I visited Launceston Castle this spring on Easter Sunday, after I paid my visit to Okehampton Castle (Morning Visit at Okehampton Castle - Jenikya's Blog). Launceston Castle is in the village by the same name, located in Cornwall, England. The castle grounds were occupied from the 1000s by William the Conquerer's brother, and the fortification is a motte-and-bailey design, which means that it is a fortification on raised earthworks. The keep itself was built in 1240 and was used as a prison from the mid-1600s and was demolished because of poor and cramped conditions in the mid-1800s.
Berries
The castle is accessible through the town centre, and we parked in the middle of the town, more or less opposite the old Gatehouse. Then, we climbed up steep steps to the High Tower, the highest point of the castle.
The High Tower and Gatehouse
There were beautiful views over Launceston from the High Tower, and I took some photographs.
Castle and views over Launceston from High Tower
Inside the interior of the High Tower, there was not much to see. The High Tower was intact and consisted of a circular wall with another circular wall inside. The inner circle contained a winding staircase that could be climbed a little further.
High Tower interior
The views from the top of the tower were equally amazing.
Launceston views from castle
Launceston views from castle
View from the top of High Tower
After having a quick look around the castle, we descended and admired the view of where we had just been.
Castle
Gatehouse exiting the castle
The conditions were wet, but we enjoyed our trip to Launceston Castle. We visited it on Easter Sunday, and it was a rainy Easter Sunday this year. We had the castle to ourselves.
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