Dunvegan Castle
Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye
Dunvegan Castle is the ancestral home of the Scottish clan of MacLeod. The castle is located in the heartland of the clan on the island of Skye in the Inner Hebrides.
History and organization
Dunvegan Castle is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. It served the Clan Chiefs of the MacLeods over 800 years as a residence and is right on Loch Dunvegan. In the Victorian period, a large park was created. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, a variety of plants thrive in this system. In addition, there are two waterfalls, pergolas or a lily pond. The park can be visited as well as the castle itself.
Below the castle is a small dock for motorboats. From here, tours are offered to the seal colonies in the bay in front of Dunvegan. Over the years, some prominent people in the castle as guests, including Samuel Johnson, Sir Walter Scott, Flora MacDonald and Queen Elizabeth II were
In the 13th century the MacLeods built a first attachment on a rock. A simple shield wall protected commercial and residential buildings. Here battlements were placed to protect the defenders. Around the year 1340 was Malcolm MacLeod (III. clan chief), one of the most important leaders of the MacLeods, build the great keep.
In the 15th century, was built by Alasdair MacLeod Crotach, the eighth clan leader, the Feenturm. His four habitable floors are connected by a narrow spiral staircase.
Today's appearance
The present appearance of the castle is the result of the conversion and extension in the Victorian period. For the new 1840-1850 the Scottish architect Robert Brown was responsible. The new building was designed palatial. At the corners of the buildings were built small bay, less reminiscent of casting bay, but serve only the ornament.
Exhibition
The exhibition includes a large oil paintings of family members, Jacobite relics as well as some treasures of the clan. One of the main objects here is the Magiesche banner, which according to legend is to help the Clan MacDonald in the battle to victory once it is deployed. Furthermore, the Dunvegan Cup to see the Clan Chief Sir Rory Mor was presented by the O'Neils of Ulster as a sign of gratitude, because he supported this with his clan in the fight against the advancing troops of Queen Elizabeth I. Throughout the exhibition, photography is not permitted.
According to tradition, Malcolm said to be the third chief (1296-1370), on the way back from a secret lover ( the wife of a certain Fraser from Glenelg ) when he was attacked by a wild Glenelg Highland Cattle. Armed only with a " Dirk" he killed the animal. As a reminder of his courageous act, he kept one of the horns of the bull. This horn is considered as treasure of the clan, and it is common that each male heir of this horn must be filled with empty Claret in a train. So is Malcolm's little hanky-panky in Glenelg unforgotten until today.