When The Middle Ages Returned

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In the late Nineteenth Century the western countries were mostly at peace. It was generally a prosperous time and quite a few people had a lot of money. There was money to travel and to build.

The development of trains and steel ships made it possible for many more people to travel than ever before. Many travelers saw medieval castles. There was the widespread popularity of children's tales that were set in times far past.

There were, of course, many cathedrals in Europe from the Middle Ages. But cathedrals tend to be located in cities, often with the city being built around the cathedral, and so would already be familiar. It was the late Nineteenth Century when many more people saw castles than ever before.

The result was a fascination with medieval castles. Some people, with money to spend, went completely overboard in building their own castles. There was also the Neo-Gothic movement in architecture, although I don't think these castles would fall into that category.

Let's have a look back at that era.

Possibly the best-known late Nineteenth Century castle is Neuschwanstein, in Bavaria. Whether or not a real castle ever actually looked like this, the outstanding Neuschwanstein ended up being the model for Disney's Magic Kingdom. Medieval castles were built with security, rather than looks, as the primary consideration. Three images from the Wikipedia article "Neuschwanstein Castle".

In France, there is Chateau Pierrefonds. Three images from the Wikipedia article by that name.

In London, Tower Bridge was built as the late Nineteenth Century compliment to the adjacent Tower of London. The first of the following images is from the Wikipedia article "Tower Bridge". The second is from the posting "Travel Photos Of Europe".

In Toronto Casa Loma was built in the early Twentieth Century. Castles of this era were usually built like a castle on the outside, but a palace on the inside. Two images from the Wikipedia article "Casa Loma".

The city of Buffalo, NY built the Connecticut Street Armory. Two images from the Wikipedia article by that name. In 1982, much of the inside was destroyed by a fire but the thick stone walls were not affected.

Medieval castles would be made out of thick and heavy stone, not of clay bricks, but Niagara Falls built it's armory like a castle, in the late Nineteenth Century. Image from the Wikipedia article "Niagara Falls Armory".

The nearby city of Tonawanda also built a brick castle armory. Image from the Wikipedia article "Tonawanda Armory".

This is the Main Street Armory in Rochester, NY. Image from Google Street View.

This is Disney's Magic Kingdom, modeled on Neuschwanstein. Image from the Wikipedia article "Walt Disney World".

The presidential court of John F. Kennedy was called "Camelot", after the castle of the legendary King Arthur. Image from the Wikipedia article "King Arthur".

This is the Broadway Tower, in England. It was built as a home. Two images from Google Street View.

This house, in Trowbridge, has it's own castle tower. Image from Google Street View.