Burgen Archive

Duart Castle – Ancestral Seat of the MacLeans

Duart Castle keeps a fearsome watch over the narrow sound off the Isle of Mull. More than once it’s proven the undoing of ships and their crews. For the Spaniard, this was the end of the road; here, in the dark dungeon of Duart Castle. He was an officer of the crown, once part of […]

Ardvreck Castle – MacLeod, His Daughter and the Devil

It’s easy to overlook, the ruin of Ardvreck Castle. Yet tragic stories cling to these walls – like that of MacLeod’s daughter. MacLeod’s daughter fell far. She had thrown herself down from the tower of Ardvreck Castle. But it was her own father’s heartless betrayal that had driven her up there. Her father was one […]

Cawdor Castle – A Castle With a Holly Tree and a Donkey

Cawdor Castle rises near Inverness like a proud stronghold. It’s surrounded by wonderful gardens – and deep inside, it also guards an ancient plant. According to legend, the Thane of Cawdor wanted to build a great new castle in medieval times. In a dream, he was told to load a donkey with a chest full […]

Urquhart Castle – A Castle Overlooking Loch Ness

Not much is left of it – and yet: the ruins still give a very good sense of what a magnificent castle Urquhart Castle once was. The stronghold was strategically so valuable that, in the end, it wasn’t destroyed by an enemy force – but by its own garrison. The crumbling tower of Urquhart Castle […]

Dunrobin Castle – Sutherland’s Fairy-Tale Castle

Dunrobin Castle von den Gärten aus gesehen

A castle that brings to mind Disney, Neuschwanstein and French chateaux – right in the middle of the Highlands. Dunrobin Castle offers a dream-like backdrop directly on the North Sea. The white castle, with its many small turrets, bay windows and windows, sits enthroned above a grand garden. Behind it: nothing but the open sea. […]

Fort George – a Bulwark Against the Highlands

A building conceived as a massive threat to the clans: never again shall you rise up! Even today, Fort George radiates a sense of strength and dominance – and it’s not just military history buffs who fall under the spell of the place. A cold symmetry underlies this barracks: long straight lines, steep ramps, sudden […]

Earl’s Palace – a Beautiful Lesson in Decadence

The former splendour is still easy to picture: Earl’s Palace in Kirkwall on Orkney is a thing of beauty, and at the same time a cautionary tale about the abuse of power, decadence and decline. The story behind today’s ruin is bound up with Patrick Stewart, a greedy and cruel ruler of the island who […]

Bishop’s Palace – the Moosie Toor Still Stands

An impressive round tower stands in the centre of Kirkwall on Orkney. It’s the Moosie Toor, part of the old Bishop’s Palace. The palace’s history stretches back to the days when the Norwegians still ruled over Scotland’s western isles. At first glance, the Bishop’s Palace is less impressive than Earl’s Palace right next door. Only […]

Castle of Mey – The Old Lady and the Sea

Castle of Mey, on Scotland’s rugged north coast, was the Queen Mother’s summer residence. A visit to the castle offers a glimpse into the life of this charming elderly lady – the former Queen of Great Britain. Here of all places in northern Scotland, where the North Sea and the Atlantic roar as they battle […]

Blair Castle – rich, contested and beautiful

Die Burg Blair Castle in der Region Atholl

A white castle in the heart of Scotland. The beautiful Blair Castle tells the story of Atholl spanning almost 800 years.