Castle pictures

Yep, it is.

Actually, it's first purpose was to be used as the citadel(Acropolis in greek means citadel) of the athenian community--by the way was also the place where the king lived--during the bronze age.Much like Mycenae(2nd & 3rd picture). Later, the first major temples that dominated the hilltop appeared on the hill and the kings were abolished in favor of Aristocracy, Tyranny and later Democracy. By that times was used mostly as a religious center. During the Medieval times and up to the 19th century was re-established as a castle.

Well, it's Mycenae--the capital of Agamemnon. The existing fortifications are dated from 1800-1200 BC. On top of the hill stood the palace itself--old as the walls around it...

 

Castle Koules at Heraklion Crete

 

Same Castle more photos

 

That's a beauty, Zeratul. Welcome to the forum by the way.

Here's some pictures of and from the castle of La Roche, Belgium. As with most Ardennes castles it was built up mostly by the French in the seventeeth century.

 

Fragokastelo (Frankish-Castle) Crete Greece

 

1st & 2nd : Castle of Corfu
3rd : Castle of Levadia - Central Greece (McRis forever! :lol: )

 

Thanks Zeratul.Nice to see the castle of the town of my origin here!

By the way, the castle was bult during the 14th century by Catalan mercenaries that took over the Duchy of Athens from French overlords (they took over the area after the 4th crusade).

Also pictures from Peloponnesean towns(southern Greece)

1st; Fort Palamidi, above Nafplion, built during 1700-1715 by the Venetians that had captured the town at the time.

2nd; Fort Akronafplia; The actual citadel of Nafplion used from the Mycenean times till the 19th century as seen from Palamidi.

3rd; Fort that protects the entrance of the port of Methoni

 

Also, picture of fort Bourtzi that protects the entrance to the port of Nafplion.

PS; Corfu castles,in my opinion, are among the most beautiful in Greece...

 

Restormel Castle, Cornwall.

It was originally a wooden motte & bailey. The town declined in importance, and the castle was rebuilt in stone as a shell keep, and used as a hunting lodge (basically a holiday home - the Black Prince apparently spent a Christmas there...)

The picture is taken from the bailey (or rather the area where the bailey was) towards the gatehouse of the keep.

 

the Kalemegdan fortress in Belgrade


Szigetvar fortress, site of the battle of Szigetvar

 

Corfe Castle

Originally a wooden Saxon Keep then Norman. Enlarged several times by the Norman's who initially used Saxon workers so the first and oldest stone part of the castle Keep has a herring bone pattern to the stone walls (this is how the Saxons built their walls).

The castle was never taken until the English Civil War. Even then it was surrendered to teh Parliamentarians. After the surrender they tried to destroy it by undermining the walls and setting off gunpowder charges. For the most part the walls stayed up and you can still see the effects of this at the gates to the inner keep. One side is 3 feet lower than the other as the outer wall slipped on the hill but stayed upright.

This was taken from within the gates of the outer curtain wall.
http://www.chollie.co.uk/dorset&scotland/TF4-6.JPG

This taken looking down from the gates to the inner keep, over the outer curtain wall to the town of Corfe below the castle.
http://www.chollie.co.uk/dorset&scotland/TF4-11.JPG

Loooking up at the main tower within the inner keep.
http://www.chollie.co.uk/dorset&scotland/TF4-17.JPG

Took these while down for Tankfest earlier this year.

 

Kalemegdan fortress is also a military museum with impressive collection of AFV's, guns, and small arms. Hopefully monitor Sava (ex. K.u.K. SMS Bodrog built in 1904) will be restored (according to some rumours work will begin shortly) and included in it's collection.

 

alas, i managed to miss it (my visit was like "in to see Whitesnake, one day to see the city (Marakana, Hram Svetog Save, Skadarlija), go back home").

next year...

 

Here are some more!