Looking out over the North Sea, the beautiful Dunnottar Castle, now in ruins, sits on a cliff south of the town of Stonehaven, in the Aberdeenshire borough of Scotland.
The site of Dunnottar Castle has been inhabited since the time of the Picts (5000 BC - 700 AD), although the exact date of construction of the fortress is unknown. The importance of this place for the Picts stems from their religion.
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| Dunnottar Castle |
The Picts worshiped nature spirits and the castle site was seen as the home of the 'green lady', symbolizing the strong feminine nature of the surroundings. After the Picts converted to Christianity in the 5th century when Saint Ninian chose this place to build one of his churches, the 'green lady' was said to have been seen searching for her 'lost children', having been seen in the brewery from the castle.
In the 9th century, the Vikings invaded, looted and destroyed Dunnottar Castle after having defeated King Donald II of Scotland when he tried to protect it.
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| Dunnottar Castle |
While the current castle chapel was built in the 16th century, the previous chapel was consecrated in 1276 after the site became a Catholic settlement. A 15th-century poet, Blind Harry, whose epic poem was the inspiration for the movie Braveheart, stated that William Wallace set fire to the original chapel, which was filled with English soldiers seeking refuge.
In the 14th century, when Sir William Keith, the first Earl Marshal (Earl Marshal), rebuilt the castle and built his own tower house, Donnattar Castle became the seat of one of Scotland's most powerful dynasties: the Counts Marischal.
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| Dunnottar Castle |
The Counts Marischal, Jacobite sympathizers, participated in the uprising in 1715. After the defeat, the English government, accusing the counts of traitors, seized control of Dunnottar Castle.
Until the 20th century, Dunnottar Castle changed owners several times and none of them considered its good conservation. In 1925 the castle was acquired by the Cowdray family, who undertook to remodel a fortress that was already in very poor condition. The renovations never came and the ruins of Dunnottar Castle remained in place.
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| Dunnottar Castle |
Today the ruins of Dunnottar Castle welcome all visitors who want to explore all its corners.