Overview:

Tantallon Castle is a medieval fortress located in County Down, Northern Ireland. It stands on a rocky headland overlooking the Irish Sea and is one of the best preserved castles in the country. The castle is believed to have been built in the late 13th century, and it is the seat of the Viscounts Downpatrick. It has four great towers that were defended by machicolations and walls. The castle was heavily besieged by troops from Scotland and England in the 16th century and remains in quite good condition today. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Ireland
Prominent Features:

1. Tower House: Tantallon Castle features a prominent tower house which is situated on a rocky promontory overlooking the Firth of Forth. The castle was originally built in the mid-14th century and sits atop a rocky promontory on the southern side of the Forth estuary. 2. Entrance Gates: An impressive entrance gateway is located at the west side of the castle, which was later strengthened by gunports and a drawbridge, leading to the inner courtyard. 3. Remaining walls and walls: Many of the walls surrounding the castle still remain, along with the curtain wall which encloses the inner bailey. At the heart of the inner courtyard is the massive gatehouse, which was the last line of defence against attackers. 4. Courtyard and Inner Hall: The main courtyard was a pleasant area for relaxation before leading to the main hall. The inner hall was the home for the noble family and it is still a very impressive part of the castle today. 5. Castle Keep: A defensive tower or 'keep' was the most important feature of the castle, usually located at the highest point. Tantallon Castle has a well-preserved keep in the northeast corner of the castle which still stands today. 6. Complex of Buildings: The castle also had a complex of buildings including a bakery, dovecote and stables. These buildings have since been destroyed, with only part of the vaulted corridor and staircase remaining. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Ireland.

History:

Tantallon Castle is a medieval castle located in County Down in Northern Ireland, 5 miles west of Ballynahinch. The castle is situated high on a basalt outcrop overlooking a bay on Strangford Lough. The oldest part of the castle is believed to have been built around 1420 by Eoin Mac Suibhne, a local Gaelic chief, and is thought to have been used to defend the area against the O’Neills. In 1460, it was sold to the Earl of Anglesey, who then sold it to the Earl of Ormond in 1483. Following this, it went back and forth between different families and interests as the feudal system allowed for many transfers of ownership. During this time, the castle was often used for defensive purposes, but it was not until the 1540s that it was actually fortified. The castle was damaged during the national uprising of 1641 but was later restored by Sir Robert Stewart of Moncur in 1663. For many years, the castle was the home of the Stewarts of Tobermore until the early 1800s, when it was sold to the Hon. Henry Inchiquin. The castle then fell into a state of neglect and disrepair, but it was finally taken over by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency in 1985. Today, it is located on the Edge of Down Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has been open to the public since 2002. Visit one of the famous monuments of Ireland with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Tantallon Castle, located in East Lothian, Scotland is one of the largest surviving medieval fortresses in Scotland. 2. It was built in the late fourteenth century by William Douglas, the First Earl of Douglas. 3. It has a distinctive 'L' shaped plan, with a four-storey donjon, a long courtyard within two sets of curtain walls, and four corner towers. 4. Famous poet, Robert Burns, stayed in the castle for a night in June, 1787, an experience that inspired the poem ‘Tantallon Castle’. 5. Tantallon Castle was the home of one of the most powerful families in Scotland, the Douglas Clan. 6. The stronghold was used as a defensive base many times during its history, and was captured by the Earl of Northumberland in the 15th century, and then by the English in 1542. 7. The castle underwent a series of renovations during the 19th century, including the construction of a large observatory. 8. It is now owned by Historic Scotland, and is open to the public for tours. One of the historical monuments of Ireland, it tells the story of a bygone era