Castle King John

Castle King John in Limerick

(Ireland)

In County Limerick, located in Ireland, there is a town of the same name. In its historic center, on the Royal Island surrounded by rivers Shannon and Abby, are available from the main local landmark - the castle of King John Lackland.

Like many old buildings, it has its own history. In the second half of the twelfth century, the Normans invaded Ireland. From that time began the colonization of the country by the British. Once the city of Limerick, which is situated on the banks of the River Shannon, which belonged to the Kingdom of Thomond, destroyed, burned to the ground. But the location of this town was so successful that the Anglo-Normans decided to rebuild it, and quickly done, turning Limerick in a large shopping center. It had to somehow protect against enemy invasion, so King John of England decided to build a castle here. Work began in 1200 and lasted nearly a decade.

Later the castle was improved all the time: it expanded and rebuilt, and sometimes had to rebuild after the siege, as a result he became a powerful fortress. The result was an impressive building with three round towers, thick walls, you can see the narrow loopholes. This fortress is one of the most impregnable defensive structures throughout the West Bank of Ireland. Moreover, it is a wonderful example of Norman art of building. View of the castle is particularly impressive in inclement weather.

This castle of King John Lackland is considered an important historical monument. It was reconstructed recently, in 2011 -2013 years, and now it is a museum where you can learn about the history of Limerick. Tourists walk through the offer of the courtyard, where the objects are placed and various adaptations of the life of the medieval city. All visitors can climb the ramparts, offering stunning panoramic views. Many might be interested in the remains of buildings belonging to the era of the Vikings, who have found during archaeological excavations.

On the other side of the river, where you can get over the bridge Thomond, there is a stone that is set in a historical place - here signed the famous Treaty of Limerick in 1691.

A visit to the castle should stay long in the memory, the more that see a real castle, which has witnessed many battles - the dream of many, because such historical monuments there are not too many.