| Arundel castle, like its renowned neighbour Bodiam | | | | this even so ice-cold chapel. The building itself |
| castle, is yet another charming pearl, having been lost | | | | represents so rare example of the church partition by |
| in the abundant expanses of West Sussex, which | | | | religion: behind the ancient grid of Catholique Fitzalan |
| many of the local and foreign travellers persistently | | | | chapel is an amply distinct Anglican Church of Saint |
| don't notice, chasing the more well known sights of | | | | Nicholas. |
| Southern England. The town of Arundel, home of the | | | | 4. To plunge into the flora of the Arundel castle |
| castle, can be reached in about 90 drive from London. | | | | gardens. The Collector Earl's Garden outstands by its |
| This miniature cosy spot has a wealth of history, | | | | phantasmagoric oak constructions and exotic trees |
| delightful sceneries and even its own duke, who is the | | | | and plants. Highlighted by 9 metre high Oberon palace, |
| possessor of Arundel castle and the direct | | | | the garden looks like a magic paradise nook. |
| descendant of the ancient clans of d'Albani, Fitzalan | | | | 5. To visit yet another one local sight - Arundel |
| and Howard (also known as the duke and duchess of | | | | cathedral. It looks deceptively old, but was built only in |
| Norfolk), holding the castle since the 12th century. | | | | the end of the 19th century by Joseph Hansom that |
| In the distant 1068, when Arundel castle was built, its | | | | also invented the hansom's cab, the very cab in which |
| appearance was strikingly different from how it looks | | | | Sherlock Holmes was traveling about London. |
| like nowadays. Roger de Montgomery, close to William | | | | There is a Catholic martyr Saint Philip Howard buried, |
| the Conqueror, erected a wooden construction à la | | | | which is also often refered to those people who died |
| "motte and bailey" for protecting the southern borders | | | | for their belifs. Young Philip was a courtier of Queen |
| of England from a potential invasion from the | | | | Elizabeth I and in the days of his youth he was far |
| Continent. In the course of time the wooden walls | | | | from any religions, leading wild life and being unfaithful |
| were replaced by the stone ones, the castle has been | | | | to his wife. He seemed to settle down with time and |
| built up and undergone other changes until in the 17th | | | | even converted himself into a zealous Catholic, a thing |
| century the Civil War descended on, and Arundel | | | | which in those years of the Reformation could cause |
| castle was thoroughly demolished by Oliver Cromwell's | | | | some really nasty consequences. Besides Philip |
| troops - the fate of many architectural buildings of that | | | | Howard attempted to leave England not only without |
| time. The castle had been left uninhabited before the | | | | royal permission but having intentions of seeking |
| 18th century, when Thomas Howard, the 8th duke of | | | | asylum in Spain. At that time Philip II, the king of Spain, |
| Norfolk, took the first steps in restoration of the past | | | | just was equipping his «Invincible Armada». On top |
| grandeur of the family residence. His successors | | | | of that Howard was the descendant of Edward I of |
| brilliantly carried on that what was started, and by the | | | | England thus having the rights for the crown. That fact |
| 1900 the new life was breathed into Arundel castle. It | | | | could turn him to a quite convinient ally for the Spanish |
| was mainly reconstructed during Victorian époque, | | | | king. So no wonder why the future saint found himself |
| and almost from scratch, but can be easily mistaken | | | | in the Tower where he spent the last 10 years of his |
| for a very real medieval castle. | | | | life in fasting, praying and doing penance. |
| They say that you can't judge a book by its cover. | | | | 6. To rise adrenalin in the blood by so-called «Ghost |
| Well, if you compare Arundel castle with a book, its | | | | experience» - an organized excursion to Victorian |
| content doesn't give up to the sumptuous and intriguing | | | | dungeon, located under The Arundel Town Hall. The |
| cover. An impressive amount of rooms, opened to the | | | | tour is held in the light of candles, accompanied by the |
| public, strikes the imagination by its opulent furnishings | | | | spooky local stories and screaming of too nervous |
| and decoration. The refined furniture, the exquisite | | | | tourists. |
| articles of the interior, the armours of the 15th-18th | | | | 7. To meander along the narrow streets of Arundel |
| centuries, the paintings of the infamous artistes (such | | | | built mostly with snug Georgian and Victorian houses. |
