Castle Tour

Welcome! 

Hand cut by inkspired

“Every man deserves a castle;

doesn’t matter how big your castle is.”

- Big Narstie

Let’s take a little tour of some European castles! I have ordered them, loosely, from oldest to newest.

First up -

Prague Castle; 

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague Castle was built around 880 AD. It holds the Guinness World Record for the largest castle, at 70,000 square meters. It has been added and renovated throughout the years resulting in many different architectural styles, including Romanesque and Gothic.

“If a castle gets destroyed, 

you just build a new one. If you wanted me to 

I’d build them over and over. 

Let’s build them together.”

- Fuyumi Soryo

Here is a coloring page of a similar castle.

2. Killyleagh Castle; 

Killyleagh, Northern Ireland

In 1180 a fortification was built on fortress ruins. In 1625 King James I gave this land to James Hamilton (who later became First Viscount Claneboye). Since then it has been the home of the Hamilton family.

This chart helps us with some of the specialty words used for castles.

WordUnited.com

Perhaps a princess like this lived here!

Here is a princess you can draw-

Activityvillage.co.uk

3. Arundel Castle;

Arundel, England

Built in the 11th century (approximately 1067)it was restored throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Primarily built in the Gothic architecture style, it was originally motte-and-bailey style. It has extensive gardens and has been the backdrop for many movies and tv series such as Dr. Who, The Young Victoria and even an episode of Wonder Woman.

What’s motte-and-bailey style, you ask?

Here’s a nice diagram from

Britishcastle.co.uk

Wouldn’t it be fun if all the castles in the air which we make could come true and we could live in them?

- Louisa May Alcott

4. Kreuzenstein Castle;

Leobendorf, Austria

Built on the remains of a 12th century medieval castle, Kreuzenstein Castle was destroyed in the 30 years’ war. It was intended to be a Wilczek family vault, rather than a place to live. It is currently made from sections of medieval structures purchased from all over Europe, taking 30 years to complete.

Why not try to draw your own castle? 

Found on Pinterest

Or you could make a castle card, like this one-

Cut with a Sizzix die

If there is one door in the castle you have been told not to go through, you must. Otherwise, you’ll just be rearranging furniture in rooms you’ve already been in.

- Anne Lamott 

5. Cesis Castle;

Cesis, Latvia

In 1209 Cesis Castle was first built as a stone chapel, and a chapter house. In 1577 Ivan the Terrible laid siege to it. Rather than be captured or killed, 300 people inside committed mass suicide by blowing themselves up with their remaining gunpowder.

“The castle walls remind us that united the Latvian people are invincible.”

- Mayor Rudolf Kaucis

This how-to will help you learn how to draw your own knights -

Here is a different how-to -

6. Huis Bergh Castle;

Heerenberg, Netherlands

It is one of the largest castles in the Netherlands. Now a museum, it is famous for its’ medieval art and collection of medieval handwriting. At one point it was a priest seminary. Built in 1240, a major fire decimated it in 1735. In 1912 it was rebuilt, only to have another major fire in 1939. This time it was in renovation until 1941.

Here’s a fun maze to do -

and another castle you can draw -

7. Butron Castle Gatica;

Basque Country, Northern Spain

Found in the Basque area of the country, this fantasy castle goes back to the 14th century. It was rebuilt in 1878 in the Gothic Revival style. It is a protected building of Spain, and is not open to the public inside. It is a modern castle with a fairytale look reminiscent of Bavarian castle models.

Here is a paint by number castle -

Paperthinpersonas has drawn a knight paper doll in both color and black and white for you to color. After cutting out, glue the paper doll to the back of a thin piece of cardboard such as a cereal box. Leave his armor as paper.

8. Chateau de Chambord;

Loire Valley, France

This Chateau was built from 1519 - 1547 to be used by King Francis I as a hunting lodge. Built in the French Renaissance style it has 440 rooms with 282 fireplaces and 84 stair cases!

King Francis I

A medieval style has a long corridor with doors/rooms on either side.

Renaissance style groups rooms together, to form self contained suites.

Here is yet another way to draw a castle -

9. Marienburg Castle

Hildesheim, Germany

King George V built this castle (1858 - 1867) as a birthday present for his wife, Marie of Saxe-Altenburg. It is an example of Gothic Revival architecture. It is currently closed for renovations, with an estimated opening of 2030.

HM Queen of Hanover Marie Saxe-Altenburg Duchess of Cumberland and Brunswick with Princess Marie of Hanover. Artist: Wilhelm von Kaulbach

Here is a fun dot-to-dot game -

- and a jumping Jack type puppet/paper doll. Glue your knight onto thin cardboard  to make him sturdy enough for play.

10. Adverikie Castle;

Scottish Highlands, Scotland

This 19th century castle sits on 40,000 acres. The Scottish baronial style was rebuilt in 1871 after a major fire. The estate holds the oldest (and famous) deer forest with the same ownership for over 150 years. It has been featured in several movies and tv series, such as Monarch of the Glen, episodes of Miss Marple (Agatha Christie) and Netflix’s series The Crown.

Here is a prince and another princess for you to draw -

and another dot-to-dot -

I have enjoyed this small tour of a few European castles. I hope you have also!

