Monty Python's Castles

[ardvorlich]

Doune Castle appears numerous times in Monty Python and the Holy Grail notably as Camelot, the Castle of Guy de Lombard (with Trojan Rabbit), Swamp Castle where Sir Lancelot causes chaos at the wedding, and Castle Anthrax where Sir Galahad has an interesting offer!











The last one is the view from castle from where The Trojan Rabbit was brought up to the walls
Ian I'm sorry I couldn't make the Scotland meet as I would have pointed this place out as it's between Dunblane and Callender and you probably drove through Doune
Cheers Iain

[EH1]

Re: Monty Python's Castles

A great set of pictures......Well done!

[Moneypenny2k]

Re: Monty Python's Castles

Lovely set of castles, love the last shot with the birds.

[Ellie]

Re: Monty Python's Castles

Nice group of pictures, it's a really interesting castle.

I always thought it was strange/odd/unusual (don't know which is the best word) that Scottish castles look more like their European counterparts than the heavily fortified ones in England and Wales.

[Andrew Riddell]

Re: Monty Python's Castles

[QUOTE=I always thought it was strange/odd/unusual (don't know which is the best word) that Scottish castles look more like their European counterparts than the heavily fortified ones in England and Wales.[/QUOTE]

I'm not sure what you mean here, unless you're thinking of the lack of outworks (which depend on the suitability of the site) or flanking towers. Castles are one of my interests, so I'd like to pursue this!

Andrew

[ardvorlich]

Re: Monty Python's Castles

Thanks all for looking.Andrew I think that the main difference stems from the massive French and Italian control within Scotland at the time of construction.Stewart Duke of Albany who originally built Doune Castle would have based his design on the French court style more than a defensive fortress.The same is true of Stirling Castle.Mary Queen of Scots was known to use Doune as a hunting lodge and would have held court there.
Cheers Iain

[Jim Ford]

Re: Monty Python's Castles

My understanding is that the heavily fortified castles in Wales (Canarvon, Conwy, etc.), were built by Edward the 1st to subdue and intimidate the Welsh. 'The Hammer of the Scots' may have intimidated the Scots, but never got around to subduing them!

Jim

[Ellie]

Re: Monty Python's Castles

I'm not sure what you mean here, unless you're thinking of the lack of outworks (which depend on the suitability of the site) or flanking towers. Castles are one of my interests, so I'd like to pursue this!

Andrew

I remember my first ever sight of a Scottish castle, and thought it looked more like a very big, tall, stately home than something fortified.

Thinking about it now, I suppose it's because I've always accepted castles as being something very strong, for defence, rather than as an ancestral home because even the smallest ones I'd seen had a keep (often built on a mound) that is surrounded by a defensive wall of some kind, that local people could retreat behind if they were in trouble.

[Andrew Riddell]

[Ellie]

Re: Monty Python's Castles

Yes, you're right. Mostly those in the north east, although excluding Dunnottar which we never managed to get to because when we were free to visit the weather was always too bad.

[Andrew Riddell]

Re: Monty Python's Castles

Yes, you're right. Mostly those in the north east, although excluding Dunnottar which we never managed to get to because when we were free to visit the weather was always too bad.

Yes, Dunnottar is a bit of climb (out and back) at the best of times and in the best weather! Interestingly, its tower house dates back to the late 1300s, so about a hundred years before Doune (which is where we came in).

Andrew