Ellie

Frank Clarke wrote:
    > On Thu, 05 Jun 2003 16:32:17 GMT, [email protected] (Hatunen) wrote:
    >
    >
    >>I will make my own opinion that Hamptpon Court Palace may be the
    >>most interesting palace you will see in the UK unless you really
    >>go for castles (a rather different thing) and have a keen
    >>interest in ramparts, moats and salients and other aspects of
    >>medieval defense systems.
    >
    >
    > Does anyone have any recommendations for old (even ruined) castles?
    > I've heard that the Dordogne valley is full of them, but I haven't
    > seen for myself.
    >

Languedoc is littered with very old castles, many in ruins. Many date
from the time of the Cathars, and are fascinating. The one in the town
of Puivert is reputed to be the birthplace of the troubadour tradition,
of the idea of courtly love, of jousting - in other words of all the
things commonly thought of as "knightly" in people's favorite "good old
days" fantasies.

This castle is a ruin, but is nonetheless a lovely place to see. I've
been there several times and not only do I always find some new
interesting feature, but it is never crowded. Often we are the only
people there.

Geoff McCaughan

Frank Clarke wrote:

    > Does anyone have any recommendations for old (even ruined) castles?
    > I've heard that the Dordogne valley is full of them, but I haven't
    > seen for myself.

Spissky Hrad http://www.spisskyhrad.sk/en.html in Slovakia is an impressive
sight. Largely a ruin though.