Castles

MANHATTAN — Central Park’s Belvedere Castle and a pair of playgrounds will be closed at the end of the summer and early fall for major reconstruction work, officials said. The Central Park Conservancy is planning to restore the 146-year-old castle and renovate the Bernard Family Playground and the Billy Johnson Playground as part of its “Plan for Play” program, … Continue reading »

So: a castle; 150 students – what could go wrong? They all seem to be very well-behaved, but surely there’s some horseplay. “Some people like to get drunk and come to the moat,” says one girl. “One guy fell off the bridge backwards,” confides another, though she adds that he didn’t get hurt. In many … Continue reading »

Preston Castle has opened up to visitors for the 2017 season. The Romanesque-style castle, built on a hill in Ione, was once the administration building for the Preston School of Industry. Opened in 1894, Preston’s mission was to rehabilitate young boys convicted of crimes rather than imprisoning them. Boys who attended the school were given … Continue reading »

KYOTO–Nijo Castle’s main gate is looking back to its majestic best after the completion of extensive repair to the entrance of the UNESCO World Heritage site in this ancient capital. Higashi Ote-mon (East main gate), as the structure in Kyoto’s Nakagyo Ward is called, is designated an important cultural property by the central government. The … Continue reading »

Prague is an incredible city, full of beautiful sights. There are fine dining and high-class hotels, but if you’re on a budget, those things may be further from your reach. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some of the history and entertainment that Prague has to offer, though. In fact, there are some totally free … Continue reading »

In June 1667, the diarist John Evelyn sat on “the hill above Gillingham” watching the greatest humiliation ever inflicted on the English navy. Many of the king’s best ships were burning, sunk or being towed away before his eyes, as the Dutch fleet sailed almost unopposed up the river Medway. “The Dutch … were fallen … Continue reading »

Two new tourist attractions are to be opened at Romania’s famous Bran Castle (also known as Dracula’s Castle) this year, namely the Tea House and a secret “time tunnel.” The Tea House, which dates from 1920, will be opened on April 11. It will give the tourists the chance to drink a tea or a … Continue reading »

March Madness is over — at least for New York’s tourist attractions — and Boldt Castle in Alexandria Bay came out on top. Tourism officials rounded up 32 of the state’s best warm-weather destinations and faced them off in a March Madness-style bracket. Boldt ended up in first, with Letchworth State Park in second, Bear … Continue reading »

Whether you are a fan of Disneyland, Disney World, Tokyo Disney Resort or one of his other attractions around the world, you know Walt Disney loved his castles. Gene Duncan/Disney Parks via Getty Images But while wedging your way through the crowd towards Cinderella and Prince Charming, autograph book in hand, did you ever stop and wonder where … Continue reading »

Lews Castle reaches Great British Buildings Restoration of the Year final 31815834-4dcc-4667-b4ba-3e8c09b40bdd Lews Castle on the Island of Lewis has been announced as a finalist in a restoration competition which has been featured on Channel 4. The castle has been named joint winner in the competition’s Victorian category, alongside Mount Stewart in Ireland. Lews Castle … Continue reading »