Governor of the Foix region from the 15th century, the castle continued to ensure the defence of the area, notably during the Wars of Religion. Alone of all the castles in the region, it was exempted from the destruction orders of Richelieu (1632-1638).

Until the Revolution, the fortress remained a garrison. Its life was brightened with grand receptions for its governors, including the Count of Tréville, captain of musketeers under Louis XIII and Marshal Philippe Henri de Ségur, one of Louis XVI's ministers. The Round Tower, built in the 15th century, is the most recent, the two square towers having been built before the 11th century. They served as a political and civil prison for four centuries until 1862.

Since 1930, the castle has housed the collections of the Ariège départemental museum. Sections on prehistory, Gallo-Roman and mediaeval archaeology tell the history of Ariège from ancient times. Currently, the museum is rearranging exhibits to concentrate on the history of the castle site so as to recreate the life of Foix at the time of the Counts.

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