Heroic Dreams - All Things Medieval

You probably already know I am a big fan of medieval castles. There aren’t a whole lot of them here in the US  but there are a few that could be reasonably categorized as Medieval Castles. Anyway, there is one in New Hampshire calle Kimball Castle. It is pretty run down but still standing. I haven’t been able to make the time to go up there and visit so I ended up hiring a photographer to make the trip.

He delivered the pictures today and they are pretty neat. The place does have the reputation of being haunted and judging by some of the pictures it looks like people throw halloween parties in there! Anyway, I have posted a bunch of pictures to my facebook page and I will be doing a write up about the castle on my medieval castle website

The exterior

An amazing structure on the inside. Having been built in 1895 light was a very big consideration, thus the big beautiful skylight.

A couple of months ago I wrote a blogpost about a mysterious pair of medieval burial statues that looked like a king and a queen. Someone had sent me the picture in hopes that I could recognize them. I couldn’t recognize them but I put the word out in hopes that someone out there could. Well, we got a stroke of luck here because a web visitor (Emily) has identified these statues.

They are: Louis XVI & Marie-Antoinette (both executed 1793). These kneeling images were ordered by Louis XVIII when the remains of the King and Queen were found in the Cimetière des Innocents, Paris. This sculpture was completed in 1830. It is located in the south Transcept of Saint Denis church in Paris. You can see another picture of this monument and see more of the amazing monuments of French Kings and Queens here. You can also visit the official Saint Denis website here

I took a day trip this past weekend to a castle called Hammond Castle. It was a great day of fun and adventure and I really enjoyed the castle. I will be posting more information about it but in this blog post I thought I would take a look at the Smithy inside the castle. The Castle itself was built in the 1920 by the inventor John Hammond and even though this puts the castle at less than a hundred years old it was very much built to medieval and gothic standards. This castle is very European in build, feel and style.  And that means of course it would of had a blacksmith.

The smith inside this castle is part of the armory and is small. I have some pictures here for you to check out. They include the smiths bench with some tools on it and the forge that is built right into the wall.

This smithy is located on the second floor of one of the towers.

If you are a New Englander this is one day trip that you should really consider. It is quite an amazing experience and the castle, and it’s owner have quite a remarkable history. Hammond and his wife also delved into the occult which gives the whole place a rather spooky milieu. 

The door inside the armory which leads to the blacksmith’s shop.

The blacksmith bench with a variety of tools:

Th Forge built right into the wall of the tower:

 About Hammond Castle: It is located in Gloucester Mass. which is just a little north of boston. If you are a New Englander I highly recommend you make a day trip of this site. They only have limited open hours during the summer and in part of the season they are only open on weekends. Entrance cost me ten dollars and it’s worth every penny. Check out their website for more information: Hammond Castle Official Website

Also: A local writer has written several novels that include the Castle in the story. Pretty neat stuff.  Wicked Is the Wind: A Jeffrey Devereaux–Kirsten Eriksson Novel

More Information about the Castle including a video: I am putting together pictures, information and video about Hammond castle on my Medieval Castle website here: A look inside a medieval castle

That headline sounds a bit like reaching for the stars but…. there are some astonishing deals going on in eastern Europe right now. Of course there are plenty of wonderful castles to be had in France and Tuscany in Italy these tend to be pricey. But in eastern european countries like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and in particular East Germany there are a lot of amazing castles and manor houses that are available for practically a steal. They of course need work but isn’t that part of the fun of owning a castle? For me part of the work would be to add internet access and a large screen tv

So, How exactly do you buy and renovate a medieval european castle or manor house? Well, you go to the experts and I have an article here that was written for this blog and my medieval castle website by two such experts. Enjoy and let me know if you do buy a castle!
 
“FOR SALE”: Old Castles in Europe
by Helga van Horn and Stephen Ferrada

Castles are everywhere!…if you know where to find them. In Europe, East Germany to be precise, has become a kind of “Wal-Mart” for castle shopping…

Think “castles” and most Americans think Walt Disney towers, turrets and dungeons. There are a few of those still around but the bulk of castles and manor houses in Europe are baroque and either restored to perfection or falling down. Many are in-between, still habitable, and at prices most Americans can only dream about.

To refresh the memory, a short historical recap: Castles were traditionally built to defend and not to impress, particularly between the 12th and 16th century in Europe. From the mid 16th century on the Renaissance period introduced home comforts such as paned windows, fireplaces and ornamental details, followed again by the 18th century baroque period when towers and battlements gradually disappeared.

Instead of defense, prestige and elegance took over. Buildings adopting larger windows, wooden parquet flooring, tiled stoves for heating and on. An abundance of crests, coat of arms and many decorative highlights became evident, gardens and parks laid out in the English style incorporating lakes and fountains became all the rage. To be involved with building such a castle was clearly an emotionally challenging and creative experience for all concerned.

