(photograph © Kiwidutch)
We are back to my castle visit posts… naturally I’m busy here with phone calls and emails to New Zealand as we sort out incoming and outgoing information about what’s happening with our Christchurch house and houses and workplaces of friends and family. If there is anything significant to report I will let you know.
Back in The Netherlands this post is another “teaser” since we have arrived at Castle Ammersoyen in Gelderland but have not yet gone inside.
There is however a good reason for this not only are the Kiwidutch offspring restless after the ride on the car, but the opening hours of this Castle are:
April till November, Tuesday until Sunday from 13:00 till 17:00. Only guided tours.
Himself and I allowed some additional commuting time for possible traffic problems, but on this occasion didn’t encounter any delays and arrived unexpectedly early.
The kids are delighted with this time to kill before the Castle itself opens, and go charging off down the paths like the bulls of Pompolona with nothing to chase but themselves.
Once they rounded the first corner and we were out of sight they were less brave and scuttled back quickly, even though we had almost the entire area of grounds to ourselves.
As we walked they contented themselves with snaking back and forth just ahead or just behind us, checking out “flowers” (weeds) by the canal and investigating some shells that turned up in the path.
Let’s take a look at the views around the moat…
Once we have slowly made a circuit of the grounds we approach the bridge that connects the bailey with the castle… and the excitement of what’s inside starts to build.
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Just across the field by the road is the church…
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
amazing castle pics…we have nothing even half that old in the states
Comment by steveishungry — February 26, 2011 @ 4:35 pm |
Steve,
They are certainly amazing to look at and to visit, but living in one would have been dark and cold since windows were small, insulation pretty much zero and heating totally inadequate.
With the luxury of modern life today we can enjoy all the plus points of these stunning castles without having to put up with any of the negative points, and of course it depended back then where you stood in the social scale made a big difference as to just how bad (or less bad) medieval misery really was.
Our forefathers and mothers must have been a tough bunch if you really think about it…. and to have accomplished buildings of this style and scale with the tools that they had, even more amazing.
Comment by kiwidutch — February 26, 2011 @ 6:15 pm |
Really beautiful place. The grounds are so picturesque and send one back in time…
Comment by milkayphoto — February 26, 2011 @ 7:59 pm |
There are some amazing castles in The Netherlands, we will be making a point to visit some of them each year. Stay tuned for more…
Comment by kiwidutch — February 26, 2011 @ 8:37 pm |
So beautiful. It directly shouts me for visit. The photo ammersoyen-kastel-buiten-1i-small.jpg is very beautiful, that photo I like so much.
Comment by sartenada — February 27, 2011 @ 8:33 am |
That little formal garden is stunning isn’t it? Someone who knows a lot about gardening has done a brilliant job on that, as it’s really striking and just begs you camera lens over for a photo
Maybe a visit? we love visitors
Comment by kiwidutch — February 27, 2011 @ 10:46 am |