I would love to hear from you, so please feel free to leave me some feedback.

Is there something you would like to know more about? I am always open to new ideas for blogs.

‘Til next time,

inkspired

A few sites I visited while researching for this blog, in no particular order:

TripAdvisor.com

Eiffel.info

Countryliving.com

ardverikie.com

Castellinelmondo.altervista.org

Arundelcastle.org

wisesayings.com

AZquotes.com

worldatlas.com

Oldest.org

Pinterest

Expedia.com

en.wikipedia.org

Britannica.com

Where is Latvia?

 sveiti

(Hello in Latvian)

Today let’s travel to Latvia.

Why Latvia?

Because I have readers that live there and I knew nothing about the country! And because I love to learn about different people and their customs, from all over the world.

 Venta Rapid waterfall, Latvia

Latvia has a long recorded history. It is a European country that sits among Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, the Baltic Sea and Russia.

Its land size is about the size of West Virginia (small!).

Dreamstime stock photo

Latvia has been under the rule of Germany, Poland, Sweden, Russia and U.S.S.R.  What started as a group of Eastern Baltic tribes merging in 812 AD, Latvia didn’t regain independence until 1991. Russian troops were still stationed there until 1994.

Castle of the Livonian Order, 

It is a parliamentary republic. 

Freedom Monument, Riga, Latvia

Riga is the capitol, and probably the most popular tourist attraction in the country. 

Riga, Latvia

Latvia has 3 UNESCO World Heritage Site designations, the first being Old Town or Historic Center of Riga.

Riga; Lasma Plone, Travel Blogger

Riga was founded in 1201.

From the 12th t0 15th centuries it was a key center for trading and cultural routes between the West and the East.

Orthodox Church, Riga, Latvia

In the 17th century Riga became the largest provincial town of Sweden.  Wooden buildings were built in a neo-classical style, creating suburbs surrounding the medieval city.

Ruhnu Church built in 1644

In the 19th century suburbs were laid out, surrounding the wooden buildings of the 17th century, which surround the medieval part of town. Art Nouveau was all the rage. Riga became a showcase of Art Nouveau architecture, with 50 high value architectures around the medieval part, and 300 scattered further out still standing today!

Lasma Plone Travel Blogger

The Vintage News

A second World Heritage Site is found in the western part of Latvia - Old Town Kuldiga. It started as a small medieval hamlet, and by the 16th century had grown to be a major administrative center. It still retains most of its’ original layout, including the log architecture and foreign influenced styles of the day, through the 18th century.

Papes National Park, Latvia

The 3rd World Heritage Site is part of 

The Struve Geodetic Arc.

Monument to the Struve Geodetic Arc

This is a chain of survey triangulations that run from Hammerfest, Norway to the Black Sea; through 10 countries and is 2,820 km long.

Say what?

It was the first accurate measurement of a meridian.

A mer-what?

Let’s put it this way. No one really knew how big Planet Earth was, and by doing this Arc, it was a first step in finding that out! Another amazing part - astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve made these calculations from 1816 - 1855! Think about it. He spent 40 years with no visible income to establish a mathematical equation that no one could see!

An amazing historical fact is there were a minimum of 10 different regents/kings/bigwigs who had to get along, agree, and approve this.

Map of Struve Geodetic Arc

And now for something completely different:

The state bird is the White Wagtail.

Here’s a coloring page for you.

ViviaiArt

The national flower is the Oxeye Daisy.

Let’s color a few!

Perhaps you’d like to draw your own bouquet -

Rockpainting101

Vector by Freepik

This is the Latvian flag:

Here are a few words you can learn in Latvian:

Latvia is known for their national dance.

These next photos were taken at Dance Festivals.

Dance Festival, Wojtek

Latvian Dance Festival

Latvia has natural resources of peat, limestone, timber and amber to name a few.

Here are some examples of Latvian amber:

VisitLatvia

Julliie Chaya Holder-Goldberger

Latvia exports things like lumber, wheat, broadcasting equipment & hard liquor.

Latvia has 99.9 % literacy rate, with 91% internet users, along with 22.5% live below the poverty level!

Weaving wreaths for Midsummer Festival

Just over 36% in Latvia say they are of the Lutheran religion. 19.5% are Catholic.

20.7% are other Christians.

Church in Cesis, Latvia

In addition to the places I have mentioned Latvia is also known for medieval castles, seaside resorts, palace museums, the widest waterfall in Europe, symbolic embroidery patterns centuries old, and gothic cathedrals.

Too much to squish into one blog, and that’s a lot for a tiny country!

Wordpress.com

Susan E, Pinterest

Pinterest 

After I research a country I always see so many things I want to go and visit!

Latvian countryside; photo credit: Peter Fenda

Rundale Palace and museum

Nickname “The Baltic Versailles”

Well, my Latvian readers, I have described your beautiful country as best I can in a short space. I hope you approve.

‘Til next time,

inkspired

A few websites I visited for info:

bmandarins.com>blog

european-union.europa.eu

Latvia.eu

Wikipedia

CIA.gov

Travelawaits.com

bittersouthern.com

LibraryofCongress.gov

Kaleidoscope by inkspired