Later, into the 19th century, the desire to combine the romantic Renaissance architecture with “modern” convenience led to a flush of imitation “Neo-Gothic” designs. High turrets and towers flourished again, their popularity outstripping supply, even today.

Before deciding the type of castle one would like it is important to decide where it should be. France and Tuscany in Italy are still very popular locations although it must be said that the conveyancing procedures in France can be complicated and expensive while property in Italy (mostly manor houses rather than castles) are considerably more expensive than elsewhere in Europe.

2) The richest selection of castles and manor houses are to be found in the eastern states of former East Germany, followed by more eastern countries, like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and others.

It has been said that looking for castles in East Germany is equivalent to a small child in a candy store…the opportunities are rich indeed but great care is needed to make the right choice. This part of Europe is positively dripping in recent and not-so-recent history, bordering on the old Austro-Hungarian Empire with the great historic cities Prague, Vienna and Budapest within easy driving distance from any of the eastern Germany states.

After the end of WWII and the introduction of the communist “Land Reform” laws in 1945, virtually all private castles and manor houses were confiscated by the authorities for municipal purposes. The bare minimum in repairs were carried out over the 40 some years of the GDR (German Democratic Republic.) The situation worsening after the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the end of Communism. Many historical buildings were simply left standing empty and unattended for nearly 20 years, while others were sold to speculators in the early 1990´s who mostly did nothing to hinder further decay.

As a result many ancient castles and manor houses have suffered…but they are still standing and are serviceable, a credit to their original superb build quality. Combining solid condition with good location there are many “gems” to be had. Take the baroque 1685 built knight´s castle in the Saxon village of Klingenberg (www.poshjourneys.com). Selling price 40.000 US dollars, with a spiral sandstone staircase and magnificent rural views to die for…

Sure there are a few problems and it needs full restoration but 300.000 dollars could make it habitable (in part at least). A genuine baroque baronial residence for the price of a condo in an large American city!

Buying property in Germany could not be easier. Non-German nationals can buy property outright, conveyancing is straight-forward and reasonable. However…it is essential to have a knowledgeable consultant on hand, somebody familiar with the purchase procedures, who can help and advise about restoration plans and who speaks the language. The fees paid for such a person is worth every red cent spent!

Let´s face it…the dream of your very own castle or ancient manor house in Europe is a very seductive one. Yet it is only the fortunate few, with ample funds, who can avoid getting their hands dirty. For most of us some kind of…

3) …fixing-up is unavoidable. But problems with municipal services, historical building authorities, and countless other unforeseeable issues can create headaches for all buyers, with or without limitless funds…hence the need for a good and reliable consultant.

If you do decide to buy a “fixer-upper” it is vital to have the funds for the full purchase price lined up as well as the most urgent repairs which may require a professional contractor. German banks will not give loans to non-nationals. It is essential to budget for all the incidental expenses including daily living if you want to live in the castle yourself, as well as the likely on-going restoration costs. With careful planning a whole family could move into an unfinished building earlier than at first imagined.

In case financing is a problem why not team up with other “castle-fans” creating a partnership and pool resources to buy (and restore) the castle of your dreams? This way the purchase price and restoration costs can become surprisingly affordable. This writer, together with three partners, bought a castle near Leipzig in Saxony and has first hand experience of what is involved in buying and running it.

The author of this article, together with associate Manfred Pawlik (specialist in castle restoration) and Englishman Stephen Ferrada, both of whom have valuable experience related to buying and restoring historical property, have all bought their own dream properties in East Germany. The highs and lows of castle ownership, the tears and laughter, have all been experienced.

And there has never been a better time “to take the plunge”…the dollar hitting a two year high against the Euro recently.

For more details and pictures of castles that are for sale go to:

http://www.poshjourneys.com/castles_as_an_investment.htm

And if you are interested in medieval castles be sure to check out my website where I have everything about them including floor plans and more. Medieval Castles

This is something that I dream about. How about an 12th century castle in France? Sound pretty good? It gets better. How about it being where Richard the Lionhearted lived? and is buried?

This castle is absolutely magnificent and, according to the sales website, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt considered it.  I guess it is in their price range.

A little bit about the Castle.

It was built in 1179 and it has seen a whole lot of history and action. It was destroyed and rebuilt a couple of times over the centuries and it played a role in the Crusades, the French Revolution, and the Hundred Years War.

Something quite beautiful about this castle is the way it has embraced and merged the past with the new. It still retains its heritage and its status as a historic momument with all the rustic charm that entails -yet it has been upgraded to all the modern amenities like a Theater, Jacuzzi, satellite TV, DSL, while still keeping a Chapel, Great Hall and more. It is currently being operated as a private hotel with 15 Guest bedrooms.

You can learn more about this castle by visiting the official sales website here: Montbrun Castle for sale You can also see more pictures, get more information and even see the floor plans.