| as Anthony Van Dyck, Thomas Geinsborough, Rubens | | | | To take a short rest in one of many local pubs or |
| etc) - which had been collected by the earls of | | | | cafés. In such small town,with the populatin no more |
| Arundel by hundreds of years. It's fair to say though, | | | | than 4000, there are about 20 pubs! Last week of |
| that the special contribution to it, as in addition to the | | | | August Arundel holds the annual festival, going along |
| development of the British art in general, was | | | | with concerts, playings and fairs. During the festive |
| indisputably made by Thomas Howard, 14th earl of | | | | time the local painters, sculptors, photographs and |
| Arundel, for his passion to the antiques dubbed «The | | | | other artists turn their homes into the galleries where |
| Collector». | | | | any having been liked pieces of art can be purchased. |
| 10 things to do in and around Arundel castle. | | | | 8.To have a boat trip along the river Arun from |
| 1. To get lost in the labirinth of the halls and rooms of | | | | Arundel till seaside resort town Littlehampton or lovely |
| Arundel castle. In fact it's quite easy to wander round | | | | hamlet Amberley. Amberley has an interesting |
| the castle more than an hour. When it seems that the | | | | museum with the expositions quite visually showing the |
| most interesting had already been seen, then | | | | development of technology fo the last 150 years. In |
| something more breathtaking emerges. Lancaster | | | | Amberley working museum the different craftmen, |
| Bedroom with the ceiling unexpectedly emblazoned | | | | such as potters and smiths, do their casual tasks in |
| with an intricate pattern of leaves looks like a boudoir | | | | front of the curious public. There are also the |
| of a fairy. | | | | exhibitions telling about printing skill and the process of |
| The Drawing Room surprises by its impressive heraldic | | | | making beer, the displays dedicated to the history of |
| chimney piece, and the Baron Hall dazzles by its | | | | phones and electricity. On top of everyting else there |
| majestic dimensions and beautifully grim oak | | | | is an amazing collection of vintage buses and steam |
| hammerbeam roof. A grandiose two-storey library, | | | | locomotives, which are accessible for having a drive in |
| supported by 16 colomnes, is the house not only for | | | | it. |
| 10000 books but also for an extreemly well-read ghost | | | | 9. To have a retrospective look at the life in the Middle |
| that by rumours has been occasionly noticed loitering | | | | Ages. By the walls of Arundel castle are fairly often |
| among the bookshelves. Well, not bad way of | | | | organized the medieval joustings, as well as the |
| alleviating a centuries-old boredom after all. | | | | tournament of fencing and archery. For those who |
| In 1846 for three days Arundel castle was visited by | | | | might be interested in more peaceful things there is the |
| one of the most romantic royal couples in British | | | | imitation of a medieval encampment just close at hand, |
| history. On this occasion for Queen Victoria and Prince | | | | where attired in the appropriate costumes of that |
| Albert was built the suit of six rooms, and the portrait | | | | epoque, the men clean their weapons and the women |
| of the Queen, intentionnaly commissionned for the | | | | cook an unpretentious meal. |
| guests arrival, still can be seen in one of the rooms. | | | | 10. To go for a row around Swanbourne lake which is |
| 2. To climb 131 steps into the Keep of Arundel castle | | | | in Arundel park, in few minutes walk from Arundel |
| with inspiring views of West Sussex crossed by the | | | | castle. It's better to have a substantial hoard of bread |
| river Arun, snaking its way past. When Arundel castle | | | | in advance because some of the local donald ducks |
| was lying in ruins ands looked far from its present | | | | and their girlfriends can get really determined regarding |
| splendour, the owles used to settle in the Keep. | | | | their refreshments. And don't forget to bring camera - |
| Nowadays, as if for carrying on this tradition, every | | | | great shots for those who are in wildlife photography |
| now and then there are held the displays of owls. | | | | are guaranteed. |
| 3. To have a look round the Fitzalan Chapel, built in the | | | | Arundel with its chivalrous looking castle and vibrant |
| 14th century. The alebastrian efigies of human height, | | | | sceneries, painted by John Constable, is like a favorite |
| resting above the tombs of the castle's owners, look | | | | book - after having read it once you want to return to |
| so probable that even cause an involuntary tremour in | | | | the favourite passages again and